As compared with the selected team Burke, Graham and Marks replaced Bowden, Ingram and Miller. Webb had been invited to replace Ingram but was unable to accept the invitation.

After reaching 330, their highest score since the war, Ireland were hard pushed to draw this match on the third afternoon. Scotland totalled 489, their highest score of the entire series and 4 more than their previous best which was in the first innings of all against Ireland in 1909 at Perth. Appalling Irish catching on the third morning allowed Henderson and Edward to add 187 runs for the eighth wicket in just under two hours.

On the first day Ireland made 263-5. The total should have been more because only 27 runs were scored in the last hour of play. Warke's century transcended all else. It had about it a touch of real class. His 120 occupied in all three and three-quarter hours and contained three sixes and 11 fours. A half chance to slip at 97 and a sharp chance to Youngson at mid-off near the end really were the only blemishes in a great innings. With Bergin, Warke put on 104 for the first wicket (the first opening century partnership for many years). Bergin was out soon after lunch for a very careful 26. The score had been 90 at lunch, of which Warke had scored 59, his 50 coming in 110 minutes. Warke, now joined by O'Brien, drove Nichol for six and soon afterwards did the same to Youngson. In between these shots he lost O'Brien - a new cap from Cambridge University - who skied Allan to fine leg. Pollock and Warke added 51 and then, at 178, Warke was caught at the wicket attempting to cut Allan. Tea was taken with the score at 180. McKelvey, another new cap, failed to get to the pitch of a ball from Allan and was caught at mid-off. 198-4-8. Hool came in and the pace slackened. Pollock completed a subdued 50 and was soon caught at slip for 52. Burke joined Hool and failed to push the score along. 300 should have been reached because the Scottish attack was no more than steady.

The second day's play was very even. Ireland were all out at 12:40 PM for 330 and Scotland replied with a score of 288-7. Burke was out at once - caught by Henderson at short leg. Boucher came in in search of quick runs but lost Hool at 292. Simpson came in and hit about in great style. Boucher got 25 and Simpson 26. The Scottish attack was always steady but seldom dangerous. Scotland began to bat in warm and sunny weather. Burke and Simpson opened the bowling to Chisholm and Barr. At lunch the score was 29 - Barr having been missed at fine leg. At 39 Boucher got him to push one to Pollock at forward short-leg. Aitcheson came in and another wicket did not fall until 5 PM. 50 went up in 62 minutes, 100 in 113 minutes and 150 in 168 minutes. Finally Warke had Chisholm caught at the wicket for a chanceless 81. 178-2.

JM Allan, the Oxford Blue, came next. This season he has become a batsman rather than a bowler. 72 were added - Allan hitting very hard off the back foot. Aitcheson reached his century and was then caught at the wicket off Hool who had had a long and accurate spell. 250-3-103. Aitcheson's 103 came in 167 minutes. He gave no actual chance but had several streaky shots before settling down. Scotland were now very much on top but in the last half-hour four wickets fell. Allan left first, surprisingly bowled by Burke after making 44 in an hour. Cosh and Ellis were both victims of Graham. Graham is a 17-year-old leg break bowler playing what transpired to be his only match for Ireland. He gave the ball plenty of air and took those wickets in his 17th and 18th overs. On the stroke of time Hool bowled Brown so Scotland finished at 288-7, with Henderson three not out.

The third morning brought disaster to Ireland. Henderson and Edward played themselves in and then hit at everything. They added 187 in 107 minutes. No less than five catches were dropped - most of them very easy. The wicket was slow and easy, the bowling lacked venom and the batsman made good use of their luck and the dreadful Irish catching. Henderson reached 100 in 108 minutes and was out finally for 121 scored in 123 minutes. He hit three sixes and 11 fours. Just on lunchtime Edward was also out for 73. He was overshadowed by Henderson but had done his job supremely well. Four years ago at Perth the same pair had added 176 for the seventh wicket after six wickets had fallen for 111. The innings finished at 489, giving Scotland a lead of 159. Hool was Ireland's most accurate bowler with 4-88 in 38.4 overs. Graham had 2-100 in 23 overs.

Ireland's task was now to save the game. The first innings century maker, Warke, was out in Youngson's third over and Bergin was bowled by the same bowler with the score at 21. O'Brien joined Marks and it was the former who saved the day. He batted for 168 minutes and made 76. He was twice missed at 60 but, apart from that, his innings was admirably suited to meet the situation. He defended well but also produced a wide range of strokes. Marks, McKelvey and Hool all gave him good assistance. Burke and Boucher played out the last half-hour after O'Brien had been dismissed. Scotland used 8 bowlers of whom Henderson was the most successful. His figures were 27-12-35-4 and his wickets came in succession, being those of Marks, Pollock, McKelvey and Hool. It is doubtful if the match could have been anything but a draw but if Ireland had taken the catches offered a more favourable draw might have been obtained.

This was JC Boucher's 60th and last match. His career had extended from 1929 to 1954. He had scored 1161 runs at an average of 13.19 and had taken 307 wickets at an average of 15.25. No other Irish bowler had even 200 wickets to his name. He was now aged 43 and, in 1954, had become Honorary Secretary of the Irish Cricket Union, a post he held until 1973.