Two fine days, a perfect pitch, and a short boundary on the Grandstand side led to a splendid match. 957 runs were scored for 23 wickets. Off the last ball Ireland needed six to win with two wickets in hand. It was the usual three declarations match but very nearly not so. MCC were 123 for six in their second innings and 194 for eight but, ultimately, declared when they wished to at 222 for nine. Once again Ireland could not finish off an opponent who was down.

For Ireland, Warke returned for the injured Molins. Andy Flower, Zimbabwe's Captain, captained MCC who had in their team Briance and Parks who frequently played v- Ireland. JD Robinson, ex Surrey, had a big input with 100 not out and 41.

The Ireland squad at Lord's

MCC won the toss and, surprisingly, batted thus giving Ireland a present of the fourth innings chase. Only six wickets fell on the first day (seven hours play) and at its end Ireland declared 47 runs behind. Skinner tried to hook Patterson in the seventh over and skied to cover. 11-1-8. Tarrant gave Benson a sharp chance at cover in Eagleson's next over. Patterson took his second wicket in the 11th over when Tarrant was lbw to one that cut back. 41-2-18. Robinson joined Briance in a very fruitful partnership. 50 came up in the 14th over. Graham gave up 11 in one over. 100 was up in the 27th over. Not long after this both batsmen gave chances, Benson dropped Briance at mid-off at 108 and Robinson gave Dunlop a slip chance at 120. The unlucky bowlers were Lewis and Harrison who had both just started to bowl.

Lunch came at 1.15 p.m. after 32 overs. 120 for two, Briance 40, Robinson 46. Patterson and Eagleson kept the scoring rate at a reasonable level for some 10 overs after lunch and, indeed, took another wicket. Both batsmen reached 50 in the same over after lunch. 150 came in the 39th over but the third wicket fell to Eagleson at 158 in over 42. A short ball to Briance was caught at short extra cover. 158-3-59. Flowers came in and hit two fours in his first over and, not long afterwards, a six off Harrison to the Grandstand. Three fours to Flowers followed in a Gillespie over and these brought up 200 in over 48. Then the pace really increased! 19 in that Gillespie over and 21 off the next, bowled by Harrison, with a six to each batsman. Then 12 off Dunlop followed by 18 off Patterson with two more sixes, As soon as Robinson reached 100 Flower (himself 53 off 30 balls) declared in the 53rd over. The fourth pair added 101 in 46 minutes off 66 balls. Robinson's century (1 x 6, 11 x 4) came off 117 balls in 171 minutes; seven bowlers were tried and all suffered. Patterson's 2 for 53 in 13 overs being the best.

Warke and Dunlop started for Ireland an hour before tea. Williams, from Trinidad, squared Dunlop and bowled him at 14. In 16 overs up to tea Warke was 21 Smyth 8 in a score of 32 for 1. The pace quickened after tea with both batsmen playing well, 50 in 20 overs, 81 in 30 overs. After a 69 run stand Warke was unluckily run out. A ball ran off pad and bat to slip. Warke had moved out not knowing where the ball was. Slip threw the wicket down. 83-2-41. Lewis came in and soon hit slow bowler Hespe for a six. 100 arrived in over 38, and Smyth's 50 in over 42 off 95 balls with a flowing off drive.

150 came in over 50 and this was a long way behind MCC's rate. Smyth left at 157. He drove, with bat away from body, and was caught by the only slip. 157-3-66. Soon Lewis reached 50. With Benson as company the pair added 55 in the last 10 overs of the day. Lewis hit a six and nine fours and faced 87 balls. It was his first Lord's half century. Ireland declared at the end of the day's play.

For quite a while on the second morning (another seven hour day) MCC's thoughts were on staving off defeat rather than thinking of a distant declaration. MCC, after 10 overs, were 26 for four. Then, after a 96 run stand, MCC were 123 for six but the Irish advantage could not be forced home.

In Eagleson's first over he moved one away from Skinner and Ogilby took a good low catch. In his next over Eagleson pitched one further up and Tarrant departed to another Ogilby catch. Gillespie replaced Patterson and in his first over had Briance caught at cover by Lewis. In the following over (the 10th) Eagleson took his third wicket. Wundke, a left hander, leant back with no foot movement and Dunlop caught him at the second attempt at second slip. 26 for four, Eagleson 3 for 9 in 5 overs.

Robinson joined the portly Williams and stopped the collapse by attacking cricket. Williams started shakily but in one five over period hit eight fours. When 33, he gave a chance to Benson at backward point off Patterson but it was very difficult. After being 26 for four in 10 overs this pair brought up 100 in the 23rd over with a boundary that brought Williams to 51.

Then Graham, in his fifth over, took two wickets. Williams was lbw for 52 off the first ball. He had hit 11 fours. Flower took a single next ball. On the third ball Robinson (41) was caught by Dunlop on the boundary at deep point. Parks joined Flower. In the last over before lunch Harrison dropped Parks on a catch and bowled shoulder high to his right - a vital miss. Lunch (35 overs) came with a score of 135 for six, Flower 10, Parks 3.

In seven overs after lunch the seventh wicket added 45 off Graham and Patterson. At 181 Flower was bowled on a wild swing at Patterson. At 194 Patterson struck again having Parks lbw trying to cut one that came back at him. Parks made 42 (6 x 4) off 64 balls and his innings was vital if Ireland were to be set a difficult task. Hespe and McKeown added another 28. 200 was up in the 44th over. The declaration came when McKeown was bowled by Patterson as he stepped away to cut. Eagleson bowled only 10 overs of the 47.2 bowled and had three for 33 and deserved his figures. The declaration was very fair under the excellent conditions prevailing. 270 to win in 145 minutes plus the last hour. About 62 overs could be guaranteed - it was in fact 63. The important factor was not to lose wickets and to score at least a run a minute up to the last hour, or better if it could be achieved. By the last hour the score was, in fact, 149 for four, so 121 were then needed from 20 overs.

The preceding 145 minutes was a fine tactical piece of cricket. Warke and Dunlop had 21 up in 8 overs, Williams having bowled four overs for five runs. Dunlop took three successive fours and 14 in all off McKeown's 5th over. Williams returned for McKeown and Dunlop chipped him into the Grandstand. 50 came up in 13 overs. Warke gave second slip a chance when 15 but did not benefit. In the over he was caught at the wicket (no foot movement). 59-1-17. Dunlop was next to go - in over 18 at 59. He had hit a six and six fours in his 44 but was caught at mid-off driving at Williams. 65 for two. Off the last ball before tea (20 overs) Smyth drove over a ball from Williams. 68 for three and the run rate was in order.

Lewis and Benson were now together facing Williams and medium pacer Staple. At 85, in over 25, Benson was lbw going back to a ball from Staple which was up to him. With some 17 or 18 overs left until the last hour Ireland could not afford to lose another wicket and needed some 65 runs. Lewis and Graham achieved both objectives. After 33 overs (117 for four) Flower eased the pressure by using slow bowlers when he, perhaps, perceived he was not taking any more wickets. Lewis did most of the scoring but both he and Graham batted well.

Six an over were needed in the last hour, begun at 149 for four. The first five yielded exactly 30. Then Graham was caught for 40 (at 183) when he half hit to short extra cover. Gillespie came in and he, too, played very well in his first Lord's innings. After 10 overs 57 had been scored. Then, at 222, Lewis lifted his head in playing Staple and was lbw for 72 off 119 balls.

Two runs later Gillespie also lifted his head to Williams and was bowled. Eagleson was lbw hitting across the line at 228. Harrison, with a badly pulled leg muscle, went in, with Smyth as a runner, to join Patterson. Six overs remained and 42 were required. The chase was called off.

With two overs to go 25 were needed and the signal went out to try this. Patterson hit the first ball for six! 14 came from the over. 11 were needed from the last over but only five could be scored. A splendid match.