This was Ireland's 400th match since the first played in 1855, and was the first against Free Foresters since 1957. It was played at a lovely school ground at Lancing, about 12 miles from Arundel where the touring party came on the previous day. Free Foresters had 2 Cambridge Blues in Bail and Buzza. Ireland were without Jackson, Rea, Harrison and Nelson. The latter two cried off (due to work) after selection and were replaced by ER Moore, the CYM left-arm opening bowler and AR Dunlop. Stewart Taylor, a 19-year-old slow left-arm bowler from YMCA was in the party of 13 players in this AIB sponsored (Sterling 5500) tour.

Heavy rain prevented play from starting until 2 PM but the close was extended from 7 PM to 8 PM. Ireland left Taylor and Moore out of the 13 and sent Free Foresters in under very damp conditions. Free Foresters had few problems after a slow start. McCrum bowled five maidens in his first 7 overs to Bail and Lawry. Lewis came on with the score at 14 and Hoey when it had reached 33. Dunlop replaced Lewis at 49 and 50 came up in 17.4 overs with all five bowlers tried. In his fourth over Hoey had Bail caught. 57-1-31. PN Richardson was next. He made 14 in a 29 run stand before Hoey bowled him in his ninth over. Joined by RJR Clark Lawry was now only 27 out of 86 scored. When he was 36 he was missed at slip by Warke off Thompson who had come on for Hoey who changed ends. This was a crucial miss.

Angus Dunlop bowling

100 came up in 35 overs. Lawry went to 50 in two hours and then speeded up. Clark only made 5 of a 42 run stand before being bowled by Thompson. 128-3-5. No more wickets fell. In the remaining 19 overs before a declaration Lawry and Liddington added 84 runs of which the latter made only 23. Lawry went to his century in 194 minutes and was 113, scored in 199 minutes, at the declaration. He hit 17 fours. Hoey and Thompson bowled well. Lewis and Dunlop were expensive but McCrum's 10 overs cost only 19. On the slow pitch the ball kept low and scoring was not easy.

Tea was taken between innings. Free Foresters batted 61 overs but there was now only 78 minutes plus a minimum of 20 overs in the last hour remaining. This eventually translated into only 41 overs so Ireland had a big task. Warke and Cohen raced away against Makin and PD Richardson. Cohen was lucky. At 11, when he was 2, he gave a chance at the wicket in Richardson's third over.

After 12.5 overs 50 were up as Richardson's six overs cost 26. Holdsworth replaced Richardson but it was Makin who eventually caused the damage. In 29 balls he took 4 wickets. 74 was up in 16 overs when Cohen (23) was caught at gully. Smyth was LBW with the score at 79 and Lewis suffered a similar fate at the same score. In the next Makin over Warke, having made 52 in 97 minutes, was caught at the wicket with the score on 90. The last hour had begun with the total on 79-2 with another 134 needed. Warke was out in the fourth over of the last 20 with still 123 needed.

Paul McCrum bowling

Makin was at once withdrawn and the spinners Liddington and Buzza were given a bowl. This was probably to keep Patterson and Vincent interested in the chase. They did! In 12 overs between them they conceded 76 runs. Patterson and Vincent put on 82 in 38 minutes between overs 25 and 36. 7 fours and a six were hit and there was a lot of swift running. With 5 overs to go 41 were required. Vincent was out in the next over well caught at extra cover off Holdsworth. He had made 32 off 29 deliveries. 172-5-32. Next over - from Buzza - saw Patterson caught at short fine leg for 44 off 49 balls.

Dunlop was out with the score at 181 and Hoey at 185 but Thompson and McCrum saw out the remaining 10 deliveries. Ireland ended up 18 short of winning. Beautiful cut glass was won by Lawry (batting) and Hoey (bowling) as Men-of-the-Match. Hoey was perhaps lucky to win his award over Makin who took 4-49 in 14 overs - the top four batsmen.