Day 1 Captain Kevin O'Brien and Andrew White led an Ireland recovery after they lost their first four wickets for just 31 on the first day of the Intercontinental Cup game against Namibia at Stormont. By the close they were 75 for four, still 169 runs behind, but O'Brien has already hit 22 of his 24 runs in boundaries and White, more cautiously but just as effectively, has nudged and flicked his way to 20.
With John Mooney, who scored 87 in his last I-Cup innings, next man in, there is no cause for panic in the Ireland team yet but, after dismissing Namibia just after tea for 244 in 70 overs, the early wickets were a shock Paul Stirling, as can always happen with his attacking game, holed out in the second over, top edging a pull to fine leg before he got off the mark, Alex Cusack had made only one more when he was bowled by the impressive Christi Vijoen and at the other end Louis Klasinga found the edge of Gary Wilson's bat and he was caught at second slip and then Andrew Poynter chopped one on to his stumps.
Stephan Baard trapped lbw
Poynter's younger brother Stuart was one of two players given their debuts in the game and his confidence was immediately boosted with a diving catch in the seventh over as Mooney made the breakthrough in an excellent opening partnership with the accurate Phil Eaglestone Mooney followed up in his next over with the wicket of Viljoen, who is not such an impressive bat - he went in at No 3 despite averaging only 14 and having batted at No 11 in the two ODIs against Ireland in July.
The regular wickets set the pattern for the day on a pitch which is good enough for batsmen to play their strokes but is giving plenty of encouragement and bounce for the bowlers. The highest partnership of the day was 45 for the Namibia sixth wicket and that was almost entirely due to Louis van der Westhuizen who hit 65 off 55 balls with 10 fours and a six. His innings was ended by George Dockrell, caught at long-on by Alex Cusack, 51 runs after he dropped him in the same position.
It was Dockrell's fourth wicket of the day and he claimed his first "five-for' after an unbroken spell between lunch and tea. Graeme McCarter, the other debutant, started well with the ball until first Gerrie Snyman and then van der Westhuisen took a liking to him.
Rain ended play 14 balls early but it was to the credit of the umpires that they got so much play in. Hopefully they will be as lucky today.
Day 2
Andrew White's sixth century for Ireland ensured they claimed the first innings points on the second day of their Intercontinental Cup game against Namibia at Stormont.
White was 123 not out when Ireland were bowled out for 298 - a lead of 54 - which the Africans had cleared off for the loss of just one wicket when play was halted 13 overs early because of rain. Eight of the overs will be made up today.
After losing captain Kevin O'Brien just 10 runs into the day to leave Ireland 85 for five, coach Phil Simmons was delighted with his team's recovery. White loves this competition - he is averaging 68 and this was his fifth century - and when he reached 107 he became the third player, after Stephen Warke and William Porterfield, to score 4,000 runs for Ireland. But the depth of Ireland's batting was highlighted by White's partners, John Mooney and George Dockrell, outscoring him respectively in partnerships of 69 for the sixth wicket and, after the loss of debutant Stuart Poynter not playing a stroke to his second ball, exactly 100 for the eight wicket.
Swept by John Mooney
Mooney has done it before and his extra cover driving yesterday was a feature of his 58 balls innings of 44 but Dockrell came of age with his first senior 50 from 92 balls with eight fours. After taking five wickets on the opening day, his bowling will be again key today as Ireland strive to break the frustrating second wicket stand, already worth 56, between ST Ackerman who has just five scoring strokes in his 61-ball innings of seven and Christi Viljoen who has defied his low expectations from the first innings with a run-a-ball 48.
Graeme McCarter, also on debut, was given the new ball and took a wicket with his 10th delivery as Pikkie ya France played the same no-shot as young Poynter and while Mooney and Phil Eaglestone were again accurate none of the many edges went to hand.
Day 3 Ireland will need just 38 runs on the last day to win their opening Intercontinental Cup game against Namibia, after 13 wickets fell at Stormont on Day 3. Although Ireland's top four will take no further part in the match, first innings century maker Andrew White and captain Kevin O'Brien are in the middle, confident of turning their first innings advantage into a maximum points victory.
Opening bowler Christi Viljoen and slow left armer Louis van der Westhuizen would seem to the only threat to an Irish win, apart from the rain which is the main reason why this game goes into a fourth day. There was a 45-minute delay yesterday before Namibia could add to their overnight 58 for one, but John Mooney struck in the first over and George Dockrell also claimed a wicket before lunch to a smart leg-side catch by debutant Stuart Poynter.
Phil Eaglestone bowling
Dockrell was fortunate that he got the decision because his follow-through blocked the umpire's view and he needed the help of his colleague before raising the finger. The extended afternoon session, however, belonged to Ireland as Namibia lost their last seven wickets for 100. While Dockrell bowled virtually unchanged from one end, bringing his tally for the match to eight wickets, it was Mooney who made the vital breakthrough ending Viljoen's resistance on 87.
It was no more than Mooney deserved as, for the second day in a row, he repeatedly found the edges but invariably the shots found the gaps. O'Brien was content to watch the first 50 overs from mid-off but when he finally introduced himself into the attack, he had the dangerous Gerrie Synman leg before with his 11th ball and, crucially, the big-hitting van der Westhuizen caught at long leg from his 15th.
The question doing the rounds when Ireland started their chase for 173 was could they finish it in three days, as the team that won three successive I-Cups did so often between 2005 and 2008. If Paul Stirling has stayed to the end the answer would have been an emphatic "yes' but, after hitting eight fours and a six in a 41-ball 50, he was leg before immediately afterwards. Gary Wilson had already gone after an unconvincing 30 balls, and while Alex Cusack and Andrew Poynter shared 13 boundaries, the majority through cover point, neither could see the day through and Ireland were happy to return for the final day.
Day 4 It was a run-a-minute finale for Ireland, knocking off the remaining 38 runs in 50 balls for the loss of captain Kevin O'Brien, who give Namibia captain Craig Williams his fourth catch of the match at second slip. However, Andrew White brought his tally to 145 unbeaten runs in the match and John Mooney completed a fine all-round game with 59 runs and four wickets for 89 in 30 overs.
Cut by Andrew White
National coach Phil Simmons summed up the match: "When we settled down and played consistent cricket we showed what a difference there was (between the teams). But after the one-dayers (in July) I wasn't surprised by Namibia. They have two good bowlers at the top but the others not strong enough so you have to make sure you bat properly. We didn't do that in the first innings." He also hailed the contribution of Mooney and George Dockrell who took eight wickets in the match and scored his first 50 at senior level.
"Docks had to bat a lot in the Under 19s and in the first innings he showed he can step up. "Mooney likes using the new ball. He was probably given too much work but he has taken the opportunities and after lunch on Thursday he was back in the groove."
On the new boys, Simmons admitted: (Graeme) McCarter struggled a little. A few things I know from the Under 19s is not happening so that's why we did a bit of work at the end. But, in general, his attitude is great as is Stuart Poynter's who kept well. They will be pushing for a place in the top team in a couple of years' time," said the coach.