James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1885

7 6 L I L L YW H I T E ' SC R I C K E T E R S ' A N N U A L . (2) Gentlemenof Englandv. Australians. M a y29, 30, and 31 . TheGentlemen, despite the absence of the Hon. Alfred Lyttelton , Messrs . A. P. Lucas, and T. C. O'Brien , were well represented . Theywere lucky enough, also , to winthe toss , and the advantage they gained on the first innings proved of immense value to them at the finish . TheAustralians , too , were unfortunate in losing , whenthe gamehad only been in progress an hour, the help of Spofforth , whose right armwas so badly injured by a hard return of Mr. W. W. Read, that hewasunable to play during the rest of the match. The Gentlemen lost five of their best wickets for 144 ; but a fine stand by Messrs . Ridley (68) and Vernon (58) improved their position materially , and these two batsmen , while they were together , added 92 runs to the score . Thebatting of the Australians in their first innings was very disappointing , and the one redeeming feature was the stand byBlackhamand Bonnor, whose partnership was productive of 75 runs. W h e n they wentin again six of the best wickets were down for 135 , and seven were still wanting to save the innings . A determined stand by Scott and Palmer, on the fall of the seventh wicket , however, entirely altered the aspect of the game, and the cricket of these two batsmen, who added 96 runs, was worthy of the highest praise . Scott , who went in fifth wicket down at 105 , and was not out at the finish , scored 82 out of 164 while he was in. The game seemed almost lost whenhebeganhis innings , and his plucky and determined batting changed the whole course of the match. The Gentlemen wanted 129 to winwhenthey went in a second time, and despite Spofforth's absence , the out-cricket of the Australians was so good that six of the best wickets were down for 83. With only Messrs . Bush, Robertsen , and Christopherson in reserve , the chances of the Gentlemen , centred in the help Mr. Diver could give Mr. Steel , who was batting very will . Fortunately the former , after the first ball or two, played with great confidence , and the Gentlemenwon, amidst great excitement , by four wickets . TheAustralians deserve every credit , for they had to play an up-hill gamewith- out their best bowler , and had, too , consequently , to bat one short ; as the wicket would have exactly suited him at the finish , they were singularly unfor- tunate . Gentlemen, 277 and 129 (six wickets ) ; total , 406. Australians , 135 and 209; total , 404. (3) S o u t hv. N o r t h. J u n e2 a n d3. Owingto the number of County matches arranged for the Bank Holiday, the title of this fixture was altogether a misnomer . Several players who figured in the matchwere indeed altogether unknownto the general public , and as a consequence , the cricket was very uninteresting . Messrs . W. G. Grace, Gilbert , and Hornbywere the chief amateurs , and Woof, Crossland , and W. Mycroft the principal professionals engaged . Crossland was the most successful performer of the match. Altogether he delivered Overs. Maidens. 5 5 . 2 1 3 R u n s. Wickets. 1 4 8 0 S. Brown, the Notts' colt engaged by Cheshire (4 and 43), and WoodSims, of Derbyshire (39 not out and 14), for the North, and Mr. W.R. Gilbert (22 and 34), for the South, were the chief scorers . The South wonby 66 runs . South, 130 and130 ; total , 260. North, 91 and 103 ; total , 194. (4) Middlesex v. Yorkshire. June5, 6, and7. Heavyrains prevented a little morethan an hour's play on the first day, and none was possible on the second . The ground, too, proved to be in such an unfavourable condition on the third morning, that the game was abandoned, Middlesex having lost two wickets (those of Messrs . A. J. Webbe and T. Greatorex ) for62 runs.