A sporting declaration by the captain, George Salmond, when Scotland trailed by 81 runs on the first innings at Malahide yesterday may just inject some competitive interest into the last day of the annual three-day event against Scotland.

On Saturday, Kyle McCallan and Andy Patterson had saved Ireland from complete disaster, as the middle order (yet again) collapsed in the face of some pretty effective bowling by Scotland's left-arm spinner Keith Sheridan.

And when the overnight men, Alan Rutherford and Greg Molins, departed early yesterday morning - after some 40 minutes had been lost because of the mist - Ireland were tottering on 170 for 9.

Enter John Davy and Paul McCrum, neither - with every respect - renowned for Laralike prowess with the bat.

But they went on to total 100 for the 10th wicket, establishing a new Irish record, and surpassing by 16 runs the 84 set by W King and W R Sproule against Wales in Cardiff in 1923, and no, in company with the rest of the pundits present yesterday, I don't know their Christian names.

Not even this epic partnership, in which Davy scored an undefeated maiden international half-century and McCrum added an unbeaten 44, was notably exciting.

The pair played too correctly; had they lashed the bowling with thundering cross bats and got away with massive mis-hits the onlookers would have been better entertained - still, top marks for style.

The Scots would have preferred an earlier declaration from Justin Benson, and when it finally came, Bruce Patterson, Douglas Lockhart and Salmond set about the Irish attack with aplomb.

When Benson claimed his wicket, Salmond at once declared and Ireland were 14 for 1 at the close, Decker Curry's rush to attack earning the Scots an early breakthrough. Play resumes at 11.00 this morning.

Australia (v Ireland at Eglinton next Thursday): M A Taylor (capt), M J Sleator, J L Langer, G S Blewett, M G Bevan, R T Ponting, M E Waugh, D S Berry (wicketkeeper), B P Julian, J N Gillespie, M S Kasprowicz. 12th Man: M T G Elliott.

Leinster have been drawn at home to Lurgan in the semi-final of the Royal Liver Irish Senior Cup, and in the other semi-final Donemana will be at home to Limavady.

Both matches will be played on Saturday next, August 16th, and the final is scheduled for Friday September 5th, at Beechgrove.

Overnight: Ireland 165 for 7, 68 overs (K McCallan 65, A Patterson 31, A