LATE RESISTANCE from the NW Warriors gave them hope of salvaging a draw after the end of the second day of their Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial Championship clash with Leinster Lightning at Bready.
Following-on 286 runs adrift after a horror first innings batting display, the home side finally showed the application required to finish the day on 98 for 1 - still needing 188 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
David Rankin - batting on his home turf - scored 53 not out from 103 balls (9 fours), sharing an unbroken second wicket stand of 97 with Sri Lankan international Roshen Silva (36*). The pair came together after Scott Campbell edged the fifth ball of the second innings from Eddie Richardson to a grateful Lorcan Tucker.
Earlier in the day, Lightning batted on in the morning session adding a further 76 runs in 14.2 overs to their overnight 338 for 8, with both Tyrone Kane (67) and Max Sorensen (56) making half centuries in their total of 414 - extras also passing the 50 mark.
Warriors were forced to use Ross Allen as a makeshift opener due to Scott Campbell being off the field, and the Eglinton man did a sterling job after the early loss of Rankin (5).
Allen and Roshen Silva looked largely untroubled in adding 58 for the second wicket, before the wheels fell off the Warriors innings in spectacular style.
Allen (31) was yorked by Peter Chase (3-33), and in a horrific passage of play, the Warriors lost Irish internationals Stuart Thompson and Andy McBrine for ducks as 67 for 1 became 69 for 4.
There was further disaster as Silva (28) was run out by a direct hit from Max Sorensen. Danza Hyatt top scored with 37 but the Warriors could only manage 128 all out, with Tyrone Kane also picking up three wickets and George Dockrell two.
The late rally by Warriors offers some respectability and the potential to escape with a draw, but Lightning still remain firm favourites to claim full points on what could be a fascinating final day battle.
LEINSTER LIGHTNING 414 all out (118.2 overs, J Anderson 87, T Kane 67, M Sorensen 56, S Singh 47, G Dockrell 35, E Richardson 31, L Tucker 27, A McBrine 3-74, S Thompson 3-84, A Gillespie 2-75)
NW WARRIORS 128 all out (D Hyatt 37, R Allen 31, R Silva 28, T Kane 3-23, P Chase 3-33, G Dockrell 2-10) and 98-1 (32 overs, D Rankin 53*, R Silva 36*)