MC COLLUM HUNDRED RESCUES KNIGHTS BUT LIGHTNING HAVE UPPER HAND

JAMES MCCOLLUM'S brilliant unbeaten century rescued the Northern Knights on the first day of their Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial clash with Leinster Lightning at Stormont.

McCollum became the first player to score a century in the enhanced first-class era of domestic Irish cricket, coming in at number three after Lightning had struck early blows to remove Adam Dennison and Chris Dougherty.

McCollum is the 13th player to make a hundred since the Championship was revamped in 2013, and the fourth Knights player after Nick Larkin, Adam Dennison and Craig Ervine.

The 21 year-old Waringstown batsman struck 15 boundaries in his 119 not out from 235 deliveries, resisting all that the impressive Lightning attack threw at him.

From a precarious 150 for 7, he shared an 8th wicket stand of 77 with Robert McKinley (29) after Eddie Richardson (4-31), Peter Chase (3-41) and Gareth Delany (3-48) had given Lightning the upper hand.

A final total of 233 means that the Knights are still in the contest, but given the strength and depth of the Lightning batting, they still face an uphill battle to salvage a draw from the match.

The Lightning opening pair of Ed Joyce and Jack Tector had reached 22 without loss before play was halted when heavy rain swept across the ground.

The action resumes this morning (TUES) at 11am at Stormont.

Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial Championship

At Stormont, Day 1 of 3

Northern Knights 233 (85.4 overs; J McCollum 119*, R McKinley 29, J Shannon 28, E Richardson 4-33, P Chase 3-41, G Delaney 3-48

Leinster Lightning 22-0 (8.1 overs)

Play resumes Tuesday at 11am