Another defeat by Scotland was the result of the first Tournament match leaving Scotland with a two wins, two defeats as a final position. Ireland had one win and three defeats - the same as the E.C.B. XI (England) who finished last. Because Ireland beat E.C.B. Ireland were placed fourth. It was Ireland's eighth successive defeat by Scotland in cap matches in limited overs cricket.

Ireland faced 211 after Scotland won the toss and batted. At 61 for no wicket in the 16th over it looked like the dismal sequence might be broken but the pace slowed (112 for four in 36 overs) and wickets fell. The defeat was by twenty runs. Ireland left out Dwyer and Joyce and gave G.Molins and Carson their first game in the Tournament in a match in which only honour was at stake as the third and fourth places in the Tournament would be decided between the same Countries on the next day.

The day was pleasant with a breeze and played at H.C.C. where there was a defeat by Denmark two days previously. Patterson and Lockhart opened to Davy and Eagleson. There was no excitement in the first six overs and then Gillespie bowled two overs instead of Davy. 29 was up in seven overs and two fours in the 10th over brought up 40. Cooke came on for Gillespie and got Patterson who followed a slight lifter to be caught at the wicket. 41-1-19. The left-handed Parsons came in and 50 appeared in over 15. The 18th over, McCallan's first instead of Eagleson, produced the second wicket - a run out. Parsons glanced to Carson at short fine leg, called, was rightly sent back and was out. 59-2-9. G.Molins came on for Cooke in the 19th over and saw Smith dropped at the wicket. It was not an expensive miss as Molins caught and bowled Smith in his next over when the batsman pushed too soon. 61-3-1.

Stanger came in and there followed the best stand of the innings, 52 in some 14 overs. Lockhart hit three fours in a McCallan over and the score was 78 at the half way mark. 100 was up in over 30. In over 34 Lockhart (49 with seven fours) took a step to McCallan, missed and was bowled. 113-4-49. Davy came back for McCallan for the 38th over and he bowled to the end but at great expense (two for 68 in his 10 overs). In the next over, 39th, Stanger was dropped off Cooke by Bushe, a straight forward chance standing back. The score was 130. In 40 overs the score was 143. The last 10 added 68. In over 43, Davies nudged a straight ball to Bushe off Cooke. 160-5-17. In the next over Stanger went to 50 and Davy took a wicket. Williamson had got 12 in six balls when he was caught by Smyth running in and diving at long-off. 178-6-12.

Wickets fell in successive overs when Eagleson caught Stanger running in from long-on. Stanger's 57 came off 74 balls with seven fours. 188-7-57. Salmond fell at 188 when Eagleson running to his right at third man took a fine catch. 191-8-5. The ninth wicket fell two overs and 16 runs later. Sheridan backed up too far when Wright struck the ball back to Cooke. 207-9-5. The last ball of the innings accounted for Dyer - run out going for a two, Eagleson throwing to the bowler. Cooke's three for 44 was the best analysis but Molins (G.) bowled very well, his ten overs costing only 26. Eagleson, for some reason, did not complete his 10 overs having bowled eight for 22 runs. The Irish reply started in better style than usual, the new opening pair being J. Molins and the left handed Carson. Wright and Williamson started for Scotland. Despite Carson taking 11 balls to get off the mark 20 was up in six overs. With both players hitting fours (Carson got four in his first 18 runs) 50 was up in over 11. At 61 Stanger, in his third over, got Molins lbw fairly far down the pitch. 61-1-28 (five fours). Sheridan, slow left arm, came on for the 19th over. His third ball had McCallan advancing to a short ball which he never reached and lobbed to short mid-wicket. 73-2-6. Only four more runs were added when Carson cut at Stanger, without moving his feet, and was caught at the wicket. His 30 came in 57 balls.

Dunlop came in at number four and played an extraordinarily untypical innings. It was 20 balls before he scored. He was in for 50 minutes and made nine from 46 balls - all in singles. This allied to good bowling by Sheridan and Dyer (off spin) put a brake on the scoring from which Ireland never recovered. Smyth, at number five, did his best scoring 29 from 50 balls but the stand of 29 took 11 overs at a vital time in the innings from over 22 to over 33. Dunlop then went down the pitch to Sheridan and was stumped. 106-4-9. At that point 99 balls were left to score another 106.

Gillespie came next but lost Smyth in the 39th over. Sheridan was bowled out (two for 20). Wright returned. Smyth went to pull his second ball, stopped his shot, and lobbed the ball up at short leg which Wright ran up and caught. 121-5-29. Now 66 balls were left to score 91. Cooke came in and drove a four to extra-cover. He and Gillespie put on 41 in seven overs but it was now a hopeless task. Gillespie took 11 off a Wright over (the 41st). 73 were now needed in nine overs. Cooke gave a stumping chance off Dyer and in the latter's last over hit him for six over mid-wicket to spoil his figures (none for 30 in 10 overs).

Williamson came back for the 46th over and caught a high catch to dismiss Gillespie. 162-6-23. Eagleson made nine from eight balls and was bowled by Williamson in over 48. 178-7-9. Cooke was 34 not out at the end from 35 balls but the match was lost by 20 runs.

The mid innings lull from 61 in 15 overs to 109 in 35 overs, caused by Dunlop's inertia, brought defeat.

Derek Scott