Irish Cricket 2007

[Sheridan]

Ireland A declared on 328/6 against MCC at Malahide today (Cusack 67*, Joyce 64, White 59.) At close of play on day one, MCC had reached 47/1 (Connell took the wicket.)

[TheBoss]

Any News on Day 2 ?

[Sheridan]

Match ended in a draw. MCC were bowled out for 375 in their first innings (a lead of 47), as young Aussie batsmen Aaron O'Brien and Dan Christian went to town on the Irish bowling, scoring 111 and 113 respectively. Pembroke and Ireland U19's Andrew Balbirnie scored a quick 61*, forty of them in boundaries. White took 4/44 but the rest of the bowling figures were pretty ugly.

In reply Ireland declared at 338/6 (Clontarf's Poynter 114*, Strydom 82, Rankin 59), setting MCC 292 to win. Both sides came desperately close to winning it, with O'Brien contributing 143 to the run chase and Thinus Fourie taking 5/28. Time ran out with MCC seven runs short of victory and one wicket short of defeat on 285/9.

[Sheridan]

Ireland have named their 12 for the crucial Intercontinental Cup game against Scotland at Stormont from August 9th-12th. Boyd Rankin still hasn't recovered sufficiently to be considered, but Eoin Morgan and Niall O'Brien are included in the squad. Jeremy Bray is again omitted.

Trent Johnston (Railway Union, captain)
Andre Botha (North County)
Alex Cusack (Clontarf)
Thinus Fourie (Merrion)
Dave Langford-Smith (Phoenix)
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)
Kyle McCallan (Waringstown)
Kevin O'Brien (Railway Union)
Niall O'Brien (Northamptonshire)
Greg Thompson (Lisburn)
William Porterfield (Rush)
Andrew White (Instonians)

Scotland bowled the Netherlands out for 255 on day one of their first Intercontinental Cup game yesterday.

Ireland won their eighth consecutive European Under-15 Championship in Deventer, Netherlands yesterday, beating Scotland by 49 runs. This followed earlier comprehensive victories over Denmark and the hosts.

[TheBoss]

Probably is the strongest available considering no Boyd.

[Sheridan]

Both semi-finals of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup were decided on run-rate. Chasing North County's 296/6 (Botha 82, Lawrence 62, P Mooney 47*), holders Railway Union's galacticos could only manage 195/5 off the 33 overs possible before rain stopped play. Ireland keeper Niall O'Brien top-scored with 89 and Trent Johnston hit 60, but André Botha's decisive final ball went for just a single when anything higher would have given Railway Union victory.

Last year's beaten finalists Rush missed out on a second successive appearance in the decider when they lost to The Hills. Rush were bowled out for a modest 215, and when the heavens opened The Hills were comfortably ahead of the required run-rate on 175/3 after 33.1 overs (Bray 62, Archer 57*.)

North County face The Hills in the final on August 31st.

Up in the North West, Limavady won the NW Senior Cup despite another blistering innings from their opponents Glendermott's Pakistani Test batsman Hasan Raza, who averages 170+ since signing in mid-season. Raza, who made his Test début at the age of 15, could only manage 6 in Glendermott's paltry first innings total of 128. Limavady forged ahead with 310, and despite Raza's 146* off 149 balls in Glendermott's second innings of 268/5, Dekker Curry's side reached their target comfortably, scoring 88/2 in 22.3 overs to win by eight wickets.

[OwlsFan]

Just saw my club play and lose a semi-final for the first time to a bowl out. 10 of the opposition bowled and hit the stumps 3 times. 9 of our players bowled and all missed. Blasted rain meant the game couldn't be finished so it was like a penalty shoot out. The lads hit the stumps no problem in practice. In the actual bowl out, couldn't hit jack sh*t.

[onceahoop]

North County face The Hills in the final on August 31st.



Fingal Rules :D

[Sheridan]

Ireland have begun well on day one of the European Under 17 Championship in Scotland. Paul Stirling (96) and Ben Ackland (114) put on 160 for the first wicket as Ireland reached 370-5 declared in the two-day game against the Netherlands. The Dutch were reduced to 87-5 at close of play on day one.

This year's edition of the Associate Ashes (Ireland vs. Scotland in the Intercontinental Cup) could transpire to be a cakewalk for the Irish as several of Scotland's top players have withdrawn due to work commitments. Spinner Majid Haq's explanation for his unavailability was somewhat banal; "My Dad runs a takeaway in Paisley and I have to help out this weekend because my mum and brother are both away in Pakistan, one of our chefs is unavailable and our delivery driver has gone to jail for three weeks."

The game gets underway at Stormont on Thursday. All three previous iterations of the competition have been won by the side which came out on top in this fixture.

[TheBoss]

What a understandable reason there by Haq :D

[Sheridan]

Ireland drew with the Netherlands after the second and final day of their European U-17 Championship game at Dundee. Following Ireland's 370-5 on day one, the Dutch were all out for 260 (Smith 4/49, Ackland 3/32.) Ireland racked up 285-6 in their second innings (Balbirnie 106) as the game ended in the draw. Ireland took 22 points from the match, to place them top of the table ahead of Scotland, who registered 21 from their draw with Denmark.

[TheBoss]

Good start to the tournamant.

Hopefully a good Day 1 v Scotland on Thursday.

[Sheridan]

Scotland won the toss and elected to bat on day one of their Intercontinental Cup game against Ireland at Stormont. After thirteen overs they've reached 21/0.

The Irish team is as follows:

Porterfield, Morgan, N O'Brien+, K O'Brien, Botha, Cusack, McCallan, Johnston*, White, Thompson, Langford-Smith.

Three spinners on a pitch which traditionally rewards seam bowling...interesting choice.

[Sheridan]

At lunch on day one, Scotland have reached 50/2. The men out were MacRae (lbw to Kevin O'Brien for 9) and Watson (caught Cusack bowled Johnston for 9.) None of the five Irish bowlers used to date have gone for more than two an over.

[TheBoss]

Good stuff !

[Sheridan]

64/4 now. Hamilton copped a bad lbw decision to Kevin O'Brien, then KOB caught Knox off a short Johnston delivery.

[TheBoss]

Seems they are missing the better players.

[Sheridan]

140/6 now. Young legspinner Greg Thompson had Berrington caught behind and then bowled McCallum round his pads! Hope he develops into a good 'un, I love watching legspinners.

[Sheridan]

At close of play on day one, Scotland are 183/7. A ball-achingly soporific stand of 35 off 30 overs (OVERS, not balls) between Wright and Blain frustrated Ireland for long periods after their early incisions. Ireland used eight bowlers throughout the day, the most productive of whom was Trent Johnston, who took 3-27 off 21 overs (nine of them maidens.) It was Johnston who broke the obdurate partnership of Blain and Wright after taking the new ball shortly before close of play, bowling Wright for 36.

Greg Thompson was entrusted with twenty overs (2-48) including the last of the day, which new man Simon Smith hit for twelve! At close of play, the contrast between his figures and those of his partner was startling; Smith 13 off 9 balls, Blain 13 off 98.

[TheBoss]

Great 1st day, Ireland must be huge favourites now.

[Sheridan]

Scotland have rallied valiantly on day two. Smith fell to Thompson for 40, but they've reached 309/8 during the afternoon session. Ireland need two quick wickets.

[TheBoss]

Nel gone to lbw off O'Brien, 314/9.

I think the bowlers took it a little easy, they should be 200-215 all out in fairness.

EDIT: All out for 314.

O'Brien with 4 wickets.

[Sheridan]

That's a good total on a slow pitch, considering they lost six cheap wickets. Ireland should have the firepower to surpass it, but it won't be easy. I reckon this one will be drawn, so first-innings lead will be decisive.

[Sheridan]

White is opening with Porterfield. Never seen that before. Ireland 9/0.

[TheBoss]

Ireland would have to get about 650dec by end of tomorrow me thinks and try to bowl them out on Sunday.

From now, they would need 5/6 runs an over, at he moment 27/0 -> 7 Overs

Very easy to do :D

[TheBoss]

White is opening with Porterfield. Never seen that before.

Well, he lasted longer than William, who is increasingly annoying me getting out early.

[Sheridan]

Yeah, Johnston admitted in a recent interview that he was in the side for his fielding.

[TheBoss]

Why is he top of the order then ?

[TheBoss]

Have a quick look at the score, and it says 40/3
Morgan and White have got out.

Oh, this could an embarrassing score v Scotland.
Both O'Briens at the crease.

Its like the World Cup again

[Sheridan]

****ing Morgan. Sod off back to Middlesex and stay there. :mad:

[TheBoss]

Why does the top of the order always collapse, the first 3 are all out now, there has to be a reshuffle in the batting order.

[TheBoss]

Only 61/4, K O'Brien the victim this time
Botha in now

[TheBoss]

Rain stopped play - 21.3 Overs - 94/4 - RR: 4.37

N O'Brien - 39 off 37
A Botha - 12 off 17

ALSO: India 622/9, all batters have reached double figures, a rare sighting.

[Sheridan]

Hundred partnership up between Botha and O'Brien. 159/4. 69 to N'OB, 47 to Botha.

[Sheridan]

Ireland reached 179/4 at close of play. Niall O'Brien 83*, André Botha 54*. Two days' play remain, with Ireland 135 runs behind.

[TheBoss]

Well, it was a great recovery by those 2. Maybe there is a still a good chance to win.

[Sheridan]

No play yet today due to overnight rain. This is looking like a drawn game with first innings lead the tiebreaker. Ireland need to get to 315 by hook or by crook.

[Sheridan]

No play possible today. Draw inevitable, Ireland's target is now to overtake Scotland's first innings score tomorrow.

[TheBoss]

How does the Bonus points work ?

[Sheridan]

I think it's six points for a first innings lead, retained regardless of final outcome. If eight hours or more are lost to rain, each side is awarded three points for the draw (over and above points from the first innings.)

[Sheridan]

Play resumed at 1.30 pm. Niall O'Brien was quickly dismissed, skying an attempted hook to point. Cusack in now, Ireland 194/5. Ireland trail by 120.

[Sheridan]

Ton up for Botha with a punch through the covers. 102 off 142. Dropped once and gave a couple of chances. Ireland 259/5, 57 shy of a first innings lead.

[Sheridan]

Cusack brings up his fifty with a clip for three and secures the first innings lead for Ireland. Ireland 326/5. Possibly time for a cheeky declaration?

[Sheridan]

Botha stumped for 186. Shame such a great servant of Irish cricket couldn't surpass Morgan's record. Ireland 434/6 now, Cusack brings up his hundred (in his first First Class innings) with a massive six. Pity the rain ruined this one, Ireland would have pummelled them.

[TheBoss]

Why doesn't Botha open with N O'Brien in future games ?

[Sheridan]

Match drawn with Ireland on 473/7 (Botha 186, Cusack 130.)

Botha is a specialist middle order batsman. He's a good player of swing so they've experimented with promoting him up the order but it didn't really work. Jason Molins could be in with a shout for the Bermuda game.

[geysir]

Do Ireland get those bonus points mentioned earlier?

[Sheridan]

Yeah, they get nine points total. Scotland get three.

[Dodge]

****ing Morgan. Sod off back to Middlesex and stay there. :mad:

http://www.rte.ie/sport/cricket/2007/0817/ireland1.html

[TheBoss]

What a right plank !

Why pick him in the squad, he obviously chooses his games when to play, I said before, do not pick him ever again.