CRICKET/Ireland v MCC: A sporting declaration by Ireland enabled the MCC to claim an unlikely victory, having been outplayed by their hosts for all but the last session of the three- day game at Limavady.
In the morning session Ireland, resuming on 23 for 0, lost first-innings centurion Jeremy Bray for just seven, caught by Ellis at cover from the bowling of Pierson. Andre Botha struck two sixes in a run-a-ball 20, before being run out.
The recalled Dom Joyce scored his second half century of the game, hitting eight fours in his 66 off 113 balls. He was eventually caught by the juggling Ratcliffe at midwicket from the bowling of Mujtaba, with the score on 117.
That was the cue for coach Adrian Birrell to promote Trent Johnston up the order, and the move certainly paid off. In the most entertaining passage of play over the three days, the hard-hitting Clontarf all-rounder took just 29 balls to reach his 50. This contained five sixes, one of which landed in the river Roe, and three crashing cover drives.
Skipper Kyle McCallan finished unbeaten on 38 as Ireland declared shortly before lunch, leaving the MCC 243 to win in 58 overs. Rain reduced that figure to just 46, but the MCC were clearly equal to the task.
Although they lost the early wickets of Marshall and Ratcliffe, a magnificent 181-run, third-wicket partnership between Australian Michael Foster and former Pakistan Test star Asif Mujtaba took them to the brink of victory.
Foster was out with just 27 needed for 80, which included 10 fours and three sixes and came off just 94 balls.
There was, however, to be no last-minute reprieve for the Irish, as Mujtaba's brilliant 117 not out saw the MCC safely to the win. He treated the crowd to an exhibition of controlled hitting, striking 19 fours and one six off just 103 balls.
Adrian Birrell explained the generous nature of the declaration: "I wanted to see how our guys perform under pressure, especially the bowlers."
The weakened Ireland attack, missing several regulars, and further depleted by the loss of Botha after 2.4 overs, were found lacking in the face of the assault. Ireland's next fixture is in two weeks' time, when they face Holland away in the Inter.
