An opportunity missed! Outplaying Scotland for two days, Ireland then declared far too late in their second innings and gave neither themselves nor Scotland a winning chance. Ireland brought in NG Doak as a new batting cap. C McCrum was not available and AN Nelson not selected as he would not be available for the Kenya mini World Cup in 1994.
Scotland changed their captain, Storie taking over from Russell. Opening bowler Hamilton and off spinner Bevan were new. Only at Eglinton could the match have been played on the three days scheduled. It rained elsewhere in Ireland.
Play did not in fact start until 1:30 PM on the first day, lunch having been taken. The wicket surrounds were wet but looked fit for play. Cohen and Rea provided a good start against Bee and Hamilton and then the offspinners Bevan and Govan. 50 came in 19 overs and the score was 83 in 109 minutes when Cohen played back to Govan and was bowled in the 34th over. 83-1-37. Warke came in and appeared to give a chance to leg slip off Bevan before he had scored.
The 100 came up in 39.5 overs. Rea had gone past 50 in 124 minutes. He had been lucky at the start playing and missing quite often. By tea (130-1 in 50 overs) he was 71 and Warke 11. 150 came up in 57 overs and 200 13.3 overs later. Rea reached his second century for Ireland in 207 minutes in the 67th over. Driving was his best shot. At 210 he pushed Bevan to mid-wicket and was out for 115, scored in 231 minutes off 217 deliveries, with 2x6 and 10x4. The stand of 127 with Warke was the best against Scotland in Ireland for the second wicket. Soon after Bee bowled Warke. 218-3-47. Warke was not in great form but had soldiered on for 135 minutes.
Michael Rea during his innings of 115
At 229 Curry was beaten by Bevan's flight. Lewis (29) and Harrison (16) were together at the close, with the total 266-4 scored off 97 overs. Bevan had bowled 42 of these overs, bowling for all but 40 minutes of the 309 minutes played on the first day. He took 2-93.
Sunday was damp and overcast and after half an hour 24 minutes were lost to rain. Ireland continued to bat for a further 16.3 overs, scored 61 more runs and lost five wickets. Harrison, when 21, gave Love at point an easy chance off Hamilton, which was put down. Lewis went to 50 in 125 minutes and the pair put on 74. Then 18-year-old Hamilton took five wickets in 23 balls as Ireland went from 303-4 to 327-9, at which point the declaration came.
Patterson glanced the fifth ball of the Scotland innings from P McCrum. Jackson took a marvellous catch diving far to his left, low and one-handed. This was his 100 catch for Ireland. Lunch came with the total at 21-1 in nine overs. When the total reached 31 Philip was LBW in McCrum's over. McCrum's third wicket came at 65 when a ball lifted to Storie's glove and lobbed to leg slip, to give McCrum his 50th wicket for Ireland.
Hoey came on to bowl with the score on 57. He and Harrison kept a tight rein on Salmond and Love. At 95 Love swept at Hoey and was bowled behind his legs and at 110 Salmond was caught at slip also off Hoey, giving him also his 50th wicket for Ireland. When Curry bowled Russell it was 124-6 and the follow-on was looming. 178 was required to ensure the follow-on could not be enforced. Tea was taken at 129-6 in 49 overs. Afterwards Govan played a fine innings of exactly 50. He shared stands of 41 with Bevan for the seventh wicket and 35 for the 8th with Orr. By close (7 PM) the score was 211-9 scored in 92 overs.
The last day was warm and sunny. Hoey had Orr caught at silly point in the fifth over of the day, leaving Ireland's lead at 111. In the two hours to lunch Ireland scored 94-2 in 31 overs - not sufficiently quick to be really serious about a realistic declaration. Curry opened with Rea, who was run out at seven, and scored 41 in 64 minutes. He was caught at the wicket in Govan's first over. He hit 8x4. Lewis was 32 at lunch, his 15th run being his 2000th for Ireland and continued to 73 in 157 minutes, his second 50 of the match. This feat was last achieved in 1988 - also by Lewis. Doak was stumped for 25 and Warke bowled for 14. When Lewis was out at 168 the declaration came. Govan had taken 4-34 in 15.5 overs. Lewis and Warke were both dropped on easy outfield catches by Philip and Patterson.
The unrealistic target was 280 in 123 minutes +20 overs. Patterson and Philip got 59 at a run a minute off McCrum and Moore. Harrison came on and Patterson hit him for 2 x 6 in his first over. Then Harrison bowled Philip between bat and pad. 59-1-40. With the score on 63 Patterson edged Hoey to slip and tea was taken. At 80, Salmond was caught at short mid-wicket but Storie and Love played out time with 10 overs of the last 20 remaining. It could have been a great finish if Ireland had courage and would risk defeat in order to win.