Ford Focus Steers Lightning to Thrilling Victory Over Munster Reds

Matt Ford scored an unbeaten 34 including ten off the final two deliveries to steer the Leinster Lightning to a thrilling 3-wicket win over Munster Reds on Saturday evening.

Set 182 to win by an excellent Munster batting display the Lightning paced the reply perfectly in the end.

The Munster top three all got into the forties as Cormac Hassett (49), Jack Tector (47) and Stephen Doheny (46) gave the Reds the perfect platform to build a strong innings.

Tyrone Kane (1-35), Rory Anders (1-31) and Fionn Hand (1-18) took wickets through the innings the momentum always seemed with the Munster side.

That was until the final over bowled by Peter Chase. A run out effected by Lorcan Tucker, followed by two wickets for Chase off the last two balls, meant Munster finished on 181/7 and Leinster went into half-time with the momentum on their side.

As they had done on Friday against Middlesex, Gareth Delany (27) and Kevin O’Brien (56) got the Lightning off to a flier, putting on 55 for the opening wicket.

Both were demonstrating their immense power hitting but it was O’Brien who went to his half-century on this occasion. He only fell to an outstanding diving catch from Hassett at deep mid-wicket.

Despite Balbirnie (17), Singh (13) and Dockrell (23) getting starts the Lightning were behind the run rate, needing 11 an over with four overs to go.

Indeed, when Dockrell fell to a stunning JJ Garth catch at long-on with just 10 balls left and 22 runs required, the Lightning fans feared a second consecutive festival defeat to the Reds.

Up stepped Matt Ford. His unbeaten 34 off 13 balls included four boundaries and two maximums as he picked the gaps and powered the Lightning to an unbelievable victory.

This sets up the Lightning for a great weekend and they’ll take that momentum into tomorrow’s match against the North West Warriors at 4pm.

In the day’s other game, Shane Getkate took a barely believable 5 for 8 off 3.2 overs as the Northern Knights skittled the North West Warriors for just 78 runs.

James McCollum then struck a majestic unbeaten 42 as the Knights cruised home with more than nine overs to spare.

Test Triangle T20 Festival, Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds

At Pembroke Cricket Club;

Munster Reds 181/7 20 overs (C Hassett 49, J Tector 47, S Doheny 46; P Chase 3-36)

Leinster Lightning 183/7 20 overs (K O’Brien 56, M Ford 34*, G Delany 27; J Benton 3-23)

Leinster Lightning win by 3 wickets