Ireland gave a new cap to TJT Patterson, the 24-year-old Downpatrick all-rounder. Too much capped players were left out. Anderson was not totally fit all season and had made very few runs. He made his debut in 1966 and scored 3707 runs (at an average of 33.39) in his 82 matches - five matches behind Colhoun's record 87. He also took 48 wickets at 25.31. He scored seven centuries, three more than anyone else and 13 other 50s. Off-spinner Halliday (55 caps since 1970) had bowled poorly in 1984 and was left out, the only spinner in the team being Monteith. Halliday had taken 133 wickets at 26.39 each.
Surrey put Ireland in at 10:30 AM before a gate of £1000 which Surrey regarded as satisfactory. Of the first eight overs from Thomas (left arm) and Clarke (not off his full run) seven were maidens. Clarke bowled five overs for four runs and was replaced by Monkhouse. Thomas bowled seven overs for 11 and was replaced by Knight at medium pace in slant. With his second ball Knight bowled Short who seemed to momentarily lose concentration. There was sympathy for Short because the opening storm had been weathered. 17-1-8. By the 23rd over the score had advanced to 25, all in singles and twos. Then Knight bowled Wills. 25-2-1. Lewis came in and began well. He and Warke added 30. Monkhouse bowled six overs for four runs and Pocock, the offspinner, came on at the Vauxhall end for the 24th over. Warke struck the first boundary of the innings in the 32nd over, bowled by Pocock. Lewis also got a four but in Knight's last over, the 37th, Lewis cut a short ball wide of Butcher at cover. Butcher dived to his right and caught it. 55-3-13 after 37 overs. Knight had taken 3-13 in his 12 overs. He was replaced by Monkhouse. At lunch (12:45 PM) 39 overs had been bowled and the score was 61-3, Warke 28, Prior 5. 50 had come up in 35.1 overs.
After lunch there followed a great session for Ireland. Warke and Prior added exactly 100 and were not parted until the first ball of the 59th over, having come together for the third ball of the 37th over. So the rate for those 100 runs was 4.5 per over. With a series of fours off Pocock and Monkhouse the pair, and Prior in particular, got the score moving immediately after lunch. 100 came up in 46.2 overs and Warke was soon at his 50 in 161 minutes. Prior hooked, drove and pulled and reached 50 in only 75 minutes. 150 arrived in 57.1 overs and by now Clarke and Thomas were back. With the first ball of the 59th over Prior was bowled by Thomas. He had played wonderfully well. 155-4-50. Harrison came in.
The last over was bowled by Clarke who was now bowling the statutory one bouncer per over. He bowled Warke for 77 with the second ball, bowled Jackson with the fourth and Harrison was run out off the last. So four wickets had fallen in the last 12 balls of the innings for two runs. 175 might have been a possible target but if the well set Warke and Prior could not get these then no one else was likely to. No praise can be too high for Warke. His 77 came in 210 minutes off 59 overs and he gave no chances. He hit three fours to Prior's five. The other four of the innings was got by Lewis. The Surrey bowling was tight and fielding good.
At 2:57 PM Howarth and Clinton opened for Surrey. Corlett's fifth ball was put through the covers for four by Howarth. The next ball saw him caught and bowled off a leading edge as he tried to force the ball. 4-1-4. Jeffrey shared the opening spell. He bowled six overs for 11. Corlett bowled eight for 19. Prior bowled four overs and was hit for 10 in his last. Monteith and Patterson had a turn but Clinton and Knight added 88 in 94 minutes. Harrison was the sixth bowler tried - for the 29th over. His first ball was a wide but the third saw Knight caught at the wicket of a thin edge - he walked. 92-2-36. Tea came after 35 overs with the score on 106-2, Clinton 49, Butcher 10. Clinton went to 50 in 120 minutes. In the 40th over Butcher swung at Monteith and sent a high catch to Lewis at deep mid-on. 123-3-16. Lynch came in and mixed defence with four fours. The end came after 48.5 overs with Short bowling. The time was 6:06 PM. Clinton emerged with 79 not out in 166 minutes with 10 fours. In all 19 fours were hit. All the bowlers had respectable figures. Two bowled their 12 overs. Corlett had 12-0-34-1 and Monteith 12-2-37-1. As usual Aer Lingus flew the party free and Nat West had a hospitality tent in which some Irish supporters had a fine lunch. Altogether a good performance.