Photo Credit: Cricket Ireland
The third and final Inter-Provincial Trophy T20 Festival will take place this weekend at North Down Cricket Club in Comber with the race to the title still wide open. Below is all you need to know about the sides and how you can follow all the action as it unfolds.
The final Inter-Provincial T20 Festival of the Irish 2021 season taking place at “The Green” will begin on Friday with mathematically all four teams still able to win this year’s competition making for an exciting end to the season.
Conditions in Comber are expected to be overcast for much of the festival, which may favour the bowling sides in the first innings. The ground itself is one of the highest-regarded pitches and squares in Ireland and we should expect excellent ground conditions.
The Squads
Northern Knights
The Knights currently sit third in this year’s IP20 table, with three wins and three defeats. However, with a clean sweep of victories this weekend and with the help of some other results going their way, the Knights could very well be in the hunt for the top spot this weekend with home advantage also running in their favour.
Key players like Mark Adair (who topped the wicket-taker list in the recent T20I series against Zimbabwe) and captain Harry Tector (who scored two half-centuries in the recent ODI series and finishing second-highest run-scorer) are in great form. The home side also features the current top wicket-taker in this year’s IP20 competition – and recent international debutant – Ben White, whose leg-spin bowling will certainly be an asset in this form of the game.
Northern Knights squad: Harry Tector (capt), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, David Delany, James Hunter, Jeremy Lawlor, John Matchett, Tom Mayes, Ruhan Pretorious, Cian Roberston, Neil Rock, Paul Stirling, Morgan Topping, Ben White.
Leinster Lightning
The Lightning currently sit second in the table, with three wins and three defeats – but also hold what could be a vital two bonus points from their previous winning margins. The defending champions will be going in to the weekend knowing exactly what it takes to get over the line in this competition.
The side features stand-out performers like Simi Singh and Josh Little – both players excelled in recent internationals against Zimbabwe, and have performed well in this competition (Singh the second-highest run-scorer with 197 runs at an average of 32.83, and Little the third-highest wicket-taker with 11 in total at an average of just 11.27. The Lightning will also be boosted by the return to form of Kevin O’Brien at international level.
Leinster Lightning squad: George Dockrell (capt), Lorcan Tucker, Jack Tector, Kevin O’Brien, Simi Singh, David O’Halloran, Gavin Hoey, Josh Little, Jamie Grassi, JJ Garth, Rory Anders, Theo Lawson, Tom Stanton, Mikey O’Reilly
North West Warriors
The Warriors currently lead the competition with four wins and two losses, and head into the Festival with the distinct chance of recording their first-ever Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy.
Key players like Shane Getkate (who finished second-highest wicket-taker in the T20I series against Zimbabwe), William McClintock (who made his international debut earlier this month) and William Porterfield will look to continue the north-west side’s run in the Trophy. Captain Andy McBrine is in top form as well, collecting Player of the Match in the last ODI on Monday, and will be relentless in driving his team towards the title.
Northwest Warriors squad: Andy McBrine (capt), William Porterfield, Stephen Doheny, Shane Getkate, William McClintock, Graham Kennedy, Graham Hume, Ross Allen, Jared Wilson, Robbie Millar, Trent McKeegan, Conor Olphert, Ryan Macbeth.
Munster Reds
The Reds may sit fourth on the table, but will be buoyed by the return from injury of Gareth Delany, and will be looking to finish their season on a high.
The Munster side has performed well in both the 50-over and T20 formats of the domestic competition, despite having star players Delany and Curtis Campher missing for good portions of the season. The addition this season of PJ Moor (currently the highest run-scorer in the competition with 205 runs at an average of 41.00) and Matt Ford (136 runs at an average of 34.00) have bolstered the Reds batting, and stepped into the holes left by Delany and Campher. Another impressive contributor has been Fionn Hand – the all-rounder’s ability with both bat (100 runs averaging 25.00) and ball (7 wickets at an average of 25.14) as well as his intensity in the field this season, certainly adds to the side’s competitiveness in this format.
Munster Reds squad: Tyrone Kane (capt), Gareth Delany, PJ Moor, Murray Commins, Aaron Cawley, Mike Frost, Mitchell Thompson, Joshua Manley, Matt Ford, Greg Ford, Fionn Hand, Jack Carty, Liam McCarthy.
Fixture List
• 17 September: Northern Knights v Northwest Warriors – Game 1 (Comber, start 10.30 am)
• 17 September: Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds – Game 2 (Comber, start 3 pm)
• 18 September: Northern Knights v Leinster Lightning – Game 3 (Stormont, start 10.30 am)
• 18 September: Northwest Warriors v Munster Reds – Game 4 (Comber, start 3 pm)
• 19 September: Northern Knights v Munster Reds – Game 5 (Comber, start 10:30 am)
• 19 September: Leinster Lightning v Northwest Warriors – Game 6 (Comber, start 3 pm)
HOW TO WATCH AND HOW TO FOLLOW THE SERIES
Livestream
The match will be live-streamed on Cricket Ireland Live on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/CricketIrelandLive
Livestream
You can follow the live scorecards on our Match Centre here: https://live.nvplay.com/ireland/
Attend
Spectators are permitted (free entry) to attend the Festival, however must comply with ay local COVID-19 regulations in place on the day. Venue website.
Name of Author: Cricket Ireland
Cricket Ireland, officially known as The Irish Cricket Union Company Limited by Guarantee, is the governing body for cricket on the island of Ireland. It oversees the national men’s and women’s teams and organizes the Inter-Provincial Series, Super 3s, and All-Ireland club competitions. Ireland achieved Test status for women in 2000 and for men in 2017 when it became a Full Member of the ICC.
