Irish Cricket Archives masthead
Ireland International Matches
Scotland lost to Ireland by 8 wickets
3 Day, Greenock, 13 July 1946
Scorecard
Derek Scott

1946 saw the resumption of international cricket for Ireland after the Second World War. In fact only one game was played in 1946, and that was against Scotland at Greenock. There had been a second game scheduled against Lancashire at College Park, but that in fact was abandoned without a ball being bowled as a result of rain.

There tended to be little detail available of the matches played in the early post-war years. This was probably due to a shortage of paper as a result of rationing post war which meant reports, of necessity, were kept short.

The team that played against Scotland showed one change from that which had been selected. WA McKee replaced EA Ingram. This was in fact McKee's only Irish Cricket cap.

Brilliant Irish fielding, which gave admirable support to Boucher's bowling, was the principal feature of the first day of this first International game played by Ireland since 1939. Lumsden and Aitcheson put on 80 for the first wicket for Scotland amid intermittent showers. However, when Bowden dismissed Lumsden there was a collapse and seven wickets were soon down for 159. This position was chiefly due to fine bowling by Boucher and Hill, both of whom bowl off-spinner's. Hill bowled them slower than Boucher. Nichol and Hodge then held off the Irish attack while 61 runs were added. The ninth wicket added a further 39 and Nichol was finally out for a grand 56. Boucher took 7-75 in 32 overs, although troubled with a slight attack of lumbago.

Waldron and Pollock played out time for Ireland, ending at 14 for no wicket. Monday was a day of showers between which Frank Quinn played a wonderful innings of 140. He was at the wicket for just under three hours and hit 21 fours. He hit splendidly all around the wicket and delighted the crowd with his graceful driving along the ground. Quinn came to the wicket when Pollock was out at 42 and with Waldron added 71 for the second wicket, with Shearer added 63 for the third wicket and later added 75 for the fifth wicket with Barnes, whose 48 was made very quickly. At the close Ireland were 286-7.

Next morning Hill and McKee scored 29 for the last wicket and the visitors ended 67 ahead on first innings. Scotland again started well reaching 80-2. Then Barnes, with his leg-breaks, took 4-8 and the home team never recovered despite a good innings by Hodge, who made 38. Ireland required 107 to win in comfortable time and, with the aid of a well played undefeated 64 by Pollock, they achieved the win by eight wickets