MCDONAGH’S MAGNIFICENT FIVE WICKET HAUL SETS UP WINNING START FOR LEINSTER U16!

Cricket Leinster's U16 Girls opened the T20 leg of the Cricket Ireland Youth Interprovincial Series in style on Wednesday evening, beating NCU by 5 wickets at Campbell College, Belfast. A victory built on one of the standout individual performances of the Summer.

Having been sent into the field after NCU won the toss and elected to bat, Leinster struck early. The first wicket fell, Harper, with Aadita Subramanya Ramnathpur taking a catch at mid-on off Katie O’Toole, and moments later Lily Morgan's sharp fielding ran out McCartney to leave NCU 9 for 2. Opener West dug in with a well-made 28, and with Cupitt she rebuilt through the middle overs — but Leinster's fielding never let the pressure drop. Captain Susie Whaley produced two sharp run outs in quick succession to remove Cupitt and Humphreys, before Annabel Walsh bowled West to spark an extraordinary collapse.

What followed belonged to Lily McDonagh. In a spell of 2.3 overs she claimed five wickets for just seven runs — bowling Gordon, Morrow and Suffern, trapping Naylor lbw, and having Kerr caught by Zoë Gogan. From 51 for 2, NCU lost their last eight wickets for 30 runs, bowled out for 81 in 17.3 overs.

Figures of 5 for 7 in an interprovincial appearance — a performance the squad will be talking about for a long time.

The chase asked a few questions of Leinster, but they were answered with composure. After Morgan fell early, Whaley counter-attacked brilliantly, striking four boundaries in a 19-ball 23 and putting on 37 with the patient Subramanya Ramnathpur (16). When both departed, Sana George took charge — an unbeaten 14 that included the game's only six, well supported by Ella McMahon's brisk 11. Leinster crossed the line at 83 for 5 in the 17th over, winning with three overs to spare.

The girls are back in action on tomorrow morning against North West, before a double header on Saturday brings the T20 leg to a close.