WORCESTERSHIRE Academy shared the spoils when taking on Ireland under 19s in a T20 double-header at Kidderminster’s Chester Road ground.

Ireland won the opening game by seven wickets but the home side responded with a six-wicket success.

It ended a week of cricket against the Ireland team incorporating red-ball, 50-over and T20 matches.

In game one Worcestershire opted to bat and were restricted to 109-8 in their 20 overs.

They lost wickets at regular intervals before Dan Holland gave the innings late impetus with 27 off 17 balls.

Holland also picked up a wicket and there was one apiece for Henry Marshall and Zain Ul-Hassan but Ireland reached their modest target with nearly six overs to spare.

The roles were reversed in game two with Ireland choosing to bat first and totalling 162-3 with Neil Rock hitting an unbeaten 82 from 57 balls and adding 118 for the second wicket with Marcus Poskett (61 off 49 deliveries).

Ul-Hassan bowled a tidy four-over spell of 1-27 and then the academy set about their task in an aggressive manner.

Holland hit a quickfire 28 and there were useful contributions down the order before Xavier Clarke played the major innings in sealing victory.

He made 54 off 32 deliveries with one six and five fours before he was run out after adding 57 with Alex Hinkley (29 not out).

The academy sealed their win with an over to spare.