The new season got underway last Friday in spectacular fashion as DACC welcomed North Kildare to a sun drenched Shanganagh Park. With half the Kildare team still enroute to the ground at the allotted start time, no coins were needed to determine who would bat first. While the visitors padded up, the hosts took to the field, eager to find out if those late night winter net sessions had improved our skills.
Electing to bowl down the Shankill hill, Will took the newish pink cherry and delivered a pacy first over. Stewart bowled the second over with slightly less pace but a little more luck as his third ball cannoned off the pads and into the stumps to take the first wicket. The second followed in the next over, Kevin taking a splendid diving catch. A lush outfield and tidy bowling from Gordon, Shailesh and Kevin helped to stifle the opposition, the pressure to get runs resulting in a runout and leaving Kildare 49 for 4 halfway through their innings. Next to bowl was Werner (or Bernard according to the NK scorebook), making his debut in the absence of Dion. After his first 2 balls went for 7 wides, the reputation of South African cricket along with Dion's reputation for player recruitment were both in question. Luckily for all concerned, Werner/Bernard took a wicket with the last ball of his over to keep aforementioned reputations intact.
After more excellent bowling from Richard and debutant Sajamon it was time for the "closers" Ian and Wade (Wyat according to the NK scorebook) to bowl the last 4 overs. Things couldn't have gone better for Ian who took a great caught and bowled with his first ball. The same couldn't be said for the returning Wade/Wyat as Kildare's number 11 (of 12) batsman Soum helped himself to consecutive 6s from Wade's first over. The irrepressible Aussie would get his revenge in the final over though, taking 2 wickets to leave Dalkey chasing 99 to win.
Jamie and Ian got the reply off to a solid start, running plenty of 1s and 2s but finding it hard to reach the boundary. Jamie fell for 11, which brought Werner to the crease who showed that if you hit the ball hard enough it would indeed go for 4. Ian and Werner both retired on 20 leaving Will and Kevin to continue the good work and in no time at all or 15.1 overs to be precise, the target was reached with Kevin hitting a 4 to win the match in style.
A fine evening was concluded with speeches from the captains, MOTM awards for Ian and Soum, some nice food but alas no Pimms as someone who will remain unnamed left it in the car!! Thanks and well done to everyone who played and to Adrian who came along to watch and support. At least I think it was support that he was offering from the boundary....