Nic Pothas blasted Hampshire to a solid start in their defence of the C & G Trophy - after refusing to eat duck the night before.

Superstitious Pothas smashed a brilliant 69 from just 74 balls as Hampshire beat Ireland by seven wickets, and with 16.2 overs to spare at the Clontarf CC in Dublin.

A few days after setting a new Hampshire record by taking seven catches in an innings, Pothas ensured that there would be no slip up - the night after enjoying a Chinese meal with his teammates in Dublin

He put on 135 in 22 overs with John Crawley, who finished unbeaten on 76 from 90 balls, including 13 fours, while Sean Ervine managed 31 from 35 balls before he was caught at mid wicket.

Dominic Thornely pulled a six with the first ball he faced in one day cricket for Hampshire, before Crawley hit the winning runs.

Captain Shaun Udal said: "It was a relief to see John Crawley and Sean Ervine get runs because they both had duck to eat the night before!

"But Nic didn't ... he's far too superstitious for that!"

Pothas hit ten fours and a square drive over point for six before he was trapped lbw in the 22nd over.

By then it was all over.

Most Irish eyes were turned to the Heineken Cup semi-final between Leinster and Munster three miles away at Lansdowne Road.

That match, and the absence of Pakistan Test all-rounder and ODI specialist Shahid Afridi from Ireland's side, ensured that the crowd would not threaten the ground record of 4,000, set when Bangladesh played the West Indies here in 1999.

Former Pakistan bowler Saqlian Mushtaq made his Ireland debut but his compatriot Afridi was back in his homeland.

The attendance was still 1,000 plus, most of whom seemed to be Hampshire fans still on a high following last year's C & G Trophy success.

They had plenty to cheer but not when Hampshire were conceding a monumental 49 extras (2nb, 26 wides, 1bye, 2 leg byes).

Poor Richard Logan, above right, will have wanted the ground to swallow him up during his only over.

The former Nottinghamshire seamer had been included at the expense of Kevin Latouf after taking more wickets than anyone during Hampshire's pre season.

But only one of his first six deliveries was legitimate and, after five wides and a no ball, a nightmare 12- ball over costing 16 runs eventually came to an end.

With the game live on Sky Sports, it was an excruciating ten minutes for Logan, who was promptly replaced by Ervine.

The Zimbabwean, still feeling his way back from knee reconstruction, was not expecting to bowl ten overs.

But he bowled his full allocation straight through for his 2-21 - before belting five fours and a six with the bat.

James Bruce, meanwhile, continues to impress.

He recorded figures of 4-31 on his v C & G Trophy debut, and Shaun Udal (0-26) bowled ten tight overs.

But while 31-year-old Jeremy Bray, a former Australia under 19 star, was putting on of 66 in 13 overs with fellow left hander Eoin Morgan for the second wicket, Ireland looked as though they might set a challenging total.

That was until teenager Morgan flicked an Ervine delivery straight to fine leg in the 19th over.

Five balls later, Andre Botha was brilliantly caught at short extra cover by Crawley, who flew to his right to catch Ireland's No 4 two-handed in mid-air.

It took a quick piece of thinking from Pothas to run out Bray in the 34th over.

The dangerman was eventually dismissed for a 97-ball 59 after hesitating as he returned for a second run.

His delay was fatal. Chris Tremlett threw the ball to Pothas but the wicket-keeper reckoned there was more chance of a run out at the bowler's end, where Udal removed the bails with Bray stranded.

Peter Gillespie was well caught by Greg Lamb at second slip in the next over and then Bruce returned to get rid of the tail in his second spell.

Shane Warne and Kevin Pietersen are both expected to be available for Hampshire's next C & G Trophy South Division match, against Essex at the Rose Bowl on Bank Holiday Monday.