CRICKET: Adam Dennison shines for Northern Knights

Dennison top scored with 73 from 100 balls (8 fours) in his fine innings, cutting and driving with power and precision. The Waringstown batsman arrived at the crease with the Knights 41 for 2 in the 10th over chasing an improbable 270 and paced his innings superbly allowing the hosts to get over the line with just two balls to spare.

To be fair it was Greg Thompson’s whirlwind 44 off just 22 balls (7 fours and 2 sixes) that helped turn the game on its head as he and Dennison added 61 in 6 overs allowing the NCU side to come from well off the pace to get their noses in front.

Cameos from openers Michael Gilmour (15) and Nikolai Smith (13) as well as 27 from skipper James Shannon had just about kept their side in the hunt before Dennison and Thompson turned on the style.

And despite losing Lee Nelson for 12 and Shane Getkate (5) after that, Stephen Bunting (14*) and Robert McKinley (13*) sealed the deal in the last over with three wickets in hand.

Birthday boy Davy Scanlon (2-24) and skipper Andy McBrine (2-39) were best with the ball for a Warriors side who will have felt that they had done enough in racking up their imposing total.

A 95-run stand between McBrine (66-9 fours) and his Donemana skipper Ricky-Lee Dougherty (60-3 fours, 3 sixes) was the catalyst for the North West’s men’s efforts after Danza Hyatt had earlier made a fairly patient 37.

McKinley (3-46), Nikolai Smith (3-56) and Nelson (2-49) were the most successful of the hosts attack although the concession of 37 “extras” didn’t overly help their cause.

It looked at one point as though rain would have the final say, however it was fitting that such a full-blooded contest was settled in the middle as the Knights held their nerve.

The sides meet again on Monday in the Hanley Energy Championhip - action in the three-day game starts at 11am.

HANLEY ENERGY INTER-PROVINCIAL CUP

At The Lawn, Northern Knights beat North West Warriors by 3 wickets (DLS)

North West Warriors 270 all out (50 overs; A McBrine 66, RL Dougherty 60, D Hyatt 37, R McKinley 3-46, Nik Smith 3-56, L Nelson 2-49)

Northern Knights (set 235 in 42 overs) 238-7 (41.4 overs, A Dennison 73, G Thompson 44, J Shannon 27, D Scanlon 2-24, A McBrine 2-39)