The nine hour plus drive from Boston to the Maple Leaf Cricket ground some 25 miles North of Toronto, via the spectacular sight of Niagara Falls allowed plenty of time for deliberation of what to expect from the Under 19 Ireland cricket team.

In recent years the production line of batsmen has been functioning without complaint highlighted by Joyce and Morgan and now Stirling the quality of run producers is proven. It is also a particularly rich time in Irish Cricket for wicketkeepers as a country we hit above our weight with glovemen.

Ireland has always produced good all round cricketers either batsmen who could bowl a bit or bowlers how could bat a bit. What has been harder to come by is the genuine strike bowler, last month we saw a truly majestic spell of seam bowling from Trent Johnston in the absence of Boyd Rankin through injury, but the former Irish skipper is fighting a losing a battle with Father Time and cannot be expected to reproduce such heroics long term.

Searching however for future help in the strike bowling department, on the South West Ground, of the Toronto complex would prove a futile exercise on a pitch that offered little assistance to Ireland 's opening seam attack, except for the odd ball that kept low, the PNG batsmen enjoyed the better of exchanges after the initial early overs.

Defending a quality total of 273 for 6 in which everyone contributed. Shane Getkate and Craig Young toiled hard without much assistance. Young did account for Tau with the score on 24, with a ball that clipped the top of off stump for a crucial opening breakthrough. With PNG threatening to dominate the bowling Ireland brought on Graham McDonnell in the 10th over, Siaka and Oala were enjoying themselves and had clubbed 42 in less than 5 overs, much to the joy of the PNG contingent.

McDonnell mixed his pace well and was rewarded in his first over when Siaka needlessly swiped across the line of straight one and Trevor Magee confirmed what ireland thought, 66 for 2. McDonnell brimming with confidence from a brisk 34 ball 62 not out that featured 11 boundaries, understanding the pitch and the opposition's willingness to attack, he accounted for Oala with a smart stumping by Poynter, and Ura lbw for 15 in a six over spell.

Those 3 wickets and quality innings earned the Pembroke young man undisputed man of the match honors. Sensibly Ireland, seeing PNG were more comfortable against the pacemen went to an all spin attack with introduction of Balbirnie who applied the break to PNG run rate, and it was the key dismissal of wicketkeeper Eno well caught in the deep by Getkate for 35.

Ackland and Dockrell mopped up the tail and Ireland were comfortable 73 run winners.

The win leaves the side will feeling better having dropped their previous match to a USA side that keep on winning, by scoring an impressive win over Uganda, Canada accounted for Hong Kong, and Afghanistan defeated Vanuatu in double quick time. Ireland play host nation Canada on Monday, as Sunday is a rest day for all, a win will surely see them planning for a trip to New Zealand early next year.