AN unbroken second wicket partnership of 76 between Chris Dougherty and James McCollum completed an excellent second day for Northern Knights in their inter-provincial Championship clash with Leinster Lightning at Comber.

The bowlers had stepped up to the mark to restrict the champions’ first innings lead to just five runs and despite the early loss, once again, of debutant Marc Ellison, it was Lightning’s only wicket in the 29 overs bowling before the close.

Dougherty, who endured a 13-ball first innings duck, batting at No 5, was promoted to his normal opening batting position because Nikolai Smith was off the field most of the day with a leg injury, and although it would be wrong to say he looked much more comfortable facing the new ball, - he was dropped on one, and again on 24, by Simi Singh at third slip – he has dug in and already batted for an hour and 50 minutes.

McCollum, top scorer in the first innings, carried on where he left off, although he has been much more purposeful and has hit seven boundaries, as he comfortably outscored Dougherty.
Lightning, already under-strength with Kevin O’Brien on a coaching course and Ed Joyce having retired, were also a bowler down with Jarred Barnes failing to recover from the groin strain he sustained on the first day.

Test player Tyrone Kane carried the attack and was the unlucky bowler on both dropped chances, but apart from five overs from Peter Chase and David Delany’s belated arrival as fourth change, it was a diet of spin, including five overs from Andrew Balbirnie.

They did not have the same success as the Knights bowlers earlier, however, and it could be another hard slog for them although for the second first-class match in a row, it looks as if three days will not be enough to achieve a positive result.

On a good pitch, with two competent batting line-ups that should always be the case – it hasn’t always been so down the years in this competition, especially with Lightning involved – but yesterday too many batsmen sacrificed their wickets too easily as the visitors gave up a dominant position.

Resuming on their overnight 33-1, it was a batting masterclass from Balbirnie, John Anderson and Simi  Singh in the morning session  as they added 123, with James Cameron-Dow the only successful bowler, having Balbirnie caught at slip two short of his half century.

Then in the last over before lunch, Shane Getkate, enjoying an impressive second spell, got extra bounce and for some reason Anderson played at the ball and nicked it to Neil Rock. It was the breakthrough Knights needed and they never looked back, taking the remaining seven wickets for 112.

Harry Tector was the best bowler, deservedly finishing with three wickets and even James Shannon, brought on by new Knights captain Getkate as their fourth spinner, got among the wickets, albeit that of Chase, promoted to No 10 because of Barnes’ injury.