For Combined Services A Buss is the 22-year-old Sussex pace bowler who has taken 111 Wickets for his County in the past three seasons; GG Tordoff is perhaps their best known player having gained a Cambridge Blue in 1952 as a batsman and later captained Somerset; Fenner, the captain, is also the wicket-keeper; MJ Osborne and K Haggett have played as amateurs for Surrey II and Gloucestershire II respectively; RA Collinge has bowled for Suffolk with distinct success and J Baskervyle-Clegg headed Eton's batting averages in 1959. Earlier in the season Cambridge University scored 302 to win in the fourth innings against the Combined Services.

On the first day the Services made 177 attractively and at a-run-a-minute rate - this is in spite of being 60-5. Tordoff and Haggett scored 30 quickly against Bernstein and Ferguson. Then the wicket began to kick and Tordoff, a left-hander, edged one to Finlay who took a good catch at second slip. 27-1-14. At 46 Osborne was LBW and Haggett caught at the wicket. At 54 Bernstein took his third wicket when he bowled Peck and at 60 Fenner was run out. Baskervyle-Clegg and Stevens retrieved the situation and at lunch the score was 80-5. The opening bowlers had bowled unchanged and they continued after lunch. The sixth wicket took the score to 107 when Finlay took another good catch to dismiss Stevens for 29 off Ferguson. Duffy came on for Ferguson after 17 overs but it was Bernstein who took the seventh wicket by having Baskervyle-Clegg caught at slip - another good one by Finlay. The former Eton player had made 35 in 70 minutes. Bernstein came off after taking 4-73 in 23 overs and Ferguson replaced him. At 140 Duffy bowled Buss for five and 18 runs later he bowled Collinge for 24. The last pair Stevenson and Meakin lasted 40 minutes and scored 19 runs before Ferguson bowled Meakin.

After an hour's break for rain McCloy and Bergin started against Buss and Collinge. 28 runs came in 51 minutes before Bergin edged one to Fenner off Buss for eight. Martin came in and made two before hooking a ball from Buss up into his face. He was forced to retire. McQuilken, 4, and McCloy, 24, played out the last half-hour and the closing score was 39-1.

The second day brought abominable conditions. There was a cold wind of some force, Low dark clouds, rain which varied from drizzle to downpour, and a wet ball and outfield. But for the admirable wicket covers, prompt work by the groundstaff, and a willingness to play on the part of Combined Services there would have been little or no play. The game started half an hour late. After 10 minutes there was a 45 minute break, but in the 45 minutes of play up to lunch Ireland added 33 without loss. 100 went up 25 minutes after lunch and McCloy reached his 50 with a square cut after just three hours at the wicket. At 107 he was caught at the wicket off Buss for 53.

The partnership with McQuilken added 79 in 115 minutes. In the next over Collinge bowled McQuilken for 42. Duffy and Finlay seemed well set when rain came on again at 122-3. Play was resumed 15 minutes before tea and at 126 Finlay was caught off his gloves by Haggett in the leg trap off Buss. Tea was taken at 127-4. The first two balls after tea accounted for Dineen, caught at slip, and Martin, who had resumed after his injury. 127-6. Duffy and Kirkpatrick added 21 when the former was caught at the wicket off Buss for 27. Ireland were still 29 behind when Ferguson came in and in 39 minutes 58 were added. Both Ferguson and Kirkpatrick played well and hit a tired attack - Kirkpatrick hitting 4 x 4 and Ferguson 6 x 4. With 10 minutes to go Buss struck again having Kirkpatrick and Bernstein caught at the wicket off successive balls. Fenner had thus made five catches behind the wicket. By the close Ireland were 207-9, which Ferguson 32 not out. Buss had bowled splendidly to take 6-44 in 35 overs.

The third day was a short one, starting at 11 AM and ending at 4 PM. It was too short to bring about a result, the task of scoring 174 in 110 minutes been beyond Ireland's ability. In 145 minutes before lunch the Services scored 203-8 off 50 overs. Tordoff and Haggett began but a lifting ball from Ferguson caused Tordoff to retire hurt at 17 with a thumb injury. Osborne and Haggett hit off the arrears of 30 in 46 minutes. Duffy and Kirkpatrick came on and then runs came very freely. The pair added 90 in 70 minutes and then Osborne was well held by Bergin at mid-off trying to drive Duffy. He had made a bright 54. Haggett and Peck added 22 in 11 minutes when the latter skied a catch to Martin. At 133 Haggett was run out for 41 attempting a second run to cover. In the next 11 minutes Baskervyle-Clegg and Fenner added 33 mostly off McQuilken whose first two overs yielded 18 runs. In fact McQuilken bowled 6.1 overs up to lunch and conceded 37 runs while taking the last five wickets that fell. The lunch score was 203-8 and the Services declared at lunch.

Ireland made no real effort to get 174 in 110 minutes. McCloy was out of seven and Martin caught at leg slip at 21. Bergin and McQuilken added 68 in 50 minutes. McQuilken made 37 after being missed at extra cover at 31. Just before the end Bergin reached 50 in 105 minutes and was at once caught hitting out at Peck's first ball. Next ball Peck had Ferguson caught and the match petered out with Ireland 106-5

Derek Scott