Andrew Balbirnie scored 88 for Ireland
It would be harsh to say the Ireland batters carried their T20 World Cup form into this four-day game against West Indies Academy but there was a rusty look about most of the players on their return to red-ball action.
The team achieved their objective of batting out the day — they take a lead of 197 into day three — but that was largely due to a chanceless seventh-wicket partnership of 109 between Andy McBrine and Fionn Hand, neither of whom were in America.
Captain Andrew Balbirnie top scored with 88, thanks to a missed chance in the gully on 27, Harry Tector survived a huge caught behind appeal but was caught at second slip for eight and Paul Stirling should have been stumped and then caught off successive balls when he had scored just two.
Stirling added another 30 before he was lbw playing a reverse sweep and Lorcan Tucker was caught behind for one.
James McCollum, who shared an opening stand of 119 with Balbirnie, boosted his healthy first-class average of 34 and Curtis Campher looked most comfortable of all before he was caught low at slip after a 93-minute stay.
McBrine was leg before 20 minutes before the close for 64 from 127 balls but Hand resumes today having already scored his maiden first-class 50.
Scores: West Indies Academy 200 (56 overs, T Bishop 69; M Humphreys 5-57, C Campher 3-12) Ireland XI 397-7 (A Balbirnie 88, A McBrine 64, F Hand 61 not out, J McCollum 40, P Stirling 32, C Campher 25).
Resumes Thursday at 10.30am.
