ANDREW BALBIRNIE scored an unbeaten 140 from just 110 balls as Ireland A cruised to a ten wicket win against the MCC at Malahide.

The Middlesex batsman has been in sparkling touch recently, and continued this rich vein of form in Irish colours, stroking 15 fours and 3 sixes as Ireland A made light work of their 236 target.

CIYMS and Northern Knights opener Chris Dougherty proved the perfect foil for Balbirnie, scoring an unbeaten 82 from 91 balls (9 fours) as the Irish raced home with 16.5 overs to spare.

Earlier, Irish paceman Peter Chase, playing on his home ground, was the pick of the attack, taking 5 for 39 to help restrict MCC to 235 for 9.

Andy McBrine (2-52) got the initial breakthrough in the MCC innings, dismissing former Irish international Reinhardt Strydom for 40, after he had shared an opening stand of 85 with top scorer Matt Cassar (61).

The next international action takes place at Stormont on July 23, when Ireland play Sri Lanka A in the first of three 50 over contests, while before that on Sunday, Comber hosts the latest round of the Newstalk IP T20 Trophy (11am).

At Malahide,

IRELAND A 236/9 (33.1 overs, A Balbirnie 140*, C Dougherty 82*)

MCC 235/9 (50 overs, M Cassar 61, S Naylor 40, R Strydom 40, P Chase 5-39, A McBrine 2-52)

IRELAND A won by 10 wickets.