William Porterfield’s epic innings ensured the Warriors drew their Championship clash with Leinster Lightning at Bready.

The Ireland skipper’s 207 is the second highest individual score in the competition’s history passing Adam Dennison’s 206 in 2016, but Craig Ervine (247*) still tops the chart.

Porterfield’s marathon effort spanned 442 balls and 9 hours and 24 minutes – a remarkable herculean effort of patience and concentration.

He did manage to hit 25 fours and 2 sixes – one of which smashed a car windscreen. N

eeding seven wickets on the final day, Lightning removed Niall O’Brien (37) after he and the Irish skipper had added 98, caught by Max Sorensen at mid-on after a miscue off Jarred Barnes.

Warriors skipper Andy McBrine chopped on from Andy Balbirnie, but Porterfield remained the immovable object.

He was joined by David Rankin and the pair added 118 to ensure the Warriors would draw the game.

The only disappointment for the home crowd was Rankin being dismissed just before the close for 86 (15 fours), missing out on a deserved century, but recording his highest first-class score.

It was a day of toil for the Lightning seamers, who in complete contrast to the first innings bowled a combined total of 70 overs, taking 1 for 209.

The spinning quartet proved more potent, their combined effort saw 105 overs, eight wickets for 223.

Lightning top the table and it will need the Warriors to beat the Knights at least once if they are to deny the Dubliners a sixth consecutive Championship title.

INTERPROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP, Day 3 of 3

NW WARRIORS 80 (P Chase 5-24, M Sorensen 4-27) and 460-9 dec (W Porterfield 207, D Rankin 86, A Gillespie 48, N O’Brien 37, DD Barr 22; A Balbirnie 3-50, S Singh 3-64, G Dockrell 2-88)

LEINSTER LIGHTNING 273 (54 overs; G Dockrell 92, A Balbirnie 35, J Anderson 28; D Scanlon 4-70, S Thompson 3-72, G Kennedy 2-27).

Lightning (10pts) drew with Warriors (7pts)