Ian Callender
17 July 2001
Put into bat by Denmark on a damp wicket, most of the batsmen failed to cope with the conditions and they were bowled out 40 minutes before lunch for 124 with 10 of their 50 overs unused. Peter Shields did well at the top of the order and, as the pitch got easier, Niall O'Brien and Richard McDaid boosted the Ireland total, the last five wickets adding 70. But the game was as good as lost by lunch as the Danes raced to 38 at almost five runs an over with Marty Dalzell bearing the brunt of the onslaught.
Donemana's Jordan McGonigle made two breakthroughs in his first four overs after the resumption but although the Development Squad bowled and fielded fairly well they had no chance defending such a modest total and an unbroken third wicket stand of 71 won the game for Denmark with more than 21 overs to spare.
Jeremy Bray, the 27 year old Australian in his first representative game for Ireland, showed his class with a memorable four through the covers but was then caught behind for eight, still the second best score in Ireland's top six.
Eglinton pace bowler Jonathan Gardiner and Instonians batsman John Stevenson, the two squad members left out of yesterday's game, both join the action today for the game against Scotland at the expense of Dalzell and Ryan Haire.
In yesterday's other game Scotland (177) beat Holland by 64 runs.