STUART Thompson put his name in the frame for a Test match call-up with a century for North West Warriors against a full-strength Leinster Lightning attack on the first day of the inter-provincial season at Pembroke.

Ireland head coach Graham Ford , wrapped up against the elements on a two-sweater day in Dublin, led the applause for the Eglinton captain who played the last of his 59 internationals exactly 12 months ago.

He is certain to be a name under consideration when the selectors meet tonight to choose the 13 for the historic match against Pakistan, especially if he follows up with a good bowling performance today.

Thompson, who is unbeaten on 137, having faced 198 balls, shared the plaudits on a record-breaking day with Niall O’Brien – a certainty to make his Test match debut on Friday week – who walked off 129 not out, having already batted for five and three quarter hours.

It was a second successive century for both players – Thompson hit 128 against Donemana last Saturday, the same day as O’Brien scored 154 not out for his English club Nantwich so it can safely be said, both are in form!

It was a maiden first-class century for Thompson, indeed the first time he had reached 50 in the purest format of the game and although it was O’Brien’s first century for the Warriors only Ed Joyce and Freddie Fane have scored more than his 15 first-class hundreds.

Their partnership of 265 has already shattered the previous Championship best of 196, set by Bill Coghlan and Fintan McAllister for Lightning against the Warriors in 2015. Sweet revenge indeed, especially for Thompson who was on the receiving end with the ball that day.

Yesterday, it was the all-international attack of Peter Chase, Tyrone Kane, Kevin O’Brien, George Dockrell and Simi Singh who suffered as Lightning paid the price for going into the match with only five recognised bowlers.

O’Brien and Singh can be pleased with their economical day’s work but Chase and Dockrell did their hopes of Test selection no favours with too many loose deliveries.

Chase had started well with the new ball conceding only 23 runs in his first nine overs and picking up the wicket of David Barr but his next 12 overs cost 78 as O’Brien and Thompson started to enjoy themselves.

Chase was robbed of a wicket when Singh dropped a difficult chance in the gully off Thompson who had been missed earlier, on 84 by keeper Lorcan Tucker diving to his left in front of first slip, this one off Kane.

It was Kane who was the beneficiary of William Porterfield’s aberration in the seventh over the day, the Ireland skipper shouldering arms and seeing his stumps hit.

The innings undeservedly overshadowed by the huge partnership was played by Strabane’s Aaron Gillespie, who hit six fours and a six in his 57 from 109 balls before he steered Chase into the safe hands of Kevin O’Brien in the gully.