Petrol $130, Hotel $ 298, Case of Peller Estate Ice Wine $313 watching Paul Stirling set the highest score in an Ireland ODI, priceless.
What a difference a day makes, yesterday's game was played in gloomy damp conditions, today's game in sunshine and heat. Paul Stirling on Monday put down a reaction chance to get rid of man of the match, Gunasekera. Tuesday Gunasekera put down a Stirling skier that would have ended his innings at 17.
Stirling went on to set a record Irish score for a one day international. His 177 from 134 balls included 21 boundaries and 5 sixes in an innings of power and exquisite stroke play. Quite simply is an absolute pleasure to witness.
Stirling dominated partnerships with Botha, Poynter, Jones and O'Brien. Just when thoughts turned to the possibility of joining Sachin Tendulkar and becoming only the second player in ODI history to reach 200, he mistimed a full delivery from Baidwan and popped an easy catch ironically to Gunasekera the man that dropped him early on.
Ireland's total of 325 beat the previous best ODI total of 308 also against Canada over four years ago, John Mooney played another entertaining quick fire innings of 25 which included one huge 6 over the grounds keeping facility.
Earlier Canada had won the toss and asked Ireland to have a bat, replacing Osinde, who was unavailable and Cheema, who cannot buy a run right now, although the first ball he received on Monday from Trent Johnston would have got just about anybody out, Kumar and Bhatti came into the side.
Canada set off in pursuit of Ireland's total with an eye on the weather and the threat of late afternoon thunderstorms and briefly threatened to make a game of it with the two hero's in Monday's win Gunasekera and Bagai batting full of confidence. But the introduction of Van der Merwe signaled the end for Canada. Understanding the state of the match and the weight of runs required he tempted and teased the Canadian middle order, Gunasekera tried one risky shot to many and was clean bowled and when Van der Merwe removed Bagai courtesy of an Eaglestone catch the game was effectively settled. Van der Merwe duly completed his first five wicket haul in an ODI.
Ireland were very good in the field particularly Andrew Poynter who patrolled the square boundary like Pat Jennings, nothing got by him, and took two excellent catches. Ultimately it was Paul Stirling's day, he has taken a liking to September in Toronto, last year he scored two century's for the Ireland Under 19 side, but this was the best of all.
Rob Quin
