The InterProvincial 3D Championship

Leinster Lightning this week won the InterProvincial 3D Championship for the second time in the two years of its short history. The tournament is an important element in Cricket Ireland’s strategy to develop cricket in Ireland to the point where it can sustain a test team. The 3D tournament, alongside the 4D ICC InterContinental Cup, provides domestic players with the opportunity to improve their skills in the longer versions of the sport.

This year the Leinster Lightning won three of their four matches, drawing the rain reduced game against the Northern Knights this week. On the face of it this would suggest a Leinster dominance of the tournament. The reality was a little different and on at least two occasions Leinster had to be rescued by last wicket partnerships. Over the season Leinster have mainly relied on the strength of their bowling attack to secure victories, with the bulk of the wickets being spread among the four lead bowlers. On the batting front there were no centuries and only nine half centuries.  

Over two seasons Leinster have been the best prepared team in the tournament and this is reflected in the results. But there is a long way to go to develop the competition to the point where it can provide the stepping-stone to test cricket. The Leinster Lighting team, coaches and management are to be congratulated on their success. Trent Johnston in particular has prepared the team well and inculcated a professional attitude towards training and an organisation and confidence on the pitch. The foundations have been laid for his successor as he pursues his coaching career in Australia.

The results of the individual matches and the personal averages are set out below.

Game 1          North West Warriors v Leinster Lightning, [Bready]

Leinster win by four wickets.

North West Warriors 176 all out & 105 all out (34.2 overs. Craig Young* John Mooney 4-22, Max Sorenson 4-43, Eddie Richardson 2-31)

Leinster Lightning 220 all out (Fintan McAllister 48*, Max Sorenson 42, Ben Coghlan 33, Craig Young 5-37, Ernest Kemm 2-22) & 65-6 (23 overs. Ernest Kemm 3-15, Andrew McBrine 2-22).

Game 2         Leinster Lightning v Northern Knights [College Park]

Leinster win by 157 runs

LEINSTER LIGHTNING 290/9 dec (99.4 overs, J Anderson 60, A Poynter 54, J Mooney 36, F McAllister 35, M Sorensen 33*, S Getkate 3-47, J Cameron-Dow 3-77, M Adair 2-46) and 187/6 dec (56.5 overs, P Collins 41, A Poynter 62 S Singh 48, M Adair 2-31, I Wasim 2-21)

NORTHERN KNIGHTS 144 all out (51.2 overs, S Getkate 34, M Sorensen 4-34, E Richardson 3-28, J Mooney 2-17) and 176 all out (N Larkin 40, J Shannon 27, D Simpson 24*, S Getkate 21, Van der Merwe 3-35, Richardson 3-24 )

Game 3           Leinster Lightning v North West Warriors [Malahide]

Leinster win by 65 runs

LEINSTER LIGHTNING 324 all out (109 overs, M Sorensen 86, B Coghlan 61, A van der Merwe 54*, C McLoughlin 30, C Young 4-91, S Thompson 2-45, E Kemm 2-56) and 156-2 dec (36.5 overs overs, F McAllister 71, B Coghlan 36, P Collins 45*)

NORTH WEST WARRIORS 188 all out (65.4 overs, E Kemm 55*, A Riddles 29, A McBrine 25, J Thompson 21, J Mooney 3-34, A van der Merwe 2-24, M Sorensen 2-45, E Richardson 2-50) and 227 all out (67.4 overs, A McBrine 87, J Thompson 42, van der Merwe 4-54,  J Mooney 3-71, M Sorensen 2-54)

Game 4          Northern Knights v Leinster Lightning [Waringstown]

Match drawn

NORTHERN KNIGHTS 312-4 dec. (78 overs, C Ervine 131, A White 87*, N Larkin 30, M Sorensen 2-60)

LEINSTER LIGHTNING 205-3 dec. (55.1 overs, K Carroll 77, B Ackland 54, J Anderson 30*, F McAllister 28)

Over the season fifteen players turned out for the Leinster Lightning in the Championship.