LIGHTNING ROMP TO OPENING DAY VICTORY!
It was a fantastic day to open the IP50 season this afternoon in Oak Hill, as the Sherwin O'Riordan Leinster Lightning got their season off to the perfect start, with what was ultimately a relatively comfortable win against the Munster Reds.
The Reds' skipper Gareth Delany won the toss, and elected to bowl first, on a wicket which had seen a couple of modest batting efforts on it in Sunday's Super Series fixture. His decision bore early fruit, with the wicket of Chris de Freitas, however when Tim Tector had wrestled some momentum back, a delivery from his club-mate Byron McDonough took the edge and saw him caught at third man for 30.
This however succeeded only in bringing the new Lightning captain, Lorcan Tucker, to the crease to join his number three, Harry Tector, with the pair batting magnificently together for nearly 35 overs. Both were initially circumspect, however having passed their respective half-centuries, the international pair opened their shoulders and clicked the innings into gear.
Tucker was the first to three figures, before being dismissed for an excellent 121 from 127 deliveries, finding the boundary 12 times, whilst also hitting 5 maximums in what was a sublime start to his rein as captain. Tector followed soon after, with his 120 including ten fours and three sixes and taking just 106 deliveries.
After this pair, George Dockrell's 17-ball 27 gave the innings a decent finish, with the home side ending 328/8 in their 50 overs.
The Munster chase faltered early, as Jai Moondra's brace of LBWs saw the back of Swapnil Modgill and Kian Hilton, before a decent partnership between Stephen Doheny and Suliman Safi helped them come back into the game somewhat. Harry Tector then re-entered the game with a bang, firstly taking a brilliant low catch at point off the bowling of Melvin Devaraj to dismiss Doheny, then enticing a false shot from Safi to see him back to the pavilion with the assistance of an even better catch by Dockrell.
Gareth Delany counter-attacked alongside Philippe le Roux, however when the wicket of Gareth Delany, again caught by Harry Tector off the bowling of Moondra, the Lightning wrestled back the momentum once again, and at the second drinks break saw the Reds 188/5 and still 141 runs short of the target.
The first over after the break saw Barry McCarthy return and claim the wickets of both John McNally and Liam McCarthy, putting the Lightning well on top. A text-book Gavin Hoey over finished with a googly cannoning into the pads of Josh Manley to account for the 8th wicket, and when the 9th wicket of Ben White fell, victory looked assured.
Le Roux batted nicely to finish 86*, however the run out of Byron McDonough saw the Lightning run out 50 run winners in the 47th over of the innings.