TWO FROM TWO FOR CL FUTURES WOMEN!

The opening 50 over game in the Future Series saw the Leinster side claiming their second win of the tournament, adding to yesterday's T20 victory over the NCU.

Having lost the toss, Leinster were asked to bat first in overcast conditions, and having lost their first four batters in the PowerPlay were under pressure from their Northern counterparts. 24 from Cara O'Shea steadied the ship, however when she was sixth out for 77 there were just 16 overs gone and plenty of time for the home team left to bat.

A ninth wicket stand between Aisling Lawlor and Síbha Bhoja brought the score from 96 to 130, and when the side were eventually all out for 131 after 32.4 overs, Lawlor was unbeaten on the top score of 28*.

The NCU then had to bat for an hour before the scheduled tea break, and Leinster made the most of that period. Zara Craig kicked things off with a wicket off the third ball of the innings, and finished her opening spell with 2/10 from three overs. An excellent run-out from Ellie McGee, and miserly five over spell from Jenny Sparrow (1/7) saw the score 48/4 after 15 overs.

Key NCU batter Abbi Harrison remained unbeaten at the break, however when McGee then removed her, caught at mid-wicket by the skipper Annabel Squires, for 33, Leinster could sense that they had cracked the door open.

McGee continued, bowling an excellent spell of 3/17 from five overs, whilst another wicket for Sparrow, and one apiece for KimLi McDonald and Lawlor saw the NCU all out for 91 in the 29th over, with Leinster winning by 40 runs and moving to the top of the table after two games.