Adair century sees Warriors lose in T20 opener
The third and final IP T20 Festival of the season kicked off at Sydney Parade this morning with spectators treated to an absolute run-fest throughout a cracking day of cricket.
Leaders Munster Reds were first up and despite setting Leinster Lightning an imposing 219-5 courtesy of a Murray Commins century; skipper George Dockrell’s blistering 68 not out from just 18 balls helped the hosts chase it down with 9 deliveries to spare.
That gave the Warriors the chance to challenge for top spot in the table, however in another scoring spree in the afternoon game, Andy McBrine’s men also came off second best against the Northern Knights.
Batting first, Nathan McGuire hit 7 fours and 5 sixes in his flashy 35-ball 71; the Glendermott man sharing in a 133-run second wicket partnership with Stephen Doheny who added 52 (4 fours, 3 sixes).
Skipper McBrine chipped in with 39 in a total of 204-8; Tom Mayes (2-30) best with the ball for the Belfast side.
The Knights’ reply was all about one man, and it wasn’t ‘Stirlo’ despite the opener making 27.
Instead it was Ross Adair, promoted to the top of the order, who crashed 12 fours and 8 sixes in his 49-ball 111 to give his side’s chase real momentum.
James McCollum chipped in with 22 and despite skipper McBrine picking up 2-35 and Craig Young 2-43, Day One was all about the batsmen as the Knights won by 4 wickets.
Next up on Thursday it’s the Reds against the Knights followed by what could be a telling afternoon clash between Lightning and the Warriors.
The North West Warriors are kindly sponsored by – Fleming-Agri Products Ltd
Originally set up in Donegal in the northwest of Ireland by Robert John Fleming in 1860, ownership of the company has remained in the Fleming family to the present, ranking as one of the oldest agricultural machinery companies in the UK and Ireland. The company trades in over 20 countries and employs over 100 people in their modern 6-acre site in Newbuildings. They specialise in agricultural, countryside and ground care machinery with over 100 products on offer: https://www.fleming-agri.com/
