Ireland record famous win

IRELAND recorded a famous win over Surrey in the C&G Trophy when they cruised to victory with 10 balls to spare at Clontarf yesterday.

The five-wicket triumph sets up a home third-round tie against either Northamptonshire or Cambridgeshire and ranks among the greatest achievements in Irish cricket history.

They once famously bowled out Clive Lloyd’s West Indies tourists for 25, while last season they beat Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in a tourists game at Stormont. But claiming the scalp of a first-class English county will eclipse all that. Captain and opener Jason Molins set about chasing Ireland’s 261 overnight target with relish. He scored at just over a run a ball before Azhar Mahmood ended a 100-run first-wicket partnership with Jeremy Bray with Molins on 58.

Bray also went on to record his half century, before falling victim to Saqlain Mushtaq, and for a while it appeared Surrey had steadied the ship.

But Ireland were always in touch with the required run-rate of just over 5.5 per over and Gerald Dros smashed five boundaries, including a mammoth six, before Martin Bicknell forced him to hole out to Alistair Brown on 45.

Andre Botha and Peter Gillespie offered resistance with the bat before falling for 17 and 28 respectively, leaving Andrew White and Kyle McCallan to secure victory in the 49th over.

One-day specialists Surrey, who may regret leaving behind England stars Mark Butcher and Graham Thorpe for this match, toiled after losing the toss during a first day peppered with rain breaks.

Brown’s quick-fire 67 was the best they could muster while Adam Hollioake was dismissed just moments after securing his half-century.

Andrew White’s off-breaks caused Surrey’s middle order problems, his figures of three for 43 included the wickets of James Benning, Ian Salisbury and Pakistan international Azhar Mahmood.

South African Botha was the other major threat with the ball, claiming the wickets of Nadeem Salid, Bicknell and Saqlain Mushtaq as Surrey were restricted to a target Ireland coach Adrian Birrell was always confident of attaining.

IRELAND: J Molins, b Azhar Mahmood, 58; J Bray, b Saqlain Mushtaq, 52; A Botha lbw b Salisbury, 17; G Dros, c Brown, b Bicknell 45; P Gillespie, lbw b Azhar Mahmood, 28; A White, not out 20; K McCallan, not out, 18; E Morgan; T Johnston; R Eagleson; J Bushe. Extras: (lb 3, nb 6, w 15) 24. Total: (5 wkts, 48.2 overs) 262.