White and Dockrell help Ireland take bonus points

CRICKET:IRELAND WILL have their work cut out to gain full points from their opening Intercontinental Cup game over the next two days after a mixture of poor weather and a stubborn opponent saw the second day end with little to separate the sides.

Four runs to be precise, with Namibia wiping out the 54-run deficit on the first innings for the loss of one wicket, closing on 58 for one when rain forced the teams off at Stormont just after 5pm.

The fact that Ireland earned the six points on offer for a first-innings lead was down to the class and patience of Andrew White and youthful exuberance of George Dockrell, who added to his first international five-wicket haul on the opening day by recording a maiden half-century yesterday.

White made an unbeaten 123, with the pair putting on exactly 100 for the eighth wicket, and in the process bringing Ireland past Namibia’s first-innings total of 244.

It was White’s sixth international century and fifth in a first-class competition he has thrived in since its inception back in 2004.

Dockrell made 53 from 96 deliveries to underline his all-round qualities but his efforts are being matched by Namibia’s Christi Viljoen, who took five for 87 as Ireland were bowled out for 298, before almost single-handedly knocking off the deficit to finish the day unbeaten on 48 from 49 balls.

It was an innings in sharp contrast to opener Stephanus Ackerman, who faced 61 deliveries in his unbeaten seven.