The first day's cricket was dull and was enlivened only by a partnership for the seventh MCC wicket between Taylor and Serrurier. Up to then a very weak Irish bowling side (Dixon was a last-minute defection) had been on top, assisted by smart fielding. Ingram opened the bowling and kept at it for 20 very accurate overs. He had Brooke lbw for a duck and he got Pataudi for 11. Taylor and Morkel then put on 55 in 30 minutes before Covington, a Harrow schoolboy, caught Morkel in the slips off Parry, making a welcome reappearance after five years. Ingram got Scott and Garland-Wells cheaply and with Baiss being caught off Pigot's bowling, 7 were down for 104. Serrurier came in and hit hard while Taylor defended. Ingram had a long rest and did not return until 184 were on the board. At 200 Ingram caught Taylor magnificently in the slips off F.Hall after Taylor had scored 87 in 2½ hours. Serrurier went on hitting and reached 50 before being out. The innings closed for 239 soon after tea. The bowling was at times anything but deadly. However Ingram and Pigot did very well and returned good figures. In the 50 remaining minutes Ireland lost four wickets for 36 runs in bad light and misty rain. Pigot kept his end up and was 26 not out overnight.

Rain ruined the second day. Only 105 minutes play was possible but this was sufficiently long for the MCC to have the satisfaction of enforcing the follow-on. Rain fell all morning and a new wicket had to be prepared before a start could be made in the afternoon. Again only Pigot batted confidently on the resumption. First in and seventh out the Phoenix man played with great confidence for his 45. Morkel was too much for the other Irish batsmen and the total was only 118. In the follow-on two wickets were down for six runs, both to Homan, and one of them, Pigot, for a duck. Then rain came on again and finished the game.

Derek Scott