Date-stamped : 17 Jul95 - 18:27 Tour match: Ireland v West Indies Dublin, 15 July 1995 West Indies dent Irish ambition - David Townsend IRISH cricket is in danger of taking itself seriously, with the appointment of a national coach, Mike Hendrick, and eyes firmly set on qualification for the next World Cup. This may not be as outrageous as it sounds: Ireland finished seventh in the last ICC Trophy and, with Hendrick directing operations, can hope to improve enough to secure a top-three fin- ish in Malaysia in 1997 and an invitation to play with the big boys. Qualifying is one thing, competing would be another, and yester- day at the tiny Castle Avenue ground in north Dublin, West Indies demonstrated the gulf between full and associate ICC membership, scoring 306 for four with ridiculous ease. Shivnarine Chanderpaul opened up with a century off 81 balls, Keith Arthurton fluently struck 94 not out and Richie Richardson, the captain, continued his return to form with 57, including three sixes in an over off another manifestation of Ireland`s in- tent: full time northern development officer Garfield Harrison. Ireland did famously beat West Indies in 1969, dismissing the tourists for 25 with the assistance of a wet wicket and even wetter hospitality tent. Chanderpaul and Stuart Williams wasted no time in bettering that mark, however, against enthusiastic young seamers Ryan Eagleson and Mark Patterson. Neil Doak, the off-spinner, ended the partnership with a long hop which had Williams caught at deep midwicket. A crowd of around 3,500 gave Brian Lara a warm reception, but there were sighs of disappointment 11 balls and nine runs later when the star attraction clipped a return-catch to Doak. Lara`s previous trip to Ireland produced only four runs in 1991, leaving one or two local wags wondering what all the fuss was about. Rain at tea-time, allied to the Irish Cricket Union`s decision to stick with tradition and play a "timed" rather than "overs" match gave Ireland the chance to escape with a draw. But as Alan Lewis, the Irish captain, said before the game: "If they get 350 and we finish on 120 for seven who are we kidding?" Lewis and Hendrick are united in their opposition to "soft" cricket, but the captain`s initiative in changing an earlier one-day fixture against Lavinia, Duchess of Norfolk`s Xl to an overs format remarkably brought calls for his resignation. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)