Ireland Academy started their European Cricket Championship campaign in style, claiming two victories on the opening day. There were some highlight performances including half-centuries from Seamus Lynch and Tim Tector, while bowlers Adam Kennedy and Jared Wilson starred with the ball.
In the opening game of the day, a 125-run opening partnership between Seamus Lynch and Tim Tector saw the Ireland Academy post 150-2.
After been put in to bat, Lynch hit seven sixes and three fours as he scored 67 off 27 balls, while Tector also scored a half-century – 55 off 24 balls – including six sixes and three fours.
In response, Austria struggled with the bat as Ireland’s bowlers found tight lines and took regular wickets. Captain Sam Harbinson made the early breakthrough, taking the wicket of Ranjit Singh (23) – helped by a catch from Tector at the long-on boundary. Tector was excellent in the field, taking three catches.
However, it was Adam Kennedy of CIYMS who was the stand-out bowler, as he took three wickets – narrowly missing out on a hat-trick – for the loss of just two runs in his single over. There were also wickets for Mike Frost (2-18), Carson McCullough (1-21), Gavin Hoey (1-2), and Jared Wilson (1-5).
In their second game Ireland Academy had little trouble against Türkyie, as the strolled to a ten-wicket win. Having lost the toss Ireland Academy bowled first and restricted Türkyie to 51-6. Mohammed Ataullah was the first batter to go when he fell to an excellent delivery from Scott Macbeth in the second over. Further wickets feel cheaply, before Jared Wilson claimed the wickets of both Mecit Ozturk and Romeo Nath in the space of three balls in the middle overs as Türkyie’s batting order was decimated, with only one of their batters reaching double figures.
In reply, Ireland’s openers Liam Doherty (29*) of Eglinton and Brigade’s Cameron Melly (21*) went unbeaten as they eased to their target.
It was a good day for the Irish side, and they will be back at the same venue tomorrow where they will face Hungary (1pm Irish time) and Finland (7.30pm Irish time) in another double-header.
MATCH 1 SUMMARY
Ireland Academy v Austria, European Cricket Championships Group D, Cartama Oval, Malaga, 5 October 2023
Ireland Academy 150-2 (10 overs; S Lynch 67, T Tector 55; K Singh 2-19)
Austria 89-9 (10 overs; B Khan 23*, I Asif 21; A Kennedy 3-2)
Ireland Academy won by 61 runs.
MATCH 2 SUMMARY
Ireland Academy v Türkyie, European Cricket Championships Group D, Cartama Oval, Malaga, 5 October 2023
Türkyie 51-6 (10 overs; M Turkmen 11*, M Ataullah 9; J Wilson 2-1)
Ireland Academy 52-0 (L Doherty 29*, C Melly 21*; A Turkmen 0-24)
Ireland Academy won by 10 wickets.
IRELAND ACADEMY SQUAD
- Sam Harbinson (Merrion) (captain), Seamus Lynch (Terenure), Liam Doherty (Eglinton), Cameron Melly (Brigade), Tim Tector (YMCA), Scott Macbeth (Brigade), Gavin Hoey (Trinity/Pembroke), Jared Wilson (Cliftonville Academy), John McNally (Clontarf), Carson McCullough (CIYMS), Olly Riley (YMCA), Mike Frost (Malahide), Adam Kennedy (CIYMS).
Head Coach: Peter Johnston
Assistant Coach/Manager: Albert van der Merwe
REMAINING IRELAND ACADEMY FIXTURES
The fixtures are all played at Cartama Oval in Malaga, Spain:
- 6 October: Ireland Academy v Hungary (starts 1pm)
- 6 October: Ireland Academy v Finland (starts 7.30pm)
- 7 October: Eliminator starts (10.30 am)
- 7 October: Qualifier One (starts 1pm)
- 7 October: Qualifier Two (starts 4pm)
- 7 October: Group Final (starts 7.30pm)
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