LEINSTER LIGHTNING DEFEAT THE KNIGHTS AFTER MCCARTHY HEROICS

The last match of the IP50 tournament might not have had a say on the title, but there is always something at stake when Leinster Lightning play the Northern Knights.

Pembroke Cricket Club were the usual brilliant hosts and like every other match in Sydney Paraade this season the ground was ready to go first thing. The Knights won the toss and decided to field first.

Amish Sidhu made a debut for the Lightning and Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin also played; Harry Tector was withdrawn by Cricket Ireland as a precaution.

Cormac started brightly and was the mainstay at the top of the innings with 67 off 93 balls. He had opened with Simi Singh (33 off 22) but a good spell of bowling from Tom Mayes saw Lightning slip to 166-7. It was only when Barry McCarthy joined Gavin Hoey did things swing Lightnings way.

A brilliant, destructive innings from Barry saw him score a century from number 9, only the second man in List A cricket to do so (according to Ger Siggins). In all he scored 110 from only 59 balls (4 fours and 10 sixes) putting the Knights bowling attack firmly on the back foot.

All this left the Knights chasing 316 to win, when they might reasonably have felt that restricting the hosts to 250 was within their grasp. Best of the bowling was Mayes with 3/69 and Matt Humphreys with 3/43.

The Knights started their reply positively, with a number of top order batters getting a foothold. But despite a good 41 from James McCollum, none of them could take hold of the bowling until Neil Rock arrived. He settled early and took the attack to the Leinster bowlers, but on 81 that man McCarthy got him to sky one and he was well caught.

Cade Carmichael had shown good intent (43 off 35) but eventually the superior bowling from Leinster Lightning paid dividends. As is often the way, the Lightning Skipper led from the front, finishing with 5/49 off 6.5 overs. Barry McCarthy took 2/32 and Amish Sidhu 2/24. Lorcan Tucker took three catches.

A good end to the IP50 for Leinster Lightning, the next Interprovincial cricket in Leinster is the IP20 festival. This will see six matches across 3 days in Sydney Parade, 27-29 July.