A wonderful win for MCC. Ireland were on top into the third day. Adrian Birrell, Ireland's Coach, wished to test his bowlers for the upcoming three day Intercontinental Cup matches -v- Holland and Scotland. As a consequence Ireland declared 10 minutes before the time set for lunch leaving MCC to score 243 runs in 50 overs (the match was being played @ 90 overs per day). What made the MCC win so brilliant was that after six overs were bowled in their second innings rain cut 20 overs from these 58 (one over per four minutes of stoppage). In theory this left a minimum 38 overs including 15 in the last hour. However in an endeavour to take wickets Ireland bowled overs quickly so that, in fact, 31 overs were bowled up to the last hour.

At the declaration MCC were given a generous rate of 4.2 runs per over. This became 6.4 runs per over after the rain break. Overall, with the increase in the number of overs bowled, the rate was 5.3 runs per over, which MCC achieved with 2.2 overs to spare. MCC had lost two wickets for 36 when Foster (ex Victoria) and Asif Mujtaba (41 Tests for Pakistan) had a marvellous stand of 181 in 30 overs. When Foster was out, Evans joined Mujtaba and the remaining 26 runs were hit off 19 balls.

One reason for all this was Ireland's weakened team. Only six of those who had beaten West Indies two weeks earlier were available. They were Bray, Botha, McCallan (who became captain) Johnston, JF Mooney and Gillespie. Naseer Shoukat (Rush), aged 38, replaced Eagleson for his first cap. Dominick Joyce came in, most successfully for Molins; Ogilby replaced O'Brien as wicket-keeper. Ogilby played nine times for Ireland in 1995. He had emigrated to Cheshire and had played for Cheshire for the last five seasons. Lastly two young spin bowlers gained their first caps and replaced White and Morgan. Pride of place goes to Greg Thompson (Lisburn), leg spinner, who at 16 years plus 286 days became the youngest ever to play for Ireland. He beat E. Morgan's record of 2003 by 58 days. Gary Kidd (Waringstown) is a slow left armer who was 18 plus 285 days at the match's first day. Both had been in Bangladesh in the Autumn when Ireland did very well in the Under 19 World Cup. For the first time since 1998 -v- MCC at Lurgan three new caps were awarded. Those of 1998 were N Anderson, PJK Mooney and T Williamson. All this meant that nine players were unavailable for work or injury reasons. They were White, Morgan, McCoubrey, O'Brien, Bushe, Molins, Cooke, P. Mooney and Eagleson.

Limavady was a new venue for an International match involving Ireland. The Club was third choice. The original venue was Eglinton but they were rebuilding their pavilion. Brigade could not get the ground ready in time. Limavady took over at 12 day's notice and were faced with a rain flooded ground two days before the match but the match began on time.

MCC were captained by JD Ratcliffe (ex Warwick and Surrey). They included Asif Mujtaba (Pakistan), AD Patterson (ex Irish wicket-keeper), ARK Pierson (ex Derbyshire off spinner), Justin Marshall (New Zealander and twin of Test player Hamish) and were to have M. Sinclair (who made a double century on debut for New Zealand) but he failed to show up. MJ ("Tinnis") Fourie of Phoenix was invited to guest for MCC Ireland won the toss and batted. In view of the dampness in the pitch and the forecast of showers many would have disagreed with the decision. They were well answered! In 70.2 overs Ireland scored 321 for seven leaving MCC 15 overs before the 7.00 p.m. close.

Joyce faced the first over, a maiden from medium pace Kotkamp. Ellis, much the same pace, bowled at the other end. There was no run for three overs other than a no-ball. Then Bray hit Ellis for a six over cover and was dropped at third slip by Evans two balls later. A slow pitch and somewhat uneven bounce led to slow scoring at this stage. After seven overs for 20 rain caused a 16 minute delay. After a two overs resumption rain came again for 48 minutes. Then seven overs remained before lunch and both batsmen had a good over. Joyce took 10 off the 12th over including two fours. Next over Bray took 15 off Kotkamp. This included three successive fours - one past cover's left hand, a square cut and an extra cover drive. Each batsman hit another four before lunch taken at 72 for nought (16 overs) - Joyce 21, Bray 46. Saleem (left arm medium) and Pierson (off spin) each bowled one over before lunch. They continued after lunch for a few overs. Then Fourie (medium fast) took over from Pierson. A pull for four to wide mid wicket brought Bray to 52 (off 65 balls) at 89.

Joyce celebrated Bray's 50 by taking 10 off the next over (Fourie). Bray followed by hitting 4-4-6 (the six over wide long off) off Saleem's next over to bring 100 up in over 23. In Saleem's next over (25th) Bray hit four fours and was dropped by Ratcliffe high at first slip when 74 at 125. Joyce reached his fourth 50 for Ireland in over 26 with a four to third man. It brought him to 50 in 79 balls at 137. The sixth bowler used, Evans, slow medium, ended the stand in over 29. Joyce hit a four to mid-wicket and was lbw two balls later. 151-1-56. Joyce hit nine fours.

Botha joined Bray in a 69 run stand which only occupied 10 overs! Botha scored 38 of these runs including four fours in one Ellis over, and 10 off a Pierson over which brought up 200 in over 36. With a single to square leg in over 33 Bray went to 100 in 93 balls at 182. Asif was the seventh bowler tried and easily the best. His slow left arm slowed the scoring and got Bray out after he had hit his third and final six off Pierson. On one knee he hit upwards and failed to carry the mid-wicket boundary fielder. 220-2-116. Bray hit 3x6 and 17x4 off 113 balls. It was his sixth score of 50 or more in seven innings - a feat never approached previously by an Irish batsman. The sequence is 77 -143 (in 2003)-52-76-21-71-116. He now had 792 runs in 19 innings and must be very short odds to beat SF Bergin's (1949-1965) record of 1000 runs in 31 innings.

Botha was joined by McCallan and was run out by him in over 41. McCallan drove to mid-on who misfielded for an easy two. McCallan refused the second run. 227-3-41 (with seven fours in 39 balls). Gillespie came in to a now dry pitch, two slow bowlers and some spin even if slow. Tea was taken after 50 overs by which time the score had only advanced by eight runs in nine overs! After tea Mujtaba kept going until the innings end and Evans replaced Pierson. The plan worked. Evans had McCallan stumped by ex Irish wicket-keeper AD Patterson in over 54. Johnston was now sent in to move the score along quickly. He hit a four off his first ball, and three balls later was dropped at short mid-wicket by Kotkamp

More rain saw a 10 minute delay then Gillespie was lbw to Evans in over 58 after square cutting a four the previous ball. He then tried to sweep a straight ball. 265-5-26 (Four fours). Mooney and Johnston put on 36 in nine overs each scoring 18 runs, Johnston with three fours and Mooney with two. Kotkamp came back and was hit for a four and a two by Mooney but he was lbw off the last ball. 301-6-18. Shoukat came in and saw Johnston hit Mujtaba for a six over mid-wicket in an over which cost 11. When Johnston got out in over 71 Ireland declared. He was caught at deep square leg for 42 from 47 balls (1x6, 5x4). 327 for seven was a rate of 4½ runs per over.

Evans had three for 52 in 11 overs, Mujtaba two for 54 in 18.2 overs and Kotkamp one for 36 in 10 overs. Mujtaba bowled the most and was the least expensive. One hour remained before close of play at 7.00 p.m. At the rate of one over per four minutes it was decreed that a minimum of 15 overs should be bowled. In that time Ireland took two wickets for 14 runs both taken by Shoukat. Shoukat's fourth ball in International cricket accounted for Ratcliffe. It bobbed up at short leg to another debutant - Thompson. In came the left handed Mujtaba. He faced 31 balls, made seven and fell in the 11th over caught wide and low at third slip by Botha. 10-2-7. Foster (2) and Evans (5) played out until time was called. Thompson was hit at short leg off a pull from Foster off McCallan and had to retire. He seemed to be all right on the second day. No side covering was put on the square overnight and caused a 90 minute delay on the second morning due to rain in the night. Shoukat and Botha continued. Botha bowled four maidens in seven overs but in his eighth and last over he gave up 11 - a pull for six by Foster and an uppish four to third man by Evans (the opener). At 20 overs the score was 34. Thompson came on for Botha. He bowls leg spin at a decent pace with sharp spin but does not seem to have a googly. Evans hit two fours to square leg in Shoukat's last over (25th) and then Thompson took his first wicket in his third over. Evans pushed out and was caught at 1st slip. 58-3-26. Marshall joined Foster for the best stand of the innings. They added 111 in 34 overs. Lunch came after 28 overs at 64 for three, Foster 27, Marshall 0.

After less than an over after lunch rain caused a 15 minute delay. On resumption scoring was slow as Mooney and Thompson bowled. In over 29 Foster, after the rain, gave Gillespie a most difficult high and wide chance at square leg. Kidd, slow left arm, came on for his first Irish bowl and Marshall hit a four to long on. Then Foster hit Shoukat for two fours the first of which brought up 100 in over 37. The second brought Foster to 51 out of 104 off 85 balls. Kidd's second over cost 14 to Marshall including a six over long-on. McCallan replaced Mooney and bowled a very long spell of 17 overs for 36 runs and two wickets. Kidd's fourth over saw Foster hit another six and two more fours in Kidd's fifth and last over (34 runs). Thompson returned and scoring slowed a little but 150 was up in over 51 by which time Foster was 80. Marshall reached 50 (103 balls) in over 55. Foster went very slowly towards his century which he did not get. He was 80 in over 50 but was only 87 in over 59 in which over he was out.

Robert Rankin, brother of W.B. (capped 2003) had come on for Johnston and in the space of three overs caught both the batsmen at short leg off McCallan. The first (Foster) was brilliant as he dived to his left and caught one handed. 183-4-87. The second (Marshall) lifted a little and was pushed to him. 188-5-57. Another wicket fell at 193 when Patterson (0) mishit a pull and was caught by Gillespie at short mid-wicket off Shoukat returning for Thompson. This was in the first over after tea. At this stage Ireland hoped for a 100 run lead but Ellis (46*) made sure this did not happen. The last four wickets added 82 and might have been more but for two run outs. Ellis joined Fourie and understandably the scoring was slow although three fours were hit in the 31 run stand. 200 was up in over 68 and at 214 Thompson and Kidd returned and bowled the remaining 14 overs the innings lasted. At 224 Fourie was lbw to a Thompson full toss but Pierson helped Ellis to add another 21, the latter hitting three fours in that partnership.

Then in over 79, Pierson was run out, the first of two in successive overs. He hit a short ball to deep mid-on, called a run but Botha hit the bowler's wicket direct. 245-8-5. Next over Ellis hit a ball to Kidd at deep mid-on and called a run. Kidd's throw to Ogilby beat Saleem. 246-9-1. Kotkamp proved to be much better than a number 11. In four overs he added 29 with Ellis, saw 250 up and hit Thompson for a six to long on and swept a four off successive balls. Ellis added two more fours to get to 46 before Thompson tempted Kotkamp down the wicket to be stumped. Ireland's lead was 46 and MCC's 275 took 13 more overs than Ireland's 321. Thompson and Shoukat both had very good debuts. The 16 year old had three for 87 in 19.5 overs and the oldest man on the field also took three wickets and gave up only 46 runs in 20 overs. For some reason Botha bowled very little (eight overs for 17 runs) while Kidd gave up two sixes and nine fours in his 11 overs for 62 runs. In all MCC hit four sixes and 36 fours - a high percentage of their runs in boundaries.

Joyce and Bray began again for Ireland at 5.53 p.m. 12 overs were bowled to the 6.36 close. Ellis and Pierson shared one end while Mujtaba used the new ball at the other end. In fact the latter bowled through the innings of 44 overs. Each batsman hit a four before the close which came at 23 for nought Joyce 15 and Bray seven.

Hours of play on the last day were 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. with 15 overs in the last hour starting at 4.00 p.m. There was to be a minimum of 90 overs. Ireland occupied 32 of these and scored an additional 173 runs and lost three wickets. The day was much better but there was a vital 80 minutes (20 overs) lost in MCC's second innings. Bray was out at once to Pierson. He drove to extra cover. 24-1-7. Botha was next and soon pulled Pierson to mid-wicket for six. Joyce took eight off a Mujtaba over. 50 was up in over 18. In the next over Botha (14) was dropped off a low catch to mid-on. He celebrated two balls later with a six to wide long-on. It was his last scoring stroke. In over 20 he was run out - for the second time in the match. Joyce called a poor run and Botha was run out at the bowler's end. 62-2-20.

McCallan came in and 55 more runs were added in just over 15 overs. McCallan got only 15 of these (but he faced 37 balls) while Joyce got 37 and went to his second 50 of the match at 89 in over 34. He faced 96 balls. In this period Joyce hit five fours but the general pace, pending a declaration, appeared too slow. Eventually in the 36th over, Joyce was out for 66 (one less than his highest score for Ireland). He swept at Mujtaba and was caught, at the second attempt, by Ratcliffe at short mid-wicket. 117-3-66. Lunch was now 47 minutes away and 23 overs had been used. Enter Johnston to boost the rate, and how well he did - 54 from 31 balls. Kotkamp had been restored for Pierson and Johnston began with a six off him over wide long-on which landed in the river Roe. This encouraged McCallan who took 11 off Mustafa's next over including a six over mid-wicket. 150 was up in over 40, the last 50 taking six overs. Ellis was tried but Johnston hit him for six and a four in a 12 run over. He also assaulted Mustafa's next over, with two sixes over long-on. Next over Ellis went for six and four and Johnston took seven from the last over bowled (41st) to complete his 50. In 53 balls 79 runs were scored since Joyce was out, 55 to Johnston and 23 to McCallan. The last 100 came in 11 overs.

At 12.50 Ireland declared at 196 for three and lunch was taken. MCC used only four bowlers. Seeking a declaration MCC gave their two spinners 32 overs to the quicker men's 12. They also kept attacking fields. The target was a very generous 243 in a minimum 58 overs in theory, a rate of 4.2 runs per over. Ireland's Coach wished to test the bowlers and fielders under pressure and to see if, in going for the target, MCC could be bowled out in 58 overs. The plan went awry due to rain. At 12.30 Ratcliffe took Marshall in with him instead of Evans. Shoukat and Botha bowled. Three fours were hit and after four balls of his third over Botha, pulled up with a side strain - Thompson finished the over. Four balls into Shoukat's next over the rain came for 80 minutes and 20 overs were subtracted from the minimum 58.

When play resumed at 2.18 p.m. there remained 102 minutes to 4.00 p.m. (the start of the last hour of 15 overs). From this must be subtracted the tea interval of 20 minutes. So 82 minutes remained for a minimum of 16 overs up to the last hour.

In that time Ireland bowled 24 overs and in all 46 could have been bowled if MCC had not won in the 44th over. Two wickets fell quickly on resumption. In the first over Marshall hit Thompson for two fours and next ball skied to extra cover. 28-1-13. In came Mujtaba. He started with two fours off Thompson and then saw Ratcliffe caught at the wicket off Mooney. 36-2-15. This ended Ireland's success until it was too late. Foster joined Mujtaba and in 30 overs 181 runs were added at the rate of one per ball. Really at this stage the match could only, in practice, be won by MCC or drawn. A draw seemed likely for a long time. 50 came in over 18 but 100 appeared only nine overs later. Mujtaba got to 50 in 63 balls off 106 in over 29. In this period Mujtaba hit eight fours and Foster five. Ireland used mostly their slow bowlers.

After 31 overs the last hour was signalled. The score was 123 so 120 were needed in 15 overs. It still seemed a draw but the assault began at once, 10 to Mujtaba off Thompson in the first, 14 off Mooney in the second. Shoukat returned and put a brake on with Mooney - only 25 off the next four overs. Now it was 71 needed in nine overs. Then Foster in the 7th over of 15 hit Shoukat over the mid-wicket boundary and 15 came in all off this over. 16 came off Mooney's next over including another Foster six. McCallan came on and Shoukat changed ends. Another brake was applied. Only 20 in the next three overs, but 200 had come up in over eight of the 15. Then a wicket! In over 10 of the 15 Shoukat caught and bowled Foster. 217-3-80. He faced 93 balls and hit 10 fours and three sixes.

In the over before Foster was out Mujtaba went to 101 off 209 in 93 balls - the last 50 in 33 balls. In came Evans with only 26 needed in 33 balls. They only needed 19 of the 33. Two fours in the 44th over by Evans gave MCC a seven wicket win. It was a majestic performance in which a weakened Irish attack was rendered helpless by two wonderful stroke players. Mujtaba finished with 117 in 103 balls with a six and 19 fours. In all MCC struck four sixes and 36 fours, two thirds of the required runs. From the point of view of economy Mooney was Ireland's best bowler. (One for 49 in 10 overs.

This was the 93rd match played -v- MCC including six limited overs matches since 2000. MCC are ahead 25 to 24 in wins. MCC's last win over three days was at Malahide in 1996.