Albert van der Merwe picked up the scalp of Dougherty for a well constructed 46, right as he would have looked to push on. The Lightning bowlers worked well as a unit, picking up wickets at regular intervals, but the Knights also batted well in partnerships. When Andrew White fell for 31, he was replaced as attacker in chief by Lee Nelson who had by now settled. He rattled along at a run-a-ball for his half-century. When he was castled by Alex Cusack, James Hall tried to push on. Max Sorensen quickly put paid to that, bringing in 'keeper Mike Taiaroa. He played a calm foil to player-coach Eugene Moleon's late-order hitting. Moleon finished unbeaten on 24, and lifted his team to an impressive 259 for 7.
In the 45th over, he deposited David Simpson's medium pace over mid-wicket for six to start the carnage. After McAllister took a single from the first ball of Nigel Jones's over, leaving O'Brien free to get a boundary away to fine-leg. McAllister looked assured at the crease, as if this innings was simply a continuation of his club century this past weekend, and he and his captain exchanged a series of singles that left O'Brien on strike for the 47th, which was to be bowled by the Knights' coach. Moleon's first two deliveries went for braces down to long-on before a powerful six over long-off. There followed another brace of braces, this time through the off side, before a well claimed single from the final delivery. Jones was entrusted with the 48th, and was immediately dispatched for six over cover. He also hit a boundary from the last ball of the over through third man, resulting in sixteen runs coming from the over. A couple of singles and a bye brought O'Brien back on strike to bring up his hundred with a two from the fourth ball of Andrew White's over. He followed this with a maximum over long-on and a single to leave just five to win from the final over. An unceremonious thump through mid-wicket from a Jones no-ball gave victory with an over to spare.
If the rest of the season can live up to the first game it will be something to remember. The next stop for the Interprovincial bandwagon is at College Park next Tuesday for the Championship game between Leinster and the North West.
Northern Knights - 259/7 Lee Nelson - 54 (56) Chris Dougherty - 46 (82) Albert van der Merwe - 2/46 (10) Alex Cusack - 2/58 (10) | Leinster Lightning - 260/8 Kevin O'Brien - 111* (87) Alex Cusack - 46 (64) David Simpson - 2/21 (5) Eugene Moleon - 2/56 (10) |