Ruthless Knights punish lacklustre Lightning

It was sunny skies that greeted Pembroke Cricket Club this morning. Despite entering September, it could have easily been mistaken for the height of summer. It was what many people would call a ‘batting day’. Therefore it was of no surprise to see that when Northern Knights skipper James Shannon called correctly, he opted to have first use of the Pembroke pitch.

The Northern Knights, who have struggled in this competition for a couple of years now, came out to bat in a very positive frame of mind. Marc Ellison made his intentions clear, hooking a Chase bouncer into the nearby gardens in just the fourth over of the day.

His opening partner, Chris Dougherty, would not have such luck, nicking a good Tyrone Kane lifter through to Balbirnie at slip for 7. James McCollum joined Ellison and quickly began to show why he is one of the names on many Cricket Ireland personnel’s lips. He drove Chase on the up through the covers to get off the mark and quickly adjusted to pull Little to the rope soon after. Ellison was a little more watchful, seizing on anything short but saw a flashy drive just evade the cordon when only on 12.

Apart from Kane, the Lightning seamers were finding it very difficult to extract anything from a very flat looking pitch. Little and Richardson bowled spells with no joy throughout the morning. Ellison and McCollum both reached their half-centuries before the lunch break, coming off 67 and 78 balls respectively.

The Lightning fielding and bowling was ragged in the first session, with some uncharacteristic mistakes made. It seemed like they were being sucked into the end of season vibe that this game may have had. The Knights weren’t to be fooled though, lunching at 157-1.

Singh and Little opened up after lunch for Leinster and the later had instant reward when trapping Ellison in front for a well compiled 64. In the next over, McCollum survived a very tough chance at slip off Singh.

James Shannon calmed the slight wobble post-lunch. His elegant drives and crisp punches flew to the fence as the heat began to burn down on the Lightning bowlers. However, when they needed it most, Tyrone Kane returned to bowl in tandem with Singh to give Leinster a way back into the match.

Shannon played a flashy drive which was well held by Doheny in the gully for 25. After more pressure had been applied, Singh bowled McCollum for 93 to end the Waringstown’s batsman’s fine knock. His 145 ball stay was richly applauded by the selection of watchers at Sydney Parade.

It was only a few overs later that Singh, who was in the middle of a mammoth afternoon spell, accounted for Rock, feathering a slow turner to the keeper without troubling the scorers. 213-2 had become 245-5 and the Leinster players felt they had a way in, but Shane Getkate and Harry Tector dug in till tea time. Although Getkate survived a dropped catch off Singh off the last ball of the session.

Getkate and Tector continued to pile on the runs for the Knights in the early evening session with contrasting approaches. Tector was watchful, but very secure and hardly played a false stroke during his innings. Getkate was more of the aggressor, eager to use his feet to the spinners and hit both straight and long. He managed this on two occasions against Dockrell, hoisting one six over mid-on before dispatching another maximum over square-leg.

However, he chanced his luck once too often and trying to repeat the trick off Singh, he charged past one as was stumped for 43. This brought Mark Adair to join the watchful Tector and both had to contend with the use of the second new ball. Tector fought hard for his runs, but survived a chance on 49 when nicking behind off Kane but Tucker failed to hang on. After six overs of play on 49, Tector did finally bring up his maiden first-class fifty but went soon after. Tucker had his revenge when hanging on to a edge off the expensive Peter Chase.

With Nathan Smith joining Adair, the former Warwickshire all-rounder decided to up the tempo. The returning Richardson was punished for bowling short when going for 16 in an over and soon after Adair had fifty to his name. Smith fell late in the day to Little who toiled hard for his two wickets but the day was not complete without Adair raising the Knights past 400 and onto 415-8 at stumps. Compiling a brilliant 75 not out in the process, off only 99 balls.

The day leaves the Northern Knights well and truly in the ascendency and all eyes will be on them as to when they decide to declare. The Knights batting display today was excellent, with many applying themselves and playing some wonderful shots in the process to keep the runs coming at four an over.

The Lightning effort in truth was a little lacklustre with Kane and Singh being the only constant threats with the ball. A few missed chances in the field will also have frustrated coach Albert Van Der Merwe. Another fascinating two days of interprovincial cricket awaits.

Play resumes on Wednesday at Sydney Parade at 10.30 am.

DAY ONE SUMMARY SCORE INTERPRO CHAMPIONSHIP

Northern Knights 415-8 (104 overs; James McCollum 93, Mark Adair 75*, Marc Ellison 64, Harry Tector 52*, Shane Getkate 43, James Shannon 25; Simi Singh 3-75, Tyrone Kane 2-35, Josh Little 2-75)