JUST one ball may be needed by Leinster Lightning to complete a comprehensive trashing of Northern Knights this morning.

The NCU batsmen batted out the closing overs last night but come back today with just one wicket intact.

James Shannon won't bat after he suffered a back injury which may rule him out of next week's games in Holland.

There was no blame attached to Chris Dougherty however, as the opener batted for 6hr 30mins in making 60no and 69.

Uncle/nephew John Mooney and Eddie Richardson quickly reduced the Knights to 21-5 but the uncapped Dougherty found an ally in Jonny Terrett to bring the score to respectability.

But the spinners saw off the Knights' tail and they closed 241 behind.

When Kevin O'Brien asked them to bat again Dougherty went straight back to the wicket. And he was only 6th man out as the visitors showed a bit more fight.

Andrew White made 29 before he was caught by his opposite number, and Greg Thompson a battling 34.

But as the evening closed in the wickets tumbled and only for Zac Rushe on a breezy 32no the game would be over within two days.