Ireland warmed up for Tuesday's one-day international with England by crashing to a seven-wicket defeat against leaders Sussex.
England may be without the injured Andrew Flintoff in Stormont this week, but the Irish batting line-up will need to dramatically improve after Sussex bowler Luke Wright claimed four wickets in Clontarf.
Dominick Joyce will be hoping for better when he goes head-to-head with brother and England new boy Ed Joyce on Tuesday, lasting just two balls against Sussex before being trapped lbw to Jason Lewry.
Ireland's disastrous start with the bat continued as they were quickly reduced to 10 for three.
Wicketkeeper Jason Bray was dismissed leg before in the second over, this time off England discard James Kirtley, before William Porterfield chipped a simple catch to Robin Martin-Jenkins at mid-on off the same bowler.
Andrew White and Peter Gillespie steadied the Irish innings with a partnership of 71, before two quick wickets saw the hosts in deep trouble.
Gillespie hit a succession of well-timed off-drives, which included seven fours, in his 89-ball half-century.
However, the dismissal of White for 26, trapped leg before to Wright, followed by Trent Johnston getting caught lbw off the same bowler for just four from four balls saw Ireland struggling on 86 for five.
Gillespie desperately tried to haul the Irish innings towards a respectable total, but his eagerness to manoeuvre Pakistan off-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed eventually ended in tears as he became the fifth home batsman to be trapped in front of his stumps.
Kevin O'Brien was tamely given out leg before for 23 from 35 balls, including Ireland's only six of the innings, before Kyle McCallan and John Mooney came together and dragged their side above 200 with an eighth wicket partnership of 74.
McCallan made a stunning 41 from 43 balls, while Mooney hit a run-a-ball 34 in just 11 overs.
Mooney was eventually bowled going for a big shot off Wright, while Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq went one ball later, caught behind off England reject Matt Prior, off the same bowler.
Sussex raced to 40 off just four overs in reply, with opener Richard Montgomerie and one-time England pinch-hitter Prior getting off to a flying start.
Prior was eventually bowled for 19 by Johnston with the score on 40, trying to pull a full-length delivery through mid-wicket.
While Ireland's batsman did not get the rub of the umpire's green, with six players falling lbw, Sussex's top-order enjoyed a charmed life.
Former England star Chris Adams survived a huge lbw shout, before being given not out after it appeared he nicked a Johnston delivery behind with the score on 69-1.
Montgomerie took advantage of the lightning fast outfield to put on 130 with Adams for the second wicket.
Adams was eventually caught behind by Bray off the bowling of O'Brien for 65, which included seven fours and two sixes.
Zimbabwean Murray Goodwin was trapped for just two by Johnston, leaving Sussex on 176-3. Despite the late-innings wobble, Montgomerie held his nerve alongside Michael Yardy to bring up a deserved century.
The 34-year-old finished unbeaten on 108 off 112 balls, while Yardy made just 12 from 20 balls as Sussex completed the job in 37 overs.
