LEINSTER LIGHTNING - RINCE & REPEAT AT SYDNEY PARADE (29.8)

The Sherwin O’Riordan Leinster Lightning completed a double-win over the North West Warriors at Sydney Parade today, this time in the 50-over format.

With the Northern Knights in pole position to win the IP50 competition, the focus for the Lightning is now on finishing the season strongly in the longer format.

The North West Warriors won the toss for the second day running and also chose to bat first again. With wickets falling at regular intervals, only Stephen Doheny and Scott MacBeth made any impact with the bat as once again, Gavin Hoey’s leg spin combined with Harry Tector’s off spin for figures of 7-57 to leave Warriors once again all out for a modest total – this time 129 with over 16 overs unused.

In reply, Leinster set off at a brisk pace in search of the win with opener Andrew Balbirnie leading the charge. An 81-run partnership between Balbirnie and Chris DeFreitas all but sealed the win with DeFreitas dismissed for 44 (off just 36 balls) with the score on 118. A couple of consolation wickets then followed including the run-out of Harry Tector before Balbirnie rounded off another Lightning win, finishing undefeated on 57*. The target had been reached in just the 22nd over of the chase.

SCORE/MATCH SUMMARY

North West Warriors 129 All Out off 33.5 overs (Stephen Doheny 30; Gavin Hoey 4-30, Harry Tector 3-27)
Leinster Lightning 132-4 off 21.2 overs (Andrew Balbirnie 57*, Chris DeFreitas 44; Scott MacBeth 2-19)
Leinster Lightning won by 6 wkts.

The Lightning are scheduled to finish their 2024 IP campaign with back-to-back fixtures against the Northern Knights at home in Oak Hill as follows:

Tuesday 10th September: Leinster Lightning vs Northern Knights (IP20, 3.00pm, Oak Hill)
Wednesday 11th September: Leinster Lightning vs Northern Knights (IP50, 10.45am, Oak Hill)

Thanks as always to our sponsors, James Sherwin and David O'Riordan at Sherwin O'Riordan Solicitors, it is very much appreciated.