THE FIRST DAY of Ireland's three day fixture with Wales at Rathmines produced very little to set the pulse racing.

Having been put in to bat on a slow surface with a generous covering of grass, the home side plodded along to a total of 283 for nine in front of a sparse attendance consisting mainly of close relatives of the players.

The main talking point of the day was the innings of Angus Dunlop, primarily because of its quality, but also because of the "unfortunate manner in which it ended, just one run short of what would have been his maiden international century.

Once he had settled, there was nothing about the way Dunlop batted that would have suggested a stumble at the last hurdle. His team mates had removed themselves from their vantage point in the pavilion in anticipation of him reaching three figures, as Adrian Griffiths brought his sweepers in to save one.

Medium pacer Barry Davies tried a spot of gamesmanship, aborting his run up, but it was all good natured stuff. Amazingly, Dunlop lunged too far at his next delivery and Steve Powell, who had been all thumbs in the preceding overs, whipped off the bails and it was all over.

Dunlop can take some comfort from having rescued the side from a sticky state of affairs at 37 for 3. Justin Benson was unfortunate to play Griffiths onto his stumps via his calf, Kyle McCallan nicked a widish delivery off the same bowler and Phil Melville trapped Declan Moore plumb in front, all in the space of 15 overs.

The situation demanded a cautious approach and so the next couple of hours dragged by as the Welsh, with four new caps, struggled to cash in on their early advantage.

Dunlop eventually got the measure of them. He was helped along by Garfield Garrison and Derek Heasley, a batsman more notable for effectiveness than for style.

Dunlop, on the other hand, moved serenely to his half century, being particularly fluent off his legs. When a direct hit from Mark Davies sent Heasley on his way, Alan Rutherford maintained the acceleration rate as the field spread far and wide.

Dunlop moved into the 90s by depositing Barry Davies over the wall at mid wicket but the bowler had his revenge a few overs later. The YMCA player had faced 185 balls in total, hitting 10 fours and that solitary six.

Once he was gone, the tail enders swung merrily as acting captain Justin Benson decided to wait until this morning to unleash his seamers with the new ball.