18 year old Paul Stirling recorded his third half century against county opposition, top scoring with a superb 80 against Leicestershire. That knock wasn't enough to stave off an Irish loss, but it did revive the spirits on a blustery day at Grace Road.

Irish supporters were given heart by a 110 run stand in 17.5 overs between Stirling and Kevin O'Brien (67*), after Ireland had slumped to 44 for 3 in an abbreviated 31 over contest. In the week that Ireland lost Eoin Morgan to England, there is genuine optimism that Stirling is the man to fill the void left by the Dubliner's defection.

Stirling's 80 came from 82 deliveries, and included 8 fours and 2 sixes, although he did have the benefit of two lives on 38 and 62, which he made the most of. He found the perfect partner in the powerful 25 year old O'Brien, who mixed watchful defence with a series of powerful booming drives. O'Brien scored his 67 at exactly a run a ball, and hit 7 fours and one mammoth six.

John Mooney had a delightful cameo 19 from 17 balls, as Ireland posted what looked could well be a match winning 197 for 5 in their 31 overs.

The real hope of a win soon disappeared as the brutal bat of former South African Test player Hylton Ackerman soon put Ireland to the sword. The scourge of the Irish - he also scored a hundred last year against them - dealt primarily in boundaries as he struck 16 fours and a six in a near chancless unbeaten 118 from just 87 balls.

He had a friend in James Taylor (48), and their second wicket stand of 107 in 16.5 overs provided the perfect platform for the run chase. Kyle McCallan (2-29) gave his team brief hope with the dismissals of Taylor and Boeta Dippenaar (1) in quick succession, but Paul Nixon (15*) joined Ackerman as they raced to victory with 2 overs to spare.