Cricket: Basement boys Ireland crashed to a fourth straight South Conference defeat in the Friends Provident Trophy against Gloucestershire despite captain Trent Johnston taking a hat-trick in Dublin.
The 33-year-old Australian-born all-rounder produced a mesmerising spell of swing bowling, claiming three wickets in the 18th over to transform Gloucestershire from a comfortable 94 for one to 94 four in the space of just three balls.
However, a dogged innings of 77 from Marcus North and a quickfire 70 from in-form Mark Hardinges saw Gloucestershire reach 248 all out from their 50 overs.
In response, Johnston's bowling heroics proved in vain as Gloucestershire bowlers Ashley Noffke, Will Rudge and Carl Greenidge decimated the Ireland top-order, as the hosts were skittled for a paltry 63 with 29 overs to spare.
Missing their trio of county-based players, Boyd Rankin, Eoin Morgan, and Niall O'Brien, plus the injured Andre Botha — who damaged his finger against Somerset last weekend — Ireland have struggled to compete in this competition.
And their frailties with the bat came to the fore again as Jeremy Bray, William Porterfield, Kevin O'Brien and Ryder all fell cheaply.
Johnston managed to take his side past 50 with an unbeaten 22 — but Peter Gillespie and Andrew White were the only other batsmen to make it into double figures.