A second wicket partnership of 169 between Craig Ervine and Chris Dougherty has put the Northern Knights in control of their three-day Inter-Provincial clash against the North West Warriors at Osborne Park.

Ervine, who has played Test cricket for Zimbabwe but is an Irish passport holder, top scored with a fluent 92 from 143 balls (14 fours, 3 sixes) as the NW struggled to find a consistent line and length.

Chris Dougherty proved the perfect foil for Ervine, content to wait for the bad balls to come along, and showing the perfect temperament for the longer format of the game.

The CIYMS skipper made 75 from 175 balls (10 fours, 2 sixes) as the pair rebuilt the Knights innings following the early loss of Nick Larkin, caught at slip by Hussain off Connell for 0.

Iftikhar Hussain finally got the breakthrough when Andrew Riddles held on to a sharp chance at slip with the total on 174. As so often happens one wicket brought two as Dougherty fell just two runs later, edging Coleraine professional Roy Silva to his Bannside colleague Niall McDonnell at second slip.

James Shannon struggled in making six from 41 balls as Silva and Hussain (2-70) strangled the Knights innings in a period where just 22 runs were added in 75 deliveries.

Andrew White (25) was dismissed by Kamran Sajid, and the Warriors were handed a late boost as Peter Connell (2-42) accounted for Lee Nelson (27) with the new ball just before the close of play.

A total of 259 for 6 means that the Knights are on top after day one, but the Warriors will be encouraged by a final session in which they took four wickets.

RSA INTER-PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP

At Osborne Park, Day 1 close

Northern Knights 259-6 (90 overs, C Ervine 92, C Dougherty 75, L Nelson 27, A White 25, P Connell 2-42, I Hussain 2-70) v NW Warriors.