ALASTAIR COOK celebrated his call-up for the first Test match against Sri Lanka with an immaculate display that would have been the master of a far better bowling attack than Ireland’s mix of honest toilers.

The Essex opener lost Ronnie Irani, his captain, who played on in the second over, but shared in a second-wicket partnership of 163 with Grant Flower that denied Ireland a sniff of adding to last Sunday’s win over Gloucestershire.

The quiet, unruffled way that Cook, the 21-year-old lefthander, goes about his business is most impressive. Two shots that he played wide of extra cover’s left hand, first off the back foot and then the front, were sublimely timed yesterday. Cook also drove powerfully square of the wicket and had 12 fours in his 91 not out when Essex reached their target with six overs to spare.

The game ended in bright sunshine and Ireland can claim to have been unlucky in losing the toss for the fourth time in as many Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy matches, and finding themselves 20 for three after a late start on a damp, gloomy morning.

Eoin Morgan and Andre Botha repaired the innings with a partnership of 79, but the care necessary to combat early movement off the pitch meant that a challenging total was always beyond them.

Morgan was caught pulling to give Ryan ten Doeschate the first of his four wickets and Botha fell for 64, the top score of the innings, trying to press on as Ireland accelerated towards the end of their 43 overs.