Joyce, Mooney star in win over Canada

Ireland followed up their two-day drubbing of Canada with a fine victory in the limited-overs leg of the Intercontinental Cup at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Dublin on Monday.

Ireland followed up their two-day drubbing of Canada with a fine victory in the limited-overs leg of the Intercontinental Cup at the Clontarf Cricket Club Ground in Dublin on Monday.

The Candians' choice to bowl first promptly had them chasing leather, with William Porterfield and Ed Joyce adding 119 runs at a rate of more than five to the over for the second wicket.

Former England batsman Joyce looked set for the second century of his ODI career but was ultimately undone by debutant spinner Zahid Hussain for 88.

His departure, however, didn't offer the visitors any respite as Gary Wilson and Kevin O'Brien tucked into a slew of big hits. The wicketkeeper-batsman went all the way to 56 not out from just 36 balls, while the man who hammered England in the World Cup earlier this year cranked a quickfire 35.

Khurram Chohan (three for 65) was the chief wicket-taker for Canada, though copped plenty of expense. All three of his victims holed out in the deep in search of bigger, better strikes.

The reply was a feeble affair. An ODI best score of 50 from Usman Limbada was as good as it got, with Rizwan Cheema's 36 next in line.

Nitish Kumar (26) and Hiral Patel (20) had moved the pursuit off to a decent start, but Trent Johnston's regular blows and the introduction of John Mooney soon had the skids under the tourists.

The rest of the order were unable to stave off the consistent advances of Mooney and company, with the seamer eventually landing figures of four for 27. Lanky fast bowler Boyd Rankin, meanwhile, took his cue to bag the important scalp of Limbada.

The teams will meet for another ODI at the same venue on Tuesday, with the Canadians eager for improvement and the Irish chasing a fourth win on the trot in this year's edition of the Intercontinental Cup.