The Lightning Bolts completed two comfortable victories over the Danish Developmental XI on Thursday at Trinity College, Dublin.
Posting seven runs an over, on a relatively slow pitch on both occasions was always going to be a tricky task for the Danes to chase down, and so it proved.
In Game 2 of the series, Cormac McLoughlin Gavin (30) and Eddie Richardson (46) led the way for the Bolts, who had been put into bat, as they set an impressive 140/6 off their 20 overs.
The two rebuilt the innings after the early loss of both Jack Tector and Fionn Hand. Max Sorensen and Patrick Tice added some late innings momentum, but the Danes took wickets throughout and showed plenty of fight in the innings. Jino Jojo leading the way with 3-17 off his four overs.
For the visitors, as on Wednesday evening, it was captain Hamid Shah (35) who provided the anchor for his side. A partnership of 62 with Anique Uddin (30) kept the Danes in the contest.
However, as well as they did in rotating the strike, they couldn’t hit the boundaries required and the run rate rose steadily. As it transpired, they required 50 off five overs with seven wickets in hand, but as soon as they begin to hit out, the wickets began to tumble.
The Bolts held on to their catches well and by the close of their 20 overs the Danish Development XI had made 120/8 and the Bolts had won game 2 by 20 runs.
After lunch, Game 3 saw the Bolts win the toss for the first time but by opting to bat first, they ensured the Danes would be chasing for the third match in succession.
A second wicket partnership of 64 between Patrick Tice (48) and Theo Lawson (33) was key in building a solid foundation for the Bolts.
The loss of Lawson, Sorensen and Matt Ford in rapid succession threatened to derail the innings but Tice and Greg Ford (24*) re-established some order and made sure the Bolts set the Danes a challenging target of 139 for victory.
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Mainstay of the Danish batting card, Hamid Shah (4) fell early and exposed the card to pursue the chase without him.
None of the batsmen could really get going against a concentrated bowling and fielding effort from the Bolts, as they held onto virtually every opportunity that came their way and Tice picked up another stumping with some classy glove work behind the wicket.
Wahab Hashmi did score 32 off 31 but was the only Dane to get more than 15 as the Bolts took wickets at regular intervals, restricting the visitors to 108/8 off their 20 overs.
All six bowlers took a wicket, Fionn Hand (2-21) and Mitchell Thompson (2-20) picking up a second each. Thompson, in particular, bowled really well in his four-over spell.
It all added up to a 30-run victory for the Bolts and a second victory on the day over the Danish Developmental XI.
The two sides play the last two games in the 5-match series on Friday at 11am and 4pm with both games once again at Trinity College and entrance is of course free.
Game 2 of 5, 20-Over Match, Leinster Lightning Bolts v Denmark Developmental XI
At College Park, Trinity College, Dublin;
Leinster Lightning Bolts 140/6 20 overs (E Richardson 46, C McLoughlin-Gavin 30, M Sorensen 19, G Delany 19; J Jojo 3-17)
Denmark Development XI 120/8 20 overs (H Shah 35, A Uddin 30*, J Jojo 18*; J Barnes 3-23, F Tucker 2-20)
Leinster Lightning Bolts win by 20 runs
Game 3 of 5, 20-Over Match, Leinster Lightning Bolts v Denmark Developmental XI
At College Park, Trinity College, Dublin;
Leinster Lightning Bolts 138/5 20 overs (P Tice 48, T Lawson 33, G Ford 24*; N Damgaard 4-23)
Denmark Development XI 108/8 20 overs (W Hashmi 32; M Thompson 2-20, F Hand 2-21)