Canada had come on a tour to get experience for the mini World Cup in England in 1982. Their team comprised 12 West Indians and two Canadians. The manager was K Gouvei who kept wicket against Ireland in Toronto in 1973. The visitors met the worst weather in living memory. They began in Dublin and lost a 50-over match to North Leinster and a 60 over match to the LCU President's XI (the only uninterrupted match out of nine). The match against South Leinster was abandoned. In the North West Canada both lost and won in rain restricted gains - both results on run rate. The first match against Ireland was at Downpatrick on 6 June but, it could not be played. The team for that match was the same as the team which played in this game. After the match against Ireland at Ormeau the match against NCU at Lisburn could not be played and only one innings could be played against the Leprechauns at College Park on June 9. Truly a disastrous period for rain.

The match at Ormeau got under way 75 minutes late. It was played in conditions which were dreadful but exceptions were made in order to give Canada some cricket. Ireland were put in to bat and could only muster 161 on the wet slow wicket and the sodden outfield. Canada bowled well and the fielding was good. Short and Warke began to the two left-handed bowlers, Hayes and Corbin. They stayed 75 minutes and put on 41 before Hayes bowled Short (26) in the 18th over. Deare replaced Corbin and had O'Brien caught for 0 in his first innings as captain. 44-2. Anderson partnered Warke to lunch, taken after 33 overs, with the score 82. At 89 Warke, playing straight and well, called a run and got run out for 33 - an excellent debut. Johnston played well for a while. He hit two fours in his 14 and was out with the total on 116 in the 51st over trying to force the pace.

Hakim had just bowled 12 overs of medium left arm for 15 runs so now Ireland had to get a move on. However, Deare had returned to bowl four overs. In the second of these he got Harpur (7) and Anderson (37) on successive deliveries - both caught. The score was now 125-6 in the 54th over. At 107 Anderson had been dropped at point when he was 31 off Neblett. Corlett and the youthful Jackson now added 24 valuable runs. Jackson hit Corbin for the only six of the innings and was out for 15 in the same over. Corlett was caught and bowled by Jones in his first over at 150. Elder was bowled at 155 and Hughes run out off the last ball of the 60th over. Jones (the bowler) had tried to run out the non-striker Halliday by turning and throwing at the wicket. He missed and a run was taken, scored as a no-ball.

Canada began to bat at 4:40 PM with Dipchand and Weatherspoon to the bowling of Corlett and Elder.Weatherspoon was LBW to Corlett in the first over. Dennis came in but rain stopped play at 7-1 after five overs. Tea was taken and play resumed an hour later. Conditions were now very bad but the bowlers and fielders struggled on for a further 10 overs. In these Dennis, playing brilliantly with risky strokes, made 41 out of 50. This included 7 fours despite a very wet outfield. At 14 Dipchand was dropped by Johnston at slip off Corlett. At 51, Dennis was caught at the wicket for 41. Chappell came in but after 15 overs conditions became too bad and the match had to be abandoned. It was agreed to judge a result providing Ireland could bowl 30 overs. Canada would have needed 81 and so were 28 runs short with 15 overs to spare.

Derek Scott