The opening batsmen, Rankin and Milligan, fought the new ball well, batting for around an hour before their stand was broken by John Mooney's bowling and Simmi Singh's safe hands. This prompted a trademark Warriors collapse, as the top five all fell before lunch to medium pace from Mooney, Eddie Richardson and Tyrone Kane. After lunch, it fell to Andrew Riddles and Johnny Thompson to give the score some respectability, but their efforts were thwarted by a hostile spell from Max Sorensen. He polished off the tail with little fuss, taking four wickets and catching one, clean bowling last man out Thompson for 25. The innings was over in just 45 overs, and Albert van der Merwe had been required to bowl just one of them.
Craig Young fought back with a hostile spell, and removed the visiting top three of Ackland, Collins and Lawson cheaply, and Simmi Singh, the debutant, came to the crease with his side on 75 for three. However, he and John Anderson added 93 before the close of play to put Leinster in front. They added another 45 the following morning, but both fell short of their centuries: Singh on 76, Anderson top scoring with 91. Both fell victim to Gareth Burns. Eddie Richardson continued to stake his claim for higher honours with an aggressive unbeaten 35 before John Mooney decided that enough was enough and declared the innings.
Max Sorensen claimed seven wickets in the match.
The target of 73 was light work for Leinster, who completed a precocious victory with one of the three days to spare. This meant that, with one match still to play, against their closest challengers no less, the Lightning are already unassailable. The strength in depth that they have been able to call on has been astonishing. My one hope for next season is that Scotland and the Netherlands, who are to be kicked off the County circuit, find a home in the Interpros. They would add strength in depth to the competition for certain. For now, though, all that remains to be said is congratulations Leinster.
Craig Young was one of the few bright spots in a very bleak Warriors picture,
that I do not believe has included a single half-century for any batsman all season.
North West Warriors - 164 ao David Rankin - 25 (52) Johnny Thompson - 25 (52) Max Sorensen - 4/41 (14) John Mooney - 3/12 (9) and 173 ao Andy McBrine - 48 (70) Jason Milligan - 43 (104) John Anderson - 3/4 (3.5) Max Sorensen - 3/34 (13) | Leinster Lightning - 267/8 dec John Anderson - 91 (197) Simmi Singh - 76 (138) Andy McBrine - 3/45 (21.4) Craig Young - 3/57 (19) and 73/3 Ben Ackland - 28 (42) John Mooney - 18* (15) Johnny Thompson - 2/20 (6) Andy McBrine - 1/6 (2.1) |
Leinster Lightning Northern Knights North West Warriors | Won/Drawn/Lost 2 / 1 / 0 1 / 1 / 1 0 / 2 / 2 | Bonus 22 12 16 | Points 57 31 22 |