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BELFAST – Northern Knights’ Morgan Topping hit a sublime run-a-ball 92 as his side overcame a tough challenge by the Munster Reds and remained top of the table in the Rario Inter-Provincial Cup at Stormont today.

Player of the Match Topping, who hit a 37 against Leinster Lightning last week in his first innings of the IP50 Cup in 2023, continued his impressive form striking three sixes and six fours – although he will rue the shot he played to be dismissed eight runs short of what would have been his first List A century. Topping struck the fourth ball of the 42nd over from Liam McCarthy over cow corner for six, although it narrowly avoided being caught on the boundary. Instead of taking it as a warning, Topping played a similar shot next ball, which didn’t get as much elevation and he was caught by Matt Ford.

Earlier in the day, the Reds – who were sent into bat first – began with a century stand by openers Murray Commins and Ali Frost. While Frost fell for 37 in the 25th over, Commins went on to bring up a near faultless century, finishing on 114 from 122 balls. The Reds looked to be heading towards 300+ at the 30 over mark, but wickets began to fall and the run rate gradually fell through the middle overs. Tall Knights paceman Tom Mayes (3-34) led the fightback, which saw the Reds slump from 186-2 to 217-7 in six overs.

An eighth-wicket stand of 52* between Ford (33*) and McCarthy (15*) boosted the Reds final score of 269-7 from 50 overs, but it was not enough.

James McCollum (30) and Cade Carmichael (62) led the Knights’ reply, before Topping took control of the innings and getting the home side into a dominant position. Several late cameos by Neil Rock (39 off 29 balls) and Mark Adair (20 off 17 balls) ensured the late wickets that fell wouldn’t deny the Knights victory, and when Tyron Koen struck Curtis Campher for a boundary at the start of the 48th over, the victory was indeed achieved comfortably with 17 balls to spare.

Next up in the competition, Leinster Lightning travel to play North West Warriors at Bready Cricket Club tomorrow at 10.45 am (local time).

MATCH SUMMARY

Northern Knights v Munster Reds, Inter-Provincial Cup, Stormont, 22 May 2023

Munster Reds 269-7 (50 overs; M Commins 114, A Frost 37; T Mayes 3-34)
Northern Knights 272-7 (47.1 overs; M Topping 92, C Carmichael 62; L McCarthy 4-67)

Northern Knights won by 3 wickets

See full scorecard

See points table