 While studying the University of Cambridge, MacDonald also made a single first-class appearance Cambridge University against Somerset in 1930.During this match he scored 29 runs in the Cambridge first-innings, before being dismissed by Jack Lee, while in their second-innings he was dismissed for 7 by Arthur Wellard.He later played Minor counties cricket in England for Lincolnshire, first appearing for the county in the 1934 Minor Counties Championship against Norfolk.