Andy Balbirnie struck a rapid 79 to lead Leinster Lightning to a 38-run win over Northern Knights in a high scoring match at Shaw’s Bridge.

He struck 9 fours and 3 sixes in his 52-ball knock, sharing stands of 57 with Gareth Delany (25) and 70 with Simi Singh (17).

His blitz allowed Lightning to post 178 for 6 – Lorcan Tucker putting the glitz on the total with an unbeaten 18 from just 6 balls.

Shane Getkate had the excellent analysis of 3 for 23 amidst the carnage, while Gary Kidd took two wickets, but at a cost of 43.

James Shannon – a late call-up having originally been excluded due to a back injury – opened with Ally Shields and they came out guns blazing.

Shields clubbed 3 fours and a six in 18 from 7 balls, while Shannon cleared the ropes three times in a hard-hot 35 from 21 balls.

Knights reached 60-1 in just five overs, but Tyrone Kane’s four-wicket haul, coupled with two for Simi Singh saw Knights fall away and were all out for 140 – committing the cardinal sin of having four overs unused.

Harry Tector (26) and Shane Getkate (21) played entertaining cameos, as did Peter Eakin (17) and Mark Adair (14) but none were able to kick on and play a definitive innings.

The champagne moment was a brilliant save on the boundary by George Dockrell which not only saved four runs but also saw the run out Neil Rock at the non-strikers end as he tried to complete a second run.

Lightning’s fielding was top drawer with John Anderson’s direct hit run out of the dangerous Greg Thompson also worthy of mention.

Meanwhile, in the NW, the Warriors made it two wins from two but were pushed to the last over by Munster Reds.

Robert Forrest top scored with 29, sharing a 3rd wicket stand of 45 with Stephen Doheny (24) but from 88 for 2, the innings stalled, as Craig Young (3-18) and Andy McBrine (3-30) took three wickets apiece.

A final total of 127 for 8 looked under-par at half-way, and even more so as Stuart Thompson clubbed 5 fours and 2 sixes in a quick-fire 36 from 20 balls as the Warriors reached 40 for 0 after four overs.

However, David Rankin was well run out by a direct hit from Jeremy Benton, and with no addition Thompson was bowled round his legs by Yaqoob Ali (1-24).

Skipper Andy McBrine (26) and William Porterfield (21) added 45 before the highly impressive David Delany (1-13) trapped McBrine in front.

Young left-arm spinner Diarmuid Carey claimed his first interpro wicket having Porterfield well caught by Jamie Grassi in the deep – atoning for an early drop – and suddenly Munster were in with a chance.

However, Aaron Gillespie, Graham Kennedy and finally Ricky-Lee Dougherty found the boundary at crucial times, and the five-wicket win was sealed from the first ball of the final over.

The Warriors are in action on Bank Holiday Monday as they travel to face Northern Knights in a 50-over game at Stormont, with the Knights hosting Leinster Lightning in the Championship next Tuesday.