The Leinster Lightning have today announced five separate Bolts teams to face a Denmark Development XI in five T20s at Trinity College from Wednesday May 15th to Friday May 17th.
The Bolts became the first senior provincial side to tour when they shared a series with the Danes in September 2018 and Denmark, while reciprocating the tour, are preparing for the Europe Region World T20 final qualifier in Guernsey in June.
This is a Developmental side Denmark are sending and they will provide a strong test for a Bolts squad giving opportunities to lots of different players and combinations with just captain Gareth Delany and YMCA’s Fionn Hand being selected for all five matches.
“It’s not only an area for young up and coming cricketers but also gives players that develop through our very important club system an avenue to press for higher honours,” says Lightning Head Coach Albert van der Merwe about the prospect of taking on his former teammate and Denmark Head Coach Jeremy Bray.
“Both sides have an array of players unavailable due to a combination of school, work, exams and injury,” added van der Merwe, “but this gives us a good test of our depth.”
Getting competitive matches for the Bolts is crucial to player development and a strong Lightning team and van der Merwe acknowledges that Cricket Leinster have been “incredibly supportive in their vision, funding and recognition of this initiative”.
Entrance to College Park is free for all five matches and all are most welcome to what should be cracking encounters. Full bar facilities will be available at the Pavilion Bar for all the matches.
The Leinster Lightning Bolts XIs to take on the Denmark Developmental Side are listed below;
| Game 1 May 15th 5PM | Game 2 May 16th 11AM | Game 3 May 16th 4PM |
Gareth Delany © - Leinster | Gareth Delany © - Leinster | Gareth Delany © - Leinster |
| Matt Ford – Malahide | Jarred Barnes – Rush | Jarred Barnes – Rush |
| Fionn Hand – YMCA | Fionn Hand – YMCA | Fionn Hand – YMCA |
| Michael Lewis – Merrion | Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin – The Hills | Theo Lawson – Pembroke |
| James Newland – Malahide | James Newland – Malahide | James Newland – Malahide |
| Eddie Richardson – North County | Eddie Richardson – North County | Matt Ford – Malahide |
| Tom Stanton – Merrion | Tom Stanton – Merrion | Greg Ford – Malahide |
| Jack Tector – YMCA | Jack Tector – YMCA | Mitchell Thompson – YMCA |
| Mitchell Thompson – YMCA | Max Sorensen – Merrion | Max Sorensen – Merrion |
| Patrick Tice (wk) – Merrion | Patrick Tice (wk) – Merrion | Patrick Tice (wk) – Merrion |
| Ben White – Phoenix | Fiachra Tucker – Pembroke | Fiachra Tucker – Pembroke |
| Game 4 May 17th 11AM | Game 5 May 17th 4PM |
Gareth Delany © - Leinster | Gareth Delany © - Leinster |
| Jarred Barnes – Rush | Jarred Barnes – Rush |
| Greg Ford – Malahide | Greg Ford – Malahide |
| Matt Ford – Malahide | Matt Ford – Malahide |
| Fionn Hand – YMCA | Fionn Hand – YMCA |
| Michael Lewis – Merrion | Michael Lewis – Merrion |
| Nicolaas Pretorius (wk) – Phoenix | Nicolaas Pretorius (wk) – Phoenix |
| Max Sorensen – Merrion | Theo Lawson – Pembroke |
| Tom Stanton – Merrion | Tom Stanton – Merrion |
| Mitchell Thompson – YMCA | Mitchell Thompson – YMCA |
| Fiachra Tucker – Pembroke | Fiachra Tucker – Pembroke |
The Lightning Bolts will finish the week with a 50-over clash against the Emerging Knights, again at College Park on Sunday May 19th, with an 11am start.
The Bolts XI for that match is as follows;
Gareth Delany © (Leinster), Jarred Barnes (Rush), Eoghan Delany (Clontarf), Stephen Doheny (Rush), Fionn Hand (YMCA), Michael Lewis (Merrion), Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin (The Hills), James Newland (Malahide), Nicolaas Pretorius (wk) (Phoenix), Fiachra Tucker (Pembroke), Ben White (Phoenix)
Cricket Leinster General Manager Philip Smith acknowledged Cairn Homes’ vital contribution to cricket in the province. “We are extremely grateful for their support, and without the tangible support of Cairn Homes we wouldn’t have been able to facilitate this programme as we continue to build the Lightning brand.”