Lightning Win T20 Trophy

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Simi Singh was the star of the show as the Leinster Lightning defeated the Northern Knights by 5-wickets on Thursday and in doing so regained the Test Triangle InterProvincial T20 Trophy.

Singh has been in fine form for the Lightning throughout the campaign but has been outshone by his colleagues, most notably Kevin O’Brien’s blistering 82 off 37 against the Warriors.

Today was all about the YMCA all-rounder however as he took 3-15 with the ball before striking an unbeaten 39 to see the Lightning home.

Having opted to bowl first, the Lightning were on the back foot as the Knights raced to 49/2 off the powerplay overs. In stepped Singh to rip through the visitors’ middle order.

In his first over he removed Harry Tector (24) before taking a sharp return catch to see the back of the ever-dangerous Mark Adair (1). In his next over, Gary Wilson was completely beaten in flight and Lorcan Tucker whipped the bails off, to leave the Knights 57/5 in no time.

There was some late order hitting out but two identical run outs, effected by Kevin O’Brien, off the last two balls of the innings meant the Knights were bowled out for 128 off their 20 overs.

Kevin O’Brien struck a breezy 19 off 10, while fellow opener Stephen Doheny made 12 off 11 as the Lightning made 48/2 off the powerplay overs. An almost identical score to the Knights, it was indication of how tight this game would be.

Curtis Campher made a run-a-ball 12 before picking out deep square leg and Lorcan Tucker (20) was unable to anchor the innings as he had done on Tuesday against the Munster Reds.

Instead, it was to be Singh’s day as his unbeaten 39 off 34 was the crucial innings of the day. After 33 balls without a boundary, he used great footwork to create an angle through cover, followed by a huge six over long-on two balls later.

In the 17th over, a deft reverse sweep brought the Lightning within 17 runs of victory with 21 balls remaining.

It wasn’t to be Singh who struck the winning runs, however. After Tyrone Kane (12) was bowled by David Delany, the skipper George Dockrell had come to the crease with nine runs required and 15 balls remaining.

Fittingly for T20, Dockrell finished things in style. A full toss was smeared over extra cover, giving the Lightning not only a 5-wicket victory but an unassailable lead atop the T20 Trophy table.

The Leinster Lightning, who are Test Triangle InterProvincial T20 Trophy winners for 2020, conclude their T20 campaign away to the North West Warriors on Tuesday September 8th.

Test Triangle Interprovincial T20 Trophy Pembroke CC, Sydney Parade
Leinster Lightning v Northern Knights, Thursday September 3rd

Northern Knights 128 a/o 20 Overs (H Tector 24; S Singh 3-15, T Kane 2-23, G Dockrell 2-30)
Leinster Lightning 131/5 18.5 Overs (S Singh 39*, L Tucker 20)
Leinster Lightning won by 5 wickets