IRELAND began their challenge for the inaugural European championship with a 169-run victory over Italy in Copenhagen yesterday. Italy were not expected to give Mike Hendrick's Triple Crown winners much of a match and so it proved.

Only elected full members of the International Cricket Council last year, the Italians looked hopelessly out of their depth against the pace of Mark Patterson and Ireland visibly relaxed their stranglehold to let them reach a barely-deserved 86.

The last Irishman to p4ay at the Copenhagen Ball Club was Van Morrison and it is a fair bet he hit, more good notes than the early Irish batsman who struggled on an unaccustomed surface of matting on rolled shale. Decker Curry has the strength of arm to overcome such obstacles and found the boundary five times in his 44 after opening partner Andrew Patterson had fallen to a catch at square leg.

Justin Benson, later to claim his, third win as captain, seemed bemused by the gentle off-spin of, Sajjad Ahmed and hammered a full toss straight back at him. There then followed a curious stand of 56 between Angus Dunlop and Neil Doak, two young batsmen who looked in control but were unable to force the pace against bowling that was indifferent at best.

It was left to Derek Heasley to ease the worries of coach Hendrick with a rapid 42 and Ryan Eagleson joined in the fun towards the end, with two massive, straight hit sixes.