With a little bit of help from the weather and a lot from the Leinster Lightning fielders, the North West Warriors escaped with a thrilling draw in the first ever three-day inter-provincial at College Park.

A persistent drizzle took 21 overs out of the final day and no fewer than five dropped catches allowed the Warriors to sneak into the lead. When Ricky-Lee Dougherty was bowled in the 10th over of the final hour, it left the Lightning four overs to score 26 runs.

That should have been a formality but Peter Connell, with the help of two superb catches by Coleraine's Niall McDonnell, took two wickets in the first over, including the big one of home captain Kevin O'Brien, to give the Warriors the initiative.

Johnny Thompson conceded just three off his first over, but when Patrick Collins hit Connell for four, Leinster's target was eight off seven balls. Easy peasy? Not a bit of of it as Bill Coghlan pulled the first ball of the last over to long leg and more fine bowling from Thompson conceded just four runs off the next three deliveries.

Collins was then caught at deep mid-wicket leaving Leinster needing four off the last ball with John Anderson on strike. He didn't make contact and North West celebrated as if it was a victory. Which, in all but the result it was.

There is plenty of room for improvement in the Warriors' batting, however, with Andrew Riddles again top scoring from No 8 after they lost their first seven wickets for 98, nine runs better than the first innings debacle.

Max Sorensen, with a place in the Ireland team up for grabs in next week's ODI against Pakistan, was best bowler and Alex Cusack came on for his first bowl to end the innings and set up a finish to remember.