THE Irish Schools, after securing a lead of 17 runs on the first innings, let their best chance of beating the English Schools slip through their fingers at Ormeau yesterday.

England declared their second innings closed on 208 for 9 leaving the home side a target of 192 for victory.

But the innings flagged on the run in, with two unfortunate run outs primarily responsible and the innings folded on 186 in the last over.