Famous Cricketers No 77 - W.L.Murdoch

236. Sussex v Middlesex, Lord’s, July 15, 16, 17 (Sussex won by two wickets) * st G.MacGregor b J.T.Rawlin 9 285 119 b J.T.Hearne 20 151-8 313 237. Sussex v Yorkshire, Huddersfield, July 18, (19), (20) (Match drawn) * 354-6 238. Sussex v Nottinghamshire, Hove, July 22, 23, 24 (Nottinghamshire won by 67 runs) * b R.G.Hardstaff 2 121 98 b R.G.Hardstaff 21 171 261 239. Sussex v Surrey, Kennington Oval, July 25, 26 (Surrey won by ten wickets) * b T.Richardson 0 90 - - - - 223 b T.Richardson 9 133 1 1 0 0 1-0 240. Sussex v Gloucestershire, Bristol, August (5), 6, 7 (Gloucestershire won by ten wickets) * lbw b C.L.Townsend 8 99 159 c J.R.Painter b C.L.Townsend 0 60 1-0 241. Sussex v Somerset, Taunton, August 8, 9 (Somerset won by ten wickets) * st A.E.Newton b E.J.Tyler 32 97 220 st A.E.Newton b E.J.Tyler 0 143 22-0 242. Sussex v Lancashire, Hove, August 12, 13, 14 (Lancashire won by four wickets) * c C.H.Benton b A.W.Mold 1 102 265 c A.G.Paul b T.Lancaster 10 246 85-6 243. Sussex v Hampshire, Southampton, August 15, 16 (Sussex won by 148 runs) * c and b H.Baldwin 0 85 108 c H.F.Ward b T.Soar 15 260 89 244. Sussex v Kent, Hove, August 22, 23, 24 (Sussex won by nine wickets) * c F.Marchant b W.M.Bradley 0 200 141 did not bat - 110-1 168 245. Sussex v Surrey, Hove, August 29, 30, 31 (Surrey won by an innings and 44 runs) * c F.C.Holland b T.W.Hayward 50 178 433 lbw b G.A.Lohmann 28 211 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St Gentlemen v Players 1 2 0 58 31 29.00 - - - - County Championship 18 33 1 594 94 18.56 - 3 4 - Other Sussex matches 3 5 0 329 226 65.80 1 - - - Other matches 1 1 0 19 19 19.00 - - 1 - Season 23 41 1 1000 226 25.00 1 3 5 - Career 245 429 39 10991 321 28.18 12 50 168 24 Bowling O M R W BB Ave County Championship (5 ball) 1 1 0 0 - - Career (4 ball) 53 11 } 161 3 1-22 53.66 (5 ball) 15 5 1896 – In England With only two Championship wins, Sussex finished bottom of the table. Once again Murdoch had to manage with for the most part relatively innocuous bowling, especially at Hove where opponents hit nine centuries. These included 243* by Grace who also hit 301 in the return at Bristol. Sussex had the better of several of the seven draws, notably in the case of Nottinghamshire at Hove. The highlight of the season was the defeat of the 1895 champions at The Oval. Murdoch started the season well but after hitting a valuable 67 at The Oval in July his form declined and his top score in the subsequent ten matches was only 21. During his 144 against Somerset he shared partnerships of 171 with Ranjitsinhji (107) and 216 with Newham (201*). Murdoch opened the bowling on four occasions and against Somerset claimed the distinguished wicket of Lionel Palairet. 35