James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annnual 1881

T H ECOUNTIESIN 1880. 7 3 Scotton (53 ) and Flowers (42) had brought the total to the respectable figure of 136 before the close . G. F. (37) and W. G. Grace (36 )were the only Gloucestershire batsmenat all at homewith the bowling of Shaw, Morley, and Flowers ; and when the game ceased , one wicket of Gloucestershire had to fall , with the score eleven runs short of that of Notts. Thematchwas drawn. Gloucestershire , 125 (nine wickets down). Notts, 136. W .G. Grace (Gloucestershire ) Overs. Maidens. R u n s. 5 5 - 2 3 2 4 0 (5) Gloucestershire v. Middlesex. Clifton , August, 12, 13, 14, 1880. Wickets. 5 High scoring was anticipated as the natural consequence of the meeting between these shires , and some heavy run-getting took place , though not quite up to the markof the preceding year. Middlesex madea promising start , thanks to a brilliant score of 142 by Mr. A. J. Webbe; andwhenthe innings closed for 335, the chances of their defeat seemedvery remote. Five ofthe best Gloucestershire wickets , too, weredownfor 102;but Messrs. Moberly (99) and Cranston (53), with a timely stand , during which 110 runs wereadded, turned the scale , andafter all Gloucestershire were only 29 runs behind. There seemedlittle chance on the second night that the western shire wouldhavetime to win, but Mr. W.G. Grace and Midwinter wereable to get rid of Middlesex in their second attempt for 122 ; and after all Gloucestershire won, with plenty of time in hand, by five wickets . Gloucestershire , 306 and 152 (five wickets down); total , 458. Middlesex , 335 and 122; total , 457. (6) Gloucestershire v. Notts . Cheltenham, August 16, 17, 18, 1880, The first match of the Cheltenham week, a meeting instituted in 1878 b yMr. JamesLillywhite of that town. H a dtime allowed Notts wouldin all likelihood have won; and, as it was, it was only by sheer luck that the westernersaverteda defeat. T h efeature of thematchw a sa score of 143 madeby Barnes for Notts , without a chance ; and though G. F. Grace punishedM punished Morley , Shaw, Flowers , and Barnes , to the tune of 62 runs , on the completion of aninnings ,Gloucestershire was 100 behind. Until almost theclose things were in favour of a victory for Notts ; but a very opportune stand byMr. Fairbanks , who ' played the game' for his 29, not out , and Woof, saved the hometeam, and the match was drawn. Gloucestershire , 172 and 171 ; Total , 343. Notts, 272. (7) Gloucestershire v. Surrey. Cheltenham , August 19, 20, 21 , 1880 . Both sides scored heavily in their first innings , but the Surrey Eleven failed altogether in the second trial ; and their collapse converted what