Day 1:
This match, which is always looked forward to with great interest in Irish cricket circles, was commenced in College Park, Dublin. Following a severe thunderstorm and heavy rain on Friday, the weather was agreeably fine when Scotland, having won the toss, started batting with J. Kerr and J.D. Martin to the bowling of T.H. Dixon and J.G. Heaslip.

Runs came slowly. Neither batsman took any risks, and Martin was particularly cautious. Kerr, however, although sedate, was always ready to punish a loose ball, and the score mounted steadily until, with the total at 56, Kerr, in attempting a hit, skied the ball to mid on, and was out for a sound contribution of 36. It looked as if Kerr was in for his usual big score, and the Irishmen rejoiced in his comparatively early downfall.

On W.G. Nicholson joining Martin, a splendid stand was entered upon, and the pair defied the bowling. No fewer than seven of the Irish team were tried with the ball. Martin displayed wonderful patience, and completed 50 after three and a half hours play.

Nicholson played a fine innings and scored much faster than his partner. On resuming after tea Nicholson immediately completed his century amidst loud cheers, but a few balls later was bowled by Ganly.

He was at the wickets for two hours and a quarter and in a masterly innings, in which he gave no chance, he reached the boundary sixteen times. The partnership had yielded 137 runs, the score being 194 on Nicholson's departure.

C. Melville was next in, and when he had made two was bowled by Dixon. D.A. Mackay came next and batted in promising style, making a few good strokes, but when 32 runs had been added he was beaten by Heaslip.

A.K. McTavish joined Martin, who was still playing with marked restraint, and scored freely all round the wicket, getting some pretty strokes to leg, and quickly completed 50. He was the most rapid scorer, and his clean hitting was greatly to the liking of the spectators.

Three hundred went up when play had been in progress five and a half hours. McTavish continued to bat splendidly, hitting with great freedom, and no separation had been effected when stumps were drawn with the score at 322 for the loss of five wickets.

Day 2:
When the Scotland v Ireland cricket match was resumed at College Park, Dublin, yesterday, Scotland were in a comfortable position, having scored 322 for five on Saturday. A remarkable change came over the game, Scotland collapsing in a sensational fashion, the last five wickets falling in twenty five minutes for 18 runs. The innings closed for 340.

There can be little doubt that the wicket was more favourable to the bowlers yesterday, as the ball came faster off the pitch, but still it was difficult to understand how such a collapse should occur. Heaslip bowled with remarkable success on resuming and took four wickets for 5 runs, making his total five for 76.

McTavish and Martin faced Dixon and Heaslip, and McTavish added 8 before being bowled by Heaslip for a splendid 69 which included ten boundaries. His innings was by far the most attractive of the side. Craig, who followed, was bowled by Heaslip in the same over, and Baxter was caught at the wicket for 3.

Then Martin's wonderful innings came to an end, he also falling a victim to Kelly behind the wickets for 88. He was at the wickets six hours in all, and was at one stage of the game an hour at the wicket without scoring. Sievwright lasted to make 5, and was then bowled by Heaslip, this bringing the innings to a close.

Ireland started with Bookman and T. Macdonald to the bowling of Baxter and Nicholson. Neither batsman was at home to the bowling, and runs came slowly. With the score at 30 Macdonald put one softly up to McTavish at sill mid-on, having made 14.

James Macdonald only made 6 before being bowled by Sievwright. McVeagh joined Bookman, but he was caught by Watson at slip, and three wickets were down for 47. After lunch further disasters awaited Ireland, Dixon being bowled for nought and Heaslip caught and bowled without scoring, but Ganly and Bookman made a stand till Bookman was bowled by a fine length ball from Watson.

He made 32 by sound cricket. Loughery batted well for 14, and Ganly was splendidly caught by Kerr at mid-off, a powerful drive for 36. The innings closed for 145, and Ireland followed on.

Kelly and Bookman opened the second innings, and runs came fairly fast. At 40 Bookman left, bowled by Sievwright for 14, and three were out for 66. Kelly was batting well, and gave the best display on the Irish side.

Day 3:
Scotland defeated Ireland at Dublin by nine wickets, and in every sense thoroughly deserved their victory. In all phases of the game they were the better side, and every man worked hard to the end. Their fielding in particular was very fine, and runs were difficult to obtain, but in this respect the Irish team also shone.

Allowing that the wicket may have been somewhat easier on Saturday, there was hardly any excuse for Ireland's poor batting display, but the Scottish bowling, notably that of Sievwright and Baxter, was very fine.

The most prominent feature of the match was Martin's innings of six hours' duration, and, although it was rather boring from a spectator's point of view, it stamped him as a valuable player.

With five wickets down for 93, Ireland resumed batting, and Kelly increased his score to 75, a very fine innings. Heaslip, with 40, was the only other batsman to make a stand, and the innings closed for 212, leaving Scotland with 18 runs to get, which they did at the cost of Nicholson's wicket.

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