The ICU suggested a Triple Crown to the National Cricket Association at Lords, now that England Amateur team had come into the field, administered by NCA. Scotland and Wales agreed and the tournament was held in the British Midlands over a three-day period. All the teams stayed in the Strathallan Hotel in Birmingham. There was a Tournament Dinner on the first night at which the speakers were former England Captain MJ K Smith and Honorary Secretary of ICU, Derek Scott.

Ireland sent 14 players. Cohen was again available and replaced Benson, who was not. Dunlop and Doak were left out for Hoey (recovered from injury) and Smyth, recalled for the first time since the 1991 Zimbabwe tour. Jackson cried off, still injured, and Rutherford was brought as reserve wicket-keeper to Miller. Patterson (injured) was out of the Scottish team. Reifer, Stanger and Allingham were new to the Irish. The ground was near the river in Stratford and the pitch was reasonable if a little slow. Conditions were cloudy and cool. For the Scottish match Ireland left out Rutherford and the McCrum brothers - Charlie was not quite fit.

Ireland sent Scotland in and Nelson's first four overs were maidens. Hoey came on for the 11th over and Lewis replaced Nelson for the 14th, at which stage the total was 24. His fifth ball got Philip LBW lifting his head and hitting across the line. Next over Lewis had Storie LBW on the front foot and in his third over Love played on. 29-3 and Lewis 3-2 in three overs. Both of Lewis and Hoey bowled out their 11 overs and they finished before lunch. 50 came up in 29.4 overs as both bowlers bowled accurately. After a stand of 34 Lewis took the fourth wicket in his last over - having Salmond caught at the wicket. 63-4-12.

Lewis was a revelation! It was by far his best spell for Ireland as he is usually fairly wild. He had 4-21 with only one wide. Harrison had come back on and had Allingham stumped with the total on 76. This was Harrison's 100th wicket for Ireland. This dismissal came just after lunch which was taken at 72-4 scored in 38 overs. Curry was the sixth bowler used. In his third over Govan hoisted the ball to Lewis at long-on. Orr joined Reifer who was batting carefully having come in at number three. 100 came up in 45.4 overs. At 105 Orr advanced, head up, and was stumped.

The next two stands redeemed the innings. Hamilton hit a six off Harrison and scored 21 of the stand of 30. Nelson was recalled and saw Hamilton chop onto his wicket. 135-8-21. The last two overs realised 21. Stranger his Nelson for a six and a four in the final over. Reifer had 52* and kept the innings together. He hit only 1x4 (there were 8 in all) and faced 127 balls. The three bowlers to bowl 11 overs all did well - Nelson went for 30 runs, Hoey for only 19 and Lewis for 21. Miller did well behind the wicket with two stumpings and a brilliant catch to dismiss Salmond.

Cohen and Rea opened to the bowling of Hamilton and Richardson. Cohen was LBW in Richardson's first over. He was down the wicket but hit across the line. Warke was not in great form but he stuck it out. His stand with Rea added 46 in 83 minutes and saw the 50 up in 22.1 overs. Then Allingham took two wickets in three balls with the score on 53. Warke was caught at the wicket and Lewis was out to a brilliant diving gully catch by Philip. One over later (25 overs) tea was taken with the score on 59-3,Rea 31, Harrison 0. Reifer came on after tea. He bowled left arm seamers. At 80, in the 33rd over, Harrison drove at a wide ball and was caught at the wicket.

13 overs later Curry mis hit Reifer to mid-wicket. Now the score was 93-5-7. 19 overs were left and Rea was 44. An assault was launched on the bowlers in the 41st over and four overs yielded 34 runs. This effectively ended the match, which actually ended after 48.2 overs. Rea and Smyth put on 64 in 50 minutes. Smyth, after two Winters in Australia, was very much improved. He played himself in and then played a series of handsome strokes as did Rea in the latter part of his 72 not out (scored off 140 balls) which won him a cup as the Man-of-the-Match, adjudicated by Keith Andrew, former Test wicket-keeper and now Chief Executive of NCA.