A game that was heading to a predictable conclusion suddenly burst into life in the final hour as North County squeezed home by just 15 runs against a resurgent Leinster.

Inserted on a typical autumn track, North County cracked along at 6 runs an over against some fairly ragged Leinster out cricket. The opening stand had reached 76 when Anton Scholtz dragged Reinhardt Strydom (41) out of his crease for a quick stumping. Andre Botha and Ciaran Garry came and went. Then Conor Armstrong (42) was caught in front of middle stump, and with Richard Lawrence and John Mooney departing sleepily, County were suddenly 137 for 6. A stand of 80 between Denver de Cruz (41) and Dara Armstrong (27) rallied matters before both fell to Mark Jones' flighted straight one and the innings closed at 242 for 9. The wickets were shared between George Dockrell (3 for 33), Scholtz (2 for 26), Jones (2 for 21) and Keeley Todd (2 for 52).

De Cruz (3 for 25) and Botha (2 for 10) quickly ran through the top of the Leinster batting to reduce them to 33 for 5 and that became 90 for 8 as Eddie Richardson and Lawrence applied the squeeze. But JP O'Dwyer had settled himself in slowly before gradually using the long handle to great effect. Off 4 consecutive deliveries from Terry Shiel he moved from 33 to 57 and in partnership with Will Lennon put on 89 in just 42 minutes. He had reached 84 (including 8 sixes) when the returning Mooney trapped him lbw with the score on 179. But the fun was by no means over. Lennon had now found the middle of the bat and in partnership with Dockrell they had taken the score to 227 when Richardson (3 for 43) took a fine caught and bowled to dismiss Lennon for 42, Dockrell remaining 15*