Andrew Poynter scored a brilliant 113 as Leinster Lightning hung on for a draw against the Northern Knights on the final day of their RSA Inter-Provincial game at Waringstown.
James Cameron-Dow’s five wicket haul looked to have secured the game for the Knights after they were reduced to 163 for 7 in their second innings, following-on 276 runs in arrears.
Poynter however had other ideas – sharing an 8th wicket stand of 104 with teenager Tyrone Kane. The Irish international, who had scored a match-winning century for his club side Clontarf in the Irish Senior Cup on Saturday, continued his excellent form striking 20 fours and a six in his 163 ball sojurn.
His dismissal – from the first ball bowled by Lee Nelson – came with Leinster Ligntning still nine runs behind, but Kane remained obdurate, finishing on an unbeaten 49 as he and Sorensen added an unbroken 48 before stumps were pulled.
Max Sorensen (36*) took a different approach – batting positively to first erase the deficit, and then add to it as the Northern Knights gradually ran out of time to gain the win their play probably warranted over the three days.
Earlier in the day, Ben Ackland had just failed to carry his bat in the first innings, making 87 as his team finished on 225 all out.
Ackland scored a breezy 31 second time around, while John Anderson also took a forthright approach, striking ten boundaries in his 60 from 71 balls.
Spinner Cameron-Dow (5-124) impressed the watching Ireland National coach Phil Simmons, and when he removed Richardson and Mooney with successive balls, he must have felt the game was won.
However the depth of the Lightning batting some became evident as they preserved their unbeaten run in the Championship, being presented with their trophy at the conclusion of the game.
They can make it a treble with a win in the final game of the RSA Series, when they play NW Warriors at Strabane on Saturday September 21.
Cricket Ireland
Leinster celebrate their Championship win today
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