Except for Johnny Thompson. Last year's club cricketer of the year returned from injury today, and immediately set about making a serious impression with what is arguably his second string. David Simpson was taken well and truly to the cleaners along with skipper White and Ben Wylie, back from University, as the all-rounder raced past his fifty and kept going. Ricky-Lee Dougherty hung around for long enough to build a 91-run partnership, and when Thompson finally fell, he had contributed 86 to the now-respectable total.
Nigel Jones, pictured here in the nets, showed exactly what his batting was about.
Of the two new batsmen at the crease at the halfway stage of the chase, Knights skipper and schoolteacher Andrew White was the aggressor. While Lee Nelson had to fight to stay at the crease, White was able to continue where Jones had left off by scoring at over a run a ball. He even added a maximum to the four sixes struck by the opener. Wickets continued to fall at the other end, though, and when Eugene Moleon skied a catch, the last two wickets would have to combine to score a further nine runs. This took three deliveries, as White hit a four and a brace before Simpson, who had been Johnny Thompson's main victim earlier in the day before dismissing him, returned the favour by smiting a boundary from the only ball he faced to record the winning runs off the bowling of the almost-hero, Johnny Thompson.
That win put the Knights clear of the Warriors with one game to play, although that one game is against strong favourites Leinster. Tomorrow, the second Twenty20 day will be taking place, also from North Down. Good night.
North West Warriors - 232/9 Johnny Thompson - 86 (82) David Rankin - 52 (90) Phil Eaglestone - 3/17 (10) David Simpson - 2/63 (10) | Northern Knights - 234/8 Nigel Jones - 72 (67) Andrew White - 64* (61) Johnny Thompson - 3/50 (8.1) Peter Connell - 2/58 (10) |
Leinster Lightning Northern Knights North West Warriors | Won / NR / Lost 2 / 0 / 0 1 / 1 / 1 0 / 1 / 2 | Points 8 6 2 |