The first trophy of the 2013 RSA Inter-Provincial Series went to the Leinster Lightning following an entertaining day’s cricket at Bready Cricket Club.
The table toppers Leinster Lightning were favorites going into finals day but were put under pressure following the result in the first match when the Northern Knights beat the North West Warriors by five wickets meaning Leinster would have to win the second match of the day to take the title.
The first game was a low-scoring affair with the Northern Knights chasing the Warriors total of 92 All Out for the loss of 5 wickets. Andrew White’s 3 wickets and Nigel Jones 22 not out standing out for the visitors who gained the win knowing that if the North West could beat Leinster then the title would be going towards Belfast.
The North West side saw a host of changes with Andrew McGinnis, Jason Milligan and Dean McCarter coming into the side and Craig Young returning from Sussex to play for the Warriors.
A win was what was needed for Leinster and it was achieved with great comfort as the visitor’s proved far too strong for the home side. There was a healthy crowd present to enjoy the big hitting from the southern visiting side as healthy contributions from Reinhardt Strydom, Pat Collins, Max Sorensen and Kevin O’Brien led the Lightning to 192.
Leinster Lightning then completed a hugely professional performance as they strode towards the title, Tyrone Kane bowled with great pace as he claimed 3 for 17 whilst there were two wickets apiece for Max Sorensen, Eddie Richardson and Albert Van Der Merwe. Only Dean McCarter, David Rankin and Johnny Thompson made it into double figures as the Warriors were dismissed for 86 to spark great celebrations for the Lightning set-up.
Max Sorensen was named as the RSA Man of the Match and completed a great day personally by also being named as the RSA Man of the Series for the Twenty20 part of the RSA Inter-Provincial Series.
It was a superbly organised and well run day with many thanks to all involved from both the home club Bready and the North West Union.
For full results of both days matches and the finalised points table please click here.
Cricket Ireland
Kevin O’Brien with the Trophy, Robin Walsh and RSA’s Pat Nally © INPHO/Presseye/Russell Pritchard
[346] Kevin O’Brien – obrien-kevin
[350] Max Sorensen – sorensen-max
Yes
