Hamilton Crescent was in brilliant sunshine. The pitch was hard and fast. McCallan was partnered by newcomer White, aged 20. Khan and former County player, Lefebvre bowled. Khan's fourth and sixth overs saw the demise of McCallan and number three Gillespie. McCallan tried to turn a short ball to leg and only succeeded in lobbing back to the bowler. Gillespie, always vulnerable outside the off stump and hardly a number three, was caught at slip. White and another newcomer, Dominick Joyce, added 33 in eight overs. Van Troost, medium left arm over the wicket came on for over 15 and took wickets in his second and fourth overs (he bowled only five). White scored 20 in 48 balls when he pushed out and was caught at the wicket. 39-3-20. At 46 Joyce was, perhaps unluckily, given out LBW, but he hit across the ball.

de Leede was the sixth bowler used and he it was who took the fifth wicket at 60. Archer got an inside edge to the medium pacer. Dunlop and Mooney set about retrieving the critical situation. The 25 overs score was 62. Dunlop hit off spinner Kramer for a six and the pair raised 100 in over 36. There were rapid bowling changes and the rate speeded up at 40 overs, three fours coming in three overs. After a stand of 73 in 18 overs Dunlop lost patience too soon after a good innings of 43. He went down the pitch to Khan and hit straight to deep square leg. Three runs later the same fielder (Kramer) ran in from deep square leg and dived forward to catch Mooney (29).

Rutherford and Cooke managed a stand of 25. Then two wickets fell in one over, the 49th, bowled by de Leede. Cooke (13) had a slog and was caught at short mid-wicket and Dwyer skied back to the bowler. McCoubrey pushed to mid-off and was run out leaving Rutherford 10 not out. It was a poor display but all six Holland bowlers bowled well and the fielding was excellent. Khan had three for 19 in his 10 overs. Only de Leede of the others bowled 10 overs and he had three for 22.

Ireland hit 11 fours and a six. When Holland went in they hit 23 fours and a six and won in 44 overs. Mooney gave away three fours in his first three overs and McCoubrey one as Zulfiqar and Van Oosterom put on 21. Then the latter was bowled driving at Mooney. 21-1-14. Cooke came on and Mooney changed ends for two overs. McCallan bowled the 14th over at 45. Van Noortwijk was uncomfortable. He swung wildly at the sixth ball and was caught at mid-wicket. Bradley, a Queenslander, joined Zulfiqar and four maidens followed. A drinks interval broke the spell and 50 came up in over 19. Dwyer and McCallan gave up seven fours in seven overs, 100 coming in 29 overs, Zulfiqar reaching 50 one over previously.

Cooke returned. Zulfiqar hoisted a skier. Archer and Joyce converged from mid-on and mid-off and in the confusion the catch was dropped. Mooney was tried again and took a wicket at 133. Bradley, 43 with seven fours, was caught at deep gully. The third wicket stand was 88 in 23 overs. The last 32 came in seven overs with Zulfiqar scoring 21 of them. His 85 came off 128 balls with 13 fours. He was missed twice, the second being a stumping chance at 146.

This was a poor Irish start to the Tournament. Zulfiqar was Man-of the Match.

Derek Scott