LEINSTER’S relentless march towards another T20 Interprovincial Trophy continued with a nine-wicket demolition of the Northern Knights at Bready.

Barry McCarthy’s new-ball burst did the damage as he removed Paul Stirling, Ross Adair and Morgan Topping in the first ten balls of his spell to leave them reeling on 14 for three. Those three scalps took him to the top of the bowling charts with 12 victims.

The Knights never really recovered from those early blows despite the best efforts of Cade Carmichael, who hit five fours and a maximum in a 19-ball 30, and some late resistance from Ruhan Pretorius, who also made 30 (two fours, two sixes).

David Delany also claimed three wickets, while Josh Little, over from Middlesex to bring the Dubliners international contingent to eight, also took two for 20 as the Belfast side were bowled out in the 19th over for 123.

Tim Tector was quickly in his stride as he made a mockery of the Knights’ attack, plundering it at will. The Pembroke opener clubbed eight fours and six sixes in a whirlwind unbeaten 81 from only 43 deliveries.

He dominated an opening stand of 53 in five overs with Chris De Freitas, going on to add an unbroken 74 for the second with elder brother Harry (34 not out), as the nine-wicket win was sealed in the 13^th over.

It now seems likely that Lightning will be crowned champions this week, unless they suffer a severe loss of form.

In the morning game, the Warriors recovered from a precarious 57 for five to post 186 for seven in a 57-run victory against Munster.

Irish passport holding Australian Jake Egan was the Warriors batting hero, as he went through the gears making an impressive 52-ball unbeaten 87 that included eight fours and four sixes.

He added 52 for the sixth wicket with Graham Hume (18), but the real fireworks came as he and David O’Sullivan (26 not out) bludgeoned 51 in 26 balls – 43 of those coming in the last two overs as Munster disintegrated.

Swapnil Modgill (33) and Kian Hilton (20) started the chase well, and the game was evenly poised at 62 for one. However, Andy McBrine struck twice in two balls on his way to three for seven, while there were also two scalps each for Robbie Millar and Graham Hume in a bonus point win.

In the Under 17 youth interprovincials there were wins for defending champions Leinster and the North West.

North County’s Johan George was again among the wickets taking four for 25 as Leinster dismissed the hosts for 126.

Donacloney Mill left-arm spinner Alex Ogle took three wickets in the chase, but Brian Dunphy’s 51 (eight fours) and an unbeaten 35 from Robert O’Brien – nephew of Niall and Kevin – clinched the six-wickets win.

James Smallwoods hit an undefeated 91 (eight fours) as the North-West chased down 173 to beat Munster by nine wickets.

Smallwoods shared an opening stand of 105 with Bobby Brolly (40) and a further unbroken 70 with his Brigade team-mate Murtajiz Hussain (21*) in the comfortable win.

The Irish Senior and National Cup semi-finals draws are due to be released today (WED) but it appears that Ballyspallen have been thrown out of the competition for fielding an ineligible player.

South African Test player Eddie Moore scored 142 in their win at Terenure on Sunday, but apparently no new players should have been registered from the quarter-finals onwards.