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Steve Smith and Max Sorensen were the stars for the visitors and the hosts respectively as Australia A recovered from 139 for 6 to 248 for 6 when Day 1’s play was ended prematurely by rain.
A Steve Smith century rescued Australia A from a precarious position on the first day of their four-day match against Ireland at Stormont.

The Australia A vice-captain stroked a chanceless unbeaten 104 as his team finished a rain interrupted day on 248 for 6, having been 69 for 4 and 139 for 6.

Smith’s innings included 14 fours and a six as he rebuilt the innings following the damage inflicted by Max Sorensen.

Smith shared stands of 74 for the 5th wicket with Moises Henriques (47) and an unbroken 109 with James Pattinson (42*) for the 7th.

Alex Doolan impressed early on with a fluent 40 as the Irish bowlers took advantage of the helpful early morning conditions.

Sorensen (4-44) bowled both Nic Maddinson (6) and Usman Khawaja (0) early on, and then Trent Johnston (2-50) got in on the act to get rid of Doolan and Australia A skipper Brad Haddin for just 2.

Henriques played some positive shots, including one lofted drive for six off Alex Cusack, before chipping the returning Sorensen to Johnston at mid-on.

Peter Siddle who had made his maiden first-class hundred last week against Scotland, was dismissed for a duck this time, John Mooney taking a sharp chance in the gully to give Sorensen his fourth wicket.

Ireland will be hoping that the second new ball – due in eight overs time – brings the Australia innings to a quick conclusion when the match resumes on Saturday.

The full scorecard can be found by clicking here

Trent Johnston bowls his former New South Wales team-mate Brad Haddin 13 years after they took the field together as team-mates©INPHO/Presseye/Rowland White

Cricket Ireland
Max Sorensen bowled two super spells ©INPHO/Presseye/Rowland White
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