North West Warriors got off the mark in the inter-provincial Trophy in the first match on day 2 in Pembroke with a comfortable 45 runs victory over Northern Knights. 

Thirties from Gavin Roulston, Andrew Balbirnie and Scott Macbeth laid the platform for Gareth Delany’s destruction at the end of the innings. 

The Ireland international hit 56 from just 27 balls with four fours and three sixes, dismissed to the final ball after bringing up the 200 for his side. 

It was another bad day for the Knights’ bowlers – all went for at least 8½ runs an over, with Adam Leckey the most successful finishing with three for 37. 

Both teams were missing their captains with Balbirnie standing in while Andy McBrine recovers from a back problem and Cade Carmichael replaced Matthew Humphreys who tweaked his shoulder on Tuesday. 

Knights were always up with the run rate but lost wickets at regular intervals. 

Only Kian Hilton with 43 not out from 25 balls and James McCollum 33 from 17, got out of the 20s and seven didn’t even get into double figures. 

Trent McKeegan and Scott Macbeth each took three wickets for the Warriors, Macbeth the sixth bowler used conceding just 17 runs in his 3.1 overs as he finished the match at the start of the 18th over.

Leinster Lightning went marching on, as The Inter-provincial T20 holders made it three wins out of three with victory by 44 runs in the afternoon match at Pembroke. 

North West Warriors won the toss and elected to bowl but could only watch Lorcan Tucker and Chris de Freitas score half centuries. 

It was Tucker’s second in consecutive matches and this effort, from 24 balls, was one quicker than his 50 against Northern Knights on Tuesday. 

However, Warriors fought back well to reduce the hosts to 150 for nine. But the last wicket stand of 33 between Matthew Hollard and Byron McDonough was to prove so crucial. 

Trent McKeegan ended it with the third ball of the last over to give him his third wicket. 

Warriors were still on course for victory, reaching 95 for three after nine overs but Hollard came back to have Ben Caltiz caught behind and after that the batters lost their way with only Gareth Delany keeping the scoreboard ticking over. 

He hit three sixes in his 31 but on the day their only consolation was denying Lightning a bonus point – by three runs. 

The T20 action now takes a break until July 28-29 at Lisburn. The 50-over Cup competition starts at Bready on June 30 with these two teams back in action.