CRICKET INTERCONTINENTAL CUP:IRELAND WILL look to the weather gods and their spin attack at Eglinton today as they set out on their task of gaining full points from their opening Intercontinental Cup clash against Kenya.
Phil Simmons’s side ended the third day 212 runs ahead with six second-innings wickets still in hand. With a minimum of 104 overs today and an extra half hour of play pencilled in due to time lost, they will be confident of adding the 14 points to the six they claimed by leading after the first innings.
A lot of that confidence comes from the fact that 14 of the 21 wickets to fall have been to spin, with skipper Kyle McCallan, Regan West and Andy White sure to play a vital roll in the outcome.
West was the key man as Kenya were bowled out for 331 yesterday morning, taking four wickets for 94 to go with his fine innings of 44 not out that helped push Ireland to 404 in their first innings.
The turning nature of the Eglinton track saw off-spinner Steve Tikolo open the bowling in Ireland’s second dig, and he struck early to remove first-innings centurion Paul Stirling for just six and Jeremy Bray for 15.
Andre Botha was then run out for four to leave Ireland on 47 for three. Alex Cusack was providing the steady hand, and along with Kevin O’Brien (21) he added 42 for the third wicket before an undefeated stand of 50 with Andy White (29 not out) moved the score on to 139 for four when stumps were drawn.
Cusack finished the day on 55 not out, his second half-century of the match, and will aim to push on this morning alongside White and set a target of close to 350 before the bowlers take over.
Meanwhile, Pembroke supplied the shock of the club season to date when they ended North County’s attempt to win a fourth-straight Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup title at Balrothery on Saturday.
The Sandymount side took the quarter-final clash by just one run in a rain-affected game, with Anthony Brooks’ final over going for just five as the home side lost their first match in the competition since 2006.
Pembroke’s luck ran out in yesterday’s semi-final draw as they must travel to play last year’s beaten finalists, Donemana, next month after the Tyrone side chased down a target of 295 in just 43.1 overs to beat CIYMS by three wickets at The Holm.
Leinster will be at home to Limavady in the other last-four clash after West Indian pro Carlos Bratwaite (65, and 3 for 21) inspired them to a three-wicket win away to Lisburn.
- Former Ireland international Ed Joyce hit a career-best one-day score of 146 at Hove yesterday to help Sussex beat Gloucestershire by 34 runs and earn a place in the Friends Provident Trophy decider against Hampshire at Lord’s.
