Cricket 1906

268 CRICKET: A WEEKLY RECORD OF THE GAME. J u l y 12, 1906. G E N T L E M E N v. PLAYERS. CENTENARY MATCH. Played at Lord’s on July 9, 10 and 11. Fielder takes all ten wickets. The Gentlemen won by 45 runs. About 15,000 persons were present on the opening day of this important match, for which two capital sides had heen chosen. Owing to an injury, Ery did not assist the Gentlemen, whilst the Players were without Hirst and Arnold, who were not well enough to assist. The fact that the match marked the one hundredth anniversary of the first meeting of the two sides—on Lord’s original ground, where Dorset Square now stands—- lent much additional interest to the encounter. Jackson, who was making his first appearance in an important match this season, captained the Gentlemen, and, of course, won the toss, as usual. The hatting was opened by Spooner and Foster against the bowling of Gunn (Pavilion end) and Fielder, and, on a wicket obviously over-watered, some most interest­ ing play was witnessed. With only 13 runs scored Spooner was howled by Fielder, who disposed of Perrin leg-before-wicket two runs later. Thus early it was apparent that run-getting was no easy matter, and Foster, after being missed three times off Fielder— by B ayes, Hayward and Lilley—was bowled for 10, made in three-quarters of an hour. Bosanquet and Jackson then came together, and naturally played a slow and watchful game. Fifty went up in seventy minutes, and soon afterwards Haigh and Lees bowled for Gunn and Fielder. Bosanquet played the brighter cricket of the two, but Jackson, though much slower, showed very strong defence and played a most valuable game for his side. Bosanquet, after batting for fifty-five minutes, reached 50, and, although Rhodes went on for Haigh, and Fielder for Lees, no separation was effected prior to lunch, when the score was 102 for three wickets, Bosanquet being 51 and Jackson 26. In the second over sent down after the adjournment Bosanquet was caught at the wicket off Fielder. He hit seven 4’s, and, of the 79 runs added in eighty minutes for the fourth wicket, claimed 56. Two runs later Hutchings was disposed of in a pre­ cisely similar manner, five wickets then being down for 109. Without any addition to the score Crawford was clean bowled, three wickets having gone down for 7 runs since lunch. Jessop then appeared, and, having scored a 4 and a 3 off Fielder, and a 4 off Rhodes, was howled by the former, who had so far taken every wicket which had fallen. All this time Jackson was playing a sound, defensive game, taking no risks, but makingavigoroushitwhenopportunityoffered. On the advent of Martyn some very bright cricket was seen, the newcomer evidently being determined to knock off Fielder, whom he punished for three 4’s in an over. Jackson also obtained a 4, all run, off the Kent man, and 150 went up in one hundred and sixty minutes. At 161 Martyn, having made 26 of the 34 added for the eighthwicket infifteenminutes, was caught by H&igh at mid-on ofl a very lofty hit. Six runs later Jackson, after batting two hours and a-half for 40, fell to a catch behind the wicket, and, without any addition to the score, Brearley was bowled, the innings clos­ ing for 167, made in three hours. Fielder immortalized himself by obtaining the whole of the ten wickets at a cost of but 90 runs, thereby establishing a record for the Gentle­ men v. Players match. The wicket certainly suited him, but it was, nevertheless, a won­ derful performance against such run-getters, and with Gunn, Haigh, Lees and Rhodes on the same side. His deliveries came very quickly off the pitch, and he maintained a splendid length. The Gentlemen made a very much smaller score than had been expected, and it was anticipated that the Players would experience little difficulty in reaching their total. In Brearley’s first over Hayward, when he had made a single, un­ fortunately played a ball on to his body and was obliged to retire for a time. Tyldesley then joined Bowley, but no stand could be made against Knox and Brearley. Bowley was bowled at 2, and Tyldesley sent back 6 later. Denton, after making a lucky 3 off Knox, was missed in the slips by Foster—a mistake which gave the Gentlemen a great deal of trouble. At 16 Hayes was sent back, and 1 run later Khodes also was disposed of, four of the best wickets thus falling in half- an-hour for 17. Hayward then appeared and from the first ball he received played very confident cricket. Denton, too, made many fine strokes, and together tbe two men added 88 for the fifth wicket in an hour and a-quarter. Upon the arrival of Gunn an appeal was made against the light, but play continued although the light was certainly rather defective. Gunn made 13 of the next 18 runs before being caught, and when Hay­ ward was caught in the slips at 136 stumps were drawn for the day, the Players, with three wickets in hand, being then 31 runs behind. Hayward batted nearly two hours for his score of 54, but, although it was a most valuable contribution, it could not be considered one of his best displays. Martyn kept wicket superbly, standing up to the fast bowling of Knox and Brearley, and allowing only one ball to pass him. During the day seventeen wickets fell for 303 runs, the cricket being most interesting throughout. On Tuesday morning Lees joined Lilley, and, so well did the pair play, that the Gentlemen's score was passed without further loss. Altogether the eighth wicket put up 40 in half-an-hour ere Lees was bowled. Lilley and Haigh added 16 for the ninth partnership, the former then being sent back for a most useful 31, made iu forty-fiveminutes. Fielder gave little trouble, the innings closing for 199, or 32 ahead. Knox obtained half tbe wickets for 73 runs, and was beyond doubt the best of the Gentlemen’s bowlers. When the Gentlemen went in the second time, Spooner was seen at his best. He and Foster, who opened the innings together, made a splendid stand, but were both somewhat lucky. The arrears were rubbed off in half-an-hour, mainly owing to Spooner, who was playing a very bright game. Foster, when 6, was missed in the slips by Rhodes off Fielder, and in the following over was almost bowled. He played a far slower game than is his wont, and at one time scored only a single in half- an-hour. When he had made 29 Spooner was missed at the wicket off Lees, a mistake for which the Players had to pay a heavy price. When the 50 went up after fifty minutes’ play Spooner had made 37 and bis partner 11. The Lancastrian continued to do the major portion of the run-getting, and reached 50 out of 77 in eighty minutes. At lunch-time the score had reached 82, which gave the Gentlemen a lead of 50, with all their wickets in hand. After the interval the hundred was sent up in ninety-five minutes, and Bhortly afterwards Foster, when 34, was almost caught in the long- field by Hayes, who would have brought off a great catch had he held the ball. Of the first 108 run obtained by the Gentlemen as many as 40 were singles. After batting for one hundred and fifteen minutes Foster reached his 50, and a quarter of an hour later the 150 was recorded. With 6 runB added Foster, who had scored 67 out of 156 in one hundred and thirty-five minutes, and had hit seven 4’s, two 3’s, and three 2’s, was caught by Hayward at mid-off. His innings, which was a most serviceable one, was by no means one of his best. Perrin followed in but did not stay long, as, after completing his thousand runs for the season, he was sent back for eight, the second wicket falling at 180. Spooner, after batting for two hours and forty minutes, was caught by Fielder for 114 made out of 211 in three hours. Apart from the mistake when he had made 29, he gave no chance, and hit fifteen 4’s, four 3’s and seven 2’s. It was a very great display indeed, the e,ase and grace with which he scored being most marked. Hutchings succeeded in reaching double figures, but then, as in the first innings, fell before the attack of the all-conquering Fielder. Bosanquet and Jackson were soon sent back, six wickets then being down for 229, whenJessop camein. Four runs onlywere added when Crawford was caught off Lees, the Gentlemen thus being only 201 runs on with three wickets in hand. The change which had so quickly come over the game was almost dramatic, for, whereas the score was up to 156 ere the first wicket fell, as Tinny as seven were down for 233. Neither Martyn nor Knox made much resistance, and when Breirley came in last man at 272 the innings appeared likely to close within a very few minutes. Jessop, however, hit out in most delightful and daring fashion, and, obtaining the majority of the bowling, took the total to 321 before Brearley succumbed to Fielder. The last wicket added 49 in half-an-hour, and Jessop carried out his bat for 73 made out of 92 in sixty-five minutes, having hit ten 4’s, a 3, and seven 2's. He played a splendid game, and the fact that he obtained his runs when they were most needed adds lustre to his performance. At the conclusion of the innings play ceased for the day, as rain was falling somewhat heavily. Yesterday, requiring 290 to win, the Players commenced their second innings with Hayward and Bowley against the bowl­ ing of Brearley and Knox (Pavilion end). Only 15 runs hadbeen obtainedwhen Bowley, after batting 25 minutes without scoring, was bowled by Knox, whilst at 19 Tyldesley, after making a lucky stroke to the boundary off a yorker, fell to the same bowler. The Players’ disasters did not end here, however, for three runs later Denton also was bowled by the Surrey amateur. Hayes at this critical point partnered Hay­ ward and, both making some fine strokes, the total was advanced to 54, when, owing to a misunderstanding, the two men found them­ selves at one end, the result being that Hay­ ward, who had made 34 in 65 minutes, was run out. Rhodes then came in, and shortly afterwards Knox, who was evidently tiring, gave place to Crawford. The total was taken to 89 when Rhodes was caught in the slips by Bosanquet off Brearley, the fifth wicket having added 35 in just over half-an-hour. In John Gunn, who followed in, Hayes found a useful partner, and it was whilst they were together that the hundred was sent up after the inn­ ings had lasted 115 minutes. Hayes made some very fine strokes all round the wicket, and reached his 50 in 105minutes. At lunch time the pair were still together, the score being 145 for four wickets. After the adjourn­ ment only two runs were added before Hayes was l.b.w to Knox. He made a faultless 55,