James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annnual 1881

T H EC O U N T I E SIN 1880, 8 7 Robertson were fairly successful ; but on a good wicket neither of them ought to be really dangerous. The introduction of W m. Clarke , the Nottinghamprofessional , who is qualified to play for Middlesex by reason of his residence at Harrow, undoubtedly strengthened the side in the bowling department, and he is likely to be of service . In batting the county was very strong , as it has been of late years, but as a rule the wickets were not in favour of the bat during the season . Somevery fine cricket was shownby Messrs. I. D. Walker and A. J. Webbe, and the w a y they scored more than once for the first wicket of Middlesex was a caution . Mr. A. J. Webbe's 132 against Gloucestershire , at Clifton , was one of the best batting performances of the year, Resultsof M a t c h e s. Matches played , 8 ; Won, 2 ; Drawn, 2 ; Lost , 4. Club. O p n t s. Opponents. W h e r e played. W h e n played. 1st 2nd 1st 2nd W o nb y. i n n. i n n. i n n . i n n. MatchesW o n(2). (1) Surrey O v a l Jly 15, 16 179 80 69 (2) Yorkshire Sheffield Aug16-18 189 *71 104 155 Inns& 30 runs 5 wkts; *5 w d. MatchesD r a w n(2). Remarks. 1Surrey Lord's May27,28 223 310* 267 *8 w k t sd o w n Gloucestershire L o r d ' s Jne14-16 96 *75 281 *N o MatchesLost(4) . Lostb y 1 Yorkshire Lord's 1N o t t s Lord's 1Gloucestershire Clifton (3)Notts N o t t i n g h a m ExtraMatch. 1 Oxford Univ. (12 a side ) Lord's June3,4,5 197 175 153 307 Jly 12, 13 62 95 125 *34 Aug12-14 335 122 306 152* 19-21 93 151 172 *73 " 88 runs, 9 wkts; *1 w d 5 wkts ; *5 wd. 5 wkts; *5 w d. W o nb y Jne17,18 210 211 144 225 52 runs. 1All these havebeentreated in previous rejiews , (1) Middlesexv. Surrey. Oval, July 15, 16, 1880 . Surreyhadquite a second-rate eleven to do battle for it , and the victory ofMiddlesex was a certainty fromthe first . In winning the toss , too, the latter gained an immense advantage, as, owing to the rain , the wicket after luncheon-time on the first day was almost unplayable. Mr. Vernon made his 106 by very fine cricket when the wicket was easy ; and after luncheon , when the ground began to play queerly , eight Middlesex wickets fell for 43 runs . Surrey's chance of run -getting were very small at any time , and as the tail made even a worse show than usual , the eleven were dis