NORTH LEINSTER SET-UP OAK HILL SHOWDOWN WITH 8-WICKET WIN!

North Leinster have set up a grandstand finish in the District Cup for 2026, as their 8-wicket demolition job of South Leinster in Knockharley this evening makes next Monday's 50-over fixture in Oak Hill 'winner-take-all'.

It all went right for the home side this evening, skipper Adam Doyle won the toss and elected to bowl first, and when Killian McGrane dismissed Bruce Whaley with the first delivery of the game, they had their dream start.

When a mini-stand between Seb Dijkstra and Danny Forkin was brought to an abrupt end by a mix-up and the run out of Dijkstra, North Leinster were able to really turn the screw. Two wickets for each of the off-spinners in Brandon Morris and Brandon Kruger restricted South Leinster, with only Connor Walden's 16 managing to scramble their way up to 94 all out in the penultimate over of the innings.

The hosts' chase also got off to a good start, John Devane dominating the opening stand before he was adjudged LBW for 27 of the first 36 runs. Muzamil and Yaseen Sherzad added another 31 for the second wicket, before the latter was caught and bowled by Harry St Leger, who was comfortably the pick of the away side's bowlers, his spell of 4 overs seeing figures of 1/14, including a maiden.

Muzamil Sherzad saw proceedings through to the end, finishing unbeaten on 33, as Kruger was also not out on 17, the pair adding 33 in quick time to bring the game to a close inside 15 overs and secure a bonus point win to level up the standings at the top of the table.

DISTRICT CUP 20 OVER

North Leinster 100/2 in 15 overs (Muzamil Sherzad 33*, John Devane 27; Harry St Leger 1/14)
beat
South Leinster 94 all out in 19 overs (Danny Forkin 22; Brandon Morris 2/9, Killian McGrane 2/9, Brandon Kruger 2/21)