A match of rain and records but it ensured Ireland's visit to Namibia for the semi-finals, and, hopefully, the final of the Intercontinental Cup.

Rain prevented any play on the first day, interrupted it briefly on the second day, and brought the match to a premature close at 2.20 on the third day. Not even the first innings of both sides could be completed. Turning to records, there were a few for Ireland:

1. Ireland's score of 407 for 4 was the highest ever made in a home match and the fourth highest ever. The previous highest in Ireland was 382 v I Zingari at Vice Regal Lodge, Phoenix Park in 1876. This was in a follow-on by Ireland and the match was lost by three wickets. In that innings F.G.Kempster scored Ireland's first ever century.

2. The first five Ireland batsmen, and indeed all that actually faced a ball, each got 50 or more. Previously the best in an innings was 50 or more by four batsmen which had been achieved four times, most recently the match against MCC in Bangor earlier this season.

3. The second wicket partnership of 158 between JP Bray (135) and AC Botha (97) was a record for Ireland for this wicket in first class matches. Previous best in a first class match for this wicket was 149 by PF Quinlan and RH Lambert v Scotland at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, in 1913.

4. JAM Molins was captain for the 41st time, a new record for captain of Ireland. AR Dunlop held the previous record with 40.

Ireland retained the team that won in Edinburgh, with the same 12th man. Holland had a weak team due to inability to get time off work. Five players who would have been first choices did not come. They were TBM de Leede, J Smits (w-k). D Van Bunge, L. Van Troost (Captain) and Stellig. Their probable replacements were Van Nierop, Szwarcznynski, Kervezee, Westerman (w-k) and Van Giezen. Zuiderent became captain for the first time since he was captain in a "one-off" situation when he was aged 18. Kervezee was only 15 years of age.

There was no play on day one. Play looked possible in the late afternoon when there was a toss which Ireland won and decided to bat. Then the rain came on again and finished any chance of play that day. The pitch was hard and brown coloured with little in it for the bowlers. Over a day and a half 611 runs were scored and only 10 wickets fell.

The second day started at 10.30 in overcast and chilly conditions. By rule the first innings of each team was restricted to 90 overs. It was intended to have 123 overs on this second day. In fact only 106 were bowled, 90 by Holland and 16 by Ireland, when light (a low sun) stopped play at 7.00. It had been intended to play until 7.30. Schiferli and Van Giezen (left arm over medium paced) began the Holland bowling to Molins and Bray. Molins hit the first ball to extra cover for three. Both batsmen hit fours in the first six overs and Bray added two more in overs 11 and 13, in the latter of which there was a concerted appeal for a catch at the wicket. Reekers (medium) replaced Schiferli for over 15. Each batsman got a four in overs 18 and 19 and 50 was up in the latter over. Kervezee, a slight figure bowling right arm medium, was given three overs when Van Giezen came off. Bray hit two fours off successive balls in the third of these overs and Kervezee was replaced by Raja's off spin and Schiferli came back for another spell. Molins was first to 50 with a straight three off Schiferli in over 29, which three also brought up 100.

Bray reached 50 in the next over (the 30th and Raja's first). It was a boundary sweep to fine leg. Two more fours to Bray off Schiferli sent Bray racing ahead. The Raja (in over 34) had Molins caught at mid-on attempting a pull when not over the ball. 125-1-53. Molins faced 108 balls and hit four fours. It was Molins' first 50 of 2005 but he only averages 16.5 for 12 innings this year. The century stand is the fifth achieved by Bray and Molins for Ireland's first wicket. This is the same number as achieved by S.J.S.Warke and M.F.Cohen. Botha came next and was also seeking runs after a lean spell (79 runs in seven innings). He began briskly and was 10 when rain stopped play at 1.00 and lunch was taken. The score was 140 (Bray 67) in 38 overs.

The post lunch bowlers, for 14 overs, were Raja and Schiferli. A four to each batsman in the 40th over (Raja) saw 150 up. In the next over (Schiferli) Bray chopped, pulled and square drove fours. Three overs later a sweep and a back foot force off Raja took Bray to 93. He then slowed down and got only one run in the next six overs. Then, in over 51 (Schiferli) he square cut a four followed by a two to go to exactly 100 at 193. He had faced 145 balls, the second 50 coming in 64 balls. This was his third century for Ireland and his first in first-class cricket. .

200 was up in over 53. Holland began to switch bowlers. Van Giezen came back, Reekers was tried at both ends and finally he was paired with Raja in a prolonged tandem. Botha reached 50 at 248 off 90 balls and then hit Raja over wide mid-wicket. Then, in over 71, Reekers caught and bowled Bray, at the second attempt, from a fast drive. 283-2-135. He faced 198 balls, and hit 20 fours. Joyce arrived, faced 2 balls, and then there was a six minute rain break. Botha was now 80. He did not get as much strike as Joyce (who hit three fours in his first 13 balls) but he was 95 when the new ball was taken for over 77 (it was allowed after 75). It was taken by Schiferli and Van Giezen. It proved to be Botha's undoing. He rashly drove at Van Giezen and skied to cover. 321-3-97. Botha deserved a century. He hit two sixes and eight fours in facing 139 balls. Gillespie came in and tea was taken after 79 overs at 321-3 (Joyce 21; Gillespie 0).

Four balls after tea Gillespie had a life being dropped at the wicket off Van Giezen when 2. He quickly picked up three fours. He and Joyce had 350 up in over 84 and raced along to unchanged bowling. Over 89 (Schiferli's 25th) saw 13 added - a final four giving Joyce 51 and bringing up 400 exactly. Gillespie was now 47 off 37 balls. Could he too get to 50? The answer was "yes - just!". Van Giezen bowled the last over. Gillespie took a single off the first ball (to go to 48). Then Joyce got a two and a single. Gillespie now faced the fourth ball and ran a leg bye. Joyce faced the fifth and was caught at long-on. 405-4-51 (62 balls five fours). In getting out the batsmen crossed. Wilson went in to the non-strikers end with one ball left. Gillespie, down the pitch, drove a two to go to 50 off only 40 balls with five fours. Gillespie now has one century and 16 fifties in 94 innings. He has five scores of over 50 in 13 innings in 2005.

It must be said that all five batsmen batted very well and very quickly, particularly towards the end. Botha and Joyce got 38 in 46 balls and Joyce and Gillespie 84 runs in 72 balls. No Holland bowler conceded less than four runs per over but the pitch favoured the batsmen. Ireland's eight batting points to Holland's two bowling points had now assured Ireland of their place in Namibia in October.

De Grooth and Van Nierop began for Holland at 5.45 with, in theory, 21 overs left. McCoubrey and Mooney were Ireland's opening bowlers. The start was quiet until McCoubrey, in his third over, bowled a no-ball which de Grooth hit for four. Five balls later de Grooth drove and was caught high and to Joyce's left at cover. 17-1-11. Zuiderent arrived and Molins left the field with a shoulder injury and Whelan substituted. Zuiderent faced five balls, hit a three off Mooney and was then squared up by McCoubrey and was out lbw. 24-2-3. Szwarcznynski came next to join Van Nierop. Thompson replaced Mooney for the 12th over. Szwarcznynski hit him for four to long-off and then square drove McCoubrey for four. In his second over Thompson had Van Nierop lbw attempting a sweep. 56-3-15. Ten Doeschate (2) and Szwarcznynski (16) played out time at 56 for 3. Close came at 7.00 after 16 overs due to a low sun behind the bowler's arm. McCallan bowled an over before the close.

The third day began on time (10.30) with another 113 overs scheduled. The day was cool but sunny and windy. Ireland now had two substitute fielders on the field as Bray did not take the field due to a sore foot. His substitute was the youthful James McGowan from Downpatrick. McCoubrey and Botha resumed the bowling. In his fourth over (24th in all) Botha bowled Szwarcznynski who used only his bat with no movement of feet. 72-4-18. This was Ireland's last success for 30 overs in which 115 runs were scored by ten Doeschate and Kervezee with the former dropped three times and the latter once. McCallan replaced McCoubrey for over 29. In his second over 100 came up but not before Gillespie missed a hard chance at short leg when Kervezee was 10.

Thompson replaced Botha for over 36. Molins had now returned to the field and it was he who missed the next two chances, both at slip and neither very difficult. In over 38 at 119 Molins put ten Doeschate (40) down off Thompson. Five overs later he repeated the miss, this time off McCallan and by now ten Doeschate was 55. Ten Doeschate celebrated with a four and a six in Thompson's next over to bring up 150. Ten Doeschate's third and last chance was the most difficult. When 60 he hooked Thompson to deep square-leg. McCoubrey had to make a lot of ground to his left and could not judge the catch and the ball went for four. The next seven overs cost only 16 runs. Botha came back for Thompson and got the fifth wicket in over 54. Ten Doeschate was caught at the wicket for 84 from 153 balls. He hit a six and seven fours and scored 71 of the 115 run stand with Kervezee, facing 116 balls to Kervezee's 65. 187-5-84. Two overs later (at 56 overs) lunch was taken at 190 for 5, Kervezee 41 and Reekers yet to score.

Only 22 balls could be bowled after lunch as rain began at 2.15 p.m. and prevented any further play beyond that time. Reekers hit Mooney for two fours but Botha bowled him in the next over as he pushed out. 201-6-8. The end came at 204 for 6. Kervezee had got a valuable 46 from 85 balls and Westermann had yet to score.

Botha was the best of Ireland's five bowlers although he was the fifth used. His three wickets only cost 27 in 13.4 overs.

The players must now prepare for a trip to Namibia in two month's time. Will the selectors retain the players who got Ireland to Namibia, plus Trent Johnston, or will the county players be brought in? 13 players can be brought on this trip.