CRICKET/IRELAND v WORCESTERSHIRE:A STUNNING spell of new-ball bowling from Peter Connell helped Ireland record a huge shock in their final Friends Provident Trophy game as they bowled Worcestershire out for just 58 to record a sensational 94-run win at New Road yesterday.
It was Worcestershire’s lowest score in one-day cricket and is made all the more amazing by the fact that Ireland were without all their English-based players, while it is also the first time they have defeated a county side without an overseas professional in their ranks.
Defending just 152 against a side that needed a victory to have any chance of making the quarter-finals, Connell (27) ripped through the Worcestershire top-order, taking five wickets in just 14 deliveries as the county side collapsed to 21 for six at one stage.
The New Zealand-born paceman made the breakthrough in the third over when former England player Vikram Solanki edged to wicketkeeper Fintan McAllister. In his next over he had Stephen Moore caught low at second slip by Jeremy Bray and he set up a hat-trick chance when Moeen Ali played the next delivery on to his stumps.
Young Dutch star Alexei Kervezee denied Connell his second international hat-trick, but he would only survive another one delivery before Kevin O’Brien trapped him leg-before without scoring.
With the New Road crowd stunned into silence, Connell continued his dream spell in the next over when opener Stephen Davies holed out to Andy White at mid-off and he would go on to complete his five-for two balls later when Gareth Batty was given leg-before to leave the scoreboard reading 21 for six.
It signalled an end of the fireworks for a while as Daryl Mitchell and Ashley Noffke knuckled down, showing the kind of application that eluded the top order.
The pair had brought the score to 50 before Ireland’s change bowlers got among the tail when Noffke pulled a Trent Johnston delivery straight to Alex Cusack at square leg after he had made 14.
Cusack then removed Ian Fisher and Chris Whelan in the space of four deliveries before Johnston closed out the victory by having Matt Mason caught behind by McAllister.
Connell led Ireland from the field to a standing ovation from the home supporters, claiming afterwards that the victory backed up the belief the senior squad have in their abilities. “It is very pleasing for the whole team to prove to ourselves we deserve to be here and prove we have the goods, and hopefully we can do it on a regular basis,” said Connell.
Earlier in the day, Ireland were struggling on 75 for six before a 57-run partnership between Johnston (39) and skipper Kyle McCallan (40) helped them past the 150-mark. Little did they know at that stage that it would be good enough to secure a famous 94-run win.
Meanwhile, Eoin Morgan’s chances of making his England debut in this morning’s opening One-Day International against the West Indies at Headingley were boosted with news that Kevin Pietersen will miss the three-match series with an Achilles injury.
With England not calling in a replacement the 22-year-old Dubliner will battle it out with Middlesex team-mate Owais Shah and Ian Bell for the number three and four batting slots.
