NCU

MTB Northern Knights finished the opening IP20 festival of the year with a five-wicket win over Munster Reds at Pembroke Cricket Club on Sunday. 

Munster Reds won the toss and elected to bat first. The Cork outfit got off to a shaky start and found themselves two wickets down with only seven runs on the board. However, a 67-run partnership for the third wicket between PJ Moor (49) and Fionn Hand (16) steadied the ship. 

Hand was caught by James McCollum off the bowling of Ben White and this sparked a collapse for Munster Reds as they lost six wickets for 26 runs in 24 balls. 

Joshua Manley struck an unbeaten 23 as Munster Reds managed to reach 137-9 in their 20 overs. 

White returned figures of 5-13 off his four overs – the second-best bowling figures in the competition's history. Luke Georgeson took 2-8 and there was a wicket each for Harry Tector (1-17) and Mark Adair (1-22). 

In reply, MTB Northern Knights didn't find it easy. A cautious approach was taken at the start after the loss of McCollum (1), but then Georgeson freed the shackles and notched his maiden T20 half-century before being dismissed for 51 off 41 balls in a knock that included four fours and three sixes. 

Tector (18) and Adair (21) both fell after making starts, but Neil Rock sealed the win in 18.3 overs with a huge six to finish on 26 not out. 

MTB Northern Knights are in action again from 25-27 June during the next IP20 festival at Bready Cricket Club in the North West Cricket Union. 

MTB Northern Knights v Munster Reds, Inter-Provincial Trophy, Dublin, 20 June 2021 

Munster Reds 137-9 (20 overs; Moor 49; White 5-13) 
MTB Northern Knights 139-5 (18.3 overs; Georgeson 51; Cawley 2-15) 

MTB Northern Knights won by 5 wickets