Leinster Lightning dominate opening day against NW Warriors

An unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 95 between John Anderson and Simmi Singh has put Leinster Lightning in a dominant position after the first day of their RSA Inter-Provincial Championship clash with the NW Warriors at Bready.

Anderson and Singh came together just before tea, after Craig Young (3-47) had dismissed Theo Lawson (26) to offer the Warriors some hope as Leinster were on 75 for 3 chasing a modest Warriors total of 164.

However, the pair batted through the final session laregly untroubled, showing the value of patience and waiting for anything remotely loose, which they duly dispatched to the boundary.

Both scored undefeated half centuries, with Anderson scoring 61 from 134 balls (6 fours), and Singh making 51 from 95 balls (4 fours) - reaching his fifty from the last ball of the day.

The one positive for the Warriors was the performance of Sussex player Craig Young, who has endured a torrid time in recent years with a succession of injuries, but impressed with a fiery spell on his former home ground.

Earlier in the day, the NW Warriors had enjoyed a fruitful first hour, reaching 59 for 0 after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Once however Lightning skipper John Mooney (3-12) got the breakthrough, wickets fell in clusters, with the Warriors unable to build any significant partnerships.

David Rankin top scored with 28, while there were all too brief cameos from Andrew Riddles and Johnny Thompson, both of whom made 25.

Max Sorensen (4-41) proved unplayable after the lunch break, as the Warriors were dismissed for 164 in just 45 overs.

With a lead of seven, and two full days to play, it looks already that the best the Warriors can hope for is that a combination of an unsettled weather forecast and some determined rearguard action can salvage a draw.

RSA Inter-Provincial Championship,
At Magheramason, Day 1 close

NW Warriors 164 all out (45 overs, D Rankin 28, A Riddles 25, J Thompson 25, M Sorensen 4-41, J Mooney 3-12) trail Leinster Lightning 171-3 (57 overs, J Anderson 61*, Simmi Singh 51*, C Young 3-47) by seven runs.

Play resumes Wednesday at 11am