Only two hours play was possible in the morning before a deluge ruled out further play. Allan Border, the Australian captain, after a match saving century in the fourth test at Manchester, graced the occasion with a thrilling 91 in 77 minutes off 95 balls. Seven of the Australian team played in the four tests at some stage. Ireland brought back Anderson for his 83rd match in place of the out of form Wills. Masood also came back after his suspension following his non-arrival of the 1983 tour. Patterson was not considered due to injury. Jackson was still not fit so Bailey retained his wicket-keeping place. The match was sponsored by British Airways who paid the Australian airfares and provided them with a bus. The Down County Council gave 400 Pounds towards catering costs and a souvenir Tie brought a profit of over 1000 Pounds. The overall profit was about 5000 Pounds after 1000 Pounds had been given to TCCB as a match fee. BBC Northern Ireland televised the match with commentary by Carl Anderson and the injured former Irish captain Dermott Monteith.

The match "caught on" with about 4000 people filling every space on the ground and pre-match ticket sales were very good. The Downpatrick club excelled in their arrangements with 150 people sitting down to lunch at one sitting. The Australians were very co-operative and Border insisted on playing in poor conditions to entertain the huge crowd Bob Merriman was an excellent manager. Six Australian journalists came with the party.

Ireland sent Australia in. Hilditch and Wood began, 8 minutes late, to the bowling of Corlett and Elder. Hilditch hit three fours but Wood only scored two singles on his return after a facial injury which kept him out of the previous Test. At 25 Hilditch left Wood stranded and he was run out by a Lewis throw to Bailey. Wellham made seven and then, in Corlett's sixth over, he advanced a considerable distance, played an awful shot and was bowled. 32-2-7. Just before this Hilditch was lucky to survive a run out appeal on a McBrine throw to Bailey.

Enter Border to a magnificent reception, in the 13th over. He was out in the 37th over. So, in 24 overs he made 91 hitting 2 sixes and 13 fours. He was 11 before the slow bowlers, Halliday and McBrine came on. 50 was put on with Hilditch in 37 minutes during which stand Dennison made a marvellous effort to catch Hilditch off Halliday on the deep mid-wicket boundary. This was not expensive, as 10 runs later, at 87 in Halliday's fourth over, Hilditch advanced, missed, Bailey dropped the ball but had time to pick it up and effect the dismissal as the batsman continued towards the Pavilion! 87-3-43.

Border now became severe on both slow bowlers. Using his feet he drove beautifully and reached his 50 in 52 minutes off 48 balls. He hit eight fours and reached 50 with a six off Halliday. On he went and hit McBrine for a six. 100 came up in 27 overs and Border's stand with RB Phillips put on 64 in 39 minutes with Phillips making only five of these. The latter, before he scored, gave a very fast chest high chance to Masood at slip off McBrine. Border was now advancing and striking at nearly everything. A century before lunch seemed "on". With 7 minutes to go he was 91. He advanced to McBrine and skied a very high catch, safely taken, to Prior running in from long off. After one more over rain drove the players off with 3 minutes to go to lunch. RB Phillips 5, and WB Phillips 0 were both not out. All the Irish bowlers did pretty well under such severe pressure from Border.