Does the historic cricket pitch at Rathmines lie directly beneath a hole in the ozone layer?
The X-Files-like thought is prompted by the fact that last evening, for the second time in a couple of months, sun stopped play, as the batsmen and the umpire at the Rathmines end were rendered blind by the deadly rays. A halt was called, with the agreement of the rival captains.
Only five overs were lost and Ireland's remaining eight batsmen presumably lay a-bed last night considering the 255 runs they need to pull off a famous victory today, the third day of this first-class stand-off against Australia A.
Steve Waugh, cast in the role of visiting gun-slinger, is still there on eight and the redoubtable Stephen Smyth, his partner, is just seven runs short of his 50.
Ireland's second innings had started rather disastrously, with Jason Molins departing 99 runs short of his century, trapped leg before by Colin Miller.
Smyth and Kyle McCallan gamely put on 61 for the second wicket. In the course of the stand, Smyth smote two successive fours off Brendon Julian and later he blasted three more in succession off Bradley Young.
Earlier, Adam Dale had wreaked devastation on Ireland's batsmen, his six wickets for 43 helping to shoot the Irish out for a first innings total of 132.
Only Waugh (31), Molins (33) and Smyth (24) reached double figures and, no, there was no question of the follow-on being enforced.
When Australia A batted again, Julian was the top-scorer with an undefeated 60 - 71 balls, one six, seven fours - well supported by Damien Martyn with 43, not to mention some slack Irish catching or, more accurately, not catching. Paul Mooney and Gordon Cooke bowled very well for a brace of wickets apiece and Matt Dwyer picked up another to give him five for the match.
Michael Di Venuto's declaration at 169 for five set Ireland a target of 347 for a victory which seems, well, a little unlikely. Still, stranger things have happened - like the sun stopping play on two separate occasions at the same ground.
So wear oodles of sun block, when you turn up for the start of the third day's play at 11.30 this morning.
