Storm Brewing
Guest writer Aaron McNicholas caught up with Lorcan Tucker who backs Ireland to hit the ground running at T20 World Cup


Another frustrating morning saw two breaks in play before lunch and a further ten overs lost as the Lightning resumed on 73-1.
John Anderson, resuming on 45 was not able to make it to his half century before the first break for rain, which thankfully only lasted 15 minutes, but just four balls after the resumption he took advantage of some width and drive brilliantly through point to bring up a well-earned half century.
He would only add ten more runs though as he was out for 60 after a second delay for rain, when Shane Getkate found the edge and removed the Lightning vice-captain.
Andrew Poynter added only 12 as Robert McKinley took his first inter-provincial wicket after seemingly bowling the entire innings thanks to well-timed rain delays. Simmi Singh followed Anderson to a half-century before a rush of blood to the head saw him charge down the wicket to James Cameron-Dow, giving McClurkin an easy stumping to send him back for 55.
The Lightning middle order then struggled to cope with a strong bowling performance from the Knights as they tumbled from 160-3 to 168-7 in less than ten overs of play.
Max Sorensen (19) and Lorcan Tucker combined for a 29 run partnership as the Lightning continued to push towards 200 to earn an additional bonus point, with Tucker eventually out for 15 to leave the Lightning 205 all out.
After tea was taken at the innings break the Knights had 53 overs to bat out in the final session with the Lightning bowlers looking for early wickets to try and force a result in the final day tomorrow.
James McCollum fell early to Max Sorensen to give the Lightning reason to celebrate but they had to remain patient as Rassie van der Dussen and Chris Dougherty seemingly had the better of the Lightning bowlers.
After the pair almost reached the 50 partnership van der Dussen fell to a catch down the leg-side, before Dougherty fell shortly after to a brilliant catch from Yaqoob Ali, Sorensen again picking up both wickets.
Lee Nelson was next to fall, with the Knights skipper making 12 before Tyrone Kane (1-34) claimed his only wicket of the day. That brought in Greg Thompson who joined James Shannon for a 10 over spell in which just 14 runs were scored, with five consecutive maidens before Eddie Richardson finally got the wicket of Thompson for six.
Getkate, who had impressed with the ball came in at seven for the Knights and was tasked with surviving the remaining 15 overs as the Lightning bowlers sensed weakness in the Knights and went for the kill. He did not last long though, with Richardson (2-16) picking up his second wicket two overs later to leave the Knights in real trouble at 97-6.
Robert McKinley followed Getkate back to the pavilion, neither batter troubling the scorer as Sorensen (4-23) picked up his fourth wicket to see the Knights collapse from 70-2 to 99-7, giving the Lightning hope of an unlikely victory on day three.
Shannon and James McClurkin saw out the remainder of the evening session, batting until almost 8pm before the overs for the day were completed, with Shannon 33 not out and McClurkin 6 not out. The pair will resume at 11am tomorrow morning with the Knights no doubt looking to bat for as long as possible to prevent any chance of a Lightning win.

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Connaught
Guest writer Aaron McNicholas caught up with Lorcan Tucker who backs Ireland to hit the ground running at T20 World Cup

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