Disciplined MCC gain upper hand on first day

It was a day of more downs than ups for Ireland yesterday as MCC gained the initiative at the start of the three-day match at the Mardyke.

Kyle McCallam used seven bowlers but, until the last ball of the day, shortened by two hours at the start and 50 minutes at the end, only two were successful as this MCC batting line-up showed off its strength, reaching 223 for 4 in 63 overs.

The only pace bowler to take a wicket was an embarrassed Conor Armstrong, undoubtedly helped by a PA announcer, who was informing the crowd of the bowling change while the North county all-rounder was halfway through his run-up. MCC captain David Ward was dismissed just three runs short of his hundred.

Ward, with county experience at Surrey, and ex-Derbyshire player Tom Harrisson, with 46 at a run a ball, took a liking to the erratic pace bowling, then Mark Cowell and former Yorkshire captain Neill Hartley consolidated the visitors’ advantage.

Ward will be pressured to declare either first thing today or after a quick dash for runs.

The Ireland bowlers enjoyed a few good overs but the four ball, six ball if Ward was on strike, was too frequent.

The first 15 overs went for 74, Paul Mooney summing up the Irish efforts with six overs for 26, including two maidens.

Ireland’s bowling hero Gary Neely came back well after conceding ten in his first over, and it was Armstrong who threatened to be the most accurate when he was taken out of the attack after just two overs.

It was to prove an inspired move by McCallam, who introduced slow left-armer Jordan McGonigle and he struck with his second ball, Harrisson deflecting the ball onto his stumps.

The Donemana bowler and the captain bowled in tandem, and only three singles came off the next eight overs.

Ward made Ireland pay for a dropped catch and hit four sixes and 12 fours off 145 balls before he was bowled to give the Irish much-needed respite.

Armstrong then sent down the most accurate spell of the day.

Cowell faced 125 balls for his 55, while Hartley had scored from just 20 of 54 balls at the close.

MCC 1st innings

D. Ward bowled Armstrong 97; T. Harrisson bowled McGongile 46; M. Cowell caught sub (Power); bowled McGonigle 55; N. Hartley not out 20; D. Waugh lbw b McCallam 0; R. Lynch not out 0; Extras 5; Total (four wickets, 63 overs) 223. To bat L. Boater, A. Fraser, P. Such, G. Prince, M. Harrisson. Fall of wickets 1/74, 2/172, 3/211, 4/223. Bowling P. Mooney, 9 2 47 0; G. Neely 10 0 49 0; C. Armstrong 8 3 17 1; J. McGonigle 12 3 37 1; K. McCallam 17 5 45 1; A. White 3 1 6 0; D. Joyce 4 0 18 0.

Ireland; A. White, N. O’Brien, D. Joyce, P. Gillespie, K. McCallam, J. Mooney, D. Kennedy, C. Armstrong, P. Mooney, G. Neely, J. McGonigle. Umpires P. White, S. Daltry. Today 11am 6.30pm