SUSSEX batsmen Martin Speight enhanced his reputation for devastation at Hove yesterday with a 26-ball display that hurried Ireland towards an eight-wicket Benson & Hedges Cup defeat.
The county's reply to Ireland's respectable 190 for eight began quietly enough with six runs from two overs. Yet when Speight departed less than four overs later, to a spectacular diving catch by Ryan Eagleson, 79 runs were on the board of which his partner Bill Athey could claim only two. Speight struck two sixes and 10 fours in an onslaught that netted 64 runs.
Although Athey soon became Mark Patterson's second victim with a bottom edge to the wicket keeper, there was no way back for Ireland and when Alan Wells lifted a winning six into the pavilion, Sussex had only used 20 of their 50-over allocation.
Ireland, having chosen to bat, did not enjoy the best of luck, with Alan Lewis adjudged lbw to a ball that appeared to be missing leg, and Stephen Smyth suffering the misfortune of seeing a fierce straight drive deflected from bowler to catcher Ed Giddins at mid-off.
Angus Dunlop justified his inclusion ahead of Micheal Rea by scoring his third 50y for Ireland from 49 balls, including a four, four, six, sequence off the spinner Keith Greenfield.
A full toss from England legspinner Ian Salisbury was missed by Dunlop at a crucial stage and with West Indian Vasbert Drakes returning to complete a spell of five for 19, Ireland would not have posted enough runs regardless of the Speight to follow.
