The Leinster Lightning will have to dig deep on Days 2 and 3 against the North West Warriors having been reduced to 119/8 in the 43rd over when rain finally halted play for the day at North County on Monday.
Having won the toss and opting to bat first, the Lightning suffered an immediate setback when Craig Young (3-26) bowled Jack Tector in the first over of the match.
Star-man Andrew Balbirnie (2) departed one-ball after being given a reprieve in the slip cordon as he nicked off to Davy Rankin in the gully.
Simi Singh (29) top scored for the home side on Day 1, putting on 28 for the fourth wicket with Stephen Doheny (16). This was the highest partnership of the day, before Doheny edged Graham Hume (2-26) through to Will Smale, who took five catches behind the stumps on his Warriors debut.
Singh had looked steady and fluid until he was run out by a sharp piece of fielding by William Porterfield. The last two wickets of the day fell to Craig Young in successive balls in different overs as he had Lorcan Tucker (19) and Barry McCarthy caught behind by Smale.
With Tyrone Kane (13*) and Josh Little (3*) at the crease, and Peter Chase yet to bat, the Lightning will hope to add some quick runs early on Day 2 and then get stuck into their work as a bowling and fielding unit.
Given the overcast and heavy conditions today, and the movement the Warriors extracted off the surface, the Lightning bowlers should be licking their lips at the prospect of bowling on Day 2.
The second day of this Inter-Provincial Championship match gets underway at 11am at North County cricket club with free entry. There is also live ball-by-ball scoring here and updates on @cricketleinster and @lcu_lightning on Twitter.
InterProvincial Championship, Leinster Lightning v North West Warriors
August 12th – August 14th, Day 1
At North County Cricket Club;
Leinster Lightning 119/8 42.5 overs (S Singh 29, L Tucker 19; C Young 10.5-4-26-3, G Hume 13-3-26-2)