Leinster win under-17 challenge

Leinster under-17’s completed a 2-0 win over their North West counterparts after a couple of enjoyable days’ cricket at Beechgrove this week.

Monday’s first match was an absolute thriller which the visitors won with one ball to spare and the last pair of batters at the wicket.

Conall Woods gave a real player-of-the match performance, picking up 2-28 with the ball and then scoring a match-winning 25 not out batting at number 10 as Leinster came back from nowhere to secure their dramatic win.

Jack McIvor top scored with 47 for the young Warriors with Jake Montgomery adding 31, James Smallwoods 26 and Matthew Collum 24 in a total of 184 all out.

It looked to be enough despite Thomson making 32 at the top of the order and Manoj 23 in the middle but 46 extras and that 25* from Woods saw the southerners scramble the winnings runs off the penultimate delivery.

Tuesday’s game was a lot more convincing from the Leinster lads- opener Thomson with 74 and Andrew John 68 in a total of 257-8 in 40 overs.

Abdul Qayyum and Aaron Cooke claimed two wickets apiece for the North West team while James Smallwoods (41) and Stephen McGowan (25) fared best with the bat in reply.

It wasn’t to be enough however- four wickets for Arvind Olaganathan and two more for Woods saw the Warriors- set a revised 214 in 32 overs- come up 54 short in the end.