The match began at 3:30 PM due to wet surrounds in the pitch area. It finished at 7:44 PM after three hours and 44 minutes actually playing time. Sussex were very determined to finish in one day and had the opportunity when Ireland won the toss and decided to bat under leaden skies - a brave decision. R Lamba came in for C McCrum and for the first time in 11 of these matches Ireland played an unqualified player. Johnston replaced O'Reilly. Cohen was to replace Dunlop but at the last minute this was reversed. Cohen was going to New Zealand on what could have been the second day of the match so no risk was taken. Other than DM Smith, injured in the West Indies, Sussex were at full strength and included, as their unqualified player, Dodemaide, the Australian Test all-rounder.

The pitch was good, flat, dry and quick by Irish standards. Sussex were aggressive from the start. The 72 runs took 49 overs which were bowled in the fast time of eight minutes under three hours. Only five fours were hit, 4 by Warke 1 by Smyth. 4 of these boundaries were off leg-spinner Salisbury who bowled five overs for 19 runs. A second legspinner, Clarke, who was quicker, bowled 10 overs for 6 runs. 23 of the 49 overs were maidens. Dodemaide's 6-9 in 11 overs won him the Man-of-the-Match Award from Geoff Pullar, the former England opening bat.

Pigott (eight overs) and Dodemaide (five overs) started to Lamba and Dunlop. The latter, perhaps, should not have been catapulted into opening and played on to Dodemaide's first ball. 1-1-1. Lamba and Rea added eight in 27 minutes. Then Lamba tried to glance Dodemaide and was bowled behind his legs. In the meanwhile a couple of sharp chances were dropped. CM Wells came on for Dodemaide. Rea was next to go, caught behind off one that lifted a little from Pigott. 18-3-5. Next over Wells bowled Lewis.

Tea came after 15 overs and the score was 22-4, with Warke and Smyth in position. These two held out for 11 overs from Wells (who bowled five successive maidens overs) and Salisbury. They added 28, mostly off Salisbury. Then Dodemaide came back. Warke played forward, the ball lifted and was caught at square leg. Warke batted for 64 minutes and faced 49 deliveries for his 22. Harrison and Smyth added 11 in 10 overs. Then Lenham, an occasional bowler, got both in successive overs. Both were caught, Smyth for 15 scored in 70 minutes and Harrison, at the wicket, for 3. 61-7. Dodemaide was recalled for the 41st over and in three overs he mopped up the tail by clean bowling Jackson, Nelson and Johnston.

Sussex went in at 6:52 PM and in 15.1 overs got the 73 required. McCrum and Johnston bowled seven overs for 37, Nelson and Harrison 8.1 overs for 36. 50 was up in 9.1 overs. Light was offered but refused. At 58 Gould (26) lofted Nelson to Lamba at fine leg. Parker came in and the match finished on a Harrison wide at 7:44 PM. Lenham got 41*off 43 balls with 4 fours. It was a comprehensive defeat. After it history repeated itself. In 1985 Ireland made 39 against Sussex at Hove. In the next round Sussex went to Glamorgan, made a small score and lost. In 1990, in the second round, they went to Cardiff. Glamorgan made 283-5. Sussex were 229-2 with 10 overs left. In 5.5 overs more they were all out for 249!.