Johnston issues rallying call

Ireland captain Trent Johnston urged his side to "bat Canada out of the game'' after the Intercontinental Cup champions took control on the opening day of the final at Grace Road.

Johnston won the toss and opted to bowl, and his decision was quickly proven to be the right one as the North Americans were knocked over for just 92.

Jeremy Bray (146) and William Porterfield (54) then shared a 202-run opening partnership - the highest in the competition's three-year history - to leave Ireland 250 for three at the close and with a commanding 158-run lead.

Johnston wants his team to continue batting all through tomorrow to put the match firmly out of Canada's reach.

"I'd say we'll bat yes,'' he said. ``They've had their chance first innings I think we'll bat and try to bat them out of the game.

"We're not going to give them a sniff in any way, shape or form so hopefully we can be still batting at the close of play.''

Johnston picked up four wickets for 12, with debutant Thinus Fourie the other main architect of Canada's downfall with three for 31.

"Thinus has been in Ireland now for going on seven or eight years, he's done his qualifications and he's only just come into the team now through injury,'' said Johnston of South Africa-born Fourie.

"He's put in good performances in club cricket back in Ireland. We know he's capable of doing that and that sort of wicket suited him.

"He comes in and hits the deck hard and it was fantastic for him to get a couple of wickets.''

Johnston acknowledged it was a crucial toss to win for Ireland, now under the guidance of former Leicestershire and West Indies all-rounder Phil Simmons.

He said: "We spoke about it, obviously it helps having Phil here who's played a lot of seasons as an overseas professional.

"With the rain around it was a good toss to win. We needed to get the ball in good areas and we did that and put them under pressure. We got them out for 92 which we deserved to do.''

Johnston also praised Bray and Porterfield for giving Ireland the perfect platform.

"The opening batsmen did a fantastic job,'' he said. ``The only low light is that we lost the three wickets in the last hour, but you'd take that!

"It's a great day for us and we've got to capitalise on that.''

Canada coach Andy Pick was understandably more downbeat about the day's events.

"The only positive really to take is the fact we took three wickets late on which would point to the fact we didn't pack up trying,'' said the Englishman.

"Tomorrow is a big day. We've got 18 overs to the new ball. If we can pick up another wicket or two in the morning then get the new ball and make use of that, that's one of the few things we've got to cling to at the moment before we go in and have another bat.''

Like Johnston, Pick admitted the toss was a key factor.

He said: "We would have liked to have won the toss, we'd have had a bowl. The groundsman suggested that would have been the way forward.

"They bowled well, they bowled a lot of balls in the right areas. We played a couple of bad shots but not too many - we were got out by some good balls.''

The Canada coach, who resumes his role as England Under-19 coach after this week's game, felt his side were always up against it against a confident Irish outfit.

"It was always going to be a difficult day,'' he said. "We're playing against a team who have been playing continuously now for seven or eight months.

"They're on the crest of a wave and playing their best cricket ever. They're ready to go and our guys have just come back off a seven-week lay-off in Toronto where there's no grass practice facilities or pitches available.''