THE morning's play on the final day of the inter-provincial at Stormont yesterday was lost to rain and thwarted a potentially exciting finish.

When play got under way, Northern Knights took six wickets in 20 overs to reduce Leinster Lightning to 78 for seven, a lead of only 64, but internationals Andrew Poynter and George Dockrell (15 off 91 balls) saw out the next 30 overs, while scoring only 39 runs to give earn Lightning a draw.

Nikolai Smith took two wickets in the first over, including first innings centurion John Anderson for just two and the CSN pair of Graeme McCarter and Shane Getkate followed up with impressive opening spells.

The spinners, Jacob Mulder and Gary Kidd , however, could not back up their pace men, however, as Lightning finished the game two points closer to the Knights at the top of the table.

Jamie Magowan, the young Muckamore wicket-keeper, was brought into the team only because Chris Dougherty is only fit to bat at the moment, but he must have impressed the selectors and if he produces anything like this performance in next Friday''s T20 game against the Warriors, he deserves to keep his place for the Knights' next Championship game, against the Warriros in four weeks' time, allowing the CIYMS opener to concentrate on his batting.

Magowan is obviously no mug with the bat either, after scoring 38 against the full-strength Instonians attack in the Senior Cup, batting at No 4, above Ryan Haire.

Scores: Leinster Lightning 306-3 dec (J Anderson 135 not out, D Joyce 71, S Terry 32) and 117-7 (A Poynter 42 not out; G McCarter 3-41, S Getkate 2-13, Ni Smith 2-18) Northern Knights 320-8 dec (J Holmes 53, Ni Smith 52, G Thompson 43, G McCarter 42, C Dougherty 38; E Richardson 3-55).