Good start to Irish title defence

IRELAND’S cricketers signalled their intention to make a strong defence of the European Championship yesterday with a crushing opening victory over Norway at The Hills.

The champions lost both the toss and their hold of four catches but nothing else as the Asian-dominated Scandinavian side were dispatched in less than two-thirds of the overs available.

The tournament newcomers won the toss and struggled against Andre Botha — they failed to score a run off the bat against him until his sixth over — but there was no sign of the collapse to come as they battled to 91 for three.