Inter-Provincial Cup
Countries Ireland
AdministratorCricket Ireland
FormatList A (from 2017 onwards)
First edition2013
Latest edition2023
Tournament formatDouble round-robin
Number of teams4 (from 2021)
3 (from 2013 to 2020)
Current championNorthern Knights (2nd title)
Most successfulLeinster Lightning (8 titles)
Most runsKevin O'Brien (1,071)
Most wicketsGeorge Dockrell (53)
2023 Inter-Provincial Cup
WebsiteCricket Ireland

The Inter-Provincial Cup is a limited-overs cricket tournament in Ireland between the four leading cricketing provinces of Ireland. The tournament was held for the first time in 2013 across venues in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Up to and including the 2016 tournament, the matches were not given List A status. However, at an International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in October 2016, List A status was awarded to all future matches.[1][2]

History

Background

The Ireland cricket team have had huge success recently on the international level which has boosted the popularity of the game in the country. They had earned the reputation of a giant killer after upsetting teams like Pakistan and Bangladesh (2007 Cricket World Cup), and England (2011 Cricket World Cup). Their good performances in major international tournaments meant that Cricket Ireland openly started bidding for Test match status to the International Cricket Council.[3] Nevertheless, one of the main stumbling road blocks for Ireland from getting to play the pinnacle of the game was a lack of a first-class cricket infrastructure at home, among other things. As early as August 2011, Cricket Ireland announced plans of a domestic first-class tournament.[4] In January 2012, Cricket Ireland announced the ambitious 'Vision 2020' plan which announced the establishment of a first-class structure by 2015 and achievement of Test status by 2020. It also began work on a cricket academy to find talented players across the country and improving grass-roots cricket in the country. For the first time professional contacts, with central, A, B, and C were established. Plans for Test status were established partly to stem the flow of their star cricketers moving away to England in hope of playing Test cricket such as Ed Joyce, Eoin Morgan and Boyd Rankin.[5][6][7][8][9][10] According to Richard Holdsworth in an interview with Setanta Sports, CI are pleased with the strategic progress that had been made as of November 2012.[11] In December 2012, Ireland got a $1.5m boost as increased funding from the ICC to establish elite domestic competitions in the country.[12]

Format

The tournament is played in a double round-robin format, with each team playing each other twice, once at home and once away.

Points summary

Points are scored as follows:

  • Win – 4 points
  • Tie or no result – 2 points
  • Loss – 0 points
  • Bonus point – 1 point awarded to a team winning a match with a run rate equal to 1.25 times that of the losing team

Teams

According to Richard Holdsworth's interview to Setanta Sports, three teams would initially participate in the tournament, Leinster cricket team, Northern cricket team and North West cricket team as Munster and Connacht were considered still quite far away from fielding a competitive team for provincial tournaments. They were also given a separate limited overs names much similar to the systems in England and Australia, i.e., like Nottinghamshire Outlaws and South Australia Redbacks. In this case, the names are Leinster Lightning, Northern Knights and North West Warriors.[13][14]

From the 2021 season Munster Reds joined the Inter Provincial Cup having previously only competed in the Twenty20 Inter-Provincial Trophy[15]

Team First season Titles 2023 position
Leinster Lightning 201382nd
Northern Knights 201321st
North West Warriors 201304th
Munster Reds 202113rd

Competition placings

2013 to present

SeasonWinnerSecondThirdFourth
2013Northern KnightsLeinster LightningNorth West WarriorsN/A
2014Leinster LightningNorthern KnightsNorth West WarriorsN/A
2015Leinster LightningNorthern KnightsNorth West WarriorsN/A
2016Leinster LightningNorthern KnightsNorth West WarriorsN/A
2017Leinster LightningNorth West WarriorsNorthern KnightsN/A
2018Leinster LightningNorth West WarriorsNorthern KnightsN/A
2019Leinster LightningNorthern KnightsNorth West WarriorsN/A
2020Leinster LightningNorthern KnightsNorth West WarriorsN/A
2021Leinster LightningNorth West WarriorsNorthern KnightsMunster Reds
2022Munster RedsNorth West WarriorsLeinster LightningNorthern Knights
2023Northern KnightsLeinster LightningMunster RedsNorth West Warriors

All-time records

(All records correct to end of 2014 season)

Team records

Highest innings totals

ScoreTeamOppsVenueDate
285/4 (50)North West WarriorsLeinster LightningThe Hills CC3 May 2014
272/6 (50)Leinster LightningNorth West WarriorsMalahide CC1 June 2013
260/8 (50)Leinster LightningNorth West WarriorsThe Hills CC6 May 2013
259/7 (50)Northern KnightsLeinster LightningThe Hills CC6 May 2013
254/7 (38)Leinster LightningNorth West WarriorsThe Hills CC3 May 2014
254/9 (50)Leinster LightningNorthern KnightsWaringstown CC14 September 2014

Lowest completed innings totals

ScoreTeamOppsVenueDate
120 aoNorth West WarriorsNorthern KnightsColeraine CC26 May 2014
123 aoNorth West WarriorsLeinster LightningMalahide CC1 June 2013

Individual records – batting

Most career runs

RunsInningsPlayerTeam
3535Kevin O'BrienLeinster Lightning
2778John AndersonLeinster Lightning
2387Lee NelsonNorthern Knights
2297Andrew BalbirnieLeinster Lightning

Highest individual scores

ScorePlayerForOppsVenueDate
124*Andrew PoynterLeinster LightningNorthern KnightsWaringstown CC14 September 2013
111*Kevin O'BrienLeinster LightningNorthern KnightsThe Hills CC6 May 2013
103*Andrew BalbirnieLeinster LightningNorth West WarriorsThe Hills CC3 May 2014

Most runs scored in a season

RunsInningsPlayerTeamSeason
2213Kevin O'BrienLeinster Lightning2013
2064Andrew BalbirnieLeinster Lightning2014

Individual records – bowling

Most career wickets

WicketsMatchesPlayerTeam
117Albert van der MerweLeinster Lightning
95David SimpsonNorthern Knights
97Andrew McBrineNorth West Warriors

Best bowling in an innings

BowlingPlayerTeamOppsVenueDate
10-1-31-4Andrew RiddlesNorth West WarriorsLeinster LightningStrabane CC21 September 2013
10-0-31-4Tyrone KaneLeinster LightningNorthern KnightsLeinster CC20 September 2014

Most wickets in a season

WicketsAveragePlayerTeamSeason
723.43Max SorensenLeinster Lightning2013
615.00Albert van der MerweLeinster Lightning2014

Partnership records

Highest partnerships for each wicket

WicketP/ShipPlayer 1Player 2TeamOppsVenueDate
1st118Ben AcklandJohn AndersonLeinster LightningNorth West WarriorsMalahide CC1 June 2013
2nd80Jason MilliganNiall McDonnellNorth West WarriorsLeinster LightningThe Hills CC3 May 2014
3rd59Nick LarkinJames ShannonNorthern KnightsLeinster LightningWaringstown CC10 August 2013
4th118John AndersonJohn MooneyLeinster LightningNorthern KnightsLeinster CC20 September 2014
5th187Andrew BalbirnieKevin O'BrienLeinster LightningNorth West WarriorsThe Hills CC3 May 2014
6th79Andrew WhiteAdam DennisonNorthern KnightsLeinster LightningLeinster CC20 September 2014
7th82Iftikhar Hussain/David RankinAndrew RiddlesNorth West WarriorsLeinster LightningStrabane CC21 September 2013
8th91Jonathan ThompsonRicky-Lee DoughertyNorth West WarriorsNorthern KnightsNorth Down CC15 July 2013
9th71*Kevin O'BrienFintan McAllisterLeinster LightningNorth West WarriorsThe Hills CC6 May 2013
10th31*Andrew PoynterYaqoob AliLeinster LightningNorthern KnightsWaringstown CC14 September 2014

Seasons

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ireland domestic competition awarded first-class status". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Ireland's Inter-Provincial Championship awarded first-class status". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  3. ↑ ICC to consider Ireland's bid for Test status ESPN.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2013
  4. ↑ Ireland plan first-class structure ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 9 March 2013
  5. ↑ Ireland unveil Test cricket vision Archived 17 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine CricketEurope4.net. Retrieved 9 March 2013
  6. ↑ CI reveals ambitious plans aimed at receiving Test status Sky Sports. Retrieved 9 March 2013
  7. ↑ Ireland map out path to Tests ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 9 March 2013
  8. ↑ Ireland's Boyd Rankin retires to play Test cricket for England Cricket Country. Retrieved 9 March 2013
  9. ↑ Ireland calls for Test status to 'halt exodus' ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 9 March 2013
  10. ↑ Rankin retires, Holdsworth calls for Test status Archived 12 April 2013 at archive.today irelandcricketwebbly.com. Retrieved 9 March 2013
  11. ↑ Cricket Ireland happy with progress of strategic plan Archived 9 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine Setanta Sports. Retrieved 9 March 2013
  12. ↑ Ireland receive $1.5 m boost from ICC ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 9 March 2013
  13. ↑ North-West announce shortlist for name Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 9 March 2013
  14. ↑ NCU confirm team name for 2013 Interpros Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 9 March 2013
  15. ↑ "Inter-Provincial Series Revamp to include Munster Reds joining 50-over Cup – BBC Sport". 12 February 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
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