James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1876

53 (4) Oxford V . Cambridge. Lords, Jiu*e 28, 29, and 30. Public opinion was in favour of an exciting match, and for once public opinion was right. Each University had only lost one match during the season, and oddly enough in each case the Marylebone Club at Lord's was the victor. Each eleven was deemed to be strong in batting, and here, too, expectations were fully borne out by the result. Oxford was severely crippled just before the match by an accident to Mr. Foord-Kelcey, its best bowler, who, though able to play, was none the less far from being in a fitting state for bowling, and evidently in pain when in the act of delivery. On the opening day matters looked very gloomy for Cambridge. The weather was hostile in the first place, and play did not commence until two o’ clock. Then Oxford won the toss, an advantage of some moment as the wickets had been carefully protected by tarpaulin, and the out fielding was slippery for the fieldsmen, as well as much against the bowlers. Messrs. A. J. Webbe and T. W . Lang were the first batsmen of Oxford, and Messrs. C. M. Sharpe and H. M . Sims the Cambridge bowlers. Great things were expected of Webbe, and he justified these hopes. At least 80 runs were made before the first wicket fell, and of the aggregate of 200 the t^vo first batsmen contributed 100, both playing good cricket. On the second day the ^weather was exceptionally fine, and according to official estimate there were ten thousand on-lookers. Cambridge made a good start, as all the first five batsmen made double figures ; half the wickets were down for 131, and had the tail only made a fair show the total of Oxford would have been outdone. As it was Mr. Patterson alone displayed any disposition to be troublesome, and the last five wickets only added 32 runs. An advantage of 87 runs to Oxford was the result of an innings to each side, and the result seemed a “ good thing ” for the dark blues. Messrs. Sharpe and Patterson, the Cambridge bowlers, though, were not easily disconcerted, and matters bore a different aspect when six of the best batsmen of Oxford were out for .74 runs. Then came Messrs. Game and Hoyle to the rescue, and another momentary change was effected. To be brief, Oxford scored 137, and there was considerable speculation whether Cambridge could or would not get the 175 runs wanted to win. The excitement, too, w&s sustained by the fluctuations to the very close. Mr. Hamilton, the wicket keeper, sur­ prised his friends by playing steadily for 11, and Mr. Sharpe proved that he was a thoroughly good bat by the manner in which he obtained his 29. It was of no use apparently for the Cambridge Captain to experiment on his weaker batsmen. Five wickets were down for 76, and in these five were Messrs. Lucas, Blacker, and Longman. Mr. Greenfield and the Hon. E. Lyttelton put on 35 runs, when the former was caught. The latter, a very dangerous batsman to let off, had been badly missed by Mr. Lang at mid-on, but a very brilliant catch by Mr. Webbe while running hard at square leg soon after despatched him, and the seventh wicket fell for 114. Any odds on Oxford now, said the knowing ones, and as Cambridge had still 61 runs to get with only three wickets to fall, there was some reason for such supposition. They reckoned to some extent, though, without their hosts, as Messrs. Patterson and Sims added 47 runs before the next wicket (Mr. Patterson’ s) fell, and this only to the “ lobs ” of Mr. Ridley, who almost reserved himself until it was too late. Mr. Sims hit vigorously and his energy infused some life into the game. While he was there it was a 41moraln for Cambridge, but in his over anxiety he put up a full pitch from