BELFAST – The North West Warriors put up their power hitting skills on display to hammer the more-fancied Northern Knights by 62 runs in the Inter-Provincial Cup match at Stormont on Wednesday.
Northern Knights skipper Harry Tector won the toss and invited the North West Warriors to bat first in on a cool, overcast morning.
Mark Adair striked early and removed Stephen Doheny for 5. His fellow opener William Porterfield and Andy McBrine steadied the innings with a 48-run partnership before Porterfield had to temporarily retire hurt due to a migraine.
McBrine (23) and Stuart Thompson (30) contributed important middle-order runs, before Shane Getkate scored 47 off 44 balls to continue his purple patch with the bat after his great run for the Ireland Wolves last week. Getkate’s innings consisted of five fours and two sixes, as he and Porterfield (who had returned to the crease) amassed 55 runs for the fourth wicket.
Porterfield scored his half-century with a powerful pull shot, and looked to play the anchoring role in the innings. However, he was caught for 73 after mistiming a loose ball.
Donemana’s William McClintock was brilliant as he effortlessly pulled and lofted five sixes and six fours to score an unbeaten 72 off 46 balls.
Nathan McGuire hit the last delivery of the innings over the mid-wicket boundary, and the North West Warriors finished their 50 overs with the score of 298-7.
For the Knights, Mark Adair clinched 2-33 from 10 overs, showing some great control and swing with the ball.
In reply, the Knights’ run chase started with the run out of James McCollum for 1, followed by Stuart Thompson’s stunning one-handed diving outfield catch to remove Paul Stirling for 16.
Jeremy Lawlor, who hit an unbeaten 80 against Leinster Lightning in the last game, yet again batted well to continue his good form, scoring 95 off 116 balls. Harry Tector (20) and Luke Georgeson (22) added valuable middle-order runs, but the loss of wickets at regular intervals proved fatal to the run chase and they were all out for 236 in 48.1 overs.
The Warrior’s bowlers did a fine job with Craig Young claiming crucial wickets taking 4-55, Andy McBrine completed an economical ten-over spell with the figures of 2-39.
The North West Warriors and Northern Knights will face each other again at Bready on Friday.
MATCH SUMMARY
Northern Knights v North West Warriors, Inter-Provincial Cup, Stormont, 18 May 2021
298-7 (50 overs; W Porterfield 73, W McClintock 73*; M Adair 2-33)
Knights 236 (48.1 overs; J Lawlor 95; C Young 4-55, A McBrine 2-39)
Warriors won by 62 runs
