Rankin shines but Irish unable to wrap up early victory
(WorldNews Sport)

When the Ireland team turned up at Malahide yesterday morning, they had high hopes they would have a day off today, having completed a comprehensive Intercontinental Cup win against the Netherlands. The maximum points victory may still happen but it will need a much improved bowling performance on the final day after the Dutch closed the first innings deficit to 102, having started the day 337 runs in arrears. Ireland have already lost four wickets in the rush for quick runs in their second innings but with a lead of 269 they are surely in a position from which they will not lose the match - but that was never the objective; nothing less than 10 wickets today will suffice. Boyd Rankin was...