Grealey plays captain's role

A superb century by the captain, Miriam Grealey, steered Ireland to an emphatic, 117-run victory over Pakistan in the second one-day international between the two countries, at Kenure in Rush yesterday.

This was only the second time such a score was achieved by an Irish player in women's international cricket, the first being the "ton" scored by Mary Pat Moore against Denmark in the European Cup at Park Avenue in July 1995.

Coming in at number four, after Clare O'Leary and Karen Young had departed the scene with Ireland on 66 for 2, Grealey was second last out, by which time 225 runs had been scored. Her century came off 105 deliveries and included 17 fours.

Young was Ireland's next highest scorer with 34, followed by O'Leary with 25 and Marguerite Burke with 24.

Shaiza Khan bowled well for Pakistan to take three wickets - including that of Grealey - for 35 runs, while Sharmeen Khan picked up a brace, albeit at an expensive 58 runs.

Given that the Pakistanis had been skittled for 95 in the first one-dayer on Sunday, a rapid end to the day's play seemed on the cards yesterday, all the more so when they lost their first four wickets with only 59 runs on the board.

But such was not the case; they mightn't score many runs, but they have a few talented batters who can stay the pace, which may very well make next week's fourday Test rather interesting.

Nazi Nazeer top-scored with a determined 30, while Kiran Baluch and Zamurad Afzal were the only others to reach double figures, with 24 and 22, respectively. The Irish bowlers generously helped the Pakistan cause by donating 17 wides.

Eventually Saibh Young ended it all by having tail-ender Uzma Gondal caught by Barbara McDonald in the 46th over.

Young bowled excellently, taking 4 for 24. Grealey, as if to celebrate her innings, took 2 for 5 off six overs, Catherine O'Neill took one wicket, conceding only 13 runs off her 10 overs, while Aoife Budd, on her international debut, also bowled economically, without the reward of a wicket.

The result is extremely encouraging in the build-up to the World Cup in New Zealand later this year. The final one-day match in the series will be played at Sydney Parade tomorrow, starting at 1.0.

Meantime, how about this for determination to play cricket for your country? Sajjida Shah is all of 12-years-old, and her parents at first refused to give her permission to go on this tour, so how did she make them change their minds?

She went on hunger-strike for a week, that's how.

Hampshire kept their season alive with a comfortable NatWest Trophy seven wicket quarter-final victory over Middlesex yesterday.

In the day's other quarter-final a sparkling century from one-day specialist Nick Knight set Warwickshire up for a convincing 81-run win over Glamorgan at Edgbaston.