Ireland v Scotland 9, 11 & 12 July 1927 by Cricket Scotland

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Ground:	College Park, Dublin
Scorecard:	Ireland v Scotland
Event:	Scotland in Ireland 1927

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DateLine: 31st January 2013

 

 

Day 1:
The Scottish cricket eleven did poorly in the first day of their match with the Gentlemen of Ireland at College Park, Dublin. J. Kerr was the only one who offered any great resistance to the Irish bowlers, and without his 67, got in three hours and ten minutes, the innings would have been a complete failure.

 

Kerr's display was the only redeeming feature of the Scottish Innings, though both I.G. Collins and D. MacKessack made plucky effort to improve matters. They were the only others to reach double figures. The batting of Kerr was characterised by great patience and a considerable amount of skill.

 

Dixon and Macdonald, new-comers to the match, were the Irish bowlers who did the damage. The former had seven wickets for 52, and the latter three for 44. Ireland had two hours batting, and scored 105 runs for the loss of three wickets.

 

Day 2:
As a mark of respect to Mr Kevin O'Higgins, Vice-President of the Irish Free State, who was shot dead in Co. Dublin on Sunday morning, the match between Ireland and Scotland was not commenced yesterday at the College Park, Dublin, till half past two. Play was then continued till half past seven.

 

The Irishmen had held a commanding lead at the close of Saturday's play, as, having dismissed the Scots for 129, they replied with 106 for three wickets. The remaining seven wickets added 139, the innings closing for 245, having been in progress for four and a half hours.

 

Ganly batted splendidly for 50, and was out to a brilliant catch by Collins in the long field, the fielder having to run a long way to secure the ball. Heaslip made 36 by sound cricket while Robinson, who got 21, never appeared too comfortable. The Irish captain, Lambert, batted well for 18, and in partnership with Dixon added 46 for the last wicket. The last named, who made 21, batted splendidly, and in his 21 made some nice shots.

 

Scotland tried six bowlers. Forrester took four wickets for 61, and Scobie four for 65 runs. Scotland were 116 runs behind, but Kerr and Stevenson batted so well that when play ceased they had scored 96 without loss. Kerr, who is 60, has batted with the utmost confidence, and his placing of the ball was wonderful. He has given no chance, and has hit several boundaries.

 

Stevenson is 32, and though not scoring with the freedom of his partner he has played in sound, confident style. The stand of these two batsmen has completely altered the state of the game, and now the Scots are only 20 runs in arrears. Ireland has tried five bowlers, but they had no effect on the batsmen.

 

Day 3:
There was a remarkably exciting finish in the international encounter between Ireland and Scotland yesterday in the College Park, Dublin. A very sporting declaration by the Scottish captain gave Ireland two hours to get 175 runs to win, and the home batsmen went for the runs in such gallant style that at the close of play they only required two to win, and had still six wickets to fall.

 

It was a most interesting day's cricket, the features of which were the batting of Kerr for Scotland and Heaslip for Ireland.

 

When play closed on Monday night Scotland, with all their wickets in hand, were only 20 runs behind the home total, Kerr and Stevenson having put on 96 for the opening wicket without being separated. Yesterday morning these two batsmen brought the total to 123 before Stevenson was sent back for an excellent 45.

 

Kerr continued to bat in most confident fashion, and was not dismissed till he had passed the century by 36. He was at the wickets four hours, and during this long stay he only gave one chance, a very hard one, when 12. Though always playing with confidence he took no risks whatever, and amongst his hits were thirteen 4's.

 

Collins and Paterson also batted well, and the former showed great enterprise. With eight wickets down for 290, Paterson, the Scottish captain, applied the closure. The Scottish innings was in progress just five hours.

 

Heaslip, who began the Irish innings with Bookman, at once opened his shoulders. He lost his partner at 23, while Ganly, who followed, quickly got to business, and only took twenty minutes to make 25. Ganly was run out, a most unlucky occurrence for Ireland, for the Leinster player would doubtless have paved the way towards an Irish victory.

 

Kelly and Seymour did not give much trouble, but when Dixon joined Heaslip a great stand was made. Both men hit out at anything, Heaslip, in particular, getting runs rapidly.

 

The Scottish fielders had a very anxious time, and though the bowling was frequently changed, it had no effect on the speed of the run-getting. When time was up, with only two runs short of victory, Heaslip and Dixon were still together. The former made ninety two. He was batting two hours, and in the later portion of his innings hit furiously, taking every risk, but at the same time playing delightful, forcing cricket, most of his runs being made in front of the wicket.

 

Dixon came in when thirty five minutes remained, in which Ireland, in order to win, had to make seventy three runs. From the start he hit clear and hard, and had made thirty one when through no fault of either batsman, time foiled them.

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