LEINSTER WOMEN CLAIM BONUS POINT VICTORY AGAIN!

It was another successful day for the Leinster Women in the Future Series this afternoon, as an excellent bowling performance laid the platform for a second successive bonus point victory.

The NCU side won the toss and elected to bat first in ideal conditions at Oak Hill, however Leinster were quickly on top, as an excellent catch from Aisling Lawlor off Niamh MacNulty saw Abbi Harrison, who made an unbeaten century earlier in the day, dismissed early in the piece. Whilst Darcey Dalwood claimed the second wicket thanks to an excellent slip catch by Ellie McGee just four balls later.

McGee was once again to the fore with the ball, today in tandem with the left-arm seam of Sinead Thomson, as the duo took over coming straight out of the PowerPlay. When they had finished their respective 4-over spells, just 26 runs had been added to the total and a further three wickets had fallen.

The final five overs saw Leinster continue to tighten the screw, as Lawlor, Lucy Barry and Zara Craig combined to concede just 22 in spite of bowling to set batters.

The Leinster chase got off to a flying start in spite of the early loss of Izzy McLean. Annabel Squires grabbed the bull by the horns and was finding the boundary regularly, striking 8 boundaries in total in her 25-ball 37, before being third out with the score on 59.

In spite of losing Zara Craig to a ball that spun sharply to clip her leg stump, Genevieve Morrissey and Isobel Jennings brought a quick end to proceedings, finishing unbeaten on 13 and 7 respectively in completing the chase in the 11th over, meaning the bonus point was confirmed, a 6-wicket win with more than 5 overs to spare.

That result leaves Leinster five points clear at the top of the table with two games played, and they head to the North West on Wednesday aiming to build a considerable lead at the top of the table.