CRICKET/ICC Trophy: Middlesex clubmates Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan treated the Belfast crowd to a lesson in one-day batting yesterday as Ireland defeated Bermuda by 97 runs in their first ICC Trophy match at Stormont.
While Joyce is now a senior pro at Middlesex and tipped to play Test cricket for England before he is much older, 18-year-old Morgan is still very much feeling his way at Lord's, yet to make his debut for the first team. But as the pair of left-handers put on a classy 170-run partnership, it was at times difficult to differentiate between the master and the apprentice.
Morgan joined Joyce in the middle with Ireland in a bit of trouble on 62 for 3 and promptly got off the mark with an exquisite on-drive worthy of any player.
He drove with confidence, pulled with conviction and even paddle-swept with a contempt reminiscent of that other left-handed Middlesex batsman Andrew Strauss.
At the other end, Joyce was his usual, understated self. While not appearing to be going after the bowling, he ticked along at around a run a ball, demonstrating why he is the form batsman playing in England at present. His century came off just 89 balls and included 10 fours and two sixes.
That Morgan did not reach his first ton for his country was a genuine shame (he was caught by Bermuda's excellent wicket-keeper Dean Minors off the bowling of Lionel Cann for 93), but with his ability and attitude, one feels he won't be waiting long for that honour. "He was magnificent," said Joyce of Morgan afterwards.
"I have never seen him bat like that before," he said, adding that he himself was relieved more than anything to score runs again after a break of four years from playing for Ireland. "I was quite nervous going into bat."
Ireland had started nervously in general, losing skipper Jason Molins to a foolish run-out with the score on 13. Andre Botha and Jeremy Bray consolidated well but then they fell in close succession, putting the pressure on Joyce and Morgan.
Later in the innings, Trent Johnston (18) and Peter Gillespie (23) ensured Ireland reached 315 for 8 off 50 overs, which turned out to be the highest total in any of the games yesterday.
Ireland did not start their time in the field particularly impressively, though, with the opening few overs being littered with extras and misfields. Bermuda's openers warmed to their task, getting to 48 before Delyone Borden was superbly run out by a direct hit from Andy White.
Bermuda never looked like passing Ireland's total after that and in the face of some tight bowling by Ireland's spin attack of White and Kyle McCallan, they eventually fell 97 runs short.
Overall this will be seen as a good start for Ireland as they build toward the two big games, on Monday against UAE and Tuesday against USA. Today they travel to Comber to take on Uganda, who yesterday lost to Denmark by 28 runs.
