The final game of these friendlies - arranged to fill the void left by the absence of white-ball cricket for the Future Series - saw hosts Leinster Lightning Bolts claim a 22-run win over the Emerging Knights at Milverton. Matthew Langan (38), Macdara Cosgrave (30), Mark Tonge (25), Nasir Totakhil (24), and Yash Bala (21) all in the runs as the hosts made 176 - bowled out in the 36th over. It was very much a spinner dominated bowling effort with three wickets for Carson McCullough, and two apiece for James West, Harry Dyer and Alex Armstrong. The Knights were hampered by the loss of Ryan Hunter who didn't bat after breaking a finger, and were dismissed for 154 in the 33rd over. Matthew Halliday top-scored with 42, and there were 20's for Marko Bates and Adam Leckey. Mark Tonge (3-38) took the bowling honours with two wickets each for Kathan Shah and Nasir Totakhil.

The Emerging Knights recovered from a poor start to beat the Emerging Warriors by 64 runs at The Lawn. Josh Wilson (3-65) and Ryan McAuley (2-69) had the hosts in trouble at 24 for 3 and 121 for 5, but the middle-order recovered with half centuries for Carson McCullough 87 (9 fours, 2 sixes) and Kian Hilton 55 (6 fours, 2 sixes), as well as breezy cameos from Charlie Swart (37) and Ryan Matthews (22) in a total of 285. Isaac Bird was a man in a hurry as he thumped 7 sixes and 6 fours in a 37-ball 76, but once he was bowled by the excellent Harry Dyer (2-37) normality was restored. Wickets for Carson McCullough (3-45), Kian Hilton (2-22) and Evan Carlisle (2-27) ensured the Knights were always in control despite late bursts from Jared Wilson (41) and Ben Calitz (30).

Cameron Melly's century ensured the Emerging Warriors completed a 10-wicket win over Munster Heat at Eglinton. His run-a-ball 101 (11 fours) gave the Warriors a 167-run first innings advantage as he shared stands of 54 with Ryan Nolan (26) for the 7th wicket and 83 for the 8th with Sam Haslett (30*). Zubair Khan took four wickets and William Shields two. Munster looked as if they could salvage a draw as Awais Saghir (57) and Sunil Gautam (33) shared a second wicket stand of 96 to take them to 110 for 1. However, four wickets for Gavin Roulston saw them collapse to 158 for 9. William Shields (21*) struck some lusty blows to ensure the NW had to bat a second time, but Ryan Clarke (19*) knocked off the 22 required in just 25 balls.

The disparity in the experience and quality of the squads resulted in a total mismatch that was over well before the scheduled close despite only 10 overs on the first day. Irish international Cade Carmichael top-scored with 146 from 142 balls (19 fours, 3 sixes) as he and Sam Topping put on an opening stand of 246, only ended by a run-out. Warriors opener Topping, back on home soil also made a century, hitting 14 boundaries in his unbeaten 107 as the Knights declared on 276 for 1. What followed was a slaughter of the innocents as Munster were completely dismantled twice in quick succession - their two innings lasting a total of 44 overs. Carson McCullough (4-6), Cian Robertson (3-5) and Tom Ford (3-5) did the damage with Munster bowled out for 46 in 27.3 overs. They did manage 71 in their second effort thanks to Zubair Hassan Khan's 26, but only lasted 16.3 overs. The CSNI duo of Harry Dyer (6-38) and James West (3-29) the destroyers-in-chief in the innings and 159-run win. In truth, this match was a waste of time, effort and money for all concerned.

The match at Oak Hill was more of a contest, but again with more than a half of the first day lost to the rain, a draw was always going to be the likely outcome. The Warriors skipper Harry Zimmermann top-scored with 58 as they made 234 for 9 in the first innings, with runs too for Freddie Ogilby (37), Gavin Roulston (36), Cameron Melly (33) and Ryan Nolan (26*). Clontarf's John McNally (4-35) and Ethan Marshall (2-46) were the pick of the bowlers. Leinster's reply was a solid one after the early wicket of Chris De Freitas. Philippe Le Roux top-scored with 81 (12 fours, 2 sixes), while there were also half centuries for Rob O'Brien (65) and Gavin Hoey (53), as well as 42 apiece for Sulieman Safi and Seamus Lynch. Zimmermann picked up two wickets and was in the runs again making an unbeaten 32 in the second innings as it petered out into a draw. Scott Macbeth (26*) also chipped in, while there were two wickets for Mark Tonge before the teams shook hands on the draw.

With Cricket Ireland culling the white-ball element of the Future Series, the Unions have decided to arrange their own fixtures to give their fringe players some much needed cricket in T20 and 50-overs cricket. The first of these games took place at Moylena and was a high-scoring contest with Macdara Cosgrave making 119 in a Bolts total of 323 for 7. That looked imposing but proved anything but. Carson McCullough thumped 97 and there were 30's for Ewan Wilson, Mohammed Aahil, CJ van der Walt and Matthew Halliday in a four wicket win that was achieved in 36 overs. The Knights are in action next with a 50-over clash against the Warriors at Ardmore on June 3rd, while the following week they are playing four T20's - two against the Warriors at Waringstown, and two against Leinster Bolts at Instonians.