CRICKET/FRIENDS PROVIDENT TROPHY:IRELAND SKIPPER William Porterfield produced a captain's knock and a half yesterday as Ireland chalked up their first Friends Provident victory in two years with a four-wicket win over Warwickshire at Stormont yesterday.
In just his fourth game leading his country, the 23-year-old from Derry batted for almost 44 overs for 69 as his side patiently chased down Warwickshire's total of 211 on a balmy day at the Belfast ground.
The Gloucestershire player frayed the nerves of the crowd when his 110-ball stay at the crease was ended by South African paceman Monde Zondeki, caught at gully by Jonathan Trott and leaving Ireland still 16 runs shy of their target with four wickets remaining.
Kevin O'Brien and Kyle McCallan were up to the task, with O'Brien hitting Zondeki for a huge six to wrap up victory with 19 balls to spare and a third victory over a county side in the competition.
Porterfield had his mind set on carrying his bat through the innings but the victory was all that mattered as Ireland handed Warwickshire their fourth straight defeat in the competition.
"I knew if I batted through, which I almost did, that we would win the game," said Porterfield, who hit seven fours in his three-hour stay at the crease. "I thought our bowling and fielding were excellent today and hopefully we can take that into Sunday's game against Leicestershire (11.0)."
If Porterfield provided the perfect anchor, Reinhardt Strydom and teenager Paul Stirling got the scoreboard ticking early on as Ireland got off to a flyer. Strydom hits a big ball and even had to call for a replacement bat after breaking his first one. He then proceeded to hit Zondeki out of the attack with a six and a four in his third over.
He went with the score on 49, trapped leg-before by Darren Maddy after hitting his 36 runs off just 30 balls.
Stirling showed yet again what a stunning talent he is, taking a break from his exams to give another lesson in how to look cool at the crease by hitting Maddy for back-to-back boundaries. The 17-year-old went for 27 after facing 31 deliveries, Trott taking a fine one-handed catch at short mid-wicket off the bowling of James Anyon to leave Ireland on 85 for two. All the while Porterfield was chipping away at the other end, his rock-solid technique perfect for the role as Ireland were well ahead of the asking rate.
Alex Cusack (16) and Gary Wilson (10) contributed their bit and there was always the feeling that Ireland had both the overs and batting depth to get over the line. Simmons had earlier handed left-arm spinner Gary Kidd his debut in the competition alongside his Waringstown team-mate McCallan. The pair were responsible for limiting the Bears to just over 200, sending down their 20 overs for just 55 runs when the visitors would have been looking to open their shoulders.
McCallan went for just 27 off his 10 overs, while Kidd was rewarded for his more aggressive approach, with the wickets of Ian Westwood and Luke Parker in the space of five balls. An 89-run partnership between wicket-keeper Tony Frost (54) and Michael Powell (46 not out) for the sixth wicket rescued the visitors after they lost their first five wickets for 93, but in the end their total was to prove well within Ireland's reach.
