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Two contrasting fixtures on Friday night but both were entertaining matches for the fans as the Leinster Lightning and North West Warriors came out on top.
It was a record breaking evening in the latest round of the Hanley Energy IP20 Trophy, with Simi Singh’s century leading Leinster Lightning to victory over Munster Reds, while Craig Young’s five-wicket haul helped NW Warriors to a nervy three-wicket win over Northern Knights.
Simi Singh and Max Sorensen shared a competition record stand of 128 in 65 balls as the Lightning powered to the highest total in competition history – a huge 247 for 4.

Singh smashed 10 fours and 6 sixes in his way to 109 from 53 balls, the second century in the fifth year of the format, before falling one short of John Mooney’s record score of 110.

Sorensen fell agonizingly short of also reaching the landmark, as he finished on 98 not out from just 44 balls, hitting 7 fours and thumping 8 sixes, four consecutively off the unfortunate Yaqoob Ali (2-52).

Munster to their credit came out all guns blazing, Jack Tector and Robert Forrest both making half centuries, as they finished on 188 for 9.

The pair both struck 8 fours and 1 six in similar innings, but it was just too much of a mountain to climb. Gareth Delany (3-25) was the pick of the Lightning attack.

The combined match total of 435 runs was unsurprisingly another record.

The match at Strabane between NW Warriors and Northern Knights was by contrast a game where runs were at a premium, as the hosts edged past the visitors by three wickets.

Craig Young equalled Tyrone Kane’s best figures for the competition – his 5 for 15 restricting the Knights to 118 all out.

Graeme McCarter cleared the ropes three times in an entertaining 32 from 19 balls, while Adam Dennison (25), Shane Getkate (23) and Michael Gilmour (18) all chipped in.

Any thoughts the Warriors had of strolling to victory were quickly dispelled by early wickets from Nikolai Smith and Shane Getkate, which saw them struggling at 10 for 3.

A steady 65-run stand for the fourth wicket between top scorer Johnny Thompson (39) and skipper Andy McBrine (24) got the Warriors back on track, although it took two sixes from Aaron Gillespie to all but settle the contest as the Knights fought all the way.

The second-half of the T20 competition gets under way next Friday, but before then there’s action in the Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial Championship with the Lightning hosting the Warriors at Oak Hill, starting next Tuesday.

HANLEY ENERGY IP20 TROPHY

At Anglesea Road, Leinster Lightning beat Munster Reds by 59 runs

Leinster Lightning 247-4 (20 overs; S Singh 109, M Sorensen 98*, A Balbirnie 23, Yaqoob Ali 2-52)

Munster Reds 188-9 (20 overs; R Forrest 59, J Tector 50, G Delany 3-25)

At New Strabane Park,

North-West Warriors beat Northern Knights by 3 wickets

Northern Knights 118 all out (19.2 overs; G McCarter 32, A Dennison 25, S Getkate 23, C Young 5-15, S Thompson 2-26)

NW Warriors 122-7 (19.1 overs; J Thompson 39, A McBrine 24, Nik Smith 2-18)

Cricket Ireland
Simi Singh’s 109 for the Lightning was the second top-score in 5 years of IP20 action
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