Having played its own ‘get out of jail card’ in the form of a Kevin O’Brien century in the Leinster Lighting’s first match, it was the turn of the North West Warriors to play its card to secure a draw at the end of three tense days in College Park. In the case of the Warriors it took a rear guard action in their second innings and a parsimonious four overs to secure the draw. Leinster will certainly rue the number of dropped catches in the day [and indeed across the two innings] but when the last wicket fell and 26 runs were needed to secure victory in four overs, a win should still have been secured. Instead Leinster lost five wickets and fell four runs short. Not the result that the spectators in College Park expected or wanted but nonetheless a great start to the Inter-provincial Championship.
The full text of the end of match press release from Cricket Ireland is included below.
Dramatic last day sees Warriors escape with draw against Lightning
NW Warriors escaped with a dramatic draw against Leinster Lightning in a thrilling encounter at College Park.
It looked as if a determined rearguard action would be in vain after they were dismissed for 153 to leave Leinster needing just 26 in four overs to claim the win. However inspired bowling from Johnny Thompson (2-6) and Peter Connell (2-15) restricted Lightning to 22 for 5 - just four short when stumps were pulled.
It could all have been so different as with four needed from the final two deliveries, Patrick Collins powerful pull shot found Romano Ramoo on the deep square leg boundary - a yard either side and it would have been victory - such are the small margins in sport. Earlier Andrew Riddles (31) and David Rankin (29) had battled resolutely to eke out what proved to be a crucial lead.
Max Sorensen (4-50) bowled maginificently throughout and his figures would have been even better had Leinster not spilled an incredible six chances. Eddie Richardson (2-32) and skipper Kevin O'Brien (2-13) also bowled with great control on a day where the overhead conditions meant the bowlers were always on top.
It's been a wonderful start to the RSA Inter-Provincial Series, with the next game coming on Sunday when the Warriors host Northern Knights in a 50 over encounter - play gets under way at 10:45am.
RSA Inter-Provincial Championship, Day Three Close of Play Scorecard, At College Park
North West Warriors 191 all out and 153 all out (68.5 overs, A Riddles 31, D Rankin 29, M Sorensen 4-50, K O'Brien 2-13, E Richardson 2-32) drew with Leinster Lightning 319 all out and 22-5 (4 overs, J Thompson 2-6, P Connell 2-15).