The Northern Knights took full advantage of Leinster's selection woes as they thumped the defending champions by 8 wickets to seal a bonus point win.

Batting first Abidullah Taniwal's 20-ball 40 (5 fours, 2 sixes) was the best of a modest 153 for 7 on a quick scoring Mardyke ground. Macdara Cosgrave (29) and Seamus Lynch (25) also got starts, while Cian Robertson took two wickets.

Cade Carmichael got the chase off to a quick start with 29 (5 fours, 1 six), before Balbriggan's Matt Hollard struck twice.

The Waringstown duo of James McCollum and Morgan Topping then took the game away with a century stand in just 8 overs.

McCollum top-scored with an unbeaten 36-ball 65 (5 fours, 4 sixes), while Topping cleared the ropes six times in a 24-ball unbeaten 58 as the win was sealed in just the 13th over.

The Warriors got their T20 season up and running with a 29-run win over Munster at The Mardyke.

Sam Topping top-scored with 67 from 39 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes) sharing stands of 61 with Andy Balbirnie (26) and Jake Egan (47).

Scott Macbeth (34) was also in the runs as he and Egan added a further 55. The innings fell away slightly at the death in the search for quick runs, with John McNally and Josh Manley each taking three wickets as the innings ended on 191 for seven.

The chase started poorly and with the Warriors taking some excellent catches, the hosts looked buried at 101 for 7.

However, Clontarf left-hander McNally cleared the ropes four times in a 39-ball 64, adding 57 in four overs with Bakhtyar Nabi (28).

Just as the unlikely chase seemed on, McNally became the second wicket for Jared Wilson, followed by Nabi's run out - the injured Mike Frost (hamstring) didn't bat, leaving the winning margin 29 runs.