News

Only a win will do for Leinster Lightning in their first match of the Newstalk Inter-Provincial Trophy Round 3 against Northern Knights at Pembroke on Sunday, if they are to have any chance of stopping North West Warriors from claiming their first piece of silverware.
It’s a big double header for Trent Johnston’s charges, who currently sit level on points with the Knights, but with a game in hand, while the the Warriors have a 5 point lead at the top of the table. With four points awarded for a win, it essentially means the Lightning two wins from two if they are to retain their 2013 title.

The Lightning selectors have only made one change from the last round at Comber, where they secured a 15 run win over the Knights; John Anderson comes back into the side after recovering from injury replacing Cormac McLoughlin.

Following their double defeat at Comber in Round Two they can no longer win the tropy, but the Northern Knights will be determined to get back to winning ways against the Lightning in game one on Sunday. Nigel Jones has been impressive at the top of the order, and in Peter Eakin the Knights have the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 7 scalps to his name, while left-arm spinner James Cameron-Dow is always a threat in the shortest format.

The North-West Warriors will be without the experienced Andrew Riddles for the potential title decider against the Lightning which gets underway at 3.30pm on Sunday, as the Ardmore all-rounder is unavailable. The Warriors head into the match knowing a win will secure them the trophy, after they secured two wins from two so far this season, picking up a bonus point along the way.

In Mattie Moran the Warriors have one of the biggest hitters around, while Ireland Under-19 star Rishi Chopra has picked up crucial wickets along the way – Sunday’s encounter promises to be a thriller.

Play gets underway at Pembroke Cricket Club on Sunday at 11am when the Lightning take on the Warriors, before the Lightning are in action again against the Warriors at 3.30pm. There will be plenty of entertainment for all of the family at Pembroke – entry is €6 for adults, Under-16s and Cricket Ireland season ticket holders are free.

Can’t make it to Pembroke? Don’t worry! www.cricketireland.ie will bring you full coverage throughout the day – Live Blog, Photos, Live Scoring & Match Highlights. You can also get updates throughout the day on Twitter: @IrelandCricket

Squads:
Leinster Lightning: John Mooney (Capt – North County), John Anderson (Merrion), Andrew Balbirnie (Pembroke / Middlesex)*, Kenny Carroll (Railway Union), Pat Collins (Railway Union), Tyrone Kane (Merrion), Fintan McAllister (Malahide), Barry McCarthy (Pembroke), Andrew Poynter (Clontarf), Eddie Richardson (North County), Max Sorensen (The Hills), Albert van der Merwe (YMCA).

Northern Knights: Andrew White (Capt – Instonians), Nick Larkin (North Down), Chris Dougherty (CIYMS), James Shannon (Instonians), Lee Nelson (Waringstown), Shane Getkate (CSNI), Nathan Waller (CIYMS), David Simpson (Lisburn), Nigel Jones (CSNI), Allen Coulter (CSNI), James Cameron-Dow (North-Down), Zac Rushe (Instonians).

North West Warriors: Andrew McBrine (Capt – Donemana), Brian Allen (Fox Lodge), Andrew Britton (Brigade), Scott Campbell (Coleraine), Rishi Chopra (Coleraine), Ricky-Lee Dougherty (Donemana), Gary McClintock (Donemana), Mattie Moran (Brigade), David Rankin (Bready), Johnny Thompson (Brigade), Stuart Thompson (Eglinton), Craig Young (Bready).

No
Connaught