Gloucestershire experience overshadows Johnston

Gloucestershire 248 (North 77, Hardinges, Johnston 4-13) beat Ireland 63 (Johnston 22*, Greenidge 4-15) by 185 runs
Scorecard

Carl Greenidge tore through Ireland's middle order with 4 for 15 in their Friends Provident match against Gloucestershire at Dublin, in a comprehensive 185-run win, overshadowing a fine bowling display from Ireland's captain Trent Johnston.

Gloucestershire were progressing nicely with Kadeer Ali and Marcus North at the crease, before Johnston struck with a hat-trick to reduce them from 94 for 1 to 94 for 4. But North was joined by Mark Hardinges who, in just 67 balls, wrestled back the initiative with a combative 70 - cracking three sixes and seven fours.

Ireland were soon in desperate trouble with Ashley Noffke and Will Rudge nipping out the top four before Greenidge mopped up the middle lower order. Rather inevitably, if not appropriately, Johnston top-scored with a lone 22, remaining unbeaten at the end as Ireland capitulated to 63 in 21 overs.