WARRIORS BREAK T20 "DUCK"

They've had to wait for a while but the North West Warriors ended their win-less Interprovincial T20 run on Sunday when proving too strong for Leinster Lightning in an entertaining encounter at Magheramason.

Unfortunately they were able to repeat the dose when they hosted the Northern Knights in the day's second game but coach Bobby Rao will feel there are plenty of positives to take forward into the rest of this summer's series.

The southerners were first up and the day started in magnificent fashion for the hosts as the decision to promote Stuart Thompson up to open the innings paid handsome reward.

So often in the past two seasons the top order has looked vulnerable however Thompson and David Rankin refused to let the Lightning attack settle into any kind of rythym.

None of the bowlers escaped as this pair went on the attack from the beginning with some superb shots, matching each other almost run for run. Rankin was first to go, but not before they had raced past a century partnership, 7 fours and 2 sixes in his 62-run share of their stand worth 119.

His partner followed soon after, 6 fours and 2 sixes in his 60 as the Warriors took control of the contest. A quick 15 from Andrew Riddles and 11 not out from Johnny Thompson meant the hosts closed on 167 for 3 while a prolonged shower immediately after that meant the southerners faced a revised target of 141 from 16 overs.

Craig Young and Johnny Thompson were soon on the trail however as the North West sensed their first ever win in this format before the introduction of Rishi Chopra gave them a total grip on the match.

The young Coleraine spinner did for Andrew Balbirnie, Andrew Poynter and Max Sorensen no less, as he finished with 3 for 31, but more importantly left the visitors teetering on 26 for 5.

Barry McCarthy (35) and Max Sorensen (22) offered some respite but the home side weren't going to miss from there. Andy McBrine (2-16), Craig Young (2-31) and Stuart Thompson (1-15) backed Chopra up superbly as the Warriors had 30 to spare at the end.

Skipper Andy McBrine had no hesitation in batting first once more on winning the toss ahead of their second game against the Northern Knights and his top three didn't let him down this time either.

Stuart Thompson suffered a hand injury in the earlier win over Leinster but it didn't prevent the Eglinton man joining Rankin at the top again, albeit they only got to 26 this time before the former fell to Mark Adair for 16.

That brought Jason Milligan to the middle and he and Rankin batted superbly for the next 10 overs, Rankin continuing his dominant form with his second half century of the day.

Milligan made 24 in an 82-run stand with Rankin, who was finally out for 73 (6 fours and a six) attempting a reverse sweep. The home side completely lost their momentum after that however, seven wickets falling in the space of 22 balls for the addition of just 15 runs as the Belfast side wrestled back the initiative.

From a position of almost total control Rao's men slumped to 149 all out, Peter Eakin with figures of 4-22 and Andrew White 3-28 doing the damage.

The Knights' reply started well with Chris Dougherty and Nick Larkin putting on a quick 45 and even after the latter fell to Stuart Thompson for 29, Dougherty and James Shannon kept them on top.

Rishi Chopra managed to find a way past Shannon (26) to give him his fourth wicket on his first day in a Warriors shirt and Dougherty fell late on to Craig Young as well for an excellent 58 but it was all academic.

The home side were unable to keep the same momentum as earlier in the day with the Knights running out easy winners by a 7-wicket margin.