We were bemoaning last week the paucity of runs and wickets among the Irish contingent in England, but there are no such concerns this week as Ed Joyce recorded the second double hundred of his career.

The Sussex skipper hit an unbeaten 204 from 239 balls (24 fours, 3 sixes) as his side piled on the runs in their County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire.

Joyce put his recent hoodoo of being dismissed in the 90's firmly behind him - he has been out 4 times this season between 90-99 - by smashing the Notts attack to all parts of Trent Bridge.

The 34 year-old has currently 720 runs in the championship at an average of 90.00. Only Chris Rogers (Middlesex) and Andrew Gale (Yorkshire) have scored more.

Joyce was also involved in one of the more extraordinary limited overs games of recent times. He made 11 as Sussex and Kent racked up 673 runs between them in 78.3 overs - Kent prevailing by 3 wickets in their dramatic run chase.

Niall O'Brien has also been in the runs ending his recent short lean spell. The left-hander made 67 and 14 as his side lost a tight game against Essex by four wickets. O'Brien also picked up 3 catches in the game.

The Leicestershire stumper also hit 22 as The Foxes lost by 34 runs to Glamorgan in the YB40.

In the same competition Middlesex had mixed fortunes in their games against The Unicorns and Yorkshire.

Paul Stirling hit 32 from 20 balls before being dismissed by Ian Wardlaw - the Scottish seamer picking up 3 wickets as Yorkshire won a rain affected encounter by 17 runs (DL). Tim Murtagh is now featuring regularly in their one-day side and he made 3 not out and took 0 for 18 before the rains came.

Murtagh was in the wickets claiming 3 for 35 as Middlesex made light work of The Unicorns in a 9 wkt win, although Paul Stirling was the wicket to fall, as he made just 4.

Gary Wilson scored 12 as his Surrey team drew against Yorkshire - the game most notable for the return of Kevin Pietersen who didn't disappoint with an unbeaten 177.

George Dockrell and Graeme McCarter didn't feature in the Somerset or Gloucestershire first teams this week.

The bonus for Ireland is that with Dockrell out of the first team picture, he's available to play for Ireland in their InterContinental Cup fixture against The Netherlands which starts next Monday.