LIGHTNING ARE IP50 CHAMPIONS FOR THIRD YEAR RUNNING! (23.7.2026)

The Sherwin O’Riordan sponsored Leinster Lightning have won the IP50 Final at Sydney Parade today beating the North West Warriors by a comprehensive margin of 170 runs.

This is the 10th time that the Lightning are IP50 Champions in the 14 years of this competition which dates back to 2013. The Lightning have also lifted the IP20 trophy on 9 occasions with this year’s competition still not concluded.

Having been asked by the Warriors captain Andy McBrine to bat first, the Lightning openers quickly got into their stride and had reached 106/0 by drinks with 18 overs gone, Stephen Doheny on 55* and Tim Tector 48* at that stage.

After drinks, Doheny and Tector marched on in a similar manner such that the total had passed 150 for no loss in only the 24th over.

Doheny went on to complete his hundred in the 32nd over with the team score having progressed to 197/0 off 32 overs. This was Doheny’s second List A ton in the space of 9 days having plundered 128 in Lisburn in last week’s win over the Knights. Tector then brought up his own hundred off 96 balls, (10x4, 2x6) continuing his rich vein of form in all formats.

Doheny was finally dismissed in the 36th over for 124 followed by Tector for 122 in the 40th over at which stage Lightning had reached 276 for the loss of just 3 wickets.

This didn’t provide the Warriors with any respite as Harry Tector and captain Lorcan Tucker set about the tiring bowlers to add 90 runs for the 4th wicket in just 5 overs – Tucker the man out for a rapid fire 52 off just 19 balls! Curtis Campher then joined Tector for the closing overs as Tector completed his own fifty off just 26 balls. At this point, Tector threw any remote caution to the wind as he plundered 27 off Liam McCarthy’s 9th over, the 47th of the innings. Lightning passed 400 in the 48th over with Campher being the fifth man out – Lightning 404/5 with 16 balls remaining.

Tector finally departed in the 49th over but not before he had made 86 off just 35 balls (9x4, 5x6) in a ferocious display of power hitting. George Dockrell and David Delany finished off the innings with a couple of lusty blows - Lightning finished on a record-breaking 446/6, their highest IP50 score, breaking Lightning’s previous record of 425/7 in The Hills in 2023!

Set 447 runs for victory at an imposing 8.9 runs per over, the Warriors got off to the worst possible start when Andy Balbirnie was caught behind without scoring in the opening over bowled by Jai Moondra. In fact the first over was a maiden and incredibly the first maiden of the day! Byron McDonough then removed fellow opener Gavin Roulston (also caught behind by Tucker) to leave the Warriors 4/2 in only the 4th over.

NW captain Andy McBrine then combined with his club colleague at Donemana, the young Zimbabwean Luke Marillier to try and rebuild the innings as the required rate continued to gradually climb over-by-over. Curtis Campher came into the attack in the 10th over and immediately took the wicket of Marillier – Warriors were now 29/3 off 9.2 overs. Ben Calitz then joined McBrine and the pair added 85 runs in 11 overs for the 4th wicket before Campher returned to dismiss Calitz caught by Harry Tector for 41. By this stage, the veteran McBrine had completed yet another List A fifty out of a team score of 114/4 off 21 overs. Gareth Delany then came and went without scoring to give Gavin Hoey his first wicket.

Scott MacBeth came in at number 7 to join his captain and between them, they added a further 89 for the sixth wicket whilst the required rate continued to climb towards 13 runs per over.

McBrine went on to complete his hundred off 93 balls but not before Dockrell had trapped MacBeth lbw for 41 – Warriors now 205/6 with 242 still needed at 14.25 per over. McBrine then departed for exactly 100, stumped by Tucker off the bowling of Dockrell – Warriors now 7 down. It was a valiant effort from the Warriors skipper who must have reflected on his decision at the toss to ask the Lightning to bat first!

Jarred Wilson and Liam McCarthy provided some late innings entertainment with the bat but the match was over as a contest by that stage. There was even time for Tim Tector to roll his arm over and in the process he removed Ryan MacBeth to the delight of his team-mates. George Dockrell was best with the ball finishing with 4/55.

Leinster Lightning have now won no less than 25 IP titles in the 14 years of these competitions and are also well-placed to add the IP20 title when they travel to Lisburn for the refixed double-header next Wednesday (29th), see table below:

IP50 FINAL - SCORE SUMMARY (23.7.2026)

Leinster Lightning 446/6 (Stephen Doheny 124, Tim Tector 122, Harry Tector 86, Lorcan Tucker 52; Andy McBrine 2/63, Ryan MacBeth 2/65)

NW Warriors 276 All Out off 40.4 overs (Andy McBrine 100, Scott MacBeth 41, Ben Calitz 41, Jarred Wilson 34, Liam McCarthy 33; George Dockrell 4/55, Curtis Campher 2/37)

LEINSTER LIGHTNING WIN BY 170 RUNS AND ARE IP50 CHAMPIONS FOR 2026.

On behalf of all at Cricket Leinster, our thanks to James Sherwin and David O’Riordan (Sherwin O’Riordan Solicitors) for their ongoing sponsorship support of the Leinster Lightning and Leinster Bolts, it is very much appreciated.

https://sor-solicitors.ie/

Thanks also to Head Coach & Pathway Manager (Andre Botha) who has worked well with the squad again this year to achieve success on the field of play in support of Lightning captain (Lorcan Tucker).