Another defeat which might have been closer or even a victory. ECB made 103 in 25 overs for one wicket. They could only score another 110 in the second half of the innings. This was chiefly due to the off spin of White whose first real bowling stint this was. In reply Ireland reached 50 for no loss after 17 overs; were 74 for two after 25 but totally lost momentum scoring 14 runs in the next 10 overs to put themselves out of the match.

The day started overcast but warm and the sun shone in the afternoon. The pitch was not as good as the previous day's but it was perfectly all right. Ireland were unchanged and once again lost the toss. ECB had some new names in their team. The left handed Amos and Bryson opened for ECB to Mooney and McCoubrey. Both openers got 50 or more and the first wicket put on 93 in just over 23 overs. Amos hit four fours in a three over spell and raced ahead of Bryson who was the sheet anchor. Amos was lucky when, on only nine, he snicked McCoubrey between wicket-keeper and slip for four. He gave another chance to Rutherford, when 40, off Dwyer. The latter bowled well as usual. His first six overs cost only 16 and he had Amos LBW in his seventh. Amos had got to 50 three balls earlier and was out for exactly that score at 93 in the 24th over.

Foster replaced Amos and the score rose to 117. Then Foster found Bryson bearing down on him after a push on the off side. Dunlop threw to Rutherford who threw to Dwyer with Foster well short. 117-2-2. The left handed Howitt with Bryson put on 33 and saw 150 up with a four to Bryson in over 38. This brought Bryson to 70. He was out next ball. White was bowling his fifth over and Bryson carted a long hop to Archer at deep mid wicket. 150-3-70. Bryson faced 105 balls with six fours. Cooke and, particularly White, kept ECB's scoring rate to reasonable proportions until the end and five more wickets fell.

At 158 Howitt played over White and was bowled. Boroughs and Halsall were now together. At 165 Halsall gave Cooke a difficult caught and bowled chance. At 176 Boroughs drove White to McCallan's left at mid-off and he took a good catch. Six runs later Halsall danced down the pitch to White and was caught at the wicket. The wicket-keeper, CM Mole, marshalled the tail and was 24 not out at the end. 200 was up in over 48. Then, at 202, Parkin was caught at the wicket and at 211, in the last over, Pennett was caught by Dwyer at long on. The 50th over from White gave away only two runs. White bowled the last 10 overs at one end and took four for 37. Dwyer had one for 27 in 10 and these were the best bowlers.

Barry Archer

McCallan and White opened for Ireland to the fast medium pace of Carruthers and Pennett. Six came in the first over, 29 in 10, and 41 after 15. 50 was up after 17. Foster came on for the 21st over. White clipped his fourth ball to mid-on who caught at the second attempt. White made 12 off 46 balls with only 10 scoring strokes. In the next six overs 23 were scored of which Gillespie made 16 and McCallan seven. Then McCallan tried to nudge Foster to third man and was caught at the wicket for 30 in 78 balls.

The next eight overs put Ireland out of the match. Gillespie and Joyce could only raise 11 runs from Foster and Sharp. In over 33, at 85, Joyce was run out for five. There was a shout for LBW, Joyce started a run and was rightly sent back but could not beat the wicket-keeper's direct throw from silly mid-off. Dunlop was LBW next ball despite a good forward stride. The match was now over for Ireland - 129 was not on in 17 overs.

Gillespie and Archer could not increase the pace by much, 100 not arriving until over 39. The rate then increased with 13 in over 42 including a six to Archer. In over 45 Archer played on for 30 in 45 balls. Mooney pulled across the line of off spinner Parkin at 150 and Gillespie was run out trying a second run to mid wicket at 167. His 59 took 79 balls with three fours but his first 30 took 61 balls. Pennett returned to take the last three wickets. Cooke was bowled, head up at 168 and Dwyer met a similar fate when he missed the next ball. McCoubrey was caught at mid-on on the final ball of the 50th over. It is hard to explain or justify Ireland's tactics from over 20 (51 for one) to over 35 (88 for four). Ireland could only manage eight fours, half of ECB's 16.

Bryson's 70 won him Man-of-the-Match. Four of England's five bowlers conceded two or three runs per over.