All-round display needed

Miriam Grealey and her Ireland team-mates take on a testing assignment at College Park today when they face Australia in the first of three one-day internationals against the world champions. The second match will be played at the same venue tomorrow, while Merrion will host the third encounter at Anglesea Road on Monday.

Australia's captain, Belinda Clark, was voted the Player of the Series after her team had won the World Cup in India last December and has just led the side to an emphatic series win against England. A right-hand opening bat, she has also scored the fastest century in women's cricket.

To meaningfully take on this formidable opposition, Ireland will need a convincing all-round display, and Grealey, herself a hard-hitting bat, will be looking for good performances from players like opening bowler Barbara McDonald, wicketkeeper Anne Linehan and all-rounders Catriona Beggs and Clare Shillington. Play begins at 1.0.

A lethargic performance by Ireland in the Hague yesterday never threatened to end Scotland's recent domination and a winning margin of 20 runs possibly flattered the losers of the final European championship group match.

When the same sides meet again today in the third placed play-off Ireland will have to bowl with much more control if they are to beat the Scots for the first time since 1993.

John Davey will be dropped after conceding 68 runs as Scotland were dismissed for 211, but Gordon Cooke (3 for 44) again whipped up some pace and Ryan Eagleson sent down three lively maidens in another sharp opening spell.

Ireland had only netted 200 once in three efforts but began brightly with new openers Neil Carson and Jason Molins adding 61, and looked to have a solid base at 77 for 3 when Stephen Smyth joined Angus Dunlop.

But the pair let it drift and Dunlop was out after taking 46 deliveries for just nine runs. Smyth followed suit when he was caught and bowled by Wright for 29. Despite Cooke's imaginative 34 not out Ireland fell well short of 191 for seven.