IT was David Scanlon’s turn to hog the limelight as the North West Warriors put themselves in pole position to win the first domestic first-class fixture in Ireland.

The Warriors assistant coach proved he is still worthy of his place in the team as he not only emulated Bready team-mate Craig Young’s first-day five-wicket haul but bettered it statistically to finish with five for 29 as the Northern Knights were restricted to a lead of 124 after their second innings.

After his first five overs, Scanlon had figures of 5-3-3-4 following a devastating burst of bowling which wiped out four of the Knights’ top six and reduced the NCU side to 19 for five.

A partnership of 75 — the highest of the match so far — between Shane Getkate and Greg Thompson not only ensured the Warriors would have to bat a second time but, thanks to the last two wickets adding 49, it could yet be a testing target with rain forecast overnight for Eglinton.

They had reduced that by 48 at the close of a day when 18 wickets fell although, for the second day in a row, the batsmen played a major role in their own downfall.

Nothing should be taken away from Scanlon’s heroics, however. On the Cricinfo website, his date of birth is still listed as unknown but after yesterday he has virtually guaranteed that his debut will not be his last first-class match.

When the Knights went in to bat three overs before lunch they had a deficit of 37, after Ross Allen, on his home ground, and Young had put on 45 for the ninth wicket to make up for the loss of skipper Andy McBrine in the third over of the day and his overnight partner Niall McDonnell just five overs later, the third of four wickets for the impressive Nathan Smith. It was also the fourth of five catches for Ricky-Lee Dougherty who had the satisfaction of ensuring that Niall O’Brien was not missed.

Scanlon did not bowl before lunch but he was given the first over afterwards and after bowling a maiden he ended a miserable week for Adam Dennison by having the Waringstown batsman leg before. Two overs later,

James McCollum was caught behind from a late away swinger and he made it three in four balls, having James Shannon caught in the gully and then wrecking Nikolai Smith’s stumps with a superb yorker.

Before the end of the innings there was also a great moment for 20-year-old Aaron Gillespie as he took his maiden first-class wicket with a beauty to end the Getkate-Thompson stand and, just for good measure, had Lee Nelson caught at slip in his next over.

The Warriors’ two professionals looked good in the final 15 overs but Gary Kidd’s first ball tempted Imran Butt into a reckless stroke and it gave the Knights a last-gasp boost ahead of today’s action.