CRICKET:KEVIN O'BRIEN huffed and puffed with all his might but was unable to blow Nottinghamshire's new-look house down as Ireland cruelly fell one run short of taking the Outlaws' scalp yesterday.
Chasing 242 for victory, O'Brien's barnstorming knock had given Ireland an outside chance of a second Friends Provident Trophy victory of the season. Having required 83 from the final 10 overs, some fine batting between O'Brien and skipper Kyle McCallan (26) in a 69-run partnership for the sixth wicket meant Ireland needed 16 off the last over, with O'Brien and debutant Fintan McAllister at the wicket.
O'Brien scampered for two and a single to move to 83, while McAllister did his job by getting the Railway Union player back on strike. O'Brien then launched Darren Pattison towards the mid-wicket boundary, but the gusting wind held the ball up, a four meaning Ireland required eight from two deliveries. Another two meant Ireland's biggest hitter needed to clear the rope for the second time in his innings.
But Pattison held his nerve, cramping O'Brien for space as his shot ran along the ground for a four to leave Ireland an agonising run short of a memorable victory and O'Brien on 93 not out off just 75 balls.
Reinhardt Strydom was Ireland's other big contributor with the bat, scoring 49 before Andy White, on his 100th cap, called a suicidal single to deprive the North County batsman a first half-century for Ireland.
Earlier, Ravi Rampaul ensured Ireland again got off to the best possible start, bowling Will Jefferson with the second ball of the match after McCallan had won the toss. The West Indian, aided here by the backing wind at the Pavilion end, bowled his best spell for Ireland.
He struck again in the seventh over, McAllister taking the catch behind to get rid of Mark Wagh for 10.
A routine slip catch from O'Brien gave Rampaul his third, Matthew Wood departing for 11 as Nottinghamshire were reduced to 22 for three in the ninth over.
The Outlaws had been in a similar position at Castle Avenue and yet again they were got out of jail by Adam Voges and Samit Patel. The pair put on 138 for the fourth wicket, with Voges top-scoring again with 82, while Patel made 75.
Ireland's Friends Provident campaign comes to a close tomorrow with a home tie against Northamptonshire at Castle Avenue.
SCORECARD
Ireland won the toss and fielded
Nottinghamshire
W Jefferson b Rampaul 0
M Wood c O'Brien b Rampaul 11
M Wagh c McAllister b Rampaul 10
A Voges ct Rampaul b O'Brien 82
S Patel c Stirling b Kidd 75
C Read not out 53
G Swann c Kidd b O'Brien 15
M Ealham not out 4
Extras(b1, lb2, w2) 5
Total(for 6 wkts, 50 ovs) ... 241
DNB:DJ Pattison, L Fletcher, C Shreck.
Fall of wickets:1-0, 2-17, 3-22, 4-160, 5-204, 6-210.
Bowling:R Rampaul 10-0-40-3; K O'Brien 10-0-52-2; A Cusack 8-2-32-0; T Fourie 5-0-23-0; G Kidd 10-1-48-1; K McCallan 5-0-30-0; A White 2-0-13-0.
Ireland
R Strydom run out 49
J Hall b Shreck 14
P Stirling c Read b Fletcher 1
A Cusack c Read b Patel 23
A White lbw b Fletcher 17
K O'Brien not out 93
K McCallan c Fletcher b Ealham 26
F McAllister not out 5
Extras:(lb3 nb2 w7) 12
Total:(for 6 wkts, 50 ovs) 240
DNB:T Fourie, R Rampaul, G Kidd.
Fall of wickets:1-48, 2-50, 3-91, 4-91, 5-134, 6-203,
Bowling:D Pattison 9-1-54-0; C Shreck 6-0-31-1; L Fletcher 10-0-41-2; M Ealham 9-1-36-1; G Swann 10-0-36-0; S Patel 6-0-39-1.
Nottinghamshire won by 1 run.
