CRICKET/ Ireland v MCC: Ireland are in a very strong position after the first day at Limavady, declaring at 321 for seven in just 70.2 overs. Although this is a three-day game the Irish opening pair of Jeremy Bray and Dominic Joyce were very much in one-day mode as the pair put on a 100 partnership.

Bray had a lucky escape at seven when he was dropped by Asif Mujataba, and the Australian certainly put the MCC attack to the sword. He hit no fewer than 17 fours and three sixes in a wonderful innings of 116.

Joyce was content to play second fiddle hitting nine fours in a very impressive 56, which came off 91 balls. The pair added 151 for the first wicket before Joyce departed, being trapped lbw by Evans. Bray went with the score on 220, caught in the deep by Ellis.

Andre Botha smashed four off his first six balls faced for four, and in total struck seven fours in his 39 ball 41. He was run out after a terrible mix-up with skipper Kyle McCallan.

Rush player Nazeer Shaukat had a dream start to his Ireland career capturing the wicket of former Warwickshire opener Jason Radcliffe in his first over.

Things got even better for Shaukat when he had former Pakistan player Asif Mujtaba brilliantly caught by Botha for just seven. Ireland had the MCC at 14 for two at the close of play.

IRELAND

D Joyce lbw A Evans 56

J Bray ct Ellis b Mujtaba 116

A Botha run out 41

K McCallan st Patterson b Evans 4

P Gillespie lbw Evans 4

T Johnston ct Pierson b Mujtaba 42

J Mooney lbw Kotkamp 18

N Shaukat not out 4

Extras 14

Total (for 7 dec after 70.2 overs) ... 321

Fall: 1-151, 2-220, 3-227, 4-245, 5-265, 6-301, 7-321.

Bowling: R Kotkamp 10-2-36-1, A Ellis 9-1-66-0, A Saleem 6-1-42-0, A Pierson 12-4-44-0, T Fourie 4-0-24-0, A Evans 11-0-52-3.

MCC

J Radcliffe ct Thompson b Shaukat 0

A Evans not out 5

A Mujtaba ct Botha b Shaukat 7

M Foster not out 2

Extras 0

Total (after 15 overs) ... 14

Fall: 1-0, 2-10.

Bowling: N Shaukat 8-4-8-2; A Botha 5-4-2-0; K McCallan 2-0-4-0.

Play resumes at 11.0 am today.