A delay of 15 minutes between 5:05 pm and 5:20 pm for a heavy shower of rain ruined what might have been a great finish to this game. Notts had been set 224 to win in two hours. Sime and Keeton opened and the former hit a six off Ingram as his first scoring stroke. 50 went up in 24 minutes and 66 were scored in 35 minutes before rain came on and then it was just a matter of playing out time.
On the opening day Ireland did exceedingly well to gain a nine run lead on the first innings. There were quick changes of fortune and the game swayed from one side to the other throughout the day. Ireland were in trouble when Jacobson left at six, but Wilson helped Bergin to add 35 before he fell to Stocks. Bergin was stumped at 53. The bowler was Harvey who bowled his leg-breaks and googlies very cleverly. Wickets now fell at regular intervals, 4-56, 5-63, 6-78, 7-97, 8-110. Meanwhile Martin, who had come in the fall of the fourth wicket, was batting confidently and aggressively. In Hool he found a very useful partner and they put on 50 for the ninth wicket before Hool was brilliantly caught off Harvey by Sime. At the same score Martin was bowled off his pads for a grand 61. This young batsman is a great asset to the Irish team. He has a wide range of shots and his timing to leg is excellent as is his placing of drives.
Keeton, the former Test opening batsman, and Winnow began at a great pace for Notts and 46 runs were on the board in 40 minutes before tea. Three more were added after tea and then Winnow was run out by a great return from the boundary by Ingram. Poole and Keeton took the score to 83 and then Boucher caught and bowled the left-handed Poole. This gave the Irish off spinner the required inspiration and soon afterwards he bowled Joe Hardstaff, one of the stylists of English Test cricket. Hardstaff attempted to make a big hit and got his feet nowhere near the ball. After Keeton was well caught in the gully by Bergin off Hill nobody faced Boucher with any confidence. Harris was run out brilliantly by Miller who had to collect a wild throw and Harvey's 19 was the only remaining reasonable contribution.
With a lead of nine Ireland had a few minutes to bat and made 10 for no wicket. These were all scored by Jacobson who hooked Butler delightfully. The Irish fielding had been very good and Boucher, with his "tail up" bowled as well as ever. He conceded 27 runs before taking a wicket and then he took 5-36 in 12 overs - in all 5-63 in 21 overs. On the second day the home players batted very consistently and very well and only when the hit-or-get-out sign went up did the Notts bowlers get wickets cheaply. Bergin was dropped before scoring but with Jacobson gave the side a fine start with a partnership of 42. Three wickets, however, were down for 53 but Wilson and Ingram righted matters with a stand of 97. Their cricket was the best of the game and, as they settled down, the Notts attack was collared. Ingram was first to leave after just completing his half century in 80 minutes. He hit six fours, mostly by drives and pulls. Wilson made a very cultured 45 with seven fours. Martin and Boucher both hit with freedom in the search for quick runs after lunch. Harvey again bowled well taking 6-67.
Just as the Irish innings ended rain came causing a delay of one and a half hours. Notts went for the runs, as described earlier, but another shower ruined their chances. In fact, they compiled 153 runs in 105 minutes. Sime got his 65 in 50 minutes with one six and 10 fours included. Keeton was more sedate reaching 53 in 90 minutes without a single boundary. JW Hill retired after bowling five overs and H Maxwell of Dublin University fielded in his place. It subsequently transpired that Hill, when play was over on day one of this match rushed off to play in a league match for Clontarf. This may have contributed to the illness which forced him to retire. In any event he was omitted for disciplinary reasons from the Irish team to play Worcester in a two day game at Belfast. Ironically that game was washed out without a ball being bowled.