The uncapped players upstaged their more experienced counterparts as Munster Reds repeated last year’s inter-provincial victory over Northern Knights at Stormont yesterday.

Matt Ford, son of former head coach Graham, saw the Reds to victory with an unbeaten run-a-ball 71 despite an impressive bowling spell from Lisburn debutant Matthew Humphreys.

It was thanks to Ross Adair’s 47 not out off just 32 balls — six fours and a six — that the Knights finished on 248 for nine, after losing their way when they slumped from 183 for four to 194 for seven.

Paul Stirling, after a cautious start, had his innings cut off before its prime by slow left-armer Mike Frost, who had the best figures of the day, and James McCollum, after surviving an appeal for a catch at the wicket, went to a 73-ball 50 but was out shortly after to a one-handed overhead catch by Curtis Campher.

PJ Moor, who could be Ireland’s wicket keeper by the end of the year, showed his batting class with seven fours in his 48 to get the Reds off to a positive start but Kevin O’Brien lasted only 10 balls on his first appearance before he was caught behind by the Knights’ other debutant Max Burton who was almost faultless behind the stumps.

The crucial moment in the end result, however, was dropped catches, both at mid-on, off Gareth Delany, when he was on four, and Ford on five.

Ford didn’t give another chance and Delany hit 26 more runs, including two sixes.