But Nevil Road was staging an England v West Indies one-day international the following day - and the ECB granted special dispensation to delay the game.
He was so keen to work out how British magician John Nevil Maskelyne was doing his levitations, that he went to the show several times - armed with binoculars.
Admitting that it was a borderline decision, Birkenshaw took into account some poor batting and the fact that the Nevil Road surface played better as the game progressed on day two.
And his attempts to pick up a few more on Friday will be monitored by ECB pitch inspector Jack Birkenshaw, who is due to return to Nevil Road for the second day's play.
Daniel Niculae added Romania's third and although Edmond Kapllani pulled one back for Albania, Romania countered with further strikes from Niculae, Ciprian Marica and Dica, who registered his second with a penalty after Nevil Dede was shown a second yellow card for fouling Marica.