Ireland Inter-Provincial Cup 2022 | The Half-way Roundup

We are halfway into the Ireland Inter-Provincial 50-over Cup, and the first five out of seven games [two matches have been called-off due to rain] have seen multiple players from all four sides showcase their talent to the hilt.

At this point, Munster Reds are at the top of the table after having won 2 out of their first three fixtures. They are followed by Leinster Lightning [1 win in 2 games, Northern Knights [1 win in 2 games] and the North West Warriors, who have managed a solitary win in three outings thus far.

Here's a brief round-up:

Leinster Lightning v North West Warriors

The Lightning kicked off their campaign brilliantly as they thumped the North West Warriors comfortably by seven wickets.

Batting first, NWW never really got going as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. 

George Dockrell was the wrecker-in-chief as he ran past the Warriors' batting line-up to finish with figures of 5/24 in 10 overs.

Simi Singh and Harry Tector duly supported him as the duo bagged two wickets apiece. For NWW, veteran opener William Porterfield- 44 off 93 deliveries- was the highest scorer. While lower-order batters Jared Wilson [18 off 35] and Ryan MacBeth [29* off 31] tried their best, the Warriors could only manage 185 runs in 49.5 overs.

The target of 186 was never going to be an issue for Lightning, and it didn't as an unbeaten 88-ball 76 from Tector and handy contributions from Tim Tector [47 off 104] and Dockrell [21* off 31] guided them to a 7-wicket win in the 44th over.

Match Result: Leinster Lightning won by seven wickets

Munster Reds v Northern Knights

The second game of the season proved to be a humdinger, but Munster Reds, riding on an unbeaten 71-ball 71 by Matt Ford, eventually managed to get over the line in a 249 run-chase.

Batting first, the Knights rode on a half-century from James McCollum [53 off 82] and handy contributions from Jeremy Lawlor [39 off 65] and Ross Adair [47* off 32] to post 248/9 in 50 overs.

For Munster, it was an all-round bowling effort as Tyrone Kane [2/55 in 10], Curtis Campher [2/48 in 10], Michael Frost [2/27 in 10], and Fionn Hand [2/28 in 6] chipped in with two apiece.

Chasing 249. Munster looked down and out when they lost half their side for just 100 runs, but a run-a-ball 71 from Ford and valuable knocks from Gareth Delany [30 off 50], David Delany [16 off 17] and Fionn Hand [22* off 22] ensured that they got over the line in the 48th over.

Ruhan Pretorius [3/30 in 7] and Matthew Humphreys [2/47 in 10] were the pick of the bowlers for the Knights.

Match Result: Munster Reds won by three wickets

Leinster Lightning vs Munster Reds

Munster Reds continued their fine form as they claimed their second win on the bounce at the expense of Leinster Lightning after chasing down a total of 305.

Half-centuries from Harry Tector [92 off 107] and Andrew Balbirnie [62 off 96] and brilliant cameos from George Dockrell [38 off 23], Lorcan Tucker [32* off 14] and Barry McCarthy [18 off 6] powered the Leinster Lightning to 304/6 in 50.

However, it proved inadequate as Reds opener Peter Moor took matters in his hands and smashed a breathtaking 122-ball 152 with the help of 16 fours and 8 sixes.

Moor batted till the 42nd over before eventually getting dismissed by Barry McCarthy. But by then, he had already put his team into a strong position, and the likes of Gareth Delany [19* off 18] and Matt Ford [5* off 4] did the rest as MR gunned down the target in the 47th over. McCarthy [2/38 in 10] and Mikey O'Reilly [2/41 in 8] were the pick of the bowlers for their side.

Match Result: Munster Reds won by five wickets

North West Warriors vs Northern Knights

Northern Knights claimed their first win of the season in a rain-affected encounter against the North West Warriors, who succumbed to their second successive loss in their campaign.

On what turned out to be a low-scoring affair, the Knights successfully defended their total of 123 as the Warriors could only manage 5/61 in 23.2 overs before inclement weather put paid to the proceedings. Since NWW were 12 runs behind the DLS par score, the Knights were declared winners.

Earlier, Knights rode on a patient 85-ball 48 by Aniruddha Chore to get to 123. Graham Hume [4/18 in 10] and Ryan MacBeth [3/29 in 9] were the spearheads for the Warriors.

However, a sensational spell from Ruhan Pretorius [3/21 in 10] and disciplined bowling from Matthew Foster [1/9 in 6] ensured that their side was in the ascendancy by the time DLS came into play.

Match Result: Northern Knights won by 12 runs [DLS]

Northern Knights vs Leinster Lightning

Only 16 overs in the first innings of Leinster Lightning were possible in the 5th fixture before relentless rain eventually forced the officials to abandon the game.

When the rain intervened, the Lightning were 59/2 in 16 overs.

Match Result: Match Abandoned due to rain

Munster Reds vs North West Warriors

After suffering consecutive defeats, the North West Warriors finally notched up their maiden win of the season courtesy of a thumping 145-run win against Munster Reds.

The win was set up by an all-round bowling performance by Graham Hume [2/16 in 8], Ryan MacBeth [2/22 in 7], Conor Olphert [2/26 in 7] and Andy McBrine [2/11 in 7] as they chipped in with two wickets apiece to knock over Munster Reds for a mere 90 in 32.3 overs.

Earlier, a sensational 121-ball 100 from Andy McBrine and a half-century from Graham Kennedy [64 off 95] guided NWW to an eventual match-winning score of 235.

Match Result: North West Warriors won by 145 runs

North West Warriors vs Leinster Lightning

Rain once again played spoilsport on Monday as the 7th fixture of the competition between the Warriors and Lightning was called off without a ball being bowled.

Match Result: Match abandoned due to rain