Day 1:
The opening day of the match between Scottish and Irish elevens produced some interesting, if not very exciting, cricket yesterday at Dublin. The weather was blustery and unsettled looking, but fortunately held up throughout, though a scorching sun on a wicket that had suffered from the heavy rain of the previous day left matters none to easy for the batsmen.

J.M. Meldon, who was elected to act as captain of the Irish when O. Andrews proved unable to play, won the toss, and took first use of the wicket. S. Ross and Hone started the innings against the bowling of McNab and Webster, with Chalmers behind the wicket.

Hone was speedily dismissed on a soft catch by Chalmers, but Ross played with confidence, and brought the score to 50 with George Meldon in half an hour. Chapel and Lockhart then tool over the bowling, and at once disaster began to befall the Irishmen, Lockhart's "googlies" especially proving extremely difficult to play.

Ross was held off his first over by Chapel, a fine catch at mid-on, for 25. Chapel had G. Meldon leg before a few runs further on, when he seemed well set, and then Lockhart had Lambert and Pollock in quick succession, half the side being out for 72. With Morrow out 20 runs later, Lockhart had four wickets for 7 runs.

Louis Meldon played the freest cricket, but after he had been smartly held in the slips by the Scottish captain, the innings quickly closed for 142. Lockhart in all had five wickets for 31 runs, and Chapel had three for 46.

The Scottish bowling and fielding had proved very satisfactory, but the batting broke down before the Irish attack. Balfour-Melville and Anderson opened to the bowling of Kelly, an old Oxford blue, and Ross. The latter was bowling a difficult ball, but could not get wickets, while Kelly met with success from the start.

With his first ball he bowled Balfour-Melville, and dismissed Tait before he had finished the over. Anderson and Hole struck up a useful partnership, but it took half an hour to make 14 runs. At 35 Kelly bowled Anderson with a ball that broke back tremendously. Hole batted steadily close to an hour for 20.

Ninety minutes were occupied in putting on 50 runs. Wickets began to go more cheaply, but Thorburn and Chapel made a useful stand for the eighth wicket, and put on 27 runs, 20 of them from Chapel's bat. Lambert and Harrington proved the most useful change of bowling at this stage, the former taking Chapel and Thorburn in quick succession.

Thorburn batted an hour and a half for 22. The innings then quickly closed for 107. Kelly had five wickets for 42, and Lambert three for 3. The Lord Lieutenant was present.

Day 2:
This match was continued yesterday at Dublin in broken weather. Only a quarter of an hour's play was had in the morning, and it was half past three before a resumption could be made, so that there was only about three hours' play altogether. Overnight each side had concluded an innings, with the net result that the Irishmen were left with the useful lead of 35.

Their restart against the bowling of Lockhart and Chapel was not encouraging, two wickets down for 10 runs. The dismissal of Pollock, who was first out, was caused by a fine piece of fielding by Tait at cover point. Ross cut the ball, as he thought past him and called on Pollock: but Tait snapping up the ball sent in a shot that hit the wicket before the North of Ireland batsman could get home.

Ross, from the start, played with the greatest of confidence, but for a time met with small support, G Meldon, Lambert, and Hone all failing to make much stand against Lockhart, and four wickets were down for 66. However, when Morrow joined Ross a capital partnership was instituted, both batsmen playing Lockhart with the greatest freedom.

Morrow's second scoring stroke was a hit to leg clean out of the College Park and through a shop window on the far side of Nassau Street, one of the biggest hits ever made on the ground. The pair put on 51 runs for the wicket, and then Hole, coming on to bowl, got Morrow's wicket. Ross looked like accomplishing his century, but when he had reached 89 Lockhart beat him. Ross batted two hours without the offer of a chance, a very free punishing innings, with three 6's, six 3's and two 3's in it.

Next in merit was the innings of Louis Meldon, who played rapid and attractive cricket, his 47 including seven 4's. Two and a half hours actual play saw the innings brought to a close for 205. Lockhart had six wickets for 76 runs. The Scotsmen requiring 241 to win, had a quarter of an hour's play before stumps were drawn, and lost two wickets, Chapel and McNab for 4.

Day 3:
Play in this match was continued at Dublin in fine but unsettled like weather. Overnight the Scotsmen had left off with eight wickets in hand and requiring 237 to win. An interesting day's cricket was looked forward to. The wicket had been considerably cut up by the previous two days' play and proved very tricky.

Chalmers, the not-out man, resumed, and was partnered by Balfour-Melville. Kelly started the bowling, and had a 4 hit off him by Chalmers. Lambert bowled from the other end, and with his first ball hit Balfour-Melville's stumps.

This proved to be the beginning of a bad collapse. Lambert, who was sending down a fast ball, and making the most of the broken pitch, apparently proved unplayable. Half the wickets were down for 16, and the whole side were out for 32, Lambert having the splendid analysis of seven wickets for 11runs, and Kelly three for 18.

Ireland thus won by 208 runs, and last year's defeat at Perth was fully atoned for.

(Article: Copyright © 2013 Cricket Scotland http://cricketscotland.com)