IT WAS a quiet week for the Irish operating outside the first-class scene this week.

William Porterfield has been in cracking 1st XI form, making his first century for the county, and he also made 63 in a T20 friendly against Shropshire at Bridgnorth.

Boyd Rankin was too hot for the minor county batsmen, taking 3-3 in his three overs.

Andrew Balbirnie had a couple of T20 games for Middlesex against the Unicorns, making 10 and 6, while he took his first wickets of the season with 2-23 in his four overs.

He also bowled, (4 overs, 0-36) against Leicestershire 2nds in an abandoned match.

He featured too, but didn’t bat or bowl, in a 50 over game against Kent 2nds in which Paul Stirling made 12 not out.

Graeme McCarter played a 50-over game for Gloucestershire 2nds against Essex, bowling 10 overs and taking the wicket of Reece Topley in a return of 1-40.

Stuart Poynter continued his good T20 form, making 27 and 22no against Derbyshire 2nds. He has also started playing a bit of club cricket in the North-East Premier League, turning out for Brandon against Washington but didn’t get a chance to bat.

Shane Getkate made 7 against Surrey 2nds in a T20 at Shenley.