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EGLINTON – A masterful display of batting by Andrew Balbirnie and George Dockrell led Leinster Lightning to an unassailable position at the top of the Inter-Provincial Cup competition for 2021, after overcoming stubborn resistance from the North West Warriors at Eglinton today.
The Ireland Men’s captain was in fluent form as he top scored with 85* from 110 balls, punishing anything short from the spinners and repeatedly stroking the seamers to the boundary through covers when the ball was over-pitched. Player of the Match Balbirnie came in after Kevin O’Brien was dismissed in the third over, and anchored the innings right through to the end of the successful run chase.

Balbirnie is the second highest run-scorer in the Cup this year, amassing 218 runs at 109, with one century and today’s unbeaten half-century providing him a solid preparation leading into the Netherlands ODI series.

He was partnered today for much of the innings by the seemingly indomitable George Dockrell. Where Balbirnie’s batting has been very good, Dockrell’s has been supreme – with today’s 67 taking his Cup run-scoring tally to 364 runs at an average of 120.33 (featuring a century and four half-centuries in six innings). Dockrell celebrated yesterday’s recall to national team in style today, putting on a 123-run fourth wicket stand with Balbirnie – taking the Lightning from a tricky position of 46-3 to a position well on the road to victory. Not only has Dockrell’s timing and placement been unmatched this year, but his effortless six over long off showed he has the power to possibly be that effective late overs batter that the national side has been seeking.

Earlier in the day the North West Warriors compiled 231 in blustery but dry batting conditions, and facing an in-form Lightning pace battery looking to cause early damage.

William Porterfield looked good early for 33 until we nicked a low catch to Balbirnie at slip off Simi Singh. Warriors captain Andy McBrine dug in and fought hard for 72 from 117 balls, but the rest of the Warriors batting line-up failed to give support – that was, until Nathan McGuire came to the crease with the score at 151-7 in the 35th over.

With a nifty 4, Balbirnie brings up his Half Century. After the loss of two early wickets for the Lightning, he and Dockrell have taken charge of this match.
164/3 after 38 overs.
Livestream https://t.co/6t2BaHVqQ6
Scorecard https://t.co/CdfwzIl8j9#NWWvLL | #IP2021 pic.twitter.com/bKXPOYetkP

— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) May 25, 2021

McGuire is known for his big-hitting, and today that was evident for all to see. He is also not afraid to innovate, and there was no better example of this than his reverse sweep for six off Dockrell to bring up his half-century. McGuire finished 53* from 46 balls – putting on a valuable 50-run 10th wicket stand with Craig Young (13).

Young Malahide seamer David O’Halloran claimed a career-best 4-44 and bowled with pace and bounce, while Dockrell finished with 2-37 as the Warriors posted 231.

That completes the Cup season for the Lightning, picking up 20 points from their six matches. The Warriors are second on 11 points with one match to play (the Northern Knights on 6 points and Munster Reds on 2 points), so the Leinster side are the presumptive Cup winners for 2021.

MATCH SUMMARY

North West Warriors v Leinster Lightning, Inter-Provincial Cup, Eglinton, 25 May 2021

Warriors 231 (49.3 overs; A McBrine 72, N McGuire 53; D O’Halloran 4-44)
Lightning 235-6 (48.5 overs; A Balbirnie 85*, G Dockrell 67; C Young 2-43)

Leinster Lightning won by 4 wickets

See full scorecard

Craig Easdown
Balbirnie and Dockrell’s partnership tilted the match to the Lightning
No
Connaught