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Ireland International Matches
Ireland beat MCC by 149 runs
3 Day, College Park, 30 July 1932
Scorecard
Derek Scott

As compared with the original team, Crothers cried off and was replaced by Cordner.

The MCC side contained three Surrey players, all of whom were Blues, Howell, Block and Garland-Wells; the beautiful Leicester batsman, CH Taylor who had scored a century in the 1930 game; and GN Foster, then 47 years of age, and one of the famous Worcestershire Fosters. HW Taylor, the former South African Captain, was to have played but cried off. Tom Dixon was captain of the Irish team and was playing what proved to be his last International match, while Donald Shearer was making his debut.

McIver, captaining MCC again, sent Ireland into bat. The pitch was dead after heavy rain but soon began to play tricks as it dried. Runs were never easy and Garland-Wells was devastating. He bowled medium-slow, turning a bit both ways, and took 8-38 in 23 overs. Pigot and Ingram put on 38 in an hour when Pigot was struck in the face by a lifting ball from Ford and forced to retire. Scott bowled both Ingram and Shearer and then Garland-Wells took the remaining eight wickets in succession. The only big stand after the first wicket was between Douglas and Barnes. Both were confident and attractive. Barnes top scored with 44, containing one six and five fours, while Douglas, who had a "life" in the slips, got 27. Pigot pluckily returned but was soon out. The whole innings of 166 lasted two hours and 50 minutes. The MCC had 75 minutes batting before a downpour ended play. Howell was out first ball, brilliantly held by Reddy at short-leg off Dixon while Taylor was caught and bowled by Dixon at seven. At 31 Dixon had his third wicket, bowling Block. 11 runs later Boucher bowled Congdon. At the end of the first day MCC were 49-4, Foster 25 not out. Dixon had taken 3-9 in seven overs.

Next morning the remaining six MCC wickets tumbled for a further 30 runs. Heavy rain on Sunday and again on the Monday morning delayed the start by half an hour and the wicket was once more tricky. Foster added only two to his overnight 25 and was then caught by McVeagh at cover off Ingram. Boucher then took the remaining five wickets at a personal cost of 10 runs. He and Dixon had both bowled exceedingly well on a wicket that gave them considerable help.

Ireland began its second innings at 2:55 p.m. and in 80 minutes lost five wickets for 68 runs. This was none too good a start despite their first-innings lead of 87. Pigot and Ingram started against Garland-Wells and Scott. 29 were scored when Pigot was caught by Howell off Scott. At 38 Shearer was run out and once again Garland-Wells took the last eight wickets. This was remarkable bowling as well as a remarkable coincidence. The Oxford Blue and Surrey player had a match analysis of 16-124 and joined a select band of those who have taken 16 wickets in a match. Boucher and McVeagh were both out at 47. Ingram was lbw for 27 when the score was 68. As in the first innings Douglas and Barnes made a stand, this time worth 42 runs. Garland-Wells bowled Douglas at 110 but Dixon, in what was his last innings for Ireland, stepped into the breach and a further 47 were added. Barnes then left after scoring 48 in an hour with eight fours. Reddy came in at number nine and hit about him in great style. He lost Dixon at 180, he having scored 36 in an hour, but one wicket remained to fall when time was called.

Ireland won this game 10 minutes from time by 149 runs. It was a most interesting third day and at one time it seemed certain that the visitors would save the game. However, Ingram then took the last three wickets in seven balls for no runs. The wicket played truer than on the first two days. The Irish innings closed at 226, with Reddy 40 not out, made in an hour and without a chance. Garland-Wells had bowled unchanged for 33.4 overs and took 8-86.

MCC had to score 314 to win and never attempted the task. In an hour's batting before lunch they lost Howell's wicket while scoring 37 runs. Rain delayed play after the interval and the re-start was made 75 minutes late. Taylor took 2¼ hours to make 35 and was fourth out at 98. Congdon was next to go after making 26 in 90 minutes. 132-5 was now the score. Garland-Wells left one run later, both of these wickets being obtained by Morgan. Huband came in and kept his end up well, scoring 20 in over an hour. The seventh wicket finally fell at 157 when Barnes bowled Stephens. Time was running out and still three wickets remained to be taken. Ingram did the trick. With the second ball of his 17th over he had Huband caught by Dixon and next ball Scott was caught by Reddy. With the second ball of his next over he finished the match getting Ford lbw.