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MAGHERAMASON – A dramatic 1-run victory for the North West Warriors and a brilliant 95* from PJ Moor headlined the first day of the second Inter-Provincial T20 Festival at Bready Cricket Club today.
In the first game of the day, the Northern Knights fell one run short, after needing 47 runs to win from the last three overs. Neil Rock (45) and Ross Adair (26) plundered 24 from Craig Young’s fourth over to bring their side to the brink of a remarkable victory, but Shane Getkate – bowling the final over – held his nerve and ensured that Ross Adair couldn’t swing freely on the last ball.

Earlier in the day, Knights captain Harry Tector had won the toss and sent the North West Warriors into bat, hoping to take advantage of any moisture in the pitch after yesterday’s rain.

Despite a stuttering start, the Warriors posted a competitive total of 160-6 from their 20 overs, led by William McClintock’s brilliant 54 from 32 balls, supported by Shane Getkate (36) and Andy McBrine (27*).

Player of the Match: William McClintock pic.twitter.com/bgm7Utz67M

— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) June 25, 2021

Player of the Match McClintock’s eye-catching innings featured 3 fours and 4 big sixes, and was part of an 84-run fourth-wicket stand with Getkate off just 51 balls. Coming in with his side looking in early trouble at 31-3, the Donemana captain blasted the ball around the ground with seeming ease, showcasing the power-hitting ability that he is renowned for.

In response, the Knights started poorly losing star batter Paul Stirling in the first over for 1. James McCollum (11) and Jeremy Lawlor (28) looked to get the run chase back on track, but McCollum fell to a good running catch by McBrine at mid-off, and Lawlor was brilliantly run out from Graham Kennedy, who chased the ball down to third man and threw the stumps down with a direct hit, catching Lawlor a metre short.

When Mark Adair was out for 23, the Knights were 90-5 in the14th over, looking well adrift of the target, until a quickfire 14 from Ruhan Pretorius, then the partnership between Rock and Ross Adair made it a tense finish to the match.

MATCH SUMMARY

North West Warriors v Northern Knights, Inter-Provincial Trophy, Bready Cricket Club, 25 June 2021

Warriors 160-6 (20 overs; W McClintock 54, S Getkate 36; L Georgeson 2-30)
Knights 159-8 (20 overs; N Rock 45; A McBrine 1-19)

North West Warriors won by 1 run

See full scorecard

In the second game of the day, the Munster Reds demolished their more fancied rivals Leinster Lightning by seven wickets thanks to a flawless knock by captain PJ Moor.

After a brisk scoring first three overs, the Lightning batters were soon on the back foot with the loss of Kevin O’Brien (9), Andrew Balbirnie (0) and George Dockrell (5) in the space of 13 balls – Josh Manley being the chief destroyer, taking the first two wickets as part of an impressive double-wicket maiden.

Simi Singh took on a counter-attacking approach and struck 7 fours and a six on his way to a 31-ball half-century. Despite being dropped on 47, Singh’s innings ran counter to his teammates, who continued to fall at a regular rate. When Singh eventually fell for 61 off 38 balls, the Leinster side looked out of the game at 101-8, but a 24-run final wicket stand between Josh Little (14*) and David O’Halloran (6*) pushed the Lightning score up to 133-9 at the end of their 20 overs.

The Lightning batting will disappoint head coach Nigel Jones, with only three batters reaching double-figures and the second most runs came from Extras.

PJ Moor blasts 20 runs off that last over, and Munster are closing in on the target.

Follow the game…

Livestream https://t.co/5sRxJ24SF0
Scorecard https://t.co/ywuMiAA7yG#MRvLL | #IP2021 pic.twitter.com/OyjSihfjfR

— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) June 25, 2021

For the Reds, numerous bowlers stood out – left-arm off-spinner Mike Frost (2-14) bowled with great control and a containing line, while Josh Manley’s (2-15) pace and bounce caused difficulty for the batters. Aaron Cawley (1-20) and debutant Alistair Frost (2-15) also looked sharp.

Needing early wickets to create some pressure, the Lightning’s Barry McCarthy struck twice in the first over – removing Seamus Lynch and the Reds’ top-scoring batter Murray Commins both LBW.

Watching forlorn at the non-strikers end, Munster captain PJ Moor decided then to take his cue from Singh’s innings earlier in the day and set about counter-attacking with a range of powerful shots down the ground and square of the wicket. The Zimbabwean hit the competition’s highest score of 95* from just 58 balls, including 10 fours and 4 sixes. His innings was near flawless, striking boundaries at will and shepherding the run chase to perfection.

Matt Ford’s 20* settled any nerves in completing the run chase. The pair hit 77 runs in 46 balls to canter home – Moor fittingly striking a six and four to complete the task.

Moor was unsurprisingly named Player of the Match, and now sees his Reds team move into second place on the ladder, behind the North West Warriors.

MATCH SUMMARY

Munster Reds v Leinster Lightning, Inter-Provincial Trophy, Bready Cricket Club, 25 June 2021

Lightning 133-9 (20 overs; S Singh 61; M Frost 2-14, J Manley 2-15)
Reds 137-3 (18 overs; PJ Moor 95*; B McCarthy 2-25)

Munster Reds won by 7 wickets

See full scorecard

Craig Easdown
William McClintock on the way to 54
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Connaught