Surrey all out for 261 at Clontarf

After 49.5 overs of the rain-interrupted C&G Trophy second-round clash between Ireland and Surrey, the English county champions are all out for 261 runs at Castle Avenue, Clontarf.

After 49.5 overs of the rain-interrupted C&G Trophy second-round clash between Ireland and Surrey, the English Totesport League Division One champions are all out for 261 runs at Castle Avenue, Clontarf.

Having decided to field, Adrian Birrell’s Irish side, unbeaten in nine, made a solid start with debutant and Clontarf favourite Trent Johnston bowling out lead batsman Jonathan Batty after 28 minutes and 42 runs.

Alistair Brown improved the visitor’s tally until being bowled for a top score of 67 – including six 4s and four 6s off 49 balls – by overseas star Gerald Dros.

England international Mark Ramprakash then went for a bowl-and-catch by Kyle McCallan off 34, and his England colleague Adam Hollioake was to follow, in overcast conditions, being stumped by Waringstown wicket-keeper Jonathan Bushe for 52 off an impressive 58 balls.

Instonians’ Andrew White whittled down the Surrey batting order as he took out James Benning and Ian Salisbury at 228-7 and an eventual take of three wickets for 43 runs in 10 overs.

The experienced hand of South African-born Andre Botha, 2003’s Irish cricketer of the year, saw out the bowling, claiming the scalps of Nadeem Shahid, Martin Bicknell and Saqlain Mushtaq for three quick-fire wickets over 9.5 overs.

Ireland will look to Dros and Botha, who hit 263 together against Hertfordshire last season, and captain Jason Mollins to give them a chance to last 50 overs and garner an unlikely win.

Surrey (261 all out, 49.5 overs):

(J N Batty 8, A D Brown 67, M R Ramprakash 34, A J Hollioake 52, J G E Benning 27, Azhar Mahmood 13, N Shahid 27, I D K Salisbury 4, M P Bicknell 16, Saglain Mushtaq 1, J Ormond 1, not out)

Ireland: yet to bat:

D T Johnston 8 overs, 2 maidens, 35 runs, 1 wicket; R L Eagelson 8 overs, 50 runs; A C Botha 9.5 overs, 48 runs, 3 wickets; G Dros 4 overs, 27 runs, 1 wicket; W K McCallan 10 overs, 1 maiden, 51 runs, 2 wickets; A R White 10 overs, 43 runs, 3 wickets)

Ireland

J A M Molins, J A Bushe, J P Bray, A C Botha, G Dros, P G Gillespie, A R White, W K McCallan, E J G Morgan, D T Johnston, R L Eagleson

Surrey

J N Batty (capt/wkt), N Shahid, A D Brown, M R Ramprakash, J G E Benning, A J Hollioake, Azhar Mahmood, I D K Salisbury, M P Bicknell, Saqlain Mushtaq, J Ormond