The run feast on the first day (which was cold and overcast) was watched by an enormous crowd which produced a gate of £3000. They saw West Indies bat for six hours and score 584-6 off 107.4 overs, a record score against Ireland beating Scotland's 489 at Paisley in 1954. Two batsmen got centuries (not done in one innings since that 1954 match against Scotland) and four others exceeded 50 - another record. Two Irish bowlers, Monteith (0-132) and Halliday (0-123) had centuries against them without taking a wicket. Only W Harrington, 0-107 against Scotland in 1909 had such a bowling analysis for Ireland until this match.

Ireland brought back Corlett for Torrens; Warke was unavailable (he was getting married) and D Dennison replaced him. Then Ivan Anderson cried off with a sore back and DA Lewis, aged just 20 and son of Ian, was brought in for his first cap. Ian was 19 when he was first captain 1955 and he got nought in his first innings. Unfortunately Allen followed suit. Rothmans again sponsored the match, paying £4000.

West Indies came to the match after beating England by an innings in the first test at Birmingham. Richards, the great star, became ill during this test and was unable to come to Dublin and captain the team as was scheduled. Greenidge took over the captaincy. He and Richardson got off to a brisk start at 11:30 AM on a good wicket with even bounce. They put on 107 in 69 minutes. Richardson (26) was dropped by Lewis at mid-wicket off Corlett with the total at 47, a difficult catch coming over the shoulder. Corlett bowled for too long and spin was not introduced for an hour and a half. Prior to this Harrison dismissed Greenidge (54 with nine boundary fours) by dint of a tumbling catch by Dennison at third man. In the over before he was out Harrison saw Greenidge missed by Halliday at mid-on with the total on 97 - an easy catch, the first of three such put down in the innings.

Gomes came in and played in his usual calm way with cultured strokes. With the total on 144 Corlett had Richardson LBW for 78 in his 14th over. Logie came in and hit Corlett for a six. At 159 Halliday came on and was hit for 36 in his first four overs, 32 coming in four's. By lunch (taken after 130 minutes) the score was 207 off 38 overs, Gomes 27, Logie 42. The rate quickened afterwards and only Monteith, by far the best bowler, could stem the flow. 250 came up in the 48th over. At 278, Logie (80) was dropped by Prior at deep square leg off Halliday. He had reached 50 in 45 minutes and went on to 100 in only 78 minutes. After adding 203 with Gomes in only 109 minutes and 40 overs, Logie was LBW to Corlett for 129 scored in 109 minutes with 5 X 6 and 15 X 4. This 203 for the third wicket broke the record for a third wicket partnership against Ireland held since 1962 when JM Brearley and WR Endean added 186 unfinished for MCC at Lords.

After dismissing Logie, Corlett came off, and, surprisingly, did not bowl again. Prior was given four overs, in the third of which he had Dujon (15) LBW. Meanwhile Gomes had gone to his century in 163 minutes and showed no sign of giving up. At 401, when Gomes was 103, Harrison dropped him on a skier to mid-wicket off Prior. Tea came after 260 minutes and 81 overs with the score on 425-4, Gomes 131, Payne 11. After tea Ireland sent down another 26.4 overs off which 159 runs were scored. With the score on 474 Gomes (150) was dropped at mid-wicket by Corlett off Harrison. Almost at once Harrison was rewarded when Jackson took a grand diving catch at the wicket to get Gomes for 153 with the total on 478. Gomes hit 21 boundary fours and batted for 225 minutes.

Lewis bowled a tidy spell of six overs for 27 but then Harper "indulged" himself. He made 64 out of 106 and hit 7X6's, mostly off Monteith. He reached 50 in 39 minutes and 64 in 48. When he was run out at 584 West Indies declared leaving Payne 73 not out in 115 minutes with 10 fours. Six balls were lost and the crowd were well entertained even if it was felt that West Indies batted too long.

27 minutes remained in which time Small took two wickets. He had Dennison caught at slip off a nasty lifter with the total on 3 and Wills caught at the wicket off a poor shot with the score on 6. Halliday appeared as night watchman and played out time with Short. The score at close of play was 6-2.

When rain stopped play on the second day 80 minutes after the start Halliday was not alone still in but was 25 to Short 20. Small and Walshe were pretty quick and Halliday did extremely well. Short gave a chance to Greenidge at slip which was put down. Play resumed at 2:50 PM but there was a further 15 minutes break at 3:15 PM and almost at once another 40 minutes at 3:31 PM during which tea was taken. Still Halliday (43) and Short (25) were together and 36 overs had been bowled. This was Halliday's highest score for Ireland. He had hit six fours and deserved a 50 when he was snapped up at short leg by Dujon off Harper with the score on 87. West Indies were now trying new bowlers and the Irish batsmen became somewhat careless. Lewis swept at a Gomes leg break and was caught at square leg for 0.

Garner took a spell at reduced pace and had Prior (15) LBW with the score on 124. Short reached a hard earned and valuable 50 in 173 minutes. When 54, and the total 134, he lost concentration and was stumped off Harper. He had batted for 192 minutes and struck six fours. Monteith was stumped at the same score and at 139 Harrison gave Harper a hat-trick of stumpings. Greenidge came on and got Corlett at 154 but the last pair swung gaily at Greenidge. Each hit a six and they added 32 and were not out when the final 20 overs finished. Irish honour was saved before another good crowd (with a gate of £1400) who braved the rain breaks. There was no TV but in all a profit of about £1500 emerged.

Derek Scott