George Dockrell's six wicket haul and Niall O'Brien's 92 were the highlights of the Irish players performances in England over the past week.

'Dockers' showed a welcome return to form taking 6 for 96 against a Warwickshire side which didn't include either William Porterfield or Boyd Rankin.

Rain ruined the final day and in all probability denying Warwickshire the win.

Tim Murtagh was another Irish bowler in fine form - he took 3/63 and 2/24 as his side lost by 56 runs at Derbyshire.

The Middlesex seamer is now the leading wicket taker in Division One of the County Championships - his 52 victimes one ahead of Sussex seamer Chris Jordan.

Ed Joyce is also well placed in the County Championships averages - he has 907 runs at 75.58 - only Madsen, Robsona nd Chopra have a greater aggregate.

Joyce or his Sussex side weren't in county action, but beat Worcestershire by seven wickets in the YB40 - Joyce making just 12.

Niall O'Brien scored 29 twice and took four catches as Leicestershire lost to Glamorgan by an innings. The left-hander also top scored with 92 in the YB40 defeat, before being rested for their last YB40 fixture to protect a slight knee strain.

Surrey's Championship woes continued after a thumping innings defeat at Durham - Gary Wilson making just 0 and 7 in a game both player and club will want to quickly forget.

William Porterfield made 44 as Warwickshire slumped to a heavy defeat to a David Willey inspired Northants sise, while Paul Stirling scored 15 as Eoin Morgan's 90 was enough to see Middlesex finish their 40 over campaign with a four wicket win over Leicestershire.

The big news from an Irish perspective of the past week was the awarding of a Middlesex contract to Andrew Balbirnie, continuing the excellent Irish tradition at the Home of Cricket.