Lightning Crash to Second Defeat of IP20 Weekend in Thriller

The Leinster Lightning fell to a crushing 1-wicket defeat against the North West Warriors in their final IP20 Festival match of the Pembroke weekend.

After taking 4-14 through the middle overs of the Warriors chase, the Lightning were in control having the Warriors 143/7 chasing 183 in the 16^th over. However, a 30-run partnership in 17 balls from Graham Hume (19) and man of the match Craig Young (17*) meant the spoils went the way of the North West men.

The Lightning had amassed 182/7 in the first innings, thanks in large part to Lorcan Tucker’s 51.

Tucker and George Dockrell (44) put on 79 in eight overs for the 4^th wicket through the middle of the innings as the Lightning recovered from the early loss of Kevin O’Brien.

Craig Young (3-24) had removed O’Brien and took the wicket of Balbirnie (24) too, who had looked in great form before being gutted to be bowled.

However, it was Ross Allen (3-19) who snared both Dockrell and Tucker and rather than threatening a score of 200-plus, the Lightning had to settle for 182/7 at halftime.

In response, William Porterfield (52 off 23) got the Warriors off to a flyer, taking them to 74/2 inside seven overs.

In a high-scoring match of two half-centuries, it looked like the second bowling spell of Simi Singh, taking three wickets, had turned the match decisively in the home side’s favour.

When the Warriors stuttered from 129/3 to 143/7, as Balbirnie and Grassi took good diving catches and Tucker stumped McBrine and Kennedy off Singh and Dockrell, the partisan crowd were looking forward to a home win.

Hume and Young had other ideas however as the Warriors made 32 off the last three overs. A brilliant run out of Hume by Josh Little gave the Lightning a glimmer of hope but it wasn’t to be on a day of high drama, but bitter disappointment at one that got away.

The Leinster Lightning resume their IP20 campaign against the Munster Reds at Bready CC on Friday June 25^th at 4pm.  

Interprovincial 20-Over Trophy

Pembroke CC, Dublin

Leinster Lightning v North West Warriors, Sunday June 20^th      

Leinster Lightning 182/7 20 Overs (L Tucker 51, G Dockrell 44; R Allen 3-19, C Young 3-24)

North West Warriors 183/9 19.5 Overs (W Porterfield 52, S Getkate 37; S Singh 3-21)

North West Warriors won by 1 wicket