Leinster firmly in the ascendancy at College Park

A changeable day of weather and at times fortunes ended with Leinster Lightning firmly in the ascendancy going into the final day of the RSA Inter-Provincial Championship clash at College Park in Dublin.

After the home side batted most of the second day in establishing a 128-run lead after their first innings, they then struck twice through Max Sorensen in the final hour to leave the Warriors on 22 for two at stumps in their second dig and still over 100 runs in deficit.

A poor forecast for the final day’s play may yet see the match end in a draw, although any showers that have hit the ground have passed quickly through thanks to the strong winds.

Either way it will be a backs to the wall job for the North West, who enjoyed some success with the new second new ball, but only after Leinster had passed their first innings score of 191.

Ireland international Peter Connell was the main protagonist, bowling with control and a degree in venom to take four wickets for five runs in 33 deliveries, starting with Merrion batsman John Anderson after he had made a patient 56 from 158 deliveries.

Teenager Tyrone Kane went first ball to a pearler before he added Leinster wicket-keeper Fintan McAllister and Eddie Richardson to his haul.

Andrew Poynter bucked the trend, surviving and indeed thriving during the new-ball spells from Connell and Johnny Thompson with some fine boundaries.

Poynter finished unbeaten on 63 and in partnership with number 11 Albert van der Merwe (39) that took the game away from the Warriors by adding 63 for the final wicket.

With opener Bill Coghlan making 71 and Alex Cusack 31, it meant the Clontarf trio were responsible for over half the runs scored, helping Leinster claim three of the four bonus points on offer, with the 100 overs cut-off having passed before they reached the final batting bonus of 300 runs.

Even still, it will be the 16 points for an outright win that will targeting when play resumes this morning at 11am. If the weather plays ball, Leinster should make it two from two in the series to back up their tags of favourites.

SCOREBOARD
RSA INTER-PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
(at College Park, Dublin): Day 2 of 3 - Overnight: North West Warriors 191 (65 ovs) (A Riddles 47no, J Thompson 45, R Ramoo 39; K O'Brien 2-12, M Sorensen 2-28, E Richardson 2-51), Leinster Lightning 105-1 (39 ovs) (B Coghlan 71, P Collins 25).
LEINSTER LIGHTNING 1ST INNINGS
P Collins lbw b Hussain 25
B Coghlan c Dougherty b Thompson 71
J Anderson c Rankin b Connell 56
A Cusack c Dougherty b McBrine 31
K O'Brien c Dougherty b Hussain 1
A Poynter not out 63
T Kane c Dougherty b Connell 0
F McAllister c&b Connell 2
E Richardson lbw b Connell8
M Sorensen b Thompson 7
A van der Merwe lbw b McBrine 39
Extras (b1, lb15) 16
Total (all out, 121.2 ovs) 319
Fall of wickets: 1-99, 2-108, 3-176, 4-183, 5-208, 6-208, 7-222, 8-238, 9-256.
Bowling: P Connell 27-7-59-4; J Thompson 19-5-55-2; A McBrine 17.2-1-46-2; K Sajjid 16-4-36-0; I Hussain 23-7-46-2; S Campbell 10-1-35-0; A Riddles 9-2-26-0.
NORTH WEST WARRIORS 2ND INNINGS
K Sajjid c Collins b Sorensen0
D Rankin not out 5
N McDonnell b Sorensen9
S Campbell not out6
Extras (lb2)2
Total (for 2 wkts, 9 ovs)22
To bat: A McBrine, R Ramoo, I Hussain, A Riddles, J Thomspon, RL Dougherty, P Connell.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-12.
Bowling: M Sorensen 5-1-14-2; E Richardson 4-1-6-0.
Bonus points: Leinster 7, North West 4.
Play resumes at 11am.

ends