The Leinster Lightning defeated the Northern Knights by three wickets with almost seven overs to spare in Malahide on Saturday as Lorcan Tucker’s run-a-ball 83 proved the difference in the Test Triangle InterProvincial 50-Over Cup tie.
Entering the fray with the home side teetering at 11/2, Tucker showed all the poise and fluidity of the international batsman he is in compiling a beautiful knock.
Tucker struck eight boundaries all around the wicket and flicked a huge six over fine leg and out of the ground towards the Castle in Malahide as he dominated a 68-run third wicket partnership with Stephen Doheny (26).
Doheny himself had arrived at the crease in the first over after Tuesday’s hero, Jack Tector departed for a first ball duck for the second game in succession against the Knights. When opening partner Kevin O’Brien (11) joined him back in the hutch, it was left to Doheny and Tucker to rebuild.
Simi Singh (63*) took over to get the chase over the line. His partnership of 50 with Tucker for the fifth wicket, was followed by a partnership of 65 with Tyrone Kane (31) in double quick time.
Kane fell with just two runs required, leaving captain George Dockrell the task of flicking his first delivery to the fine leg boundary and sealing the victory.
Earlier, a blistering spell of bowling from Josh Little (2-35) up front had restricted the Knights to 37/1 off the opening powerplay overs.
James McCollum (60) and Neil Rock (48) played well for their runs at the top and in the middle of the order, however the Lightning kept taking wickets and never allowed a big partnership to develop.
Four bowlers took two wickets while Curtis Campher didn’t take a wicket but was economical, his six overs going for just 28 runs. A good team effort with the ball meant the Lightning had what proved to be a very gettable target of 240/9 to chase down.
The Lightning complete their Test Triangle InterProvincial 50-over Cup campaign with a home fixture against the North West Warriors on Monday at Malahide with a 10.15am start.
Test Triangle Interprovincial 50-Over Cup
Malahide CC, Dublin
Leinster Lightning v Northern Knights, Saturday September 26th
Northern Knights 240/9 50 Overs (J McCollum 60, N Rock 48; J Little 2-35, G Dockrell 2-35, S Singh 2-44, P Chase 2-46)
Leinster Lightning 243/7 43.1 Overs (L Tucker 83, S Singh 63*; M Adair 2-46)
Leinster Lightning won by three wickets