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Ireland International Matches
Sir Julian Cahn's XI drew with Ireland
2 Day, Loughborough, 18 August 1939
Scorecard
Derek Scott

For this match, the last before the Second World War, A. McFarlane and HR Morgan replaced H Armstrong and EDR Shearer. JC Boucher, who had been unfit for selection initially, was now passed fit and replaced PJ Quinn who had been injured.

In tropical sunshine and on a billiard table wicket that was a batsman's paradise this game never showed any likelihood of producing a definite result. Boucher had recovered from his sciatica trouble which had caused him to miss the two previous games and he resumed his place in the side. Shearer had returned to Ireland on business while Paddy Quinn was "crocked". Sir Julien Cahn turned out his usual strong combination. A fine century by Tom Macdonald and 94 not out by brother James were the outstanding features of a good first day's cricket. Tom Macdonald who opened was never in trouble and scored his 106 in 204 minutes. His start was slow but he speeded up later on and in all hit 12 fours, the majority being beautifully executed leg glances and off drives. He had capable partners in Pigot, Pollock and Ingram before being joined by his brother.

At lunch the score was 73 for no wicket but immediately afterwards, at 75, Pigot was stumped off Mudge while playing forward. Pollock helped to add 39 and then he was lbw to the New Zealand Vivian. The Ingram-Macdonald stand added 39 in 27 minutes. Ingram was brilliantly stumped by Maxwell off a fast leg-side delivery of Halls. James Macdonald came in and the brothers brought the score to 212. Tom was then out for a chanceless 106. He provided Maxwell with his third stumping out of five possible wickets. McFarlane and Boucher both provided James Macdonald with considerable help and the latter reached his 50 in 90 minutes. Reddy came in at number eight and in 31 minutes the score was raised from 264 to 317 at which point Reddy was unfortunately run out. Morgan was bowled by Walsh just on time and the score was 343-8. James Macdonald's 94 not out occupied 135 minutes. Of the fast bowlers Hall was by far the most difficult and he turned the ball appreciably. Lush had difficulty with his run-up and fell 3 times, once twisting his ankle and having to leave the field. Walsh was very expensive, his two wickets costing 136 runs. Maxwell was brilliant behind the stumps.

10 minutes on the second morning saw Ireland lose their remaining two wickets for nine runs. James Macdonald was stumped for 95 of Sir Julien Cahn and so failed by five runs to emulate his brother's century. Both were playing their last game for Ireland and it is a strange thing that James Macdonald should have both begun and ended his international career with a score of 95.

Cahn's XI had a big task when they began to bat at 12:40 p.m. Despite a keen Irish attack the opening pair, Paul Gibb and Mudge put on 208 runs in 2½ hours before being separated. Gibb was first to leave after scoring 114, including 13 fours. Then Sir Julien Cahn played what must have been one of his longest innings. He was at the wicket for 83 minutes and scored 34 runs out of 74 added for the second wicket. Mudge's was the second wicket to fall. He had scored 131, including 13 fours, in 225 minutes. With six wickets left to fall Cahn's XI were only 25 runs behind and eventually passed the Irish total of 352 with five wickets in hand. With no chance of a finish the batsmen indulged in some carefree hitting. Summers got 31 in 26 minutes, Hall 37 in 42 minutes while Maxwell hit a hurricane 27 in 11 minutes. 132 runs came in the last 70 minutes. Dempster did not bat which is probably just as well so far as the Irish bowlers were concerned. Boucher toiled manfully and in 25.6 8-ball overs he took 6-144. Ingram's figures were 1-132 in 24 overs. Three other bowlers between them bowled 29 overs. The match was played throughout in glorious weather and the big scoring was no reflection on the bowling because the wicket played dead easy at all times and did not assist the attack in the least.

This was the last game before the war and a resumption was not made of international cricket until 1946. As a result, this game proved to be the last for many players. In fact, only three of the 11 reappeared when cricket was resumed after the war. They were Boucher, Ingram and Pollock. The Macdonalds went out on a high note, the century for Tom and 95 for James. Pigot, McFarlane, Reddy, Morgan, Cuffe and Billingsley were the others who never again donned the blue cap with the green shamrock.