Leinster Lightning will return to College Park on Thursday morning needing one wicket to wrap up a full-points victory over the Northern Knights after enforcing the follow on during the second day of the RSA Interprovincial Championship clash.
After bowling out the visitors for 123, the home side couldn't manage to take the ninth wicket in the second innings, which would have ended the game with James Shannon unable to bat due to a sore back.
The Ireland international is unlikely to bat on Thursday ahead of the Intercontinental Cup clash away to the Netherlands, which gets under way in Deventer next Monday.
Closing on 204 for eight, the Knights need another 34 runs to make Leinster bat again, although the likelihood of that is remote, despite Zac Rushe remaining unbeaten on 32 not out at stumps.
Without the contribution of their opening batsman Chris Dougherty, the Knights would have already fallen on their sword, with the Ireland 'A' international carrying his bat through the first innings in an undefeated 60 before making 69 in his side's second dig.
First cousins John Mooney and Eddie Richardson did most of the damage with the ball in the first innings for Leinster, taking three wickets apiece.
NORTHERN KNIGHTS – Second Innings (following on)
C Dougherty c S Poynter b Richardson 69
J Terrett b Richardson 2
L Nelson c Cusack b Sorensen 8
A White c O’Brien b Mooney 29
G Thompson c S Poynter b Van der Merwe 34
N Smith c&b Van der Merwe 3
N Waller b Collins 16
Z Rushe not out 32
A Coulter lbw b Collins 6
P Eaglestone not out 1
Extras (lb2, nb2) 4
Total (for 8 wkts, 69 ovs) 204
To bat: J Shannon.
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-25, 3-68, 4-143, 5-149, 6-149, 7-177, 8-199.
Bowling: M Sorensen 16-4-42-1; E Richardson 10-3-24-2; J Mooney 10-2-26-1; A Cusack 6-2-22-0; A van der Merwe 17-7-55-2; K O'Brien 4-0-23-0; P Collins 6-2-10-2.
