IRISH Universities participated in the Hone McGregor Trophy in glorious conditions in Fenner’s this week, but left with the wooden spoon after two four-wicket defeats.

The annual competition hosted by Cambridge University commemorates the first Irishman and Scot to win a blue. Ireland have won the Trophy on four occasions.

This year the Scotland selection were unable to travel but instead sent St Andrew’s University, who proved worthy of their place.

On Tuesday they came within 30 runs of shocking the hosts, and went one further against Ireland the following day.

Ireland were weaker than expected, missing Tim Tector and Harry Dyer through representative call-ups, and Fionn Hand through injury.

Tom Johnson of UCD and Leinster was the outstanding Irish player, making two scores over 60 and taking 3-40 against St Andrew’s. He showed the application needed to build an innings that was lacking elsewhere – he was the only player to face more than 35 balls in either match.

The Scottish uni also featured an Irishman, Anish Subramanian, who learned his cricket at Railway Union before moving abroad but retaining his Dublin accent. When he took the wicket of Malahide and UCD’s Matthew Langan he refused to celebrate, afterwards citing the precedence of footballer Declan Rice!

Openers Ashwin Rajesh (Dublin Business School and Tyrrellstown) and Karthik Anand (DBS and Clontarf) opened brightly, making 36 and 18 respectively, and Macdara Cosgrave (Trinity and Pembroke) followed with 26 before he trod on his own stumps.

Irish wickets fell frequently, with the desire to hit sixes costing several wickets, but Mark Tonge (UCD and Leinster) and Peter Forkin (UCD and Merrion) marshalled the tail to a respectable total of 235.

St Andrew’s reply was led by Arjun Patel, who has played Minor Counties for Hertfordshire for three seasons. He shared in an opening stand of 111 in 16 overs, laying the platform for a comfortable win. Patel’s 4-56 and 104 were the outstanding performances of the day but Ireland were kicking themselves to lose.

(from left, back) Rajesh Ashwin, Donnacha Tucker, David O'Halloran, Peter Forkin, Mark Tonge, Macdara Cosgrave, Ryan Smith, Rob Delaney (coach);
(front) Mikey O'Reilly (asst coach), Karthik Anand, Séamus Lynch, Cillian McDonnell (capt), Tom Johnson, Matthew Langan.

Ireland batted first again on day two, and the innings was almost a replay of the St Andrew’s game. Cosgrave (26) and Tonge (24) scored precisely the same number of runs, Forkin was not out for 20-odd, while Johnson again perished in the sixties.

Overall though it was a better batting effort, and the bowlers and fielders also upped their game against a very strong Cambridge side.

Séamus Lynch (TUD and Clontarf) scored a breezy 27 off 15 balls, his three sixes including a monster hit onto the solar panels on a nearby apartment block. Ryan Smith (UCD & Railway Union), Dave O’Halloran (Malahide and UCD) and Langan all played solid knocks before Ireland were bowled out for 266 with just one ball unused.

Opening bowlers Tonge and Cillian McDonnell (Clontarf and UCD) had two wickets down in the first eight overs for 46, but Freddie Kottler (80) and William Roxburgh (94) killed the game with a stand of 148 in 22 overs.

Roxburgh was held on the boundary by Lynch attempting to bring up a century with his third consecutive six off Donnacha Tucker (Trinity & Pembroke).

Overall, it was a disappointing series on the field for Ireland, who lost a game they should have won before being beaten by a superior side.

Irish Universities 235 all out (42.1) T Johnson 61, A Rajesh 36, M Cosgrave 26, M Tonge 24, P Forkin 20no; A Patel 4-56.
St Andrew’s 239-6 (Arjun Patel 104, A Muralitharan 51, T Johnson 3-40) 
St Andrew's won by four wickets.

Irish Universities 266 all out (49.5) T Johnson 65, S Lynch 27, M Cosgrave 26, M Tonge 24, P Forkin 23no; A Patel 4-56.
St Andrew’s 268-6 (37.3 overs; WH Roxburgh 95, F Kottler 80, D Tucker 2-45) 
Cambridge University won by four wickets.