PORTERFIELD “TON” SEALS WARRIORS WIN
The North West Warriors sealed second spot in this year’s Interprovincial Cup competition with a thoroughly deserved 4-wicket win over Munster Reds at a picturesque Mardyke this afternoon. The game was littered with some impressing batting on both sides, but none more so than William Porterfield’s superb century that helped his side shoot down the hosts’ daunting 289-6.
Gary Wilson would probably have been a little flustered at the half way stage of the game after a remarkable late burst from the home team had set up the testing run chase. There looked little sign of what was to come as the Reds stuttered to 47-2 after 20 overs with Craig Young doing for both openers without scoring.
All that changed on the “back nine” however as first Murray Commins and Jack Carty posted a stand of 44 before Commins and Tyrone Kane added 78 more in quick time. The South African eventually fell for 79 (11 fours), bowled by Andy McBrine, but the Cork side were far from finished.
Kane and Matt Ford then really pressed the accelerator- that pair racking up a stand of 86 before the skipper was out for 78, made off just 68 deliveries and including 4 fours and 5 sixes. The Warriors were clearly struggling to contain the flow of runs with the final twist coming from Ford and Fionn Hand who added an unbroken partnership worth 64 from the final 5 overs to finish not out on 53 and 49 respectively.
Craig Young returned figures of 3-48; 30 of those coming in his last two overs while skipper McBrine picked up 2-44.
It looked a tall order for the visitors but in truth they had matters pretty much in hand from the start, especially after Porterfield and Stephen Doheny (28) had added 74 for the first wicket. McBrine then made 28 to take the score to 110 and after he went, Porterfield and Shane Getkate (24) added 57 more for the 4th wicket.
Runs were flowing now and the arrival of Graham Kennedy did little to stop them. The former Ballyspallen man oozes quality when he’s in this sort of mood and he and the former Ireland skipper took the game right away from the hosts with some superb stroke-play.
The opener finally holed out to Ford off the bowling of Alan Cawley, but not before he had reached his century; 14 fours and 2 sixes in Porterfield’s 110.
Nathan McGuire chipped in with a lively 10-ball 23, while Kennedy was still there at the end- 7 fours in his unbeaten 52 as he and Willie McClintock (12*) closed out a comfortable success.
A win that should send Wilson’s men to Dublin tonight in good spirits.
At the Mardyke, Munster Reds lost to North West Warriors by 4 wickets
Munster Reds 289-6 (50 overs; M Commins 79, T Kane 78, M Ford 53*, F Hand 49*, C Young 3-48, A McBrine 2-44)
North West Warriors 292-6 (47.1 overs; W Porterfield 110, G Kennedy 52*, S Doheny 28, S Getkate 24, A McBrine 23, N McGuire 23, F Hand 2-48, A Crawley 2-55, J Manley 2-55 )
