JAMES SHANNON'S brilliant unbeaten 140 helped his Northern Knights side draw their Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial Championship match with Leinster Lightning at Stormont.
The Knights skipper shared an unbroken 7th wicket stand with Graeme McCarter after Andrew Balbirnie (3-40) and Peter Chase (2-57) had reduced the Knights to 166 for 6 - the lead just a precarious 111.
Shannon became the second Knights player to record a century in the game, striking 17 fours and 3 sixes in a batting master-class.
McCarter proved the perfect ally, his unbeaten 62 coming from 128 balls and contained 7 fours and 1 six.
The pair's partnership added an unbroken 162 in 38.3 overs - beating the previous 7th wicket stand of 131 held by Lorcan Tucker and George Dockrell. The stand was the sixth highest overall in the competition - the Knights now holding five of the top six stands.
"I'm very happy personally to score such an important hundred," said skipper Shannon after the game. "It's nice to contribute for the side especially given the context of the game when Leinster were in a strong position."
"I was really pleased for Graeme McCarter who played a fantastic innings, hopefully he can continue his good performances to get back into the frame for Ireland Wolves - he's too good a cricketer not to be involved."
Shannon also played tribute to first inning centurion James McCollum whose vital century kept the Knights in contention.
"James played really a mature innings. He has a clear game plan and stuck to that, keeping us in the game with a vital partnership with Rob McKinley in the first innings. I hope he will build on that performance and be hungry to score more big runs this season for the Knights."
Shannon was also quick to praise the Knights' attack who restricted Lightning's advantage to 55 runs.
"Our bowlers did a good job of containing Leinster, and I was pleased we took wickets at crucial times. There were special efforts from Gary Kidd and Nikolai Smith who bowled in difficult conditions.
"However I still think that we haven't reached our peak performance. There are some extremely talented players in our side and we have the belief that we will be able to beat the other sides, starting at Merrion on Friday."
The teams meet again tomorrow (FRI) in the Hanley Energy IP20 at Angelsea Road (5pm), while at the same time Munster Reds entertain NW Warriors at The Mardyke.
Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial Championship
At Stormont, Day 3 of 3
Northern Knights 233 and 328-6 (96 overs; J Shannon 140*, G McCarter 62*, J McCollum 38, A Dennison 36, A Balbirnie 3-40, P Chase 2-57)
drew with Leinster Lightning 288 (J Tector 75, G Kidd 3-70).