CRICKET/Intercontinental Cup:The second day of Ireland's Intercontinental Cup match against Bermuda was an entertaining affair played out in the unseasonal heat of an Irish summer.
The home side compiled a formidable total, the aim to bat just once in the game.
There is always a tension between compiling an unassailable score and ensuring enough time to get the opposition out twice. Ireland batted on beyond lunch as Trent Johnston sought to go beyond 500. By doing so he has put his faith in the reliability of Met Éireann as much as the potency of his attack.
The left-arm spin of Bermuda's Dwayne Leverock, weighing in at around 20st, was rewarded with decent figures of 4 for 98 off 31 overs, head and shoulders above his colleagues.
William Porterfield, the centurion of the first day, moved on to 166 before being caught and bowled by Ryan Steede. His innings contained 21 fours and was his highest in Ireland colours. Johnston finally declared on the fall of his own wicket, the total of 524 just seven runs short of the highest total by an Ireland side in an international match.
Dave Langford-Smith's opening burst had a zip that has been missing since he was injured against Canada in May. He was rewarded with a wicket in his third over, with a ball that squared up Jekon Edness and took the edge, caught in the gully by Kyle McCallan.
Bermuda, in the form of Lionel Cann, countered in attacking style. The 34-year-old right-hander punished Langford-Smith, taking 15 off one over, including the first six of the game, back over the bowler's head.
Bermuda rattled along to 76 after 15 overs, with Johnston turning to the leg spin of Greg Thompson (19). It proved a good move as he removed Cann lbw in his second over.
With two days to go the match is well poised with the balance still well in Ireland's favour. Dismissing the visitors for less than the follow-on total of 375 will be their first target.
Scoreboard
Ireland v Bermuda
At Castle Ave, Clontarf, Dublin
Ireland first innings
W Porterfield c & b Steede 166
A White b O'Brien 5
A Botha c Leverock b Kelly 122
N O'Brien c Kelly b Leverock 39
K O'Brien c Cann b Steede 50
A Cusack c & b Leverock 27
T Johnston c Cellestine b Leverock 61
K McCallan c Edness b Leverock 21
T Fourie not out 6
Extras (b 1, lb 16, nb 9, w 1) 27
----
Total (8 wkts, 133.5 overs) ... 524
Did not bat: G Thompson, D Langford-Smith.
Bowling: G O'Brien 14-3-64-1, R Steede 27-6-100-2, M Jones 21-1-95-0, S Kelly 22-2-99-1, R Trott 9-1-27-0, D Leverock 30.5-5-98-4, I Romaine 9-3-22-0, S Outerbridge 1-0-2-0.
Bermuda first innings
S Outerbridge lbw Langford-Smith 53
J Edness c McCallan b Langford-Smith 8
L Cann lbw Thompson 23
J Cellestine c Cusack b McCallan 23
I Romaine c & b Thompson 28
R Trott c N O'Brien b White 18
R Leverock lbw Johnston 18
M Jones lbw White 4
S Kelly not out 2
R Steede not out 1
Extras (b 4, lb 2, nb 1) 7
------
Total (8 wkts, 49.3 overs) ... 180
Did not bat: G O'Brien.
Bowling: D Langford-Smith 12-3-40-2, T Fourie 7-0-44-0, T Johnston 8-4-14-1, G Thompson 10-2-36-2, K McCallan 16-11-14-1, K O'Brien 2-0-17-0, A White 3-0-9-2.
