Boje heroics in vain

Nicky Boje took four wickets as Ireland collapsed in Dublin

Nicky Boje spun Northamptonshire Steelbacks to a resounding victory over Ireland in Dublin, but his efforts proved in vain.

Northants secured the win they needed at the start of the day, but Leicestershire Foxes' victory at Oakham School means they top the Midlands group with Nottinghamshire Outlaws second.

Nottinghamshire and Northants both finish on ten points and four wins, but the Outlaws pip them by dint of their rain-affected win at Trent Bridge earlier this month.

Andrew Hall was the mainstay of the Steelbacks’ batting, with a gutsy 72 guiding his side to 205 after they had been reduced to 38 for three at Clontarf.

Ireland reached 30 without loss in reply, but then lost wickets at regular intervals and Northants skipper Boje ran through them with 4-12, leaving the home side 99 runs short.
After their heartbreaking last-ball defeat to Nottinghamshire on Sunday, Irish skipper Kyle McCallan won the toss and chose to field.

The decision was soon vindicated as Ireland claimed two quick wickets.

First to fall was Stephen Peters for five, caught by Paul Stirling off the bowling of West Indian Ravi Rampaul.

Niall O’Brien, the star of Ireland’s World Cup win against Pakistan last year, went for the same score as he nicked one behind to wicketkeeper Fintan McAllister.

Wickets continued to tumble as O’Brien and Alex Cusack claimed the scalps of David Sales (seven) and Rob White (six) to leave Northants rocking on 55-4.

But Hall dug his heels in and hit a succession of fours with Riki Wessels to steady the ship.

In their eagerness for runs Wessels was run out for 36 and Boje (four) went soon after being bowled by spinner Gary Kidd.

Hall finally went in the 40th over as he was deceived by the spin of Kidd, who finished with figures of 2-33.

Johan van der Wath contributed an important 29 not out off 34 balls while Lance Klusener (14) and Johann Louw (11) also put on some quick runs and get the Steelbacks to 205.

The hosts started patiently and put on 30 before Reinhardt Strydom lost his bearings and was bowled by van der Wath for 11.

Van der Wath grabbed his second wicket when he had Stirling caught by wicketkeeper O’Brien for just four.

James Hall (27) and Alex Cusack (9) steadied the ship to take the hosts to 64-2 before an avalanche of wickets put the writing was on the wall for the home side.

Van der Wath (2-21) and Klusener (2-20) chipped in as Ireland lost their last eight wickets for a pitiful 42 runs.