James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1882

5 0 L I L L Y W H I T E ' SC R I C K E T E R S ' A N N U A L . (6) Middlesexv. Oxford University. Lord's , June 23, 24, 1881. Middlesexhadnotby any means its best eleven ; but though the match was limited to two days, the bowling of Oxford was so easy on a good wicket that runs camefast enough to give the Countythe victory . Messrs. I. D. Walker and A. J. Webbescored the first fifty runs for Middlesex in thirty -five minutes, and the former, who had been unlucky during the earlier part of the season , was not dismissed until he had made 128. The University bowling, too , just suited Mr. Vernon, as he got 85 runs without a chance, and in these were three fives . Oxford had to follow on in a minority of 151 runs , and though Mr. Leslie's 106 enabled them to make a better show at the second attempt, Middlesex got the 130 runs required to win for the loss of only three wickets . Oxford were beaten by seven wickets . Middlesex, 313 and 130 (three wickets down), total , 443. Oxford , 156 and 285 ; total , 441. (7) Oxford v. Cambridge. Lord's , June 27, 28, 29, 1881 . TheCambridge eleven had been scoring so heavily in the earlier of the homematches that at one time it was thought Oxford had not a ghost of a chance . As the season advanced, the DarkBlues in some measure, owing to the brilliant performances of their new batsman, C. F. Leslie , grew in favour , but the heavy scoring of Middlesex at Lord's just prior to the Inter -University match showed their bowling to be very weak, and at the start the Cambridgeteamwere warmfavourites . There was generally con- sidered though to be one great hope for Oxford , that their Captain, A. H. Evans, wouldbe fortunate enough to get a wicket hard enough to make his bumpydeliveries dangerous, and as luck would have it such proved to be the case . The Oxford Captain's star was in the ascendant , but his team didnot derive so muchadvantage from winning the toss as was expected , and the batting presented no remarkable features . Cambridge were de- cidedly unlucky in having to go in on the first night in a very bad light , and Mr. Evans could hardly have provided himself a wicket more suited to his wishes . Hardly one of the Cambridge batsmen but was badly hit , and Mr. Ford in the second innings received blow after blow with praise- worthyequanimity. A very curious event took place in the second innings of Oxford . WhenMr. Leslie had made eight , he apparently returned one hard to Mr. Ford, which the bowler secured , high up, well with one hand . Mr. Ford threw the ball up, and, as the Cambridge eleven applauded , Mr. Leslie retired , under the impression that he was out . Meanwhile , Mr. Patterson had appealed to Farrands , the umpire at the bowler's end, and after a reference to Price , the umpire at the other wicket , Mr. Leslie , whohad already gone several yards to the pavilion , was recalled . The occurrence was a little singular , andgave rise to considerable discussion . Curiously too in the same match of 1880 a similar incident occurred to Mr. McLachlan, the Oxford bowler . He appeared then to be caught and bowled by Mr. Steel , and the Cantabs were leaving the field , when the