Irish knock over one day kings

Ireland have knocked over five times C&G Trophy winners Gloucestershire by 47 runs in Gloucester to record their first ever victory over county first class opposition away from home. Off spinner Kyle McCallum and overseas Pakistani test player Shahid Afridi took six wickets between them for just nine runs in 12 overs to complete the victory.

Earlier the Irish had struggled at 118-7, however a recovery led by Irish U19 World Cup player Eoin Morgan (40) and Afridi (36) follwed by a crucial61-run stand between Peter Gillespie (41no) and David Langford-Smith (34) ensured a respectable 193-9.

In reply, five times Trophy winners, Gloucestershire looked well set at 53 without loss, but two wickets for Andre Botha and one for captain Trent Johnston, saw Gloucester in trouble. The crucial wicket came with the dismissal of Australian International Ian Harvey, well caught by Dominic Joyce off Langford-Smith.

Gloucester then recovered to 124 for 4; however the introduction of Kyle McCallan and Shahid Afridi into the attack proved highly successful. McCallan picked up two wickets with his first two deliveries, after Afridi had made the initial breakthrough, having Gidman caught behind by Jeremy Bray.
Former Gloucestershire Development Manager and now ICC Regional Development Manager for Europe, Richard Holdsworth commented; "This is another great day for Irish cricket and in theircontinued preparation for the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007. After only one match in the new format C&G Trophy the Irish have defeated my old county and that's fantastic. It really shows the progress the team is making and I am very pleased for coach Adi Birrell and the rest of the players. Let's hope they can continue being competitive in the first season in county cricket".