A few weeks before this match the Downpatrick pavilion was totally destroyed in an arson attack. With it went the century old massive N.C.U. Cup won by the Club in 1997. Despite this the match went ahead with a marquee and portacabins in place. The crowd was reasonable considering the unrest in the North at the time of the match which was two days before the 12th of July.

Hansie Cronje returned to Ireland as captain of his team which had recently won the Lord's Test. Of the regular Test team Cronje, Cullinan, Rhodes, Pollock, Boucher (W-K) and Adams all played at Downpatrick. Ultimately the Test Series was lost 2-1.

Ireland rotated some players as between this match and the one in Dublin two days later. McCrum, Cooke and G. Molins played in Downpatrick with J.O.Davy, Eagleson and Dwyer replacing them in Dublin. Rutherford, available again, replaced Bushe as wicket-keeper.

The day was always grey and eventually the match had to be abandoned after 16.3 overs of the Irish innings.

Cronje edges to Allan Rutherford

Ireland won the toss and, as is usual, sent the Test playing tourists in. There was a great start for McCrum. The last ball of the first over left Cronje and he was caught at the wicket. The fourth ball of McCrum's second over squared up Cullinan, deviated slightly and hit his off stump. The other opener, McMillan, had a lucky escape in McCrum's fourth over. He snicked a four off the inside edge. He was out in Cooke's next over. He drove to Smyth's left at extra cover and was wonderfully caught two handed with the fielder in mid-air. 29 for three.

Rhodes was now joined by Pollock who had missed the Old Trafford third Test due to injury. At 38 Rhodes (17) was dropped by Dunlop head high at mid-off off Cooke. Previously Rhodes had hooked McCrum for six. He did so again in McCrum's next over. Another four brought up 50 in the 11th over. Together this pair put on 42 in 36 balls and Pollock was only allowed 12 of them from which he scored three.

In Cooke's seventh over Rhodes hit another six over extra cover. Next ball Rhodes tried to pull and hoisted a high catch and bowl to Cooke. 71-4-39. There ended Ireland's success. Boucher joined Pollock and a stand of 177 ensued. It lasted for 28 overs at an average rate of more than six runs per over. Heasley and McCallan were the first change bowlers. 100 was up in over 19. Pollock began to blossom first and struck a series of boundaries. Molins came on for the 25th over after which (the half-way mark) the score was 135. Pollock reached 50 in over 30 out of 162 in 71 balls. In over 36 Boucher went to 50 with a six to mid-wicket in McCallan's last over. He had taken only 53 balls. 200 appeared in over 37.

Heasley returned and 15 came from his first over. The unfortunate Molins had conceded 48 runs in eight overs but had the consolation of a wicket in his ninth. Boucher his two successive fours and was stumped attempting a third. 248-5-70. Boucher faced 71 balls for his 79 and hit a six and eight fours. The 177 run stand is a record v Ireland beating 152 by two Sri Lankans, S.P.Pasqual and R.D.Mendis, in 1979 at Eglinton.

Pat Symcox goes aerial

When Symcox joined Pollock 55 balls remained. From these delivered by Molins (one over), Heasley (two overs), Gillespie (one), Cooke (two) and McCrum (three) 85 runs were scored and four more wickets fell.

Smycox struck 3 fours and was caught at long-off to give Heasley a wicket in his last over. Elworthy made 16 from 7 balls when he skied Cooke high to cover. Dunlop took a great catch running away from the pitch with the ball coming over his shoulder. In the same over (47th) Hayward was out for nought. This was another fine catch. Joyce raced in from extra cover, dived and slid to his right to hold the ball. 300 came in over 48 and with it Pollock's century. He celebrated by hitting Cooke for a six in the next over. The final over (McCrum) began by Adams hitting successive sixes. He was run out off the 5th ball when Smyth hit the bowler's wicket direct from long-off. Pollock faced the last ball and hit it for four. His innings contained two sixes and 11 fours and he faced. 132 balls. It was exciting stuff for a man being tried out following injury! In all 31 fours were hit and eight sixes - just over half the runs in boundaries.

No Irish bowler escaped punishment. Cooke, 60 runs off 10 overs, did at least have the satisfaction of 4 wickets. McCrum had 2 for 75 in nine. McCallan was the least expensive - 49 off 10.

Kyle McCallan bowling with Mark Boucher the non-striker

McCallan and Joyce set off in Ireland's reply at 3.05 p.m. The innings lasted only 16.3 overs but was bizarre in the extreme. 72 runs, of which 32 were extras, were scored agaisnt 4 bowlers! The extras consisted of 10 No-Balls (each of which counted two) and 12 wides! Pollock bowled 3 of each in six overs and Hayward, a tearaway fast bowler, four of each.

Shaun Pollock to Kyle McCallan

In Pollock's second over Joyce took on the fielding ability of Rhodes, the best fielder in the world. McCallan played a ball to his right at gully. Joyce called and Rhodes hit the stumps direct with Joyce far from home. 9-1-4. Smyth came in and the score went upwards, mostly in extras. 34 was up in 10 overs in the last of which Smyth hit Elworthy for two fours. In the 11th over rain held up play for an hour. When play resumed Pollock completed his over and saw McCallan (3) dropped by McMillan at second slip - a noteworthy event from one of the greatest of slip fielders.

Hayward and Ntini bowled six more overs before rain terminated the match. McCallan was out in the second last over when he followed a Hayward delivery with little footwork and was caught by McMillan at slip. 71-2-17. Smyth was left 19 not out.