There is just one fixture this weekend in the Vitallity Sports First Team League as table-toppers North Kildare host Terenure at The Maws.
North Kildare have already accumulated 117 points with 5 wins whilst the visitors from Dublin 6W are on just 51 points albeit with a game in-hand.
Over 530 runs were scored when these two sides first played each other back in May with North Kildare coming out on top that day by 5 wickets despite a brilliant and unbeaten 100 from Mick Cotter who carried his bat as Terenure amassed 266/8.
North Kildare chased down the target with relative ease thanks to 107* from their new-man, Yash Kalasannavar batting at 3 that day. In fact Kalasannavar has been the main-stay with the bat for the North Kildare team having already scored 327 runs in the Vitallity Sports First Team League (including two hundreds) at an average of 81.75 per innings.
That said, the bigger challenge for Terenure in the games they’ve lost has been a lack of penetration and economy with the ball having conceded over 300 on a few occasions in recent weeks including at home to Adamstown and against County Galway last Sunday in the National Cup semi-final. Dylan Cleary has been their most potent and consistent force with the ball with a best so far of 6/36 against Cork Harlequins.
North Kildare will be looking to continue their early momentum by leveraging their varied bowling attack where different bowlers have stepped up at key times to underpin their success - in particular Husnain Maroof who has taken 4-for on two occasions, Asadullah Ahmadzai (10 wickets so far) and the ever consistent Nuralain Boda.
Based on form and performance so far this season, the key battle is likely to be between Dylan Cleary and Yash Kalasannavar. That said, some of the visitors are due a big game!
KEY BATTLE: Yash Kalasannavar vs Dylan Cleary