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Ireland’s men were in action in Brisbane overnight, when they took on a Queensland Select team for the first day of a practice match ahead of their ICC Inter-Continental Cup match with PNG next week.
The squad did not go into the game fresh however, spending the weekend playing in a squad simulation match in order to recreate the effects of playing multi-day cricket in the heat and humidity of Australia.

Both sides are in a preparation phase, with Ireland looking towards their Inter Continental Cup match and Queensland looking at their re-starting Sheffield Shield campaign.

With that in mind, ahead of the game, both sides agreed the match would be 12 players per side, with only 11 allowed to bat, and that Andrew McBrine and George Dockrell would play in the Queensland side to allow the Irish bowlers more of an opportunity to get overs under their belt.

Batting first Ireland lost Paul Stirling (5) early in the day when he was bowled by Cameron Gannon (1-24). His opening partner William Porterfield (5) also fell inside the first hour as Queensland looked to take control during the first session.

Niall O’Brien joined Ed Joyce at the crease and the pair steadied the ship building a deserved 50-partnership before O’Brien, who made 26, fell to Australia international Ben Cutting. Approaching lunch it seemed like Ireland were set to go in as the happier of the two sides, but Simon Milenko found the top edge of Joyce’s bat to see him back in the Brisbane Grammar School pavilion for 35 just before lunch.

The second session proved more difficult for Ireland as the middle order struggled to get a foothold as James Bazley bowled an outstanding spell of 2-11 to put Ireland in a difficult position.

Ireland had planned to declare at tea regardless of the score, but their hand was forced when Tim Murtagh (20) was the tenth wicket to fall just before the scheduled break with Ireland on 155.

Queensland made a solid start with the bat, and scored 137-5 in the 37 overs remaining in the day. Craig Young picked up the wicket of Bryce Street (12) early in the innings, but his opening partner Scott Henry pushed on and reached 50 before he was caught behind from the bowling of Stuart Thompson.

He was partnered by Nick Stevens (33) for the majority of his half century, with both falling as Queensland lost three wickets inside eight overs a Ireland bowled themselves back into control. Paul Stirling picked up a wicket with the last ball of the day to leave Queensland five down, although they are just 18 runs behind Ireland’s total.

Boyd Rankin ended the day with the best of the figures for Ireland, picking up his first wicket since returning to Ireland’s squad, finishing the day with figures of 1-15.

The game will resume at 9am local time tomorrow, although there is rain forecast in the Brisbane area that could impact on the match.

Ireland XI v Queensland XI at Brisbane Grammar School
Stumps Day One

Ireland XI 155 all out (Joyce 35, N. O’Brien 26, Bazley 2-11, Granger 2-53)

Queensland XI 137-5 (Henry 50, Stevens 33, Rankin 1-15)

No
Connaught