Ireland back to earth in Belfast

Claude Henderson took 4-30 with his nagging left-armers

Claude Henderson brought Ireland crashing down to earth as Leicestershire Foxes moved a step closer to the Friends Provident Trophy knock-out stages with a comprehensive win in Belfast.

Phil Simmons’ side were on a high after Friday’s shock win over Warwickshire Bears but they failed to shine with the ball on this occasion as former South Africa international Boeta Dippenaar hit a steady 69 to guide Leicestershire to 245.

Ireland faltered in reply, ex-Proteas spinner Henderson ripping through the middle order taking 4-30 from 9.5 overs as Ireland were skittled out for 164 inside 43 overs.

Skipper William Porterfield, who hit a match-winning 69 against the Bears, impressed again with 65 but could do little to stop the Foxes recording their fourth win.

West Indian seamer Ravi Rampaul got Ireland off to the perfect start when he sent Tom New’s off-stump flying with the first ball of the day.

Incoming batsmen Jim Allenby was the next to go for 18, mistiming Phil Eaglestone straight to Alex Cusack at mid-wicket as the Foxes slumped to 25 for two.

However, HD Ackerman fought back alongside Dippenaar as they took the attack to Ireland’s World Cup heroes Kyle McCallan and Kevin O’Brien.

Ackerman hit 54 off 101 balls before McCallan cleaned up the 35-year-old with the score at 105.

Ravi Rampaul removed Tom New with the match's first ball

Former England wicketkeeper Paul Nixon wasted little time stamping his authority crashing McCallan and Gary Kidd to the fence as he raced to 24 from 24 balls in the 35th over.

Dippenaar joined in bringing up his fifty in the 40th over before edging to Gary Wilson in the 43rd over.

Nixon quickly followed two shy of his half-century, before Jacques du Toit and Matthew Boyce (18) sent O’Brien twice into the stands.

Du Toit repeated the trick off O’Brien in the final over to end on 26 as the visitors posted 245.

Porterfield crashed Nadeem Malik into the fence with his first ball, but he lost his partner Reinhardt Strydom soon after, sent back to the pavilion edging Malik to Nixon for eight.

Youngster Paul Stirling also went, Dippenaar taking a smart catch off Malik as Ireland fell to 54 for two.

Porterfield and Cusack added 49 before left-armer Henderson made an immediate impact by ending the skipper's innings at 65.

Ireland lost three wickets for 20 runs as Leicestershire took control.

Wilson (five) and O’Brien (six) were sent packing by Henderson before confusion led to Cusack (23) being run out.

McCallan attempted to hold the innings together as the hosts got to 145 but their batting woes continued when Andrew White (12) was trapped leg before by Allenby and Henderson saw off Rampaul for a duck.

McCallan notched 26 as he and Kidd took the total to 162 but was left stranded when the latter holed out to Allenby and Eaglestone was run out for one.