The Inter-Provincial Trophy is a Twenty20 cricket tournament between the provinces of Ireland.
The tournament was first held by three provinces in 2013, across venues in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Leinster Lightning are the current reigning champions and the most successful team in the competition's history, winning ten titles.
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.ICC to consider Ireland's bid for Test status ESPN.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2013 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.
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.Ireland unveil Test cricket vision CricketEurope4.net. Retrieved 9 March 2013CI reveals ambitious plans aimed at receiving Test status Sky Sports. Retrieved 9 March 2013Ireland's Boyd Rankin retires to play Test cricket for England Cricket Country. Retrieved 9 March 2013Rankin retires, Holdsworth calls for Test status irelandcricketwebbly.com. Retrieved 9 March 2013
According to Richard Holdsworth in an interview with Setanta Sports, CI were pleased with the strategic progress that had been made as of November 2012.Cricket Ireland happy with progress of strategic plan Setanta Sports. Retrieved 9 March 2013 In December 2012, Ireland got a $1.5m boost as increased funding from the ICC to establish elite domestic competitions in the country.
Initially the tournament did not hold List-A T20 status, however this was granted by the ICC starting for the 2017 season. A fourth province, Munster Reds was added in 2017 but was removed in 2026.
Format The tournament is held as a double round-robin format with each team playing each other twice, once at its home ground and the other leg away.
Teams According to Richard Holsworth's interview to Setanta Sports, three teams would initially participate in the tournament, Leinster, Northern and North West, representing the three historically strongest provincial unions in Irish cricket, as Munster and Connacht Unions were considered still quite far away from fielding a competitive team for provincial tournaments.
They were also given a separate limited overs brands or names familiar to supporters of the systems in England and Australia, Leinster Lightning, Northern Knights and North West Warriors.North-West announce shortlist for name Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 9 March 2013NCU confirm team name for 2013 Interpros Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 9 March 2013 Munster were added for the 2017 season, choosing to play under the name Munster Reds but was removed in 2026.
TeamFirst seasonLast seasonTitlesLeinster Lightning 2013 2026 10Northern Knights 2013 2026 2 North West Warriors 2013 2026 2 Munster Reds 2017 2025 0
Competition placings
2013 to present Results of each season are here: Season Winner Second Third Fourth2013 Leinster Lightning Northern Knights North West WarriorsDNP2014 North West Warriors Leinster Lightning Northern Knights2015 Leinster Lightning North West Warriors Northern Knights2016 Leinster Lightning North West Warriors Northern Knights2017 Leinster Lightning North West Warriors Northern Knights Munster Reds2018 Leinster Lightning Northern Knights North West Warriors Munster Reds 2019 Northern Knights Leinster Lightning North West Warriors Munster Reds 2020 Leinster Lightning Northern Knights Munster Reds North West Warriors 2021 North West Warriors Northern Knights Leinster Lightning Munster Reds 2022Leinster LightningMunster RedsNorth West WarriorsNorthern Knights2023Northern KnightsNorth West WarriorsMunster RedsLeinster Lightning2024Leinster LightningNorthern KnightsNorth West WarriorsMunster Reds2025Leinster LightningNorthern KnightsMunster RedsNorth West Warriors2026 Leinster Lightning North West Warriors Northern Knights DNP
All-time records (Correct to 6 March 2024)
Team records
Highest innings totals
Score Team Opps Venue Date 260/3 Leinster Lightning North West Warriors Sydney Parade 28 Jul 2022 247//4 Leinster Lightning Munster Reds Anglesea Road 16 Jun 2017236/3Northern KnightsLeinster LightningMardyke6 Jun 2023228/4Northern KnightsMunster RedsSydney Parade28 Jul 2022221/6Northern KnightsMunster RedsBready27 Jun 2021
Lowest completed innings totals
Score Team Opps Venue Date 76 aoMunster RedsLeinster LightningSydney Parade20 Aug 2020 78 ao North West Warriors Leinster Lightning Sydney Parade 21 Jun 2013 78 ao North West Warriors Northern Knights Sydney Parade 22 Jun 2019 78 ao North West Warriors Northern Knights Sydney Parade 1 Aug 202380 aoMunster RedsLeinster LightningSydney Parade18 May 2018
Individual records – batting
Most career runs
Runs Innings Average Player Team(s) 854 32 28.47123.95 Stephen Doheny LL, MR, NWW 829 33 26.74132.43 Simi Singh Leinster Lightning 799 27 30.73140.92 Andy Balbirnie Leinster Lightning 706 42 18.58121.10 Shane Getkate NK, NWW6614420.03117.41Andy McBrineNorth West Warriors
Highest individual scores
Score Player For Opps Venue Date 111 Ross Adair Northern Knights North West Warriors Sydney Parade 27 Jul 2022 110* John Mooney Leinster Lightning North West Warriors Woodvale Road 25 Jun 2015109Simi SinghLeinster LightningMunster RedsAnglesea Road16 Jun 2017102Murray ComminsMunster RedsLeinster LightningSydney Parade27 Jul 202298*Max SorensenLeinster LightningMunster RedsAnglesea Road16 Jun 2017
Individual records – bowling
Most career wickets Wickets Matches Average Player Team 61 36 16.447.95 Craig Young North West Warriors 50 42 13.406.99 Tyrone Kane LL, MR 49 48 21.476.90 Andy McBrine North West Warriors463716.546.97Simi SinghLeinster Lightning362515.926.69Eddie RichardsonLL, MR
Best bowling in an innings
Bowling Player Team Opps Venue Date 5/8 Shane Getkate Northern Knights North West Warriors Sydney Parade 22 Jun 20195/13Ben WhiteNorthern KnightsMunster RedsSydney Parade20 Jun 20215/13Matthew HumphreysNorthern KnightsNorth West WarriorsSydney Parade1 Aug 20235/15Craig YoungNorth West WarriorsNorthern KnightsNew Strabane Park16 Jun 20175/15Tyrone KaneLeinster LightningNorth West WarriorsAnglesea Road22 May 2015
Partnership records
Highest partnerships WicketRunsPlayer 1Player 2TeamOppsVenueDate3rd162Murray ComminsTyrone KaneMunster RedsLeinster LightningSydney Parade27 Jul 20222nd133Stephen DohenyNathan McGuireNorth West WarriorsNorthern KnightsSydney Parade27 Jul 20222nd132Simi SinghAndy BalbirnieLeinster LightningNorthern KnightsSydney Parade6 Jul 20183rd128Simi SinghMax SorensenLeinster LightningMunster RedsAnglesea Road16 Jun 20172nd126James McCollumJohn MatchettNorthern KnightsMunster RedsSydney Parade28 Jul 2022
Highest partnerships for each wicket Wicket Runs Player 1 Player 2 Team Opps Venue Date 1st 119 Stuart Thompson David Rankin North West Warriors North West Warriors Bready 6 Jul 2014 2nd 133 Stephen Doheny Nathan McGuire North West Warriors Northern Knights Sydney Parade 27 Jul 2022 3rd 162 Murray Commins Tyrone Kane Munster Reds Leinster Lightning Sydney Parade 27 Jul 2022 4th 122* John Anderson George Dockrell Leinster Lightning North West Warriors Sydney Parade 7 Jul 2018 5th 97 Andrew McBrine Aaron Gillespie North West Warriors Munster Reds Sydney Parade 6 Jul 2018 6th 90 Graeme McCarter Stuart Thompson North West Warriors Leinster Lightning Anglesea Road 22 May 2015 7th 52* Graham Hume Ross Allen North West Warriors Northern Knights Bready 20 Aug 2020 8th 38* Rusty Theron Jacob Mulder Northern Knights Leinster Lightning Comber 22 Jul 2016 9th 53 Gavin Hoey Josh Little Leinster Lightning North West Warriors Comber 19 Sep 2021 10th 40 Ryan MacBeth Scott MacBeth North West Warriors Leinster Lightning Sydney Parade 28 Jul 2022
See also
Cricket in Ireland History of cricket Inter-Provincial Championship Inter-Provincial Cup
References and notes