The Bready triumvirate of David Rankin, Craig Young and David Scanlon combined to lead the NW Warriors to a 25-run win over the Northern Knights at a sun-drenched Stormont in their T20 opener.
Rankin top scored with 51 as the Warriors racked up 166 for 5 batting first, hitting 2 fours and clearing the ropes three times in his 48-ball innings.
He was initially overshadowed by Stuart Thompson who dominated their opening stand, scoring 28 of the 37 they added, with he too finding the boundary with regularity, striking 3 fours and 2 sixes.
Nikolai Smith (1-21) had Thompson well caught by Shane Getkate, but Ireland skipper William Porterfield joined Rankin and the pair shared a match defining second wicket stand of 91 in just 62 balls to put the NW firmly in the ascendancy.
Porterfield was at his fluent best hitting 5 fours and 2 sixes in 46 from just 29 balls, and with Rankin joining in, the rate crept above 8 an over.
Nigel Jones (2-21) bowled well, but Warriors captain Andy McBrine’s breezy cameo of 16 not out from just 7 balls kept the momentum with his team.
Jones and Alistair Shields laid the platform for the chase with an opening stand of 81 in 11 overs, but the required rate had edged up to 9.5 and scoreboard pressure told.
Shields was run out for 40 from 36 balls (4 fours, 1 six), and from there the innings fell apart as none of the incoming batsmen had time to settle.
Jones threatened briefly, thumping 4 sixes in his 57 from 44 balls, but any hopes of a late rally were extinguished by Craig Young and David Scanlon.
Young took four wickets in the closing stages to finish with 4 for 21, while Scanlon picked up 3 for 25 as the Knights finished on 141 all out.
InterProvincial T20 Trophy At Stormont,
NW Warriors beat Northern Knights by 25 runs
Warriors 166-5 (20 overs; D Rankin 51, W Porterfield 46, S Thompson 28; N Jones 2-21)
Knights 141 all out (20 overs; N Jones 57, A Shields 40; C Young 4-21, D Scanlon 3-25)