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DUBLIN – Leinster Lightning returned to the top of the table despite rain preventing any chance of a result in the Inter-Provincial Cup match against Munster Reds today at Pembroke Cricket Club.
Rain delayed the start of play by almost five hours, and when the covers were finally removed it was confirmed a 23-over a side game would be possible.

Losing the toss, the Munster Reds batted first but lost two early wickets to be 11-2 in the 3rd over. Captain Tyrone Kane decided to counter-attack and hit two sixes and two fours in an entertaining innings of 31, but just as he looked to dominate the attack he fell to a juggling caught & bowled by Simi Singh.

Brothers Greg Ford (21) and Matt Ford (45*) added important middle-order runs to get the Reds total to a competitive 147-6 from 23 overs – Matt particularly playing a number of eye-catching shots square of the wicket and off his pads, his 34-ball knock included 4 fours and a big slog sweep for six off Singh.

For the Lightning, Barry McCarthy impressed with 2-18 from his five overs, and Josh Little generated great pace finishing with 2-26 from five overs.

Great catch @SimiSingh147 pic.twitter.com/5cbWbeS6de

— Cricket Ireland (@cricketireland) May 20, 2021

In response, the Lightning started their run chase with Jack Tector hitting a six of his first ball. The YMCA man looked impressive in his innings of 24 from 19 balls, but was out in an unusual fashion, stepping across his stumps and glancing the ball straight into his middle stump.

After a further short rain delay, and with the target readjusted to 131 from 20 overs, Kevin O’Brien and Andrew Balbirnie looked to press the accelerator, with O’Brien pumping two sixes into the neighbouring houses.

Shortly after, the rain returned and the match was abandoned. The no result gives the Lightning 2 points and takes them back above the North West Warriors on the Cup table.

The Munster Reds and Leinster Lightning play the return fixture on Saturday, however, due to wet conditions at The Mardyke both sides have agreed to move the fixture to Pembroke Cricket Club.

MATCH SUMMARY

Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds, Inter-Provincial Cup, Dublin, 20 May 2021

Reds 147-6 (23 overs; M Ford 45*, T Kane 31; B McCarthy 2-18)
Lightning 69-1 (9.5 overs; K O’Brien 38*, J Tector 24; J Manley 1-20)

Match abandoned

See full scorecard

Craig Easdown
Kevin O’Brien hits out
No
Connaught