The weather struck again at Malahide, when a huge deluge forced play to be abandoned during the tea interval, and it looks increasingly likely that no further play will be possible even tomorrow, such was the condition of the outfield.

f that is the case, both sides will receive just 3 points, with once again the vagaries of ICC playing conditions conspiring against Ireland. After the debacle of the Bermuda game last Sunday, they are now in the ludicrous position of being penalised for getting some cricket played in this match. As it looks increasingly likely that there will be no play in the 4 day game between Scotland and Kenya, both teams will get 10 points for not having bowled a ball, and Kenya will leapfrog Ireland in second place.

Ireland were held up on Day 3 by a 6th wicket unbroken partnership of 89 between Sunil Dhaniram and Geoff Barnett, who batted in contrasting styles to frustrate the Irish attack. Dhaniram was the more fluent of the two, hitting 12 fours and a six in an unbeaten 70 from 90 balls.

Barnett dropped anchor, and after scoring 11 runs in the opening over of the day, went completely into his shell. He was 35 not out, from a very painful to watch 153 balls, scoring at one stage just 2 singles in 18 overs play. Pretty it certainly wasn’t, but hugely effective in the circumstances.

The day had begun brightly for Ireland, with Peter Connell taking the early wickets of Qaiser Ali for 2, caught low down by McAllister, and shortly after Kandappah was brilliantly caught by the outstretched hand of Andrew White at 3rd slip for 5.

At 52 for 5, it looked a mere formality for Ireland to wrap up the first innings lead, but credit to Canada for their battling rearguard action.

Ireland were hampered by the loss of Andre Botha who was forced from the field with a combination of ankle and finger injuries.

The best they can now hope for is a first innings lead if any play is possible on day four, and for Scotland and Kenya to get started. Both scenarios seem unlikely, and they now must force one win at least in their away trips to Namibia and Kenya in October if they are to have the chance of defending their InterContinental Cup crown.

Day 3 Scorecard

Ireland Vs Canada
1-Innings Match Played At Malahide, 07-Aug-2008, First Class InterconCup
Round 677
Toss won by Ireland
Umpires C McElwee (Ireland) , S Prasad (Singapore)
Comment 677/13
4 day match 7-10 August
Close:
Day 1: No play
Day 2 Canada 31-3 (G Barnett18*, Quaiser Ali 2*)
( A White 101 131 balls 12x 4)
Day 3 Canada 141-5 (53 overs, G Barnett 35*, S Dhaniram 70*)
 
Ireland 1st Innings 326/6 Declared (Overs 88)
Batsman Fieldsman Bowler Runs Min Bls 4s 6s
PR Stirling lbw b S Dhaniram 40 109 88 4 0
R Strydom lbw b S Thurasingham 33 72 68 4 0
AD Poynter c Umar Bhatti b S Welsh 23 107 92 2 0
AC Botha   b S Faridi 6 30 19 1 0
AR White not out   109 219 144 14 0
KJ O'Brien c Qaiser Ali b S Welsh 75 117 97 9 4
DT Johnston   c&b; E Katchay 5 4 5 0 0
WK McCallan* not out   17 16 14 2 0
FP McAllister+ dnb   -        
GJ Thompson dnb   -        
P Connell dnb   -        
extras   (b8 lb9 w1 nb0) 18        
TOTAL   6 wickets for 326        
 
FOW
1-64(R Strydom) 2-88(PR Stirling) 3-104(AC Botha) 4-142(AD Poynter)
5-296(KJ O'Brien) 6-301(DT Johnston)
 
Bowler O M R W wd nb
S Welsh 23 5 89 2 - -
E Katchay 12 0 45 1 1 -
S Thurasingham 13 5 29 1 - -
S Dhaniram 17 3 48 1 - -
S Faridi 17 1 83 1 - -
Qaiser Ali 6 0 15 0 - -
 
Canada 1st Innings 141/5 (Overs 53)
Batsman Fieldsman Bowler Runs Min Bls 4s 6s
GEF Barnett not out   35 182 153 4 0
R Gunasekara run out WK McCallan   0 15 12 0 0
Mohammed Iqbal c AD Poynter b WK McCallan 18 33 36 3 0
S Faridi   b WK McCallan 0 1 1 0 0
Qaiser Ali c FP McAllister b P Connell 2 12 14 0 0
A Kandappa c AR White b P Connell 5 13 13 1 0
S Dhaniram not out   70 105 90 12 1
Umar Bhatti+ dnb   -        
S Thurasingham* dnb   -        
S Welsh dnb   -        
E Katchay dnb   -        
extras   (b0 lb10 w0 nb1) 11        
TOTAL   5 wickets for 141        
 
FOW
1-3(R Gunasekara) 2-27(Mohammed Iqbal) 3-27(S Faridi) 4-46(Qaiser Ali)
5-52(A Kandappa)
 
Bowler O M R W wd nb
P Connell 12 4 33 2 - -
KJ O'Brien 6 4 5 0 - -
WK McCallan 20 6 53 2 - -
DT Johnston 11 4 16 0 - 1
GJ Thompson 4 1 24 0 - -

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