CRICKET Ireland v Northamptonshire at Castle Avenue: A controlled knock of 93 from Martin van Jaarsveld helped Northamptonshire to a professional six-wicket victory over Ireland in the third round of the C and G Trophy at Castle Avenue yesterday.
It was not the first time that the South African had played at the north Dublin ground, having been in the Protea side that toured this part of the world last summer. And he used that local knowledge well, looking more than comfortable on a pitch that would be somewhat slower than he'd be used to on the English county scene or back home in Transvaal.
Ireland had shocked the cricketing world in the previous round with an astonishing win over Surrey but Kepler Wessels's side was clearly not going to come to Dublin with any sense of complacency facing what is a genuinely talented Irish XI.
Chasing Ireland's reasonable total of 263, a Northants win never really looked in doubt. As respectable as that target might have seemed at the start of the Northants innings, it was always going to be difficult to defend.
But the visiting openers set about their task with relish, taking 22 out of that total in the first two overs as the Irish bowlers failed to set the right tone early on.
They did find their rhythm after that, however, with Andre Botha the pick of the bunch. He clean bowled the free-scoring Tim Roberts for 39 and then had Jeff Cook caught by wicket keeper Jonathan Bushe for 17. But Van Jaarsveld and former England Test batsman Usman Afzaal steadied things, content to place the ball into the gaps once the 15-over field restrictions had been lifted. After that, the result was never in doubt, despite a silly run out for Afzaal, who made 27, and skipper David Sales given leg before a straight one from Botha one short of his 50.
Earlier, the Irish innings had started shakily when skipper Jason Molins was adjudged lbw to Steffan Jones in just the second over of the morning. Things did not improve for Ireland after that early setback with Botha carving one down third man's throat and then Gerald Dros edging one to 'keeper Gerard Brophy, leaving the home side struggling on 37 for 3.
The fear spreading around the Castle Avenue ground was that Ireland might buckle completely as Northants went for the jugular. But Peter Gillespie and opener Jeremy Bray stopped the rot and managed to keep a reasonable run-rate in the face of some tight bowling from Jason Brown, Ben Phillips and, particularly, Graeme Swann.
Bray reached 50 having faced 79 deliveries and hitting six boundaries. It was the Australian's fourth consecutive time to pass 50 in Ireland colours and he made 76 before he was run out.
Gillespie managed to kick on from that point, raising his scoring rate and hitting the two biggest blows of the innings - a straight six at either end - until he was clean bowled by Jones for a score of 66.
With just 10 overs remaining, Trent Johnston was promoted up the order, but unfortunately he was caught second ball by Sales.
Kyle McCallan and Andrew White showed real character coming in late in the innings - their 60-run contribution came off 40 balls and helped to make Ireland's total competitive.
Scoreboard
IRELAND
J A M Molins lbw b Jones 9
J P Bray run out 76
A C Botha c Louw b Jones 6
G Dros c Brophy b Louw 7
P G Gillespie b Jones 66
A R White c Swann b Jones 44
D T Johnston c Sales b Jones 2
W K McCallan b Jones 22
P J K Mooney not out 8
E J G Morgan not out 13
Extras lb5 w5 10
Total 8 wkts (50 overs) 263
Fall: 1-9, 2-20, 3-37, 4-152, 5-178, 6-180, 7-240, 8-240.
Did Not Bat: J A Bushe.
Bowling: Louw 9-1-50-1; Jones 10-0-56-6; Brown 10-0-39-0; Phillips 9-0-53-0; Swann 10-1-38-0; Cook 2-0-22-0.
Umpires: M R Benson and G I Burgess.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
T W Roberts b Botha 39
J W Cook c Bushe b Botha 17
M van Jaarsveld not out 93
U Afzaal run out 27
D J G Sales lbw b Botha 49
G P Swann not out 18
Extras b1 lb5 w16 nb2 24
Total 4 wkts (41.5 overs) 267
Fall: 1-64 2-74 3-124 4-215
Did Not Bat: G L Brophy, J Louw, B J Phillips, P S Jones, J F Brown.
Bowling: Johnston 9-0-61-0; Mooney 6-0-43-0; Botha 10-1-51-3; Dros 2-0-12-0; White 7-0-42-0; McCallan 7.5-0-52-0.
Northamptonshire beat Ireland by 6 wkts
