THE IRISH players looked a little bewildered by close of play at Ynysygerwn yesterday. In a game reduced by rain to 40 overs aside, they had scored at over six runs an over and still managed to lose by seven wickets with three overs still to bowl.

When Mike Hendrick and his players attempt to reason why, they must first acknowledge that they were comprehensively out batted in conditions that favoured the batsmen. The pitch was firm and even paced, the boundary just 40 metres away at one end, and the out field quickened as the day progressed. There was, however, one crucial difference in the approaches of either side. Five Irish batsmen made it past 30 but none beyond 50, whereas the Scottish openers, lain Philip and Bryn Lockie, scored 198 before being separated.

They took six from Mark Patterson's first over and maintained that rate until the 28th and 29th overs realised 29 runs, making Philips' subsequent departure irrelevant.

On average, there were two bad balls per over and Philip, making his fourth century against Ireland, was the main beneficiary. His 121 from 91 balls (three sixes, 14 fours) was truly sublime.

six former winners of the Hennessy Cup chasing the Pounds 45,000 first prize.