News

Wickets tumbled on a bowler-dominated first day of the Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial Championship clash between the North West Warriors and Leinster Lightning at Bready.

George Dockrell and Peter Chase combined to dismiss the Warriors for just 122, but David Scanlon inspired the home side to fight back as Lightning ended the day on 80 for 5.

Having won the toss Lightning opted to bowl first and the decision was fully vindicated as Eddie Richardson removed David Barr early.

Aaron Gillespie (16) was the first of George Dockrell’s four-wickets in a marathon 22-over spell, but there was little sign of the carnage to come as Ross Allen (37) and Niall O’Brien took the score to 62 for 2 just after an extended lunch break due to rain.

Tyrone Kane forced O’Brien to play on, and that saw Warriors lose 5 wickets for 8 runs in 80 balls as the scoring ground to a halt.

Dockrell (4-38) and Peter Chase (3-30) were the chief architects of the Warriors demise, and it took a last wicket stand of 35 between debutant Reece Kelly (22*) on his home ground and Ryan Macbeth (14) to get the total up to what looked a very modest 122.

Ed Joyce and Jack Tector started the reply with a sedate stand of 25 before an amazing spell of seam bowling saw the much vaunted Lightning top order disintegrate.

Joyce (15) was the first to go, trapped lbw by Stuart Thompson, before David Scanlon (3-34) took centre stage. The Bready paceman has been in prolific form in recent weeks and the purple patch continued as he had Tector (10) caught behind and then trapped both Andrew Balbirnie and Sean Terry lbw for 0 in his next over.

Johnny Thompson had Lightning skipper John Anderson caught at slip by Andy McBrine and at 50 for 5 Warriors were rampant.

However, Kevin O’Brien’s late counter-attack saw him hit 6 fours in a quickfire 32 not out to give Lightning a slight advantage going into what should be an absorbing second day.

HANLEY ENERGY INTER-PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
NW Warriors v Leinster Lightning at Magheramason,Day 1 of 3
Warriors 122-10 (54.2 overs; R Allen 37, R Kelly 22*; G Dockrell 4-38, P Chase 3-30)
Lightning 80-5 (27 overs; K O’Brien 32*, D Scanlon 3-34)

Cricket Ireland
Davy Scanlon kept up his good form with 3-34 on the first day (pic INPHO/presseye/Lorcan Doherty)
No
Connaught