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Knights slain by McCarthy’s scintillating century in final showdown of Inter-Provincial Cup
Barry McCarthy lit up his home club ground of Pembroke with a dazzling maiden List A century off 55 balls, to rescue his side from a precarious position before George Dockrell bagged five wickets as Leinster Lightning overcame Northern Knights in the final match of the Inter-Provincial Cup in 2022.
McCarthy’s previous best List A score of 43 was left in his wake as he plundered 110 from just 59 balls, featuring four fours and 10 sixes. With Match Referee Phil Thompson regularly pacing out to the middle with a new ball, McCarthy brought up his maiden century with a fast-run two, becoming one of only five men in List A history to score a century batting number 9.
Earlier in the day after being sent into bat first, the Lightning openers Simi Singh and Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin got off to a sprightly start, striking 40 runs from the first six overs. Singh was the chief aggressor, smashing two sixes and two fours in an early assault on Knights’ captain Mark Adair. He then added a third maximum off Tom Mayes in the 8th over, before swinging across the line to a Ruhan Pretorius in-ducker and losing his off stump – out for 33 from 22 balls.
Andrew Balbirnie joined McLoughlin-Gavin at the crease looking to sustain the run rate, but a tighter line by Mayes (3-69), Pretorius and then Matthew Humphreys slowed the Lightning’s progress. With just 28 coming from eight overs, Mayes began to cause some difficulty with his extra bounce and variations of pace. He took two wickets in three balls in the 17th over – Balbirnie (9) and Tim Tector (0) – putting the Lightning on the back foot.
George Dockrell (12), Lorcan Tucker (11) and Greg Ford (21) added much-needed runs but left-arm spinner Humphreys (3-40) turned on the skill tap, deceiving Tucker, Ford and McLoughlin-Gavin (67) with near identical balls – quicker, lower, beating the bat and hitting the stumps.
At 166-7 in the 33rd over, the Knights looked well on top – but where cricket giveth, it can also taketh away – and the eighth wicket pairing of Barry McCarthy and Gavin Hoey began a remarkable counter-attack. The pair hit 88 from 73 balls, McCarthy plundering 61 of the runs from just 38 balls faced. The partnership swung the momentum towards the home side, and despite Hoey losing his wicket for 24, McCarthy continued the batting barrage.
McCarthy followed up the 88-run eighth wicket stand with a 59-run ninth wicket partnership with Josh Little, and when the Lightning innings was brought to a close on 315-9, the home side had smashed 114 runs off the last 10 overs.
With all the momentum of the match shifted into Lightning’s favour, the Knights batters needed a resolute and positive start. Ani Chore (20 from 24 balls) looked solid before thought he had flashed a ball wide of gully, only to watch on as Dockrell pulled in a spectacular diving one-handed catch.
James McCollum (41) and Pretorius (30) then put on 60 runs for the second wicket, before McCollum top-edged Dockrell on the sweep to be caught by Tucker and Pretorius played a lofted off-drive straight to long-off, giving Amish Sidhu his first wicket in Lighting colours. Dockrell then darted one through the defences of Mark Adair, bowled for 8, and the Knights had lost 3-12 in two overs to be staring down the barrel of a big loss.
It was then that Neil Rock and Cade Carmichael came together. The pair played without restraint and pushed the run rate upward – Rock bringing up his third career List A half-century from just 31 balls, while Carmichael supported Rock while still tipping along at a strike rate of over 120. From a position well behind the run rate required, the Rock-Carmichael partnership soon had the Knights in a position of near parity, but after amassing a 119-run stand in only 83 balls, McCarthy broke through by dismissing Carmichael for 43 off 35 balls – feathering a bouncer through to the keeper.
Rock tried to continue on his merry way, joined by Ross Adair, but it was McCarthy’s day as he accounted for Rock on 81 from 58 balls (9 fours, 4 sixes) miscuing a pull shot to be caught at cover by Hoey.
From there the ending seemed inevitable – the final four wickets fell for 5 runs and the Knights succumbed to defeat by 54 runs. Lightning skipper Dockrell finished with 5-49, while batting hero McCarthy finished with 2-32.
McCarthy was named Player of the Match.
That was the final match of the Inter-Provincial Cup competition with the Munster Reds being crowned champions for the first time.
MATCH SUMMARY
Leinster Lightning v Northern Knights, Inter-Provincial 50 over Trophy, Pembroke, 4 July 2022
Leinster Lightning 315-9 (50 overs; B McCarthy 110, C McLoughlin-Gavin 67 ; M Humphreys 3-40) Northern Knights 261 (42.5 overs; N Rock 81, C Carmichael 43; G Dockrell 5-49)
Lightning won by 54 runs

They shoot horses.. Don't They?

One score plus ten years, equals thirty
his membership loyal, near unbroken
maybe a surprise, communal celebration
perhaps even pearl or diamond token
teammates past, present, show appreciation

Not so, expectancy, proved presumptuous
oh well, midst of busy, playing season
competitive minds, oblivious to sentiment
Saturday's must win game, the reason
an oversight, no worries, his moral unbent

Yet, brief ponder, mute, mobile communication
and chuckled inwards, reflecting accordingly
landline nowadays, archaic, near obsolete
skipper aware, of ever enthusiastic, availability
much later a text, 'old hand, take a backseat!'

And that was that, sad to report, he'd ran final race
just like an old derby horse, out to graze grass,
neither buy nor leave, dropped, what's more, forgot
denizen domiciled, ageism, a trait rather crass
reconcile, at least not a leg break, perish the thought!

Ireland gives India a scare in second T20I after heart-breaking run-chase falls four runs short
Match photography from Sportsfile
Scorecard here
Ireland Men gave India a huge scare in the second LevelUp11 T20I, falling to a four-run defeat in a match that saw both sides comfortably clear 200.
India captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and chose to bat first, but Ireland struck early. Ishan Kishan edged Mark Adair behind to Lorcan Tucker to leave India 13-1 inside three overs.
But then came a record-breaking partnership as Sanju Samson and Hooda went to work. It took the latter just five deliveries to hit his first six of the day, and he survived a brief scare a couple of overs later: the umpire raised his finger for LBW but a review showed Josh Little’s delivery to be pitching outside leg stump.
The Powerplay finished with India 54-1, and in came leg-spinner Gareth Delany. While his first over conceded just four runs, 15 runs followed off his next as the two batters ramped things up in the middle section of the innings.
The partnership, worth 176, was India’s highest in T20Is and also the highest for the second wicket in T20Is. It ended in the 17th over, when Adair produced an excellent yorker to bowl Samson for 77.
In the next over Hooda celebrated his first international hundred, reached off just 55 balls.
Wickets tumbled at the end of India’s innings – Little picked up a couple in his final over while Craig Young finished his spell with two wickets in two balls.
India finished on 225-7, setting a steep target for Ireland. Yet Paul Stirling got his team off to the perfect start, dispatching Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 18 off the opening over of the innings.
At the other end Andrew Balbirnie took a while to get going, failing to score from his first seven deliveries. But an audacious sweep off Bhuvneshwar saw him get off the mark with a six, and not long after he dispatched Hardik Pandya for a six over extra cover.
Fifty was brought up inside four overs, but the pair did not survive the Powerplay; Stirling’s blistering knock of 40 off 18 balls finished when he was bowled by leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi.
Delany was then run out for 0 by Pandya in the seventh over, but Balbirnie maintained his momentum; he even survived a stumping after Bishnoi was found to have overstepped at the crease.
Balbirnie advanced to a half-century off just 34 balls and then took 10 off two Harshal Patel deliveries. But Patel bounced back, getting Balbirnie to slap the ball straight to deep point on 60.
It was up to Harry Tector to resurrect the chase, and he found a fine partner in George Dockrell: together they put on 47 off just 21 deliveries.
Tector departed for 39 off 28, but the big hits kept on coming from new man at the crease, Adair, with Harshal’s final over going for 14.
Adair’s spree continued into the final over with back-to-back boundaries off Umran Malik, but the India quick recovered to deny Ireland a famous win, with just three runs coming from the last three balls.
Ireland were still able to record their second-highest total in men’s T20Is, just short of the 225-7 against Afghanistan in 2013.
MATCH SUMMARY
Ireland Men v India, 2nd T20I, Malahide, 28 June 2022
India 225-7 (20 overs; D Hooda 104, S Samson 77; M Adair 3-42)
Ireland 221-5 (20 overs; A Balbirnie 60, P Stirling 40; R Bishnoi 1-41)
India won by 4 runs

INDIA WIN T20

MATCH SUMMARY
Ireland Men v India, 1st T20I, Malahide, 26 June 2022
Ireland 108-4 (12 overs; H Tector 64*, L Tucker 18; Y Chahal 1-11)
India 111-3 (9.2 overs; D Hooda 47*, I Kishan 26; C Young 2-18)
India won by 7 wickets

Clear Currency Senior Cup and National Cup
The draw for the quarter-finals has been determined as follows (home team listed first):
Clear Currency Irish Senior Cup quarter-final draw
The Hills v Lisburn
Balbriggan v Phoenix
Pembroke v CIYMS
Clontarf v Leinster
Remaining Irish Senior Cup Schedule
Quarter-Finals: 17 July 2022 (reserve date 24 July)
Semi-Finals: 31 July 2022 (reserve date 7 August)
Final: 27 August 2022 (reserve date 7 September)
Clear Currency National Cup quarter-final draw
County Galway v Terenure
Ballyspallen v Railway Union
Cregagh v Rush
Derriaghy v North County
Remaining National Cup Schedule
Quarter-Finals: 17 July 2022 (reserve date 24 July)
Semi-Finals: 31 July 2022 (reserve date 7 August)
Final: 28 August 2022 (reserve date 11 September)

Former Ireland captain Porterfield retires
Irish cricket legend William Porterfield has today announced his retirement from international and representative cricket – leaving the game with many records and memorable performances, including being the longest-serving Ireland Men’s captain by some considerable distance.
Porterfield, 37, amassed 310 caps (across all formats) for Ireland after making his international debut in a First-class match against Namibia in May 2006. He ends his career as the third most capped Irish international and second-highest run-scorer for Ireland.
The left-handed top-order batter, who started out playing his club cricket with Donemana, struck the first of his 18 centuries for Ireland against the MCC in a one-day match at Lord’s in August 2006, going on to register 9,507 runs for Ireland at an average of 31.07, and a best of 186 against Namibia in 2015.
Of his more iconic innings, Irish fans fondly remember his 107 against Pakistan in Adelaide at the 2015 Men’s World Cup and his 112 against England in an ODI at Malahide in 2013 as two of his best knocks
A renowned slip fielder and inner-ring fielder, he also took 146 catches and effected 24 run outs during his international career.
Porterfield made the move early to base himself in England, after featuring for the MCC Young Cricketers, and had a successful county career with Gloucestershire and Warwickshire. In latter years, he became a stalwart of the North West Warriors in the Inter-Provincial Series in Ireland, showing his enduring run-scoring abilities finishing fourth-highest run-scorer in both the domestic 50-over and T20 competitions in 2021.
As a captain, Porterfield led the senior Irish side an incredible 253 times - taking over from former skipper Trent Johnston in 2008 at the age of 23 (the second-most appearances as Irish captain was Johnston with 60). Adding to his longevity in leadership roles, Porterfield had also led national youth sides from Under-13s level upwards, and also took the reins of an ICC Combined Associate and Affiliate XI side that played an England XI in 2012. He led Ireland to two 50-over World Cups and five T20 World Cups, but perhaps his most significant moment as captain was leading Ireland Men’s team out at its historic first-ever Test match in May 2018.

Warriors slay the struggling Knights; dramatic tie between Reds and Lightning

Shane Getkate was in inspired form for North West Warriors as they continued their assault on the Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy with a six-wicket DLS victory over a struggling Northern Knights team, while in the second game of the day Munster Reds remain unbeaten following a highly dramatic tie with Leinster Lightning at Bready Cricket Club.
This is Day One of the second of three T20 Festivals for 2022 with the weekend’s fixtures being:
10/06/2022 North West Warriors v Northern Knights (Warriors won by 6 wickets (DLS))
10/06/2022 Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds (Game tied (DLS))
11/06/2022 Leinster Lightning v Northern Knights 11am (local time)
11/06/2022 North West Warriors v Munster Reds 3pm (local time)
12/06/2022 Northern Knights v Munster Reds 11am (local time)
12/06/2022 North West Warriors v Leinster Lightning 3pm (local time)
Game 1: North West Warriors v Northern Knights
An 80-run third-wicket partnership between Shane Getkate and Stephen Doheny helped North West Warriors make it three wins from four games in the Inter-Provincial Trophy following a six-wicket DLS victory over Northern Knights after the game was reduced to 14 overs due to rain.
MATCH SUMMARY
North West Warriors v Northern Knights, Inter-Provincial Trophy, Bready, 10 June 2022
Knights 148-7 (20 overs; J McCollum 49, R Pretorius 30; A McBrine 2-22)
Warriors 111-4 (13.1 Overs; S Getkate 46*, S Doheny 35; J Manley 2-35)
North West Warriors won by 6 wickets (DLS) with 5 balls to spare
Game 2: Munster Reds v Leinster Lightning
There was nothing to separate the still undefeated Munster Reds and the Leinster Lightning in a thrilling match to close day one of the summer’s second IP20 Festival - the match ending in a tie. Requiring three to MATCH SUMMARY
Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds, Inter-Provincial Trophy, Bready, 10 June 2022
Lightning 149-8 (18 overs; G Hoey 39, H Tector 29; G Delany 2-18)
Reds 137-6 (16 overs; PJ Moor 40, C Campher 29; G Hoey 2-24)
Game tied (DLS)

Andy McBrine the ultimate Warrior in Battle of the North.
The North West Warriors completed a 63-run victory over the Northern Knights at Stormont, to go joint top of the Inter-Provincial Cup table.
Andy McBrine was the main aggressor, his innings marked by resplendent drives through cover and mid-off when the bowlers erred too full and peppering the square boundaries when the Knights dropped the slightest bit short. Ben White was the victim of three late cuts in the space of eight balls, first to the left and then right of backward point, and one clipped fine just before arriving in the wicketkeeper’s gloves in a passage of play that underlined McBrine’s form and ability to toy with the fielders.
McBrine brought up his second List A century in as many games, in the 36th over, off just 113 balls, with a pull shot to the midwicket boundary. As is typical of the man, McBrine would barely interrupt his focus to acknowledge the landmark and soon after he hit towering sweeps for a six and four as the Warriors hurtled along.
To their credit, the Knights chopped and changed their bowling in search of breakthroughs and fought bravely with the bat, but the Warriors were just too strong on the day.
MATCH SUMMARY
Northern Knights v North West Warriors, Inter-Provincial 50 over Trophy, 2 June 2022
North West Warriors 304-4 (50 overs; A McBrine 117, S Doheny 97; T Mayes 1-44)
Northern Knights 241 (46.1 overs; A Chore 65, N Rock 62; C Olphert 3-83)
NW Warriors won by 63 runs

Congratulations to my old cricket and rugby team mate and current NCU umpire Simon Burrowes on receiving an OBE !

Very well deserved Lar !

Ed - Congratulations from all at the Ulster Cricketer to Simon and to Andy McCrea, Templepatrick CC, who was awarded a BEM

Ton up for mighty Munster, while flashy Lightning secure first win
The Munster Reds completed a perfect weekend winning three from three as they beat North West Warriors, while Leinster Lightning secured their first of the Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy by defeating hosts Northern Knights.
This is Day Three of the first of three T20 Festivals for 2022 with the weekend’s fixtures being:
27/05/2022 Northern Knights v North West Warriors (Warriors won by 7 wickets)
27/05/2022 Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds (Reds won by 6 wickets)
28/05/2022 North West Warriors v Leinster Lightning (Warriors won by 1 run)
28/05/2022 Munster Reds v Northern Knights (Reds won by 3 wickets)
29/05/2022 North West Warriors v Munster Reds (Reds won by 100 runs)
29/05/2022 Northern Knights v Leinster Lightning (Lightning won by 39 runs)
Game 1: Munster Reds v North West Warriors
Both sides started the day undefeated.
MATCH SUMMARY
Munster Reds v North West Warriors, Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy, Comber, 29 May 2022
Reds 206-5 (20 overs; T Kane 53*, G Delany 40; C Olphert 2-34)
Warriors 106 (17.4 overs; J Wilson 72*; T Kane 2-6, G Delany 2-8)
Munster Reds won by 100 runs
Game 2: Northern Knights v Leinster Lightning
In the second game of the day, Leinster Lightning completed a comfortable 39-run win over the Northern Knights to conclude the first IP20 Festival of the summer.
The fixture concluded an action-packed festival of cricket over the past three days, the next of which will take place at Bready in two weeks time.
MATCH SUMMARY
Northern Knights v Leinster Lightning Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy, Comber, 29 May 2022
Lightning 176 (20 overs; A Balbirnie 58, S Singh 40; M Adair 3-40, Pretorius 2-23)
Knights 137 (17.5 overs; J Lawlor 19; S Singh 4-21, G Hoey 3-17)
Leinster Lightning won by 39 runs

Drama-filled day as North West Warriors win by barest of margins and Munster Reds stay top after win over hosts
North West Warriors pulled off a remarkable victory and Munster Reds down the hosts to stay top on a drama-filled day in the race for the Inter-Provincial Trophy at The Green today.
This is Day Two of the first of three T20 Festivals for 2022 with the weekend’s fixtures being:
27/05/2022 Northern Knights v North West Warriors (Warriors won by 7 wickets)
27/05/2022 Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds (Reds won by 6 wickets)
28/05/2022 North West Warriors v Leinster Lightning (Warriors won by 1 run)
28/05/2022 Munster Reds v Northern Knights (Munster Reds won by 3 wickets)
29/05/2022 North West Warriors v Munster Reds (start 11am)
29/05/2022 Northern Knights v Leinster Lightning (start 3.30pm)
Game 1: North West Warriors v Leinster Lightning
The first game of the day will go down as one of the most dramatic in Inter-Provincial Trophy history, with the North West Warriors prevailing by the barest of margins.
Needing 10 runs to win off the last 12 balls with two wickets in hand, the Lightning lost Jack Carty for 2 in the 19th over, before Greg Ford top-edged a bouncer from Hume over the keeper’s head for a boundary. Four was needed off the last over with one wicket in hand, and the North West’s never-say-die skipper McBrine chose to bowl himself for the last over. Two singles ensued from the first three balls, before the Warriors captain squeezed a yorker under O’Reilly’s bat and knocked back middle-and-off to earn the Warriors a nail-biting one run win – the first-ever result by that margin in Inter-Provincial Trophy history.
Hume’s telling contribution with bat and ball was rewarded with Player of the Match recognition, but McBrine’s decision to take the last over and his ability to prise out the last wicket will be a memorable moment that those spectators will remember for years to come.
MATCH SUMMARY
North West Warriors v Leinster Lightning, Inter-Provincial Trophy, Comber, 28 May 2022
Warriors 159-5 (20 overs; S Doheny 46, G Hume 29*; G Hoey 3-30)
Lightning 158 (19.4 overs; L Tucker 44, H Tector 41; G Kennedy 3-30)
North West Warriors won by 1 run

Game 2: Munster Reds v Northern Knights
In the second game of the day, the Munster Reds made heavy weather of a small run-chase but secured the points with a three-wicket win over the Northern Knights.
With 10 overs gone, the Reds were 73-7 – the sun was out, the crowd was growing, and the home side sensed an upset win. But the Reds were in no mood to roll over, with Matt Ford (15*) and Hand (21*) first navigating a tricky period to stabilise the innings, and then gradually they took control saw out the run-chase without further loss of wicket with Player of the Match Hand hitting the winning runs with a six.
MATCH SUMMARY
Munster Reds v Northern Knights, Inter-Provincial Trophy, Comber, 28 May 2022
Knights 108 (18.1 overs; M Topping 27; G Delany 3-10, D Delany 3-13)
Reds 110-7 (16.2 overs; G Delany 22, F Hand 21*; J Manley 4-34)
Munster Reds won by 3 wickets

Game 1: Northern Knights v North West Warriors
In the first game of the day, home side Northern Knights fell to a seven-wicket defeat after the North West Warriors won the toss and elected to bowl first in cool but dry conditions.
MATCH SUMMARY
Northern Knights v North West Warriors, Inter-Provincial Trophy, Comber, 27 May 2022
Knights 149-8 (20 overs; R Pretorius 40, M Adair 39; G Hume 3-29)
Warriors 152-3 (16.3 overs; S Doheny 74*; J Manley 1-16)
North West Warriors won by 7 wickets

Game 2: Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds
In the second game of the day, the Munster Reds, are today sitting in top spot of both the 50-over Cup competition and now the T20 Trophy competition after a devastating display of power-hitting.
MATCH SUMMARY
Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds, Inter-Provincial Trophy, Comber, 27 May 2022
Lightning 188-6 (20 overs; T Tector 62*, S Singh 40; C Campher 3-49)
Reds 190-4 (14.4 overs; K O’Brien 64*, T Kane 62, G Delany 42; J Carty 2-13)
Munster Reds won by 6 wickets

Warriors winning warning to rivals as Trophy defence begins in earnest, but Reds' show credentials with six blitz.
Defending Inter-Provincial (T20) Trophy champions North West Warriors started their 2022 campaign with a convincing seven-wicket over their northern rivals, Northern Knights, on the first day of the first Inter-Provincial T20 Festival at North Down Cricket Club, but it was Munster Reds’ devastating assault on Leinster Lightning’s bowlers in the second game of the day that grabbed the plaudits.
This is Day One of the first of three T20 Festivals for 2022 with the weekend’s fixtures being:
27/05/2022 Northern Knights v North West Warriors (start 11am)
27/05/2022 Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds (start 3.30pm)
28/05/2022 North West Warriors v Leinster Lightning (start 11am)
28/05/2022 Munster Reds v Northern Knights (start 3.30pm)
29/05/2022 North West Warriors v Munster Reds (start 11am)
29/05/2022 Northern Knights v Leinster Lightning (start 3.30pm)

Clear Currency Irish Senior Cup and Clear Currency National Cup second round draw
Last weekend saw 50 cricket clubs around Ireland competing in the first round of the Clear Currency Irish Senior Cup and Clear Currency National Cup competitions – the action marked the return of these two much anticipated events after a two-year hiatus.
You can watch (or embed) a First Round Review here that discusses the best, worst, eye-catching and eye-watering results and performances. You can also see the first round scorecards on our match centre at: https://www.cricketireland.ie/general/match-centre-club-cup-competitions.
The first-round winners in the respective cup competitions are now joined by those clubs that received a first round bye, and the second round draw has taken place as follows:
Clear Currency Irish Senior Cup – Second Round Draw
To be played: 19 June 2022
The Hills v Cork County
Phoenix v North Down
Merrion v Clontarf
Lisburn v Donemana
CIYMS v Newbuildings
YMCA v Pembroke
Balbriggan v Instonians
Leinster v Waringstown
Clear Currency National Cup – Second Round Draw
To be played: 19 June 2022
County Kerry v Ballyspallen
Derriaghy/Ballyhaunis v Glendermott
UCC v Ballaghaderreen/County Galway
Rush v Midleton
Strabane v Railway Union
St Johnston v North County
Limerick v Cregagh
Bonds Glen v Terenure

Underdogs Munster Reds go clear at the top of the table despite sensational Adair century
After a pulsating match that saw Mark Adair strike his first List A century, the Munster Reds moved four points clear of second-place Leinster Lightning with a 19-run (DLS) win over Northern Knights at The Mardyke today – the Reds’ first win at their home ground since joining the 50-over Inter-Provincial Cup competition in 2021.
A 92-run partnership between Irish internationals Kevin O’Brien (66) and Gareth Delany (63) rescued Munster Reds from a poor start after the home side won the toss and elected to bat first. The Reds lost four early wickets, finding themselves at 38-4 in the 11th over, before O’Brien and Delany set about the recovery.
The Northern Knights’ paceman Josh Manley (3-56) was the early destroyer, removing Murray Commins (2) edging to first slip and Curtis Campher (0) cleaned up by an outswinging yorker. Knights captain Mark Adair accounted for his opposite number PJ Moor (7), trapped in front LBW, and suddenly the competition’s bottom-ranked side had the competition’s top-ranked side on the ropes.
The two sides left the field on a number of occasions with brief showers interrupting play and reducing the game to a 49-over a side affair. Such breaks may have a habit of interrupting a batter’s concentration, but O’Brien brought his attacking intent to the fore and registered his half-century from 61 balls, going on to make 66 from 75 balls (including seven fours and two sixes). While an impressive innings, O’Brien will be disappointed with his mode of dismissal – checking a lofted off drive straight to Manley at long-off from the bowling of Ben White.
At 130-5, the Reds’ innings was still looking precarious, but Gareth Delany dug in and found support from Fionn Hand (30) with a 42-run stand for the sixth wicket, following this up with a 32-run partnership with his cousin David Delany (31*). David Delany got off the mark with a sweetly-timed on-drive off Matthew Foster for four, and took the lead aggressor role during the partnership, however, when Gareth Delany was trapped LBW - giving Manley his third wicket - the Reds 204-7 in the 42nd over.
The Knights’ bowlers may have felt that a good death-overs bowling effort would have them in a good position at the innings break, but the Reds’ Liam McCarthy had other ideas. McCarthy joined David Delany in a 61-run partnership from the last 47 balls of the innings. Whilst batting in the tail for the Reds, McCarthy bats four at club level and showed his full repertoire with the bat in an unbeaten 40 from 26 balls. He struck two eye-catching maximums – both over the legside boundary – and the Reds finished their 49 overs with 265-7.
With his tail up after a solid contribution with the bat, David Delany steamed in with the new ball and soon had two wickets to his name. The two dismissals remarkably similar in nature - both Ross Adair (4) and Ruhan Pretorius (4) were beaten by the pace and movement and had their stumps knocked backwards.
James McCollum (41) and James Lawlor (14) put on 37 for the 3rd wicket, but the introduction of Campher to the bowling crease saw the end of Lawlor – edging a ball to O’Brien at first slip.
Ani Chore joined McCollum and the pair set about stabilising the innings, both batters looking increasingly confident as their respective innings’ progressed. But with the score on 96-3, it was McCollum that fell first, playing across the line from left-arm spinner Mike Frost and was caught at short third by Campher. In an almost carbon copy dismissal, Chore fell for 38 soon after to the same catcher/bowler combination and the Knights slipped to 137-5 in the 27th over.
With the game seemingly slipping away from the visiting side, Mark Adair began to counter-attack. First, he preyed upon the spin of Frost and Gareth Delany, then increasingly took the game to the Reds pace attack. The Irish all-rounder struck eight fours and six sixes in an innings of 108 from just 78 balls. His half-century came from just 35 balls, and while he was relatively becalmed for a 20-minute spell around his fifty, he once again accelerated his scoring rate and powered his way to his first List A century from just 69 balls.
Neil Rock (5), Matthew Humphreys (0) and Manley (0) came and went – to the increasing desperation of Adair – but a 24-run 9th wicket stand with Ben White (13) gave the Knights a glimmer of hope.
On 108, Adair pulled a Campher half-tracker to David Delany who took a diving outfield catch at deep square leg, and the hopes of a remarkable run-chase were extinguished with the captain’s fall.
White was bowled soon after and the Knights finished on 246 after 45.2 overs – Adair was named Player of the Match, but it was the Reds who will be the most pleased as they now sit four points clear at the top of the table.
MATCH SUMMARY
Munster Reds v Northern Knights, Inter-Provincial Cup, The Mardyke, 24 May 2022
Reds 265-7 (49 overs; K O’Brien 66, G Delany 63; J Manley 3-56)
Knights 246 (45.2 overs; M Adair 108, J McCollum 41; C Campher 3-57, M Frost 3-57)
Munster Reds won by 19 runs (DLS)