Pressure on Irish bowlers

CRICKET: IRELAND'S BOWLERS will have their work cut out on the third day of their Intercontinental Cup clash against a Zimbabwe XI after the home side closed on 175 for three at the Harare Sports Club last night.

That still left them 290 adrift of Ireland’s first-innings score and 141 runs shy of the follow-on target as the batsman continued their dominance of affairs on day two.

Trent Johnston was the only Irish bowler to have any success, taking three wickets for 30 runs from 13 overs.

With Ireland’s three spinners failing to garner much turn, coach Phil Simmons will be hoping Andre Botha will be able to bowl today after the North County all-rounder picked up a hand injury during warm-ups that required three stitches.

The wicket of Seán Williams may well prove to be key after the left-hander finished the day unbeaten on 88 after sharing in a second-wicket stand of 100 with Steve Marillier, who made 47 runs.

The quality of the wicket had earlier helped Ireland post a first-innings total of 465, with 293 of those runs coming from the last five wickets.

Andrew White duly completed his fifth international century, and fourth in the competition, before departing for 102.

That ended an 86-run stand with John Mooney, who would go on to make a very valuable 87 batting at number eight, including a 75 run stand for the ninth wicket with George Dockrell (30).