ADVANTAGE LIGHTNING GOING INTO FINAL DAY AT STORMONT

It's advantage Leinster Lightning going into the third and final day of their Hanley Energy Championship clash with the Northern Knights at Stormont.

They lead by 55 runs after the first innings, and while all results are still very much on the cards, it's difficult to envisage a situation where the Knights could force a win.

Contrasting half centuries from Jack Tector, Andrew Balbirnie and Eddie Richardson have given Lightning the upper hand, despite the best efforts of a disciplined Knights attack.

Graeme McCarter (2-44) and Nikolai Smith struck early blows dismissing Ed Joyce and John Anderson, but Tector (75) and Balbirnie (56) steadied the ship with a watchful 3rd wicket stand of 92 in 32.4 overs.

Simi Singh struck seven boundaries in a fluent 40, but wickets for Gary Kidd (3-70) and Shane Getkate (2-51) meant that Lightning only achieved parity with three wickets remaining.

Kevin O'Brien was one of those - batting at number nine because of a hamstring injury, but his dismissal shortly afterwards came with Lightning only 11 ahead.

However, Eddie Richardson played positively, striking seven boundaries in an aggressive 53 from 67 balls, sharing a 9th wicket stand of 43 with Peter Chase (16), in what could well be the decisive partnership of the contest.

Play at Stormont resumes today (WED) at 11am.

HANLEY ENERGY INTER-PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Day 2 of 3

Northern Knights 233 (J McCollum 119*)

Leinster Lightning 288 (95 overs; J Tector 75, A Balbirnie 56, E Richardson 53, S Singh 40, G Kidd 3-70' R McKinley 2-36, G McCarter 2-44, S Getkate 2-51)