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BELFAST – The North West Warriors put on a big-hitting display, overpowering the more-fancied Northern Knights in the Inter-Provincial Cup match today at Stormont.
Northern Knights captain Harry Tector won the toss and sent the North West Warriors in on a cool, overcast morning.

Mark Adair struck early, removing Stephen Doheny for 5 with a ball that pitched on a length but swung away, with Doheny nicking through to the keeper. His opening partner William Porterfield and Andy McBrine steadied the ship with a 48-run stand before Porterfield had to temporarily retire hurt with a migraine.

McBrine (23) and Stuart Thompson (30) added valuable middle-order runs, before Shane Getkate smashed 47 from 44 balls, to continue his good run of form with the bat after his exploits for the Ireland Wolves last week. Getkate’s innings featured five fours and two sixes, as he and Porterfield (who had returned to the crease) put on 55 for the fourth wicket.

Porterfield brought up his half-century with a powerful pull shot, and looked to anchor the innings. However, looking nailed on to score a century, he mistimed a loose ball from Ben White and was caught for 73.

Picking up the mantle, Donemana’s William McClintock hit out – effortlessly pulling and lofting five sixes and six fours on his way to 72* from 46 balls. His biggest shot landed on the roof of the adjacent pavilion, but it was his timing and elevation that was the hallmark of his knock.

Nathan McGuire pounded the last ball of the innings over the mid-wicket boundary, and the North West Warriors finished 50 overs on 298-7.

For the Knights, Mark Adair finished with an excellent 2-33 from 10 overs, bowling with great control and swing.

What. A. Catch. @SRThompson91 pic.twitter.com/RoCfoeAlMr

— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) May 18, 2021

In response, the Knights innings started with the run out of the hapless James McCollum for 1, before Stuart Thompson pulled off a spectacular one-handed diving outfield catch to dismiss Paul Stirling for 16.

Jeremy Lawlor, who scored 80* against Leinster Lightning two days ago, once again batted solidly to continue his run of form with a 95 from 116 balls. Harry Tector (20) and Luke Georgeson (22) added middle-order runs, but the loss of regular wickets proved fatal to the run chase and they were bowled out for 236 in 48.1 overs.

The Warriors bowling unit used the increasingly heavy conditions well, with Craig Young picking up important wickets claiming 4-55, Andy McBrine finished an economical ten-over spell with 2-39 and – while wicketless Graham Hume finished with 0-18 from 7 overs.

The North West Warriors and Northern Knights face each other in the return match at Bready on Friday.

MATCH SUMMARY

Northern Knights v North West Warriors, Inter-Provincial Cup, Stormont, 18 May 2021

Warriors 298-7 (50 overs; W Porterfield 73, W McClintock 73*; M Adair 2-33)
Knights 236 (48.1 overs; J Lawlor 95; C Young 4-55, A McBrine 2-39)

Warriors won by 62 runs

See full scorecard

Craig Easdown
William McClintock hits one of his five sixes
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Connaught