EGLINTON – A brilliant display of batting by Andrew Balbirnie and George Dockrell guided Leinster Lightning to an unassailable spot at the top of the Inter-Provincial Cup this season, after overcoming a tough resistance from the North West Warriors at Eglinton on Tuesday.

The Ireland Men’s skipper was in great form as he was the top scorer with an unbeaten 85 off 110 balls. Man of the Match Balbirnie walked in after Kevin O’Brien got out in the third over, and played the anchor role right till the end of the successful run chase.

Balbirnie is the second highest run-getter in the competition this year, scoring 218 runs at 109, with a century and Tuesday's unbeaten half-century give him a strong preparation ahead of the Netherlands ODI series.

He received solid support from the inform George Dockrell. Where Balbirnie’s batting has been quite impressive, Dockrell’s has been brilliant – with yesterday's 67 taking his total Cup run tally to 364 runs with an unmatched average of 120.33. Dockrell put up a 123-run fourth wicket partnership with Balbirnie, guiding the Lightning from a struggling position of 46-3 to the road to victory.

Earlier in the day the North West Warriors scored 231. William Porterfield looked in good touch early for 33 until he nicked a low catch at slip to Balbirnie  off Simi Singh. Warriors skipper Andy McBrine put up a brave fight with his 72 off 117 balls, but the rest of the Warriors batting line-up couldn't provide the needed support until Nathan McGuire walked at the crease with the score at 151-7 in the 35th over.

McGuire scored an unbeaten 53 off 46 balls to put up a valuable 50-run stand with Craig Young (13) for the 10th wicket.

Pacer David O’Halloran cliched a career-best 4-44 and bowled with pace and bounce, whereas Dockrell finished with the figures of 2-37 as the Warriors posted 231.

This completes the Cup season for the Lightning, bagging 20 points from their six games. The Warriors are second with 11 points with one game to play (the Northern Knights with 6 points and Munster Reds with points), therefore the Leinster team is the presumptive Cup winner for 2021.

MATCH SUMMARY

North West Warriors v Leinster Lightning, Inter-Provincial Cup, Eglinton, 25 May 2021

Warriors 231 (49.3 overs; A McBrine 72, N McGuire 53; D O’Halloran 4-44)

Lightning 235-6 (48.5 overs; A Balbirnie 85*, G Dockrell 67; C Young 2-43)

Leinster Lightning won by 4 wickets