Civil Service Singh When They’re Winning

A wonderful century from Simranjeet Singh followed by a disciplined bowling effort gave Civil Service a 25-run win over Wexford Wanderers in cracking Middle Cup final at Rush’s Kenure Park ground on Monday.

After Nilesh Joshi (59) got the Civil Service innings off to flyer with ten boundaries and a maximum, Singh took over with an innings of pure class. Rush might be known as high scoring ground, but aside from a difficult chance given to point, Singh’s innings was faultless.

Together with Sachin Mistry (37) they added 90 for the fifth wicket as they pushed the run rate up towards seven an over.

However, Nithin Pradmaprabhu returned to clean up the tail and finish with figures of 5 for 35 as despite Civil Service amassing 267, Wexford took some momentum into their innings.

That momentum swung back towards Civil Service when Mubashar Siddique took two wickets in an over to reduce the Wexford side to 14/2 in the second over. The second thanks to a stupendous catch at first slip by Mistry.

A brilliant game of cricket swung back towards the chasers when Pradmaprabhu (91) and Eugene Brennan (63) came together for the 4^th wicket.

The pair added 132 runs and threatened to turn the match on its’ head once again.

Instead Joshi took two wickets in an over, the first the crucial pole of Pradmaprabhu when Safeen held on to a steepling catch at long-on.

From there the chase looked a forlorn one for Wexford, though Ibrar Jan (25) never gave in. Ultimately, they fell 25 runs short on a day when 509 runs were scored in 80 overs.

This was an entertaining game from beginning to end and dramatic too. The drama started as early as the second ball when Malang Jan Md pulled up with a back injury. The unfortunate opening bowler had to leave the field and with no 12^th man, Wexford fielded with 10 for the entire innings, and could only bat with ten too.

Who knows what might have happened if he could have bowled his quota? The truth is nobody knows and, on a day when the man of the match scores a century and the runners-up have a player take five wickets and follow it up with an innings of 91, it seems churlish to even ask the question.

This was simply an outstanding contest between two well-matched teams on a great deck in Rush. Congratulations to Civil Service and commiserations to Wexford Wanderers.

Middle Cup Final

Civil Service v Wexford Wanderers, Monday August 5^th, Rush CC, 40 overs

Civil Service 267 a/o (S Singh 104, N Joshi 59; N Pradmaprabhu 5-35)

Wexford Wanderers 242/9 (N Pradmaprabhu 91, E Brennan 63; M Siddique 3 wickets)

Civil Service won by 25 runs