Dockrell stars with the ball before Namibia bite back

CRICKET:IT WAS a case of honours even after day one of Ireland's opening Intercontinental Cup clash against Namibia at Stormont yesterday, with George Dockrell proving the undoubted star on a brute of a day for cricket.

It seems that the 19-year-old left-arm spinner has been around for ages, having already played and distinguished himself in two World Cups. Yet this was only his fifth first-class game and fourth for Ireland, and he marked it with his first five-wicket haul as Namibia were bowled out for 244 after skipper Kevin O’Brien had won the toss and put the African side in to bat.

It was far from one-way traffic in Belfast, though, as by the end of the day Ireland had lost their top four batsmen to close on 75 for four with the light rapidly failing.

Ireland coach Phil Simmons handed debuts to Middlesex wicket-keeper Stuart Poynter and Gloucestershire all-rounder Graeme McCarter, while Strabane left-arm seamer Phil Eaglestone got the nod ahead of Albert van der Merwe, with Paul Stirling and Andrew White offering plenty of back-up in the slow bowling department.

Eaglestone took the new ball along with John Mooney, who yet again showed his aptitude for the role in the absence of the injured Trent Johnston.

The North County all-rounder accounted for Stephanus Ackerman and Christi Viljoen in his first spell, with Eaglestone forcing the dangerous Craig Williams into a false shot that was caught brilliantly by Alex Cusack to leave Namibia on 38 for three.

Dockrell entered the fray in the 26th over, and Gerrie Snyman paid the price for pulling his loosener to the mid-wicket boundary as he was bowled next ball for 25.

Dockrell also bowled Pikky ya France, ending the opener’s vigil after making 18 from 86 deliveries, and Raymond van Schoor but took some stick from Louis van der Westhuizen before he was caught on the long-on boundary by Cusack after making 65 from 54 balls .

The Somerset player brought up his five-for when he trapped Stephan Baard leg-before and with Stirling and White picking up a late wicket apiece, spin would account for seven of the Namibian wickets.

It was pace that proved the downfall for Ireland’s top-order, with Viljoen claiming Stirling for a duck in his first over and Cusack in his second after he made just one.

Fellow opening bowler Louis Klazinga also saw success with the new ball with the wickets of Gary Wilson and Andrew Poynter, with the experienced pairing of White and skipper O’Brien putting on an unbeaten 44 by stumps.

Stormont Scoreboard

Ireland won the toss and fielded.

NAMIBIA FIRST INNINGS

ST Ackerman c S Poynter b Mooney 6

P ya France b Dockrell 18

C Viljoen b Mooney 0

C Williams c Cusack b Eaglestone 19

G Snyman b Dockrell 25

R van Schoor b Dockrell 34

L vd Westhuizen c Cusack b Dockrell 65

G Erasmus c Cusack b Dockrell 20

S Baard b Dockrell 19

L Klazinga cb White 13

P Rossouw not out 14

Extras (b4, lb5, nb1, w1) 11

Total (all out, 70.1 ovs) 244

Fall of wickets:1-10, 2-12, 3-38, 4-73, 5-87, 6-130, 7-175, 8-208, 9-228.

Bowling:J Mooney 14-4-46-2; P Eaglestone 12-4-26-1; K OBrien 8-1-36-0; G McCarter 8-1-43-0; G Dockrell 22-5-71-5; P Stirling 5-0-13-1; A White 1.1-1-0-1.

IRELAND FIRST INNINGS

G Wilson c Williams b Klazinga 18

P Stirling c Klazinga b Viljoen 0

A Cusack b Viljoen 1

A Poynter b Klazinga10

A White not out 20

K O’Brien not out24

Extras (lb1, nb1)2

Total (for 4 wkts, 20.4 ovs)75

To Bat:J Mooney, S Poynter, G McCarter, G Dockrell, P Eaglestone.

Fall of wickets:1-0, 2-2, 3-22, 4-31.

Bowling:L Klazinga 7-1-21-2; C Viljoen 8.4-1-38-2; P Rossouw 2-0-9-0; L van der Westhuizen 3-0-6-0.