Dom Joyce underlined his growing stature and importance to the national team with a mature innings of 67 at Salisbury yesterday to help Ireland overcome Wiltshire by 85 runs in the first round of the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy.
The 20-year-old Merrion batsman arrived at the crease needing to combat a hat-trick ball, for the second time in three innings, and stayed to turn the game in a sixth-wicket stand of 125 in 23 overs with Peter Gillespie.
While Gillespie struck nine boundaries and took the man-of-the-match award for his 66 from 77 balls, his effort would not have been possible without Joyce contributing runs, confidence and a positive attitude at the other end.
Ireland chose to bat on the small South Wilts club ground and were soon in trouble as opener Andy Patterson was stumped down the leg-side and Peter Davy top-edged a pull back to bowler Richard Bedbrook.
Andre Botha, the South African all-rounder drafted in as Ireland's one permitted overseas player, was then lbw first ball. Given that Botha is left-handed and had not only got in a big stride forward but had also located the ball with the edge of his bat, it was not a popular decision.
Joyce prevented the hat-trick but when Jason Molins was bowled for 23 and Derek Heasley got carried away trying to lift a second six Ireland were 78-5.
The threat was quickly over though as Gillespie repeatedly found the cover boundary, Joyce added seven fours and Paul Mooney weighed in with 23.
A total of 247 proved well beyond the home side as Mooney and Adrian McCoubrey shared four wickets at the top of the innings.
Details in SPORTS ROUND-UP
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