The stands were busy but a sparsely populated pavilion betrayed a belief among MCC members that England would wrap up a quick kill. As it was, the hosts were made to toil for their latest victory, secured well into the second half of the FA Cup final and underlining why a nation holds its breath over the fitness of Ben Stokes.
Mark Adair and Andy McBrine were the source of this English frustration on a sun-drenched third day, coming together before the lunch break and sharing a seventh-wicket stand of 163 from 165 balls that restored some Irish pride. An overall record for their country, the alliance was packed full of impish fun and had both men dreaming of a place on the honours boards.
