CRICKET NEWS:WITH THEIR hold on the Intercontinental Cup slipping, Ireland go in to today's clash against the Netherlands at Rathmines (11am) knowing that anything but a full-points victory will end their domination of the first-class competition.

The seven-wicket loss to Afghanistan in Sri Lanka back in January added to draws against Kenya and Scotland leaves Phil Simmons’s side one place off bottom spot in the table. They now need to win their last three games and hope for favours elsewhere if they are to have any chance of making it four straight titles.

Both sides will be missing their English county players for the match, while Ireland were hit by the loss of Bready and Sussex paceman Craig Young with a side strain.

That has provided Simmons with the opportunity to have a look at Pembroke opening bowler Allan Eastwood, who will make his Ireland debut in a side that will be led by Trent Johnston in the absence of William Porterfield.

Ireland will also hand first-class debuts to James Hall and the spinning duo of Albert van der Merwe and George Dockrell.

Fresh from his 10-wicket haul for Ireland A against the MCC, Dockrell could prove the key to success and has the advantage of playing on his home ground.

Meanwhile, Irish teams were frustrated by the weather yesterday as both the women’s European Championship clash against an ECB XI and the A side’s second day against Gloucestershire seconds were rained off.

The three-day game has been abandoned, with the two sides due to play a 50-over game today.

IRELAND:T Johnston (Railway Union, capt), A Cusack (Clontarf), G Dockrell (Leinster), A Eastwood (Pembroke), J Hall (Waringstown), J Mooney (North County), K O'Brien (Railway Union), P Stirling (Middlesex), A van der Merwe (The Hills), A White (Instonians), G Wilson (Surrey).

THE NETHERLANDS (from):P Borren (capt), W Barresi, S de Bruin, W Diepeveen, T Heggelman, Mark Jonkman, Maurits Jonkman, M Kashif, B Loots, A Raja, P Seelaar, N Statham, E Szwarczynski.