4th TRIPLE CROWN TOURNAMENT

South Wales: 1-3 July 1996

Triple Crown 1996 Home Page

Scotland v Ireland

Triple Crown
Ynysgerwyn: 3rd July 1996

Scotland won by 7 wickets

IRELAND
D Curry      c Sheridan b Thomson   7                   O   M    R   W
A Patterson   c Reifer b Sheridan  30   Blain           8   0   51   1
J Benson              b Allingham  34   Thompson        8   1   39   1
A Dunlop       c Blain b Sheridan  35   Williamson      4   0   41   0
N Doak                    not out  42   Allingham       5   1   34   1
D Heasley       c Philip b Reifer  45   Sheridan        8   2   17   2
G Harrison                b Blain  17   Reifer          7   0   46   1
R Eagleson                not out   4
A Rutherford
P McCrum                                FOW:  19 76 115 119 187
M Patterson                                  229
     Extras   (lb 17 w 12. nb 2)   31
     Total    (40 overs, 6 wkts)  245
SCOTLAND
I Philip         c sub b Eagleson 121                   O   M    R   W
B Lockie               b Eagleson  70   M Patterson     8   0   50   0
G Reifer  c Rutherford b Eagleson  10   McCrum          8   0   53   0
G Salmond                 not out  10   Eagleson        8   0   34   3
G Williamson              not out  10   Heasley         5   0   36   0
A Davies                                Harrison        3   0   22   0
M Allingham                             Curry           4   0   21   0
J Govan                                 Benson          1   0   17   0
J Blain
K Thomson                               FOW: 198 217 225
K Sheridan
     Extras   (lb 13 w 12)   25
     Total    (37 overs, 3 wkts)  246
Umpires: I Redford & J Breslin

Match Report (Ian Callender)

After the euphoria of the first day win against Wales and another excellent batting display when inserted, the bowling was woefully disappointing. Justin Benson again used seven bowlers, including himself, because Neil Doak was unable to field after injuring his toe when batting. With Kyle McCallan left out because of a calf injury, sustained on Wednesday, the bowling options were restricted by certainly more than capable of defending such a challenging total. The Road End boundary was only 40 yards away and throughout the day was frequently peppered by hits, big and not so big, accounting for the large totals. Four times Irish batsmen failed to reach the boundaries and perished. Scotland failed three times but two vital chances were put down making their job so much more difficult. Even then the bowling just wasn't good enough to trouble such an experienced batsman as Iain Phillip and his latest partner, Bryn Lockie. Philip made 121-not his first century against Ireland and, on this form, it will not be this last-off 91 balls with three sixes and 13 fours. Lockie, not so confident but just as disciplined, scored 70 off 101 balls with six fours.

Each offered a chance either side of their half century. First, Philip's cut to the backward point boundary was badly misjudged by substitute Declan Moore and the ball before his 50 Lockie gave a straightforward return catch to Decker Curry. Decker would normally be pushed to remember dropping two catches in a season; he had now put down two in as many days. Eagleson's second spell, when he took three for 12, was an oasis of sanity in 37 overs of hardship. Mark Patterson, so consistent all season, started badly and never recovered and the other bowlers, without exception, must look back in horror at a day to forget. Yet, at halfway, there was an air of expectancy and enthusiasm for the job ahead. The batsmen's only fault was that all bar one got in and none reached 50 but such was the consistency throughout the order that when a wicket fell his successor immediately picked up the tempo. Curry was out in the fourth over, driving lazily to mid-on, but Andy Patterson proved an inspired replacement for McCallan at the top of the order. One memorable drive through the covers, on the up, was a contender for shot of the day and it was another extravagant extra cover drive, attempting his sixth boundary which was his downfall.

Benson hit 34 off 27 balls and Angus Dunlop took a liking to Mike Allingham's bowling from the short boundary and struck him for 24 in one over, including three sixes in four balls. Doak was the backbone to the innings following the dismissal of Andy Patterson and Derek Heasley carried on the big hitting in this well balanced line-up. His 45 off 40 balls included three sixes and three fours. Even Garfield Harrison was joining in the fun at the end and following a thumping swot through the covers the umpire had to intervene to stop a heated conversation with 17 year old opening bowler John Blain. But it was Scotland who had the last word and Ireland's only consolation was that victory over England would still give them the Triple Crown on run rate.