The Leinster Lightning have retained the IP20 Trophy after a comfortable 41-run victory over the North West Warriors at Sydney Parade.
George Dockrell and John Anderson put on an unbroken 122 for the 4th wicket to guide the Lightning to what had, early on, looked an unlikely 182/3.
Eddie Richardson’s 4-25 led the bowling attack as the Warriors lost their 8th wicket with eight deliveries remaining and two batsmen unfit to take the field. As a result, the Lightning had won by 41 runs and secured the IP20 Trophy once again.
Dockrell had elected to bat at the toss and Gareth Delany and Andrew Balbirnie had batted watchfully through the early powerplay overs. Delany (28 off 19) fell with the score on 40.
Simi Singh fell cheaply after his batting heroics yesterday and when Balbirnie (21) was caught by Thompson off Kennedy, the Lightning were just 60/3 at the halfway mark of the innings.
However, John Anderson once again showed his value to the Lightning side. He built his innings carefully, ensuring his wicket was intact when the acceleration came late on.
Never offering a chance he moved to 50 off 32 deliveries hitting 3 boundaries and 3 maximums along the way.
In just 9 deliveries after passing 50, Anderson pushed his score to 76 not out, adding another four and two more sixes.
Dockrell was happy to support his teammate and contributed a very important 40 off 29 deliveries himself.
Going at 12 an over for the final ten overs, they pushed the score probably thirty runs beyond what the Warriors would have expected to chase. After twenty overs the Lightning had made 182/3, Anderson top-scoring with his unbeaten 76.
William Porterfield and Davy Rankin opened the batting for the Warriors in determined fashion.
It was the captain Dockrell, who made the breakthrough, removing Porterfield (19) in the powerplay.
Rankin and Stuart Thompson looked to build the partnership that would take the Warriors back into the game, but the Lightning bowlers kept the pressure on throughout.
Tyrone Kane removed Thompson before Dockrell combined with Tucker to have Rankin stumped and leave the Warriors 88/3.
From then on Eddie Richardson took over. His outstanding consistency for the Lightning continued as he took 4-25, and also effected the run out of William McClintock which left the Warriors chase far behind the required rate.
Regular wickets and economical bowling from a seven-bowler bowling attack had the Lightning in good control throughout, although Richardson will take the plaudits for his outstanding figures.
When the 8th wicket fell, there was a slightly anti-climactic finish to the game as both Davy Scanlon and Varun Chopra were unable to bat and so the Warriors were bowled out for 141. There were just 8 balls remaining in their quota however, and so victory was already guaranteed.
The 41-run victory for the Lightning brought another IP20 Trophy title for the Leinster Lightning and they will receive the Trophy after the final match of the Festival Weekend when they play the Munster Reds from 4pm tomorrow.
InterProvincial 20-Over Trophy, Leinster Lightning v North West Warriors
At Pembroke CC, Sydney Parade;
Leinster Lightning 182/3 (J Anderson 76*, G Dockrell 40*; G Kennedy 2-20)
North West Warriors 141/8 (a/o 18.4 overs) (D Rankin 37, A Gillespie 34; E Richardson 4-25)
Leinster Lightning win by 41 runs