Jason Molins took advantage of a traditionally gentle opening to Ireland's two-day match against the MCC at Lord's yesterday by stroking an elegant 74 that helped the visitors to a two run lead overnight. Molins started uncertainly before launching a series of imperious offside drives. He then greeted the introduction of his former Oxford University colleague David Mather with a six into the grandstand.

The Railway Union right-hander had struck 14 boundaries from 90 balls and was galloping towards a century when he mis-hit a pull shot and was caught at square leg.

Barry Archer wasted his watchful start by charging Kevin Sedgbeer's leg spin but with Peter Davy chipping in with 43 not out Ireland were well placed on 179 for 2 at the close.

The MCC had not found batting easy earlier on against the pace of Richard McDaid, a seamer from Limavady who doesn't have a classical run up, and anything but a copybook action, but hits the wicket-keeper's gloves with a healthy wack.

McDaid got his first wicket in the third over when Greg Molins held a low catch in the gully. The 23-yearold then bowled Toby Radford, a former MCC young cricketer of the year, and wicket-keeper Chris Taylor in a lively few overs after lunch. Prolific opener Steve Dean was beaten and bowled by the late in-swing of Gordon Cooke, and a direct hit from Ed Joyce ran out MCC captain Giles Toogood before he had settled on a pitch where he once scored centuries in each innings of a Varsity match.

As is now traditional in these games, Toogood did the gentlemanly thing and declared after 55 overs, although with his side on 177 for 8 they wouldn't have lasted long.

The crowd of around 200 - which mostly consisted of Ireland committee members - were then treated to surely one of the most wayward opening overs ever seen at Lord's as Australian John "Barn" Dawes strained for pace at the expense of accuracy.

To follow tradition, Ireland would not declare and ask their hosts to set a target, although coach Mike Hendrick was last night talking of batting on and trying to bowl out the MCC with spin on a pitch that was used for a two-day game against Wales earlier in the week.