It didn't get any better for Ireland yesterday as they lost their second one-day game against MCC at Shenley by nine wickets, their total of 164 failing to cause even a ripple in this impressive host line-up.

North County all-rounder Conor Armstrong was given his international cap just before the game but that was the only sound of applause which the Ireland team enjoyed as they were dismissed in just 48 overs, and then toiled in the sun as Mark Richardson, the New Zealand Test opener, added another 77 to his 117 from Tuesday to beat Ireland into submission. At least he ensured they had only to field for 31 overs.

For the second successive day he shared a century partnership with John Bean, missed at longon by Armstrong on 30, but even that was not going to affect this result. The Ireland batting, albeit against improved MCC bowling, had seen to that and again they got off to a false start with Decker Curry chipping gently to mid-on in only the third over.

For 13 overs the runs flowed off the bats of Dom Joyce and Peter Davy but that was before Zander De Bruyn came on to bowl. In his first over he removed Joyce and then Davy ran two when his partner, Andy Patterson, ran one and another batting collapse was under way.

Kyle McCallan top-scored with 41 but he never looked permanent once Michael Jeh, the destroyer of the top order on Tuesday, came on. He was held back for the last 20 overs yesterday and along with De Bruyn set up another easy victory.

Ireland will try again today to make an impact on this mini series, but unless MCC change their batting order it looks a hopeless task.