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James Shannon produced another fine innings in the final Hanley Energy Interprovincial Championship game of the summer, but it’s Leinster Lightning who hold all the aces after a truncated first day’s play at Clontarf.

The Northern Knights set out knowing that a win would be essential to give them any chance of preventing a second successive clean sweep of the Interpro trophies by Albert van der Merwe’s charges but the visitors have work to do from here if they are to stay in the hunt until Thursday evening.

After the morning session was lost due to the after effects of heavy overnight rain, the home side won a significant toss and invited the Knights to bat first and once again it was skipper James Shannon who took centre stage.

The Instonians man continued to do his chances of a senior Irish recall no harm at all as he defied bowler-friendly conditions to make an impressive 86 (9 fours and 3 sixes).

Shannon shared a 45 run stand with Nikolai Smith (28), one of 59 with John Matchett (27) and another worth 51 with Graeme McCarter (31) as the Knights posted 195 all out in their first innings, losing their last five wickets for 18 in the search for quick runs and a chance to bowl ten overs at Lightning late in the extended day.

Disappointingly for the batting side however the next highest score after that was James McCollum’s 7 as first-class debutant David Delany on his home ground took 4-31, Tyrone Kane (3-46) and Kevin O’Brien (2-44) did most of the damage.

That then clarified the situation in terms of the table and with the Knights claiming just a solitary batting point, Lightning now need to score 250 in their first innings to secure the title, regardless of the outcome of the game.

Ed Joyce (12*) and Jack Tector (9) negotiated the final 10 overs of the day to ensure that the home side will begin on Wednesday morning on 26 without loss- 169 behind and 224 runs away from another remarkable season.

Hanley Energy Championship (Day 1 of 3)

At Clontarf CC
Northern Knights 195 all out (55.2 overs; J Shannon 86, G McCarter 31, Ni Smith 28, J Matchett 27. D Delany 4-31, T Kane 3-46, K O’Brien 2-44)
Leinster Lightning 26-0 (10 overs; E Joyce 12*, J Tector 10*)


Cricket Ireland
Tyrone Kane took 3-46 yesterday for the Leinster Lightning ©INPHO/Presseye/Rowland White
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