THEY say catches win matches but rarely can a dropped one have been so expensive than at Bready yesterday afternoon.

When Max Sorensen edged his first ball to second slip, Johnny Thompson got his hand to the ball, diving to his right, but couldn't hold on. If held, Leinster Lightning, the holders and favourites in the Newstalk inter-provincial championship, would have been 127 all out, 49 behind on first innings.

But it would be another 31 overs and 93 runs before Sorensen was out, and that significant advantage had been transformed into a 44 runs deficit.

When the Ireland opening bowler was finally caught, at long-on by David Barr, there were just 14 overs left on day two. Inevitably, with the momentum now with Lightning, it turned into a disastrous hour for the Warriors who collapsed to 20 for five at the close and the embarrassment of an innings defeat suddenly staring them in the face when they resume this morning.

And restarting proceedings will be Sorensen who took the final wicket with the first ball of the over, to a spectacular leg side catch by Fintan McAllister who had already created his own bit of history by becoming the first No 11 in the inter-provincial series to top score.

The Malahide batsman's contribution in the last wicket partnership was 48, with seven boundaries, but then there probably hasn't been a more capable last man since Kyle McCallan filled that role in his final two games for Ireland in 2009.

Ramming home the Warriors' advantage in the final session was skipper John Mooney who, in front of National Coach Phil Simmons, proved he was ready for a recall to the international team with a devastating burst of 7-3-8-4, while Eddie Richardson, who opened the bowling to give Sorensen a break after his batting efforts could not add to his three wickets which finished the Warriors first innings inside the first hour in the morning.

For the next two hours, it was a good cut and thrust battle between bat and ball, with conditions still favouring the latter, as the Lightning reached 110 for four - and then it all went mad as they lost five wickets for 17 runs in nine overs with Craig Young also putting his hand up for a World Cup call with five wickets.

Then, Sorensen was dropped ...