As expected the Hanley Energy Championship game between the Northern Knights and Leinster Lightning petered out into a tame draw at Stormont.

The morning session was another attritional one, as the Northern Knights crawled towards the first innings total of Leinster Lightning.

The Knights had added 12 runs to their overnight total of 126, when Jordan McClurkin became Max Sorensen's fifth victim of the innings - the total at that stage 138 for 8.

James Shannon's marathon vigil continued with the help of James Cameron-Dow, and it looked as if the pair's patience would be rewarded with an extra batting point as their target of 200 edged ever closer.

However, after the pair had added 53 in 179 balls, Sorensen - who else - got the breakthrough as he trapped Shannon lbw for 68 with the second new ball.

The Instonians batsman had shown great resolve and technique in making 68 from 196 deliveries, and his frustrations at being dismissed were all too evident.

As usually happens, the last wicket fell immediately afterwards, with Cameron-Dow (21) trapped lbw by Kane, as the Knights were 193 all out - 12 behind Lightning.

The third innings of the game proved the most entertaining as Lightning took the opportunity to get some batting practice, reaching 209 for 4 when stumps were pulled.

Fintan McAllister almost got a century - the Malahide man hitting 12 boundaries as he made 92 from 164 balls.

He shared an opening stand of 70 with John Anderson (38), and 133 for the second wicket with Leinster skipper John Mooney.

Mooney's innings was the most fluent of the game - his 67 coming from only 80 balls and contained five fours and two sixes.

CIYMS professional Rassie van der Dussen (2-2) accounted for both, and shortly after Andrew Poynter had been dismissed by Greg Thompson, the teams shook hands on the draw.

The Northern Knights take 8 points from the game to go to 24 from 3 games played, six adrift of the NW Warriors. Lightning take 9 to move to 15.5, with a game in hand.

The next action in the Championship sees the Warriors host Lightning at Bready from September 1-3.

HANLEY ENERGY INTER-PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP

At Stormont, Day 3 close

LEINSTER LIGHTNING 205 and 209/4 (54 overs, F McAllister 92, J Mooney 67, J Anderson 28, R van der Dussen 2-2)

NORTHERN KNIGHTS 193 all out (86.2 overs, J Shannon 68, C Dougherty 37, R van der Dussen 24, J Cameron-Dow 21, M Sorensen 6-34, E Richardson 2-19, T Kane 2-52)

Northern Knights 8 points, Leinster Lightning 9 points