As usual MCC underrated the Irish team at Lords and lost by an innings. The game was to have been against the Gentlemen of England but difficulties were encountered in getting the best players out so early in the season and this match v Gentlemen of MCC was substituted. In future it was suggested that the game should take place later in the season. Five games had now been played v MCC at Lords and 4 had been won with the remaining one drawn. Negotiations for this game and the following one v Surrey were inaugurated by Mr. JT Harford, the Secretary of Phoenix CC and of the Gentlemen of Ireland Committee. He was considerably assisted in London by the Earl of Bessborough (Hon. F Ponsonby) who had played for Ireland in 1855.

The match was a fiasco because of the bad weather (it was the wettest summer on record), dead ground (Lords was a quagmire) and the indifferent cricket of MCC. Nothing however can take from the hospitality shown by the MCC towards the Irish players. MCC had only 4 players who were anyway well known. GF Vernon was a Middlesex batsman who in 1982-83 went to Australia with the Hon. Ivo Bligh and played in one Test Match. In 1887-88 in conjunction with the Melbourne Club he took his own team to Australia - clashing unfortunately with a similar venture by Shaw and Shrewsbury. J Robertson was one of Middlesex's most successful bowlers in 1879. JS Russel had played for Ireland v United South of England XI in 1869 and was now a regular player with MCC. EJC Studd was the elder half brother of the famous Studds of Cambridge and Middlesex fame - he was a good hitter as he proved in this game.

For Ireland H Hamilton was unable to play in this game (he played against Surrey); W Hone Jnr. had broken his arm and was not available; others unable to join the touring party were GD Casey, GStJ Colthurst, H Considine, FG Kempster, G Macan and JAC Penny. In spite of these defections a strong XI was put in the field. Newcomers were W Vint, the North of Ireland all rounder, RManders, the Dublin University Captain and AJ Fleming who, for a five year period, was the best batsman on the Irish team. Between 1879 and 1884 he played six games scoring 268 runs in 9 Innings (twice not out) averaging 38.28 - a figure few who had played at least 5 games exceeded. His work in a Bank prevented him playing after 1884. His innings of 4 in this match was his only single figure innings for Ireland. W Alexander played in this game under the name of "J Williams".

Both sides completed an innings each on the first day, and Ireland had a lead of 123 runs. N Hone won the toss and he and DN Trotter opened the innings. Robertson (round arm) and Major Thompson (a veteran underhand bowler) opened the bowling. They made no impression and with Trotter driving and Hone cutting 30 was up in 20 minutes. Shadwell and Vernon (slow) were tried and at 50 Parkes and Hill came on. All was to no avail and 100 was up in 90 minutes - the first ever opening century partnership for Ireland. Both players then gave sharp chances to short leg but at lunch the score was 140 for 0. "The game was, as usual, greatly influenced by the interpolation of MCC hospitality". First there was a near run out, then Trotter gave a catch to point which an EM Grace might have held. The 8th bowler tried was Studd and he had Hone caught at mid-on. 161-1-87. At 175 Trotter was caught off Robertson for 77. The dismissal of the opening pair and the discovery of Studd as a bowler made a vast difference. Wickets fell quickly to Studd and Robertson and JH Nunn, at no. 8, made the only other double figure score. His was a lively innings with straight 6's to both the Pavilion and the Nursery. From being 161-0 Ireland were all out for 236. A hot sun on the damp wicket had made batting difficult as the day wore on. Robertson took 5 for 94 in 57 overs and Studd 4 for 37 in 16 overs. The ground had begun to fill up in the afternoon and Horace Rochford, Hon F Ponsonby (Earl of Bessborough) and WG Grace were there.

At 4 40 Russel and Studd went in to face Hanna and Exham. As in the Irish innings the opening partnership was the best of the innings. The pair put on 36, then Nunn replaced Hanna and at once bowled Russel for 9. Exham, bowling very well from the Pavilion end, quickly bowled Parke (47-2-1) then Studd and Fulcher took the score to 70. Nunn then bowled Fulcher and Exham bowled Vernon for 0. 70 for 4. Shadwell helped to add 28 before Exham bowled Studd for 52. It was a hard hit innings and only for him MCC would have done very badly indeed. The rest gave little trouble to Exham and Hanna (who had come on again) and 5 minutes from time MCC were all out for 113. Exham had 7-49 in 40.2 overs - all clean bowled. The night was very wet and a new wicket had to be cut on the 2nd morning if the match was to be finished. As it was rain fell in a drizzle throughout the MCC 2nd innings. Play began at 12 20 and by 2 30 MCC, who had had to follow on, were all out for 82. Exham and Hanna bowled 28 overs each unchanged. Exham (6-44) bowled particularly well and disposed of any opposition who had any pretensions to defence. Of his 13 wickets in the match 10 were bowled, one LBW and one caught and bowled. This match was no real test for Ireland as MCC were well below the standard of I Zingari teams to Ireland.