ADAM DENNISON and Chris Dougherty shared a record opening stand to lead the Northern Knights to an emphatic ten-wicket win over Scottish inter-provincial side Western Warriors at Shaw's Bridge.
Chasing a DLS adjusted total of 244 in 43 overs, the Knights opening pair made light work of what looked on paper a challenging total against a side containing three internationals.
Dennison and Dougherty wrestled the initiative away from the visitors with aggressive strokeplay and positive running which unsettled the Scottish side.
Waringstown batsman Dennison's unbeaten 118 came from 117 balls and included 14 fours and two sixes, with Dougherty equally as impressive - his unbeaten 110 taking just 97 deliveries (13 fours, 2 sixes).
Dennison, who scored a double hundred for the Knights last season in multi-day cricket, was delighted to make his first limited over century for the NCU side.
"It's a great feeling to score the first one," said the former Irish youth international. "It's something that we've talked about during the winter, and our new coach Simon Johnston has instilled in us the need and value to convert starts into big scores which will win games.
"Obviously both myself and Chris Dougherty did well today scoring centuries and we were able to capitalise on our starts with a match winning partnership. We both had the mentality to not give it away and we saw the team through to victory.
Earlier, Craig Young top scored with 78 for the Warriors as they posted 237 for 7, with international Ross Lyons chipping in with 41.
Stephen Bunting (2-47) was the most successful of the Knights attack, while there was a wicket apiece for Phil Eaglestone, Graeme McCarter, Lee Nelson, Gary Kidd and skipper Shane Getkate.
Getkate paid tribute to his opening pair, and was positive about the forthcoming inter-provincial season which starts next month.
"It was a very impressive win today," said Getkate. "I thought Adam Dennison and Chris Dougherty were both brilliant, scoring deserved hundreds. It's great for them to get runs under their belts and will stand them in good stead moving forward into the season.
It was a very clinical and disciplined performance by us today, and we'll take a lot of positives from the results going into the inter-pro series," added Getkate.
The Western Warriors have only a short time to regroup before they are back in action with a trip to Raeburn Place to meet the Eastern Knights this Sunday (20 April)
SCOREBOARD
At Shaw's Bridge, Northern Knights beat Western Warriors by 10 wickets
WESTERN WARRIORS 237-7 (43 overs; C Young 78, R Lyons 41, M English 29, F Jawad 27*, S Bunting 2-47)
NORTHERN KNIGHTS 244-0 (35.4 overs, A Dennison 118*, C Dougherty 110*) (DL target score 244 in 43 overs