DUBLIN – In a game that seemed to constantly ebb and flow with the title on the line, Lisburn managed to pull ahead but along with Leinster put in a special performance that gave us an all-time classic.
The second match of this All-Ireland T20 Cup Final’s Day began with Lisburn captain Neil Whitworth winning the toss and electing to bowl first.
At 52-5 this definitely looked the correct decision, as the County Antrim side appeared to be walking away with the men’s final.
Step in Thomas Johnson who scored a truly remarkable 75 off 30 to get Leinster back into the contest.192-7 looked a formidable total but small boundaries meant the game could turn quickly.
Enter Lisburn opening batter Jonathan Waite who starts sending cricket balls into the Phoenix Park shrubbery.
When he departed though for 48 off 28 some of the impetus seemed to go out of the Lisburn chase. Faiz Fazal however expertly kept his side going with 88 from 50.
Leinster continued to keep up pressure. As a result, the chasing side regularly lost wickets as runs had to be found and quickly.
Yet 19 runs off the 16th over and a six off the penultimate ball of the innings brought us a tie which kept them in it and delivered a dramatic Super Over.
Lisburn batted first and seemed to put all of the previous twist and turns behind them as they posted a rapid 22-2 from their six deliveries.
In reply, Leinster just couldn’t recreate the momentum the had with them when Johnson played his remarkable inning earlier.
MATCH SUMMARY
Leinster v Lisburn, All-Ireland T20 Cup Men’s Final, Phoenix Cricket Club, 25 August 2024
Leinster 192-7 (20 overs; T Johnson 75, S Bahadur 61; J Manly 2-20)
Lisburn 192-7 (20 overs; F Fazal 88, J Waite 48; S Bahadur 2-26)
Match tied
Lisburn 23-2 (1 over)
Leinster 9-2 (1 over)
(Lisburn won by 14 runs in the Super Over)
