Sean Terry’s ambitions to play senior international cricket with Ireland moved a step closer after he scored a record-breaking magnificent double hundred for Ireland A against their Scottish counterparts in Ayr.
The 24 year-old left his contract with English county Hampshire a year early to play his cricket in Dublin with YMCA and Leinster Lightning in an effort to forge an Irish career, and those hopes will have been boosted by a quite superb batting display.
Terry’s innings is the highest individual score for Ireland A – indeed it is the highest score in any Irish representative game – surpassing the 247 made by Nick Larkin for the Northern Knights and the 231 made by Ed Joyce for Ireland in the InterContinental Cup against the UAE at Malahide last year.
His unbeaten 251 from 287 balls contained 32 fours and 4 sixes, and allowed Ireland to rack up an imposing 400 for 4 on a day of toil for the hosts. His first 100 came in 123 balls (16 fours), with the second century taking a further 109 deliveries (13 fours, 2 sixes).
Terry came to the crease in just the third over of the day after Jack Tector – who scored a century against MCC last month – went early for just 2. Waringstown opener James McCollum added 79 for the second wicket with Terry, before being trapped lbw by Ali Evans for 23.
McCollum’s Northern Knights skipper James Shannon showed trademark determination as he and Terry shared a third wicket partnership of 103 in 172 balls. The Instonians batsman struck five boundaries in his 34 before he too fell lbw – victim to the impressive Safyaan Sharif (2-30).
There was to be no respite for the beleaguered Scottish attack as Ireland A skipper Andy McBrine joined the indefatigable Terry. The pair ploughed on relentlessly inflicting further punishment on the weary hosts.
They added 169 in a fourth wicket stand with McBrine striking 11 boundaries in a breezy 67. He fell just before the close of play – pulling Sharif to a grateful Haris Aslam at deep midwicket.
Terry though remained defiant, scoring boundaries at will in an incredible display of strokeplay and concentration in the sapping heat. Ireland may opt to bat on tomorrow (TUES) when Terry could have the opportunity to reach the magical 300 mark.
On this showing, who would bet against it?
SCOTLAND A v IRELAND A
At Ayr, Day 1 close
IRELAND A 400/4 (96 overs, S Terry 251*, A McBrine 67, J Shannon 34, J McCollum 23, S Sharif 2-30)
Continues Tuesday at 11am
Yes
Connaught
