Ireland v Scotland 23, 25 & 26 July 1949 by Cricket Scotland

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Ground:	Ormeau, Belfast
Scorecard:	Ireland v Scotland
Event:	Scotland in Ireland 1949

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DateLine: 31st January 2013

 

 

Day 1:
At the end of the first days play in their game at Belfast, Ireland, gained a first innings lead of 54 runs over Scotland, increasing it by a single without loss before stumps were drawn.

 

Twenty wickets fell for 215 runs over five and a half hours actual play. It was difficult to account for this low scoring on an easy wicket. Granted that some of the bowling was extremely good, the technique and class of the batting were most disappointing for a representative game.

 

Ireland won the toss and lost three wickets for 51 before lunch. J.D. Henderson, the Forfarshire slow left-hander, had the remarkable analysis of 11 overs, 10 maidens, 1 run, 2 wickets. After lunch, W.K. Laidlaw broke through the model batting, and, except during a stand of 45 by two new "caps," S. F. Burgin and H. Martin (who replaced R.J. Barnes), and the last wicket stand of 32 by J. C. Boucher and T. Newburn, Ireland offered feeble resistance.

 

Laidlaw's final figures were five for 51, while Henderson had three for 23 in 25 overs.

 

H.F. Sheppard and R.H.E. Chisholm gave Scotland a useful start of 39, but once this stand was broken, Boucher and J. Bowden (slow left arm) carried all before them, and Scotland were dismissed in two and a quarter hours for the moderate total of 80.

 

Day 2:
With one day left, Scotland looked like losing their fixture against Ireland at Belfast. They have only three wickets standing and require 101 to win. On their showing to date this task looks well beyond their powers. The batsmen to come are W.K. Laidlaw, R.S. McLaren, and G.W. Youngson.

 

As on Saturday, the batting yesterday fell well below expectations, as 259 runs for seventeen wickets in a single day clearly shows. It was often dreary and wearisome cricket, redeemed by some good bowling and fielding. Ireland made 94 for three by lunch time, J.S. Pollock batting attractively before he was out lbw in the last over.

 

Then Scotland hit back spiritedly, and, with Henderson and Youngson bowling extremely well, seven Ireland wickets went down for 59 runs.

 

A second innings total of 153 meant that Scotland were set 208 to win. They ran into trouble straight away, and, with the exception of J.B. Taylor and then W A. Edward who batted soundly until he was dismissed in the last over of the day, it did not look as though they would be able to amass the necessary runs.

 

Day 3:
As expected, Scotland lost to Ireland in Belfast. They were all out a second time for 134, Ireland winning by 73 rims. The last day's play was confined to three-quarters of an hour, and in that time the three remaining Scottish wickets fell for 27 runs.

 

Ireland were the superior of the two sides, each of which were much stronger in bowling than in batting, an unusual state of affairs these days.

 

This game was played in unbroken weather on a pitch which was never difficult, although it was becoming dusty towards the finish. Figures can be used to prove almost anything, but in this case it can honestly be said that the score book reflected literally the temper of this representative game from start to finish, there was nothing between the lines.

 

Of 501 runs scored in four complete innings 449 came from the bat, the highest individual score was 32, and the average about 11 runs apiece. The bowling was noticeably accurate and the fielding good, but, even so, there was no valid excuse for the rate of scoring over two days being about 40 an hour.

 

Sometimes it fell well below that figure; indeed, in the last half-hour of the second day Scotland scored seven runs.

 

This was dull cricket with a vengeance almost altogether lacking in personality. A schoolboy's most enduring memories would probably be J.S. Pollock' s fielding at cover point for Ireland and J. D. Henderson's accurate bowling for Scotland.

(Article: Copyright © 2013 Cricket Scotland http://cricketscotland.com)