BELFAST – Leinster Lightning Bolts, Munster Heat, Emerging Knights, Emerging Warriors and Cricket Ireland Academy battle it out for the T20 title.
DAY ONE:
- At Stormont Cricket Ireland Academy elected to bat reaching 156 for 6 thanks to 72 off 45 from Jeremy Martins.
- But Emerging Knights chased it down in 17.1 overs and only for the loss of two wickets.
- In Belmont, Emerging Warriors posted 146 for 8 with Gavin Roulston scoring 54 from 42.
- Leinster Lightning Bolts looked safe chasing thanks to 60 off 44 from John McNally but fell away at the very end losing by only 2 runs.
DAY TWO:
- Cricket Ireland Academy got their first win beating Emerging Warriors by 5 wickets (DLS method) at Stormont early in the day.
- Meanwhile at Belmont Emerging Warriors made it two from two beating Munster Heat by 35 runs (DLS method).
- Later on Leinster Lightning Bolts beat Emerging Knights by 7 wickets after chasing down 178 with 5 balls to spare.
- Cricket Ireland Academy then got their second win of the day beating Munster Heat by 54 runs in Belmont.
- Key performances of the day from Daniel Murray with 73 (45) for Cricket Ireland Academy, and Eshan O’Sullivan with 4-25 for Munster Heat.
DAY THREE:
- Leinster Lightning Bolts vs Cricket Ireland Academy unfortunately got washed in Carrickfergus with both taking two points.
- Meanwhile at Belmont, Emerging Warriors beat Munster Heat by 9 wickets (DLS) to add to their tally.
- Later on Emerging Knights beat Emerging Warriors by just 7 runs in a tight affair at Carrickfergus to top the table, but who would meet them in the final?
- Munster Heat had it tough against Leinster Lightning Bolts losing by 91 runs in their final game but 221 was always going to be tricky.
- This left Cricket Ireland Academy and the Bolts tied on points but net run rate delivered Leinster into the final against the Knights tomorrow at 10:45am.
DAY FOUR:
- Time for the final: Emerging Knights won the toss against Leinster Lightning Bolts and elected to bat in Stormont.
- However at 15-4 they may have regretted the decision. Ben Calitz fought with 33 off 40 but Olly Riley’s 3-17 helped wrap things up.
- Setting 85 meant Emerging Knights had to make inroads quick. They removed Swapnil for 13 but the Bolts marched home with 8 wickets remaining.
- Leinster Lightning Bolts reached the final by virtue of net run rate, but made it count on the day.