IBI CORPORATE FINANCE FIRST TEAM LEAGUE PREVIEW – ROUND 7 (JUNE 27TH)

The IBI Corporate Finance First Team League continues this weekend, with the seventh round of league games seeing a full slate of three games set to take place.

Last weekend’s results saw the table concertina somewhat, as leaders Knockharley suffered defeat, whilst North Kildare, The Hills and Terenure, the next three in the table, all recorded victories.

This time out, Adamstown travel to The Maws to take on North Kildare, whilst Knockharley make the trip to Farmers Cross to take on Cork Harlequins. The third and final game sees Terenure visiting The Vineyard to take on The Hills.

NORTH KILDARE VS ADAMSTOWN

North Kildare will be hoping to jump to the top of the table this weekend as they are the closest challengers to Knockharley currently. Their side this weekend sees Asadullah Ahmadzai set to be the main man with the bat at the top of the order alongside Moize Haider, who has also produced some rapid scores opening the batting. Yashraj Mate and Josh Uddin are a pair of important players in the middle order, with Mate having marshalled the middle order well in his appearances this term. Adnan Ahmadzai and Abdul Aryan are two clean-hitters who will also feature in the lower-middle order and their ability to accelerate could be important in this game. With the ball, Nazmus Monon will likely share the opening duties with Aryan, whilst Nicholas Hunter and Adnan Ahmadzai offer support in the seam bowling department. The side is also full of spin options including Asadullah Ahmadzai and Nurulain Boda who bowl slightly flatter, whilst Akhilesh Sharma and Uddin can bowl more traditional, flighted off-breaks.

Adamstown meanwhile will be smarting once again after suffering defeat last week, the second time in four games where a century for their overseas player Prashanth Prabhu Damodaran couldn’t see them to victory. He leads a batting line-up which in general is beginning to find some form, Sid Biju and Angad Bawa have developed a strong partnership at the top, whilst Shreyas Rajesh appears at number three ahead of Damodaran and their other star-turn Dinesh Antony Kidagan David, who have been in good form in the past few weeks. The bowling unit will once again be sweating on the fitness of Shravon Biju, who missed last Sunday’s fixture to rest a knock. In his absence Kidagan David and Nithin Namburu shared the new ball, whilst Aryan Adelkar is the third seamer in the side. The spin attack is led by the leg-spin of Arvind Olaganathan, along with Jaivir Singh Oberoi and Angad Bawa who both bowl off-breaks, Bawa in particular being the pick of the bowlers last weekend, claiming 3/50.

Asadullah Ahmadzai is a key man with the ball for the North Kildare side this weekend, and if he can knock over the in-form Dinesh Antony Kidagan David, it will put the home side well on top.

KEY BATTLE: Asadullah Ahmadzai vs Dinesh Antony Kidagan David

CORK HARLEQUINS VS KNOCKHARLEY

In Farmers Cross, the league leaders Knockharley are the visitors to a ‘Quins side that have shown some glimpses of form in the last few weeks. They saw off Adamstown thanks to a fine all-round performance from Seanan Jones, whilst they also unearthed another pair of strong bowling options in the shape of Preston Searra and Ibrahim Ahsan, who combined for 5 wickets that day. That trio will be supported by Adam Hickey and Semeth Sumanasinghe who will bowl right and left arm off-spin respectively, whilst there’s seam from Umer Khan, with Jiju Kalathera, who took 3 wickets last weekend against North Kildare, rounding out the attack. With the bat, Hickey and Callum Stevenson look a likely opening duo, whilst gloveman Demeth Sumanasinghe is another consistent performer who could cause Knockharley some issues, Jones will anchor the side from number 6, and has done a fine job marshalling the lower order when needed this term.

Knockharley meanwhile come into this game off the back of another ‘nearly’ defeat to The Hills, and will hope that they can claim a win here to push themselves clear at the top of the table. Their bowling unit is led by Ahmed Kayani and Syed Medhi, who will likely share opening duties, whilst there’s a welcome return to the side for Don Retty, who’s seamers bolster the stocks significantly. Teenager Aabis Mirza rounds out the quick bowlers with his right-arm medium pacers. There’s off-spin from both Sumit Singh and Brandon Kruger, meaning skipper Mubeen Ali has plenty of options to throw the ball to no matter what conditions the wicket in Farmers Cross throws up this weekend. With the bat, Kruger and wicket-keeper Sayed Zubair lead the way, with Zubair in particular being very free scoring this season and looking for a big score to help the side to victory. Umer Nawaz and Ehtesham Ahmed at 3 and 4 are both searching for form, whilst it will be interesting to see where Retty slots into the middle order in this side. Skipper Ali will bring plenty of aggression in his usual number 6 role.

Seanan Jones is, as ever, the key man with the ball for Quins, and if he can get the key early wicket of Sayed Zubair, it will give the hosts a chance of rattling the Knockharley batting unit.

KEY BATTLE: Seanan Jones vs Sayed Zubair

THE HILLS VS TERENURE

Finally, in The Vineyard, The Hills and Terenure face off for the third time already this season, having faced each other in the league and Leinster Senior Cup already. On both occasions the result has gone The Hills way, and they will be hoping to go three from three here to keep their title charge alive. They will have to do so without the services of their skipper Matthew Weldon this weekend however, meaning that Killian McGrane will have a fresh new-ball partner. The Sherzad brothers, Muzamil and Yaseen, are both likely to bowl their right-arm seamers once again, as well as Tómas Murphy, giving plenty of options for the side in spite of the absent captain. Roxton Payne impressed with 4/34 on his debut last weekend, and could prove to be a key part of the unit this time around. On the batting front, the Sherzad’s provide stroke-making, power and dynamism at the top of the order, and will once again be looking to get their side off to a quick start. Liam Blackford at number three has struggled to convert starts since his debut century in the league, being dismissed in the 20s in his three knocks since, Joe Fletcher and Andy Kavanagh showed some form last weekend, both passing 60, whilst Nathan Rooney’s ability to clear the ropes in the middle was what decided the game between these teams last time out.

Terenure meanwhile come into this off the back of a brilliant batting performance last weekend, however will be fully aware of the need to back up wins, with that one having been their first since the opening game in the league. Henry Dall’s excellent season continued as he passed three figures for the third time, making the highest score in CL competitions this season in the process, and he’ll be supported by Tom Shand at the top of the order, whilst Zeeshan Mumtaz, wicketkeeper Sophie Reid, and Dónal Lynch make up the middle order unit, with Sid Nair missing this weekend due to franchise cricket duty. On the bowling front, the side are without Bhavic Tukrel this time around, meaning Naveed Khan returns to the seam attack, and is likely to open alongside Benjamin Dillon, who was successful with the Leinster Schools side this week. Kripesh Shetty and Shand are the other seamers in the team, with the latter having impressed with three wickets last time out. The side have three spin options this weekend, with Aamir Bafanda leading the way alongside skipper Dall, whilst Vishnu Sadanandan’s off-breaks are also added to the equation.

Henry Dall’s excellent form has been the backbone of Terenure’s batting unit this season, and The Hills will be keen to see the back of their visitors skipper. If Tómas Murphy can get the better of the left-hander, it will put The Hills in a very strong position.

KEY BATTLE: Tómas Murphy vs Henry Dall

IBI CORPORATE FINANCE FIRST TEAM LEAGUE

Saturday, June 27^th, all 12 Noon

At The Maws, North Kildare vs Adamstown

At Farmers Cross, Cork Harlequins vs Knockharley

At The Vineyard, The Hills vs Terenure