CRICKET: When Ryan Eagleson shuffled away from the 2001 ICC Trophy with a back injury many doubted he would ever play for Ireland again, so taking a wicket with his first ball back yesterday was something of a fairytale.
Eagleson, who was recalled for the four-match tour of England last week to replace the injured John Thompson, insists he has fully recovered from a series of back injuries that interrupted his career for more than two years.
Certainly there were signs of his former fluency and aggression at Arundel as he took two for 10 from six overs to propel Ireland toward a far too easy seven-wicket victory over the Duke of Norfolk's XI.
An honest performer, the big Carrickfergus bowler would be the first to admit his first wicket was a little fortunate. Some might call the delivery a short ball, others a long hop. Either way, former Sussex batsman Will House top-edged his attempted pull and was well caught by wicketkeeper Jonny Bushe running back to fine leg.
Paul Mooney, the North County bowler, then bowled another former county player, Matt Church, and from seven for two the home side never looked likely to recover.
It was very much Ireland's day. They bowled well and when the ball was hit in the air it went to hand and was caught, the highlight being a rasping gully catch by Jeremy Bray off Andre Botha's bowling.
Ireland must also have known the luck was with them when Kyle McCallan's attempt to run out Rashid Lewis from mid-off missed the stumps at the bowler's end only to hit the other set with Toby Pierce, a third former professional, short of his ground.
Eagleson took a second wicket with an lbw decision but it was Paul Mooney, the older of the two brothers, who was the pick of the bowlers. He delivered his ten overs off the reel and in helpful conditions claimed three for 22.
With Botha also finding plenty of movement and conceding less than a run per over the Duke's XI struggled to pass 50. Spinner McCallan wrapped up their innings on 61 when captain Jason Molins held a sharp chance at slip.
Molins and Bray then showed the pitch was far from unplayable and looked likely to deny the others a knock until Molins found a delivery that stopped on him and gave South African Ronnie Kotkamp a return catch.
Something of a mini-collapse ensued as first Bray and then Botha contrived to miss straight ones from Nick Creed and it was left to Peter Gillespie, who made his debut at Arundel along with Eagleson eight years ago, to complete the victory with nearly 34 overs to spare.
Ireland go into today's game against the MCC at Lord's with a long batting line-up that features the in-form Eagleson at number 11 and will be confident of a clean sweep this week.
DUKE OF NORFOLK'S XI
W House c Bushe b Eagleson 5
T Pierce run out 8
M Church b P Mooney 0
R Lewis b Botha 10
B Debenham lbw Eagleson 0
N Creed b P Mooney 5
L Atkins c White b P Mooney 3
M Semmence not out 16
M Strong c Bray b Botha 0
N Kemp c Bushe b J Mooney 2
R Kotkamp c Molins b McCallan 1
Extras (4lb, 2nb, 5w) 11
Total (29.4 overs) ... 61
Fall: 1-5, 2-7, 3-19, 4-20, 5-27, 6-32, 7-39, 8-41, 9-60
Bowling: P Mooney 10-1-22-3, Eagleson 6-1-10-2, Botha 7-2-6-2, J Mooney 5-1-16-1, McCallan 1.4-0-3-1.
IRELAND
J Molins c & b Kotkamp 24
J Bray lbw b Creed 18
A Botha b Creed 2
A White not out 7
P Gillespie not out 6
Extras (2b, 6lb) 8
Total (16.1 overs) ... 65
Did not bat: K McCallan, R Coetzee, P Mooney, J Mooney, J Bushe, R Eagleson.
Fall: 1-46, 2-48, 3-49
Bowling: Kotkamp 8.1-2-21-1, Strong 5-0-22-0, 3-0-18-2.
