CRICKET/C&G Trophy Scorecard: Alistair Cook celebrated his call-up to the full England side for this week's first Test against Sri Lanka with a high-class and unbeaten 91 that saw Essex get home comfortably against Ireland in Chelmsford yesterday.
With his side set a modest target of 194 to win, the promising left-hand opener gave a determined display, making sure he stuck around until the end.
His 91 not out came off just 106 balls and included 12 boundaries and it will give him plenty of confidence going into Thursday's Test at Lord's, where he will most likely bat at number three in place of injured England captain Michael Vaughan.
Although Essex lost the early wicket of captain Ronnie Irani, bowled by John Mooney without scoring, they never really looked in trouble during their chase. Cook and Grant Flower put on 163 for the second wicket, quietly milking the bowling and always keeping ahead of the run-rate.
Making his 17th appearance for Ireland but his first this year, Mooney took his chance well and was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 1 for 16 off five overs. His performance will have pleased coach Adrian Birrell who has been looking for a consistent performer to open the bowling.
But Essex were always in control of this match and even though Grant Flower was out before the end (bowled by the ever-reliable Andre Botha), his brother Andy saw the job through to register a good win for the home crowd to enjoy.
Following a delayed start due to rain, Ireland lost the toss and were sent into bat in difficult conditions. It did not take the Essex opening bowlers long to make the breakthrough and Ireland were in real difficulty on 20 for 3 at one stage with Dominick Joyce (16), Jeremy Bray (3) and David Langford-Smith (1) back in the pavilion.
Normally a useful tail-ender, just why Langford-Smith had been sent in to bat at three is anyone's guess. But after that, Botha and Eoin Morgan took stock and built a good partnership of 79 before Morgan was out, caught by Andy Flower off the bowling of Ryan ten Doeschate. Botha has been struggling of late with the bat but the North County man compiled a welcome 64 before being bowled by off-spinner James Middlebrook.
No one else got beyond 20 for Ireland, however, with overseas professional Shahid Afridi only making seven. Ten Doeschate ended with impressive figures of 4-49 and 193 was never likely to be enough as conditions improved for batting throughout the day. It was certainly a good toss for Essex to win.
Meanwhile, in Leinster's DGM 45 Overs League defending champions Clontarf are almost certainly out of contention to retain the trophy after sustaining their second defeat in Section C against Pembroke.
Also in Section C Leinster beat YMCA in a close game at Rathmines. Malahide and CYM were involved in a rare tie on Saturday although CY took the points having lost fewer wickets while The Hills beat Phoenix by three wickets in the Park.
Yesterday, Old Belvedere staged a marvellous run-chase to beat Rush by three wickets at Kenure. Elsewhere, Merrion beat Civil Service by four wickets, Railway Union had an easy win over Munster Reds and North County beat Dublin University by five wickets in College Park.
Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy
(Southern Section) at the County Ground, Chelmsford Toss: Essex
IRELAND
D Joyce lbw Palladino 16
J Bray c Cook b Palladino 3
D Langford-Smith c G Flower b Adams 1
E Morgan c A Flower b ten Doeschate 34
A Botha b Middlebrook 64
Shahid Afridi c Napier b ten Doeschate 7
P Gillespie c Cook b Middlebrook 7
K McCallan b ten Doeschate 20
J Mooney c Irani b ten Doeschate 14
Saqlain Mushtaq run out 13
T Johnston not out 0
Extras (3lb, 8w, 2nb) 13
Total (all out, 43 overs) 192
Fall: 17, 20, 20, 99, 107, 122, 149, 176, 182
Bowling: Adams 8-4-22-1, Palladino 7-1-21-2, Napier 5-0-25-0, Bopara 5-0-26-0, ten Doeschate 9-0-49-4, Middlebrook 9-0-46-2
ESSEX
A Cook not out 91
R Irani b Mooney 0 G Flower b Botha 61
A Flower not out 15
Extras (13lb, 9w, 4nb) 26
Total (for 2, 37 overs) 193
DNB: R Bopara, J Middlebrook, J Foster, R ten Doeschate, G Napier, A Adams, A Palladino
Fall: 0, 163
Bowling: Johnston 7-1-36-0, Mooney 5-1-16-1, Langford-Smith 5-0-28-0, Botha 6-1-25-1, Afridi 7-1-34-0, Saqlain 5-0-21-0, McCallan 2-0-20-0.
Essex won by 8 wickets
