Leinster Lightning are in a strong position going into Day 2 of the RSA Inter-Provincial Championship match against the North West Warriers in College Park. Taking advantage of early morning conditions Leinster put the Warriers' batting under considerable pressure and made major inroads into their batting lineup before lunch. The Warriers made something a a recovery in the afternnon but were eventually all out for 191.
The rest of the day belonged to Leinster as Bill Coghlan and Pat Collins put on 99 for the first wicket. At close Leinster were 105/1 with Coghlan 71*.
After a full days play yesterday, the forecast for today is mixed with showers spreading in the afternoon. But it is still hoped that we will get a good amount of play today. For those that cannot make it to the ground, you can follow the match on Cricket Ireland - Live Scores. For those disappointed that there is no coverage on the Cricket Leinster - Match Centre, apologies but three days is a big commitment, especially where the score is already going out through Cricket Ireland. We are husbanding our resources for the weekend.
The 'end of play' press release from Cricket Ireland is included in full below.
Coghlan puts Leinster Lightning in charge
Bill Coghlan's unbeaten 71 has put his Leinster Lightning side in a very strong position at the end of the first day of their three-day RSA Inter-Provincial Championship clash at the wonderful setting of College Park.
Having lost what proved to be a crucial toss NW Warriors were soon in trouble as Eddie Richardson and Max Sorensen grabbed early wickets to leave then struggling on 12 for 3. Andy McBrine (14) and Iftikhar Hussain (6) fell to Tyrone Kane and Lightning skipper Kevin O'Brien respectively to leave the Warriors floundering on 54 for 5. Bready overseas player Romano Ramoo was the only NW player to show the application necessary to combat the difficult early morning conditions. He made 39 before being being brilliantly run out by a direct hit from Max Sorensen just before lunch - at that stage the Warriors were 89 for 7 and facing humiliation.
The fightback started with an 8th wicket partnership of 73 between Andrew Riddles (47*) and Johnny Thompson (45). That gave the scoreboard some much needed respectability as they eventually finished on 191 all out in 65 overs.
Peter Connell and Johnny Thompson bowled with purpose early on but the Lightning opening partnership of Pat Collins and Bill Coghlan proved resolute. Coghlan made the most of an early reprieve, dropped at slip by Thompson on 11, to grow in confidence as his innings developed. The Clontarf opener showed just why he was the leading run scorer in Leinster cricket in 2012 with a series of crashing drives primarily through his favourite off side. Coghlan in conjunction with Pat Collins blunted everything the Warriors through at them adding 99 before Collins (25) was trapped lbw by Hussain just before the close.
Hussain and fellow spinner Scott Campbell both bowled well to offer their team hope late on a day when everything seemed to go against them. Coghlan struck ten boundaries in his unbeaten 71 and will resume day two with a debut century very much in mind.
Lightning resume day two just 86 runs behind with nine wickets in hand and in prime position to reinforce their stranglehold on the game.
Scoreboard
At College Park, RSA Inter-Provincial Championship Day One
NW Warriors 191 all out (65 overs, A Riddles 47*, J Thompson 45, Romano Ramoo 39, K O'Brien 2-12, M Sorensen 2-28, E Richardson 2-51) lead Leinster Lightning 105-1 (39 overs, B Coghlan 71*, P Collins 25) by 86 runs.