Spirited resistance at perilous moments and a finely-honed will to win gave Ireland a commendable two wicket victory over Essex County Board at Comber yesterday, with the added bonus of a third round NatWest Trophy match against Leicestershire, the English County Champions for the past two seasons, at Castle Avenue in Dublin next month.

Ireland needed 197 after Essex had won the toss and batted first, and that looked a remote chance indeed when Jamie Sparrow removed the opening pair, first Neil Carson and then Kyle McCallan with only six runs on the board. Thereafter, Ireland's fortunes fluctuated dramatically. It was heady, exciting stuff. Stephen Smyth and Gerald Dros were the first to spearhead the comeback, putting on 55 for the third wicket before Andrew MacKinlay broke the partnership by clean bowling Smyth.

The teams in front of the new Comber pavilion

Then Dros and Andy Patterson put on 48 for the fourth wicket before Dros departed the scene in dramatic circumstances. He drove pace man Arif Saeed for a massive six to reach his half-century. Saeed got his retaliation in fast, and bowled Dros next ball with the score on 119-4. Paterson and then Angus Dunlop got out with only three runs added, and, at 122-6, Ireland looked to be in deep mire. Enter Ed Joyce and Gordon Cooke, whose stand realised an invaluable 47 runs before Tim Jones bowled Joyce to leave Ireland on 169-7 with seven overs remaining.

Ryan Eagleson was next to the rescue, and with the indomitable Cooke, he had put on a precious 18 runs for the eighth wicket, before Jones removed him. Dwayne McGerrigle then joined Cooke, kept his cool, and with considerable aplomb drove MacKinlay for a boundary with the winning stroke. It was a moment to savour for the 19-year-old who was winning only his second cap, and who had earlier clean-bowled MacKinlay and Saeed with the last two balls of Ireland's 50 overs for a brace of well-deserved wickets. Cooke, also primarily a bowler, was a real matchwinner; his unbeaten 38 were scored of 51 deliveries at his innings included two sixes and two fours.

Earlier, Alex Richards had top-scored for Essex, with a handsome 60 before his partner effectively ran him out, and there were other useful contributions from Giles Ecclestone with 33, 29 from Jones and 19 from Simon Fitzgerald. Eagleson, McGerrigle and Cooke each took two wickets, and overall Ireland did well to restrict their opponents to a total of 196 for eight wickets.

Gordon Cooke receives the Man of the Match award

This Ireland side may have its limitations but it possesses not a little talent and, above all, a steely resolve, and for that latter quality, national coach Mike Hendrick must deserve some praise.