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Leinster Lightning and Northern Knights will both feel relatively happy after a tough first day of their Newstalk Inter-Provincial Championship clash, played in sweltering heat at a wonderfully pictureseque College Park in Trinity.
Lightning declared their first innings just before the close, giving the Knights a potentially tricky three overs to negotiate, which they did successfully, finishing on 11 for 0.

That was in response to Leinster’s 289 for 9, built around half centuries from Irish internationals John Anderson (60) and Andrew Poynter (54).

Poynter was one of the few batsmen to score freely on the slowish pitch, which coupled with a lush outfield meant the run rate never climbed above three for most of the innings.

The Clontarf batsman hit eight boundaries in his 54 from 74 balls, sharing a fourth wicket stand of 70 in 76 balls with Anderson.

Fintan McAllister (35) – promoted from number 11 to open the innings – and Anderson had been watchfulness personified with an obdurate third wicket partnership of 74 from 232 deliveries, coming together at 10 for 2, after the early losses of Ben Ackland (4) and Patrick Collins (3).

Lightning skipper John Mooney looked in fine touch with an impressive 36, while both Max Sorensen (28*) and Albert van der Merwe (21*), showed the depth of the Lightning batting, adding an unbroken 48 from 53 balls, before being waved in by coach Trent Johnston as he attempted to get late wickets.

The Knights’ bowlers all stuck to their task well, with Shane Getkate – playing against his old franchise – the most successful, claiming 3 for 47.

Left-arm spinner James Cameron-Dow got through 24 overs to take 3 for 77, while teenage quick Mark Adair picked up 2 for 46.

It promises to be another thrilling contest between bat and ball when play starts again in the morning at 11am.

NEWSTALK INTER-PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP

At College Park, Trinity, Day 1 close

LEINSTER LIGHTNING 289/9 DEC (99.4 overs, J Anderson 60, A Poynter 54, J Mooney 36, F McAllister 35, M Sorensen 28*, A van der Merwe 21*, S Getkate 3-47, J Cameron-Dow 3-77, M Adair 2-46)

NORTHERN KNIGHTS 11-0 (3 overs)

Yes
Connaught