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Ireland International Matches
Ireland beat MCC by 183 runs
3 Day, College Park, 12 August 1926
Scorecard
Derek Scott

This was a much stronger Irish team than that which had played in Belfast, and it proved too good for the weak MCC side. From the original team selection Jameson, Parry and Walker cried off and were replaced by Hall, McVeagh and Pigot. As in 1924, McIver, the old Oxford Blue and Essex player, led the MCC who had one other Oxford Blue GC Newman, although Reggie Butterworth was to gain an Oxford Blue in 1927.

There was a large crowd on the first day but the play was rather tame. Ireland batted for five hours for their total and the efforts of Ganly and Pigot were chiefly responsible for the good score. Up to the time of their partnership matters had gone badly and the score was 104-5 when they came together. Their stand realised 102 in very quick time and this was the only bright spot of the innings. Ganly was very confident and had bad luck to be out only 17 short of a century, a goal he never achieved in International Cricket. Ganly batted for 90 minutes and scored 13 fours, mainly of straight drives and square cuts. Pigot's knock which lasted one hour and 40 minutes was more restrained but very valuable. He gave a chance at 30 and always hit the loose ball. Previous to this Colthurst and AP Kelly had had a stand of 45 for the fourth wicket. Kelly came in at six and was very cautious. He left at 104, being caught in the slips for 33. Heaslip never settled down and after being missed at square leg at 5 was bowled at 16. Butterworth, bowling very fast, had earlier beaten and bowled Kidd. McVeagh, at number eight, batted very well and carried his bat for 24. Roberts proved to be the best MCC bowler, getting 6-51. MCC made 6-1 at the end of the day, Heaslip bowling McIver with the last delivery.

Ireland left off at the end of the second day very strongly placed. They had a lead of 357 with two wickets still to fall. There had been overnight rain, but no sun. The wicket did not appear to be difficult but in actual fact it proved to be. In two hours and 40 minutes the MCC were all out for 131. Six wickets were down for 41 and eight were down for 61 before the excellent bowling of Heaslip and Kidd. It looked as if MCC might have to follow-on when Newman and Grose got together in a ninth wicket stand which added 69 to the total. The follow-on was saved and Grose remained undefeated with 42. Newman's 40 was most creditable, scored mostly by straight drives. Heaslip, medium pace with slight out swing, bowled remarkably well for his 4-41 in 27 overs.

With a lead of 139 Ireland sent in Bookman and Robinson and the 50 went up in 40 minutes. 83 were scored before Robinson was well caught by Foster low at mid-on for 24. Hall failed to score while Kelly and Kidd gave little trouble, the latter being bowled on a good ball by Butterworth which broke sharply from off. Ganly came in and again he produced sparkling hitting. At 126 he lost Bookman, bowled by Hancock for 74. It was a confident innings with nine fours. Heaslip was run out in a misunderstanding with Ganly but McVeagh stayed as Ganly hit out. He made 68. It was a knock of great enterprise with 12 fours.

Following up their advantage Ireland won a well merited victory by 183 runs. Set to get 384 to win, MCC batted in dogged fashion although they never looked like getting the runs. The last wicket did not fall until the stroke of six o'clock. A very large attendance, including the Governor General, was present. Rain had got on the wicket, although it was covered, and a new pitch was prepared. It played fairly well although some balls got up.

The last two Irish wickets added 30 to make the total score 248. McVeagh added 17 before being stumped for 36. It was a polished display, most of his runs coming on the offside and through the covers. In the MCC second innings, Heaslip and Kidd again bowled very well and the fielding was very keen. Heaslip rarely bowled better as his figures show, 32-10-49-5. How difficult he was is gleaned from the fact that his first 20 overs yielded only 19 runs. Kidd, who got 4-98, was severely punished by De Burgh near the end. But for the latter and Roberts the total would have been very small. Coming in at number seven De Burgh made a great effort. He settled down slowly and when matters looked hopeless he adopted forcing methods. Last out he made a gallant 66. Earlier Roberts was attractive for his 40, driving with great power. Grose and Hancock were both brilliantly caught in the slips by Lambert, while Robinson was also caught brilliantly by Eddis, one-handed for MCC. Kelly's wicket-keeping, and the fielding in general, were first-rate.