News

All roads lead to Bready where the Newstalk Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy kicks off with two explosive games on Sunday.
The North West Warriors host the eagerly anticipated first round of this year’s T20 competition, where they will take on the Northern Knights and Leinster Lightning in two explosive T20 games on a day where there will be plenty for all the family to enjoy!

The selectors have named their sides for the T20 blitz, which will see the Warriors take on the Lightning in the morning before taking on the Knights in the afternoon match.

Ireland Under-19 spinner Rishi Chopra comes into the Warriors squad as one of two changes from the side that played in the 65 run loss in the three day game at Malahide this week, while Donemana’s William McClintock also earns a call-up as the home side go in search of their first T20 win in front of what is expected to be a large home crowd. The duo replace Ernest Kemm and Jarred Barnes who are ineligible for this format.

Andrew White captains a strong Northern Knights side who will be looking to go one better this year, after missing out on last year’s title to the Lightning on net run-rate. Their top-scorer in last year’s edition, Nigel Jones, is unavailable for Sunday but in James Shannon and Lee Nelson they have two explosive batsmen capable of taking apart any bowling attack on their day, while White himself is a canny T20 bowler, finishing as second highest wicket-taker in 2013.

Railway Union top order batsman and former Ireland international Kenny Carroll makes his first appearance in a Lightning squad as one of a number of changes from the team that wrapped up that 65 run victory over the Warriors in Malahide. Barry McArthy is named in a Lightning squad for the first time this season, while Andrew Balbirnie also returns after his heroics in The Hills in the first Inter-Provincial game of 2014 back in May. Balbirnie is a batsman the Warriors will be keen to see that back of early, as the Middlesex man is in fine form coming off the back of two hundred’s in this county 2ns XI clash with Hampshire this week.

On what promises to be a fantastic day both on and off the pitch, all three teams are calling on supporters and the entire cricket community to make the trip to Bready and get behind their sides!

Admission is £5, pay at the gate and refreshments are available at the ground throughout the day. An under-11 tournament will be played at the top field, also starting at 11 and there will be plenty for all the family to enjoy.

Parents accompanying kids to the tournament will be admitted two for the price of one and accompanied children under 16 will be admitted free.

Newtalk Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy Schedule:
North West Warriors v Leinster Lightning – 11am
North West Warriors v Northern Knights – 3.30pm

Teams:

North West Warriors:
Andrew McBrine (Capt – Donemana), Stuart Thompson (Eglinton), Craig Young (Bready), David Rankin (Bready), Jason Milligan (Fox Lodge), Andrew Riddles (Ardmore), Jonathan Thompson (Brigade), Ricky Lee Dougherty (Donemana), Scott Campbell (Coleraine), Gary McClintock (Donemana), Rishi Chopra (Coleraine), William McClintock (Donemana)

Leinster Lightning:
John Mooney (Capt – North County), Andrew Balbirnie (Pembroke / Middlesex), Kenny Carroll (Railway Union), Bill Coghlan (Clontarf), 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), Zach Rushe (Instonians), Chris Dougherty (CIYMS), Nicolas Larkin (North Down), James Shannon (Instonians), Lee Nelson (Waringstown), Greg Thompson (Waringstown), Nathan Waller (CIYMS), Peter Eakin (North Down), David Simpson (Lisburn), Mark Adair (CSNI), James Cameron – Dow (North Down)

Live-scoring of both matches will be available through CricHQ on the Cricket Ireland Website.