Nick Larkin scored a quite brilliant double-century – the first in Irish Inter-Provincial cricket history – as the Northern Knights racked up an imposing 412 for 3 on the first day of their RSA Championship match against Leinster Lightning at Waringstown.
23 year-old Larkin, an Australian who holds an Irish passport, scored a quite magnificent unbeaten 200 from 299 balls (21 fours). The North Down opener did his international ambitions no harm whatsoever, showing the technique and patience required for the longer format of the game.
Larkin, who has played one match for the New South Wales Under 23 side in his native Australia, has made no secret of his desire to represent Ireland at the 2015 World Cup and beyond, and on this showing mightn’t be too far from a call-up.
Chris Dougherty is another player who has come close to senior Irish honours, and he too played a fine supporting knock, making 88 from 129 balls (15 fours, 1 six). The CIYMS skipper had shared an opening stand of 169 with Larkin before being trapped lbw by Lightning skipper John Mooney (2-50).
There was no respite for the beleaguered Leinster Lightning bowlers however as Larkin added a further 135 with former Zimbabwe Test player Craig Ervine (50) for the second wicket.
Ervine fell to Tyrone Kane – one of nine bowlers used by an increasingly desperate Mooney.
Nigel Jones made a run a ball 23 before becoming Mooney’s second wicket, but Larkin proved the immoveable object, as in conjunction with James Shannon (28*), the Knights closed the day on a mammoth 412 for 3.
With plenty of batting still to come, it’s expected the Knights will push on to score in excess of 500 before trying to bowl out Lightning twice. That on an excellent Waringstown track may prove easier said than done.
