At The Mardyke, MCC beat Munster Heat by 136 runs.

MCC 259-7 (40 overs; James McCollum 75, James Mumford 71, Charlie Fernandes 47; Usman Sherzad 2-16, Muhammad Shabir 2-27)

Munster Heat 123 (26.2 overs, Zubair Khan 27, Preston Searra 22; Paul Ryan 3-24, Connor D'Arcy 2-0, Joe Prendergast 2-20, Charlie Fernandes 2-22)

MCC got their Southern Ireland week tour off to a perfect start with a commanding 136-run victory over Munster Heat at The Mardyke after a dominant all-round display.

The visitors were in early trouble after winning the toss, reduced to 41 for 3 thanks to sharp opening spells from Usman Sherzad and Chimnay Shine. However, Charlie Fernandes counter-attacked impressively, striking five boundaries in a fluent 47 to steady the innings and shift the momentum back towards MCC.

Once Fernandes departed, former Irish international James McCollum and James Mumford took complete control. The pair added a superb 140 runs in just 16 overs, punishing anything loose and accelerating rapidly through the middle stages. McCollum blasted 75 from only 50 deliveries, clearing the ropes five times alongside five boundaries in a powerful innings. Mumford provided the ideal support, compiling an excellent 71 featuring seven fours and a six as the Munster attack struggled to contain the relentless scoring.

Late contributions from Jack Tector, who finished unbeaten on 17, and Diarmaid Tucker with 10 not out helped MCC close on an imposing 259 for 7 from their 40 overs.

Munster Heat needed a fast start in reply and briefly threatened through Zubair Khan, whose brisk 27 gave the chase some early impetus. But wickets fell regularly after his dismissal and the innings gradually lost momentum. Preston Searra’s 22 was the only other notable contribution as MCC’s bowlers tightened their grip.

Veteran spinner Paul Ryan led the way superbly with 3 for 24, while Joe Prendergast, Charlie Fernandes and Connor D’Arcy all claimed two wickets apiece to bowl Munster Heat out for 123 in 26.2 overs.

The sides meet again on Tuesday looking for a different outcome.