Three wickets apiece from Harry Tector and James Cameron-Dow, coupled with an unbroken stand of 76 between James McCollum and Chris Dougherty gave the Northern Knights possibly their best day in the six-year Championship history against Leinster Lightning.

When the five-times champions reached 156 for 2 on the stroke of lunch, it looked as if would be another familiar tale of woe for the NCU outfit.

However, the dismissal of Anderson, caught behind by Neil Rock off Knights skipper Shane Getkate, proved to be a turning point in the innings.

Anderson had stroked 10 fours in a top score of 66, sharing stands of 84 with Andy Balbirnie (48) and Simi Singh (56).

The afternoon session was transformed as Lightning faced trial by spin, with the Knights quartet of Cameron-Dow, Tector, Kidd and Shannon sending down a combined 70 overs of spin, capturing 8 wickets for 166.

Tector proved a golden arm, striking with just his fifth ball to account for Sean Terry, and later struck twice in two balls dismissing Lorcan Tucker and David Delany.

The Knights’ reliance on spin was partly forced on them due to yet another injury which has severely depleted their seam bowling stocks in recent times.

Nikolai Smith has a knee injury, which also meant he didn’t open in the Knights second innings.

He joined Jarred Barnes on the sidelines, with the YMCA opening bowler suffering a groin strain.

Lightning did eventually squeeze out a lead, but a barely negligible five runs, as Tyrone Kane became a deserved wicket for Gary Kidd in the left-arm spinners 31st over.

Lightning got an early boost when Marc Ellison went cheaply, but surrendered the advantage as Chris Dougherty (28*) - who benefitted from two lives - and James McCollum (42*) took them through to the close with an unbroken stand of 76.

Clontarf’s David Delany was only the sixth bowler used – hampered by blistered feet, as George Dockrell shuffled his pack in search of late wickets.

The contest is still very much in the balance, although a cloudy morning forecast may offer more assistance than has been the case in glorious weather at Comber in the first two days.

The Knights will be buoyed by their fight in the contest thus far, but will be wary of a Lightning side who have shown their resilience over many years.

IP CHAMPIONSHIP, At Comber, Day 2 of 3

KNIGHTS 1st inns 263 all out (87.3 overs; James McCollum 87, Shane Getkate 70, Neil Rock 20; Peter Chase 3-38, Jarred Barnes 3-46, George Dockrell 2-38) and 2nd inns 83-1 (29 overs; James McCollum 42*, Chris Dougherty 28*)

LIGHTNING 268 all out (95.4 overs; John Anderson 66, Simi Singh 56, Andy Balbirnie 48; Harry Tector 3-28, James Cameron-Dow 3-64)

Continues Thursday at 11am.