Excellent batting by Niall O'Brien, Ryan Haire and Dom Joyce helped to steer the Ireland Development X1 to a well-deserved though facile 145-run victory over a disappointing (English) Midland Conference side at Claremont Road yesterday. O'Brien was well on the way to his century when he was run out, but his fine 90-run knock was hit off just 94 balls, and included two sixes and 10 fours.

He was well backed up by Haire, who scored his 67 off 63 deliveries, hitting one six and seven fours in the process, while Joyce's 51 came off 82 balls and included two fours. The Midland Conference fielding was woeful, be it said; later, the fact that some of their players slept soundly while their team-mates were batting may have been an indication of revelry the previous night.

The only Midland batsmen to make any sort of an impression were Nigel Davenport and Peter Stevens, who had knocks of 28 and 25, respectively, as they put on a face-saving 67 runs for the fifth wicket. But thereafter the inevitability of Ireland's victory made the proceedings look like the sleep-walking scene in Macbeth, though without the frisson of any fear or terror.

O'Brien looks a real prospect; apart from his batting, he kept wicket well and conceded just three byes, one a leg-bye. The teams - with several changes in Ireland's line-up - meet again tomorrow at the Civil Service club's ground in Belfast.