WELL PACED INNINGS FROM MUNSTER PUTS PAY TO LEINSTER EFFORTS

The second home match of the week for the Sherwin O’Riordan sponsored Leinster Lightning team saw them welcome Munster Reds to Sydney Parade.

Munster won the toss and decided to field first, a decision that Lightning skipper George Dockrell said he would have taken himself.

Like Tuesday the home team’s top order never fired with batters seemingly getting set but then out to well disciplined Munster bowling. The highlight innings was from keeper-batter Mark Donegan, who made a well paced 87 off 113 balls. This innings allowed Dockrell to bat more aggressively, making 38 off 39 and then Fionn Hand (23 off 12) and Barry McCarthy (24 off 13) late overs impetus. McCarthy was the last man out with 9 balls unused and 287 on the board.

Munster knew that that wasn’t a target that needed drastic action and their openers batted very sensibly to put on a partnership of 125 in 29 overs.

Then followed an over of madness where Reuben Wilson took three wickets in 4 balls, including both openers and International Curtis Campher for a golden duck.

But Munster bat deep and with the experience of Kane and Moor the next men in it was still a daunting prospect for Leinster.

Those two put on 157 in a magnificent partnership, only broken when Wilson came back into the attack and took the wickets of Kane and then Moor to end with a magnificent 5-42, his first 5 wicket haul for Leinster Lightning.

He was the only wicket taker on the day and Munster Reds were deserving 5 wicket winners.

Next match for Leinster is against the North West Warriors in Bready on Tuesday 23^rd May.