I previously reported that Alex Cusack in the first match of the season on 20th April achieved the figure of 200 wickets in his 128th Match.
The following weekend, 27th April, the first full round of fixtures in both Division 1 and Division 2 took place and 4 further players achieved targets in what was, in each case, their first match of the season. Before going on to talk about those who have achieved these targets, may I just explain that what I refer to as a target is the reaching of a significant level of runs or wickets, such as 2,000, 3,000 etc. in the case of runs and 200, 300 etc. in the case of wickets. These were runs scored or wickets taken in Divisions 1 and/or 2, or, prior to the new structure introduced some 3 years ago, what was then referred to as Senior Cricket.
Kade Beasley in scoring 52* in Merrion 2nds first appearance in Division 2 against Leinster 2nds reached the figure of 4,000 runs. Kade made his debut for Merrion in 2000 and has now played 189 matches for them, batted 175 times with 3 centuries and 14 half centuries, celebrating reaching this landmark with his 14th half century. He has achieved these runs at an average of 25.85.
Andrew Balbirnie is another who celebrated reaching his landmark with a half century , in his case against North County. Andrew finished last season just 53 short of 2,000 runs, the figure which enters a batsman into the annual averages for those still currently playing. Andrew made his debut for Pembroke in 2005 and the match in which he reached his target of 2,000 runs was his 76th for Pembroke and his 73rd Innings. He has scored 2 centuries and 14 half centuries. His 2,029 runs have come at an average of 32.20
Kevin O’Brien was the third to reach 2,000 runs. He entered the season needing 19 and achieved this in his 112th Match and 89th innings for Railway Union. While Kevin made his debut in 2000 one must remember that he has missed a lot of cricket for Railway through representing Ireland and at times playing County Cricket in England. In his 89 Innings he has scored 4 centuries and 8 half centuries. To date in all he has scored 2,015 runs at an average of 26.51.
The only bowler to achieve a landmark in this particular group is John Mooney. He ended last season, a season in which he suffered a fair amount of injuries, just one short of 200 wickets. He wasted no time this season is passing that figure, against Pembroke at Sydney Parade. John made his debut as far back as 1994. He has played 234 matches for his 200 wickets which he has taken at an average of 21.14. In the course of those wickets he has taken 5 wickets in an innings on 6 occasions.
The following weekend, 4th May, Lynal Jansen of Rush became the 6th player this season so far to reach a target. He reached 2,000 runs in Rush’s match against Clontarf. Lynal celebrated reaching 2,000 runs by combining it with a century in the same match. Lynal made his debut for Rush in 2007 and this was his 67th Match and his century his 6th along with 8 fifties, not to forget his 94 wickets to date. I sense another target to come for him before the end of the year. His aggregate figure of runs for Rush to date now comes in at 2,022 at an average of 37.44.
Well done to all those who reached these landmarks so far this year. More to come no doubt.