James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1885

T H EM A R Y L E B O N EC L U BIN 1884. 7 7 (5) Middlesex v. Gloucestershire . Juue 12, 13, and 14. Gloucestershire were altogether out of luck in this match. Withonly aweak eleven, though they lost the toss , they were able to head Middlesex by 73 runs in the first innings , a result mainly due to the fine cricket of Mr. W.G. Grace, who contributed 94. Unfortunately , while batting on the first night , that gentleman strained the muscles in the calf of his right leg so severely , that though able to batwith some one to run for him,he could neither bowl nor field . H ewas sadly missed , of course , by Gloucestershire whenthey took the field a second time, and in his absence Middlesex scored freely . The stand of the innings was by Messrs . Webbeand O'Brien , and the latter hit very freely for his 119, in which wasonly onechance , whenhe had got 105. Gloucestershire wanted 273 to win, but despite somegood hitting by Mr. Gilbert , Mr.Page, andPainter , the total only reached 150. Mr. I. D. Walker's lobs were very successful . Middlesex wonby122 runs . Middlesex, 146 and 345 ; total , 491. Gloucestershire , 219 and 159 ; total , 369 . Overs. Maidens. R u n s. Wickets. 5 5 . 3 1 8 7 2 1 0 I. D. Walker(Middlesex) (6) Middlesex v. Kent. June 19, 20, and21. Kent, with certainly not a representative eleven , had to suffer a decisive defeat at the hands of a strongish team of Middlesex . Though the latter were only able to claim a lead of five runs on the first innings , whenthey went in again the Kentish bowling was punished severely , particularly by Messrs .Pearson (83) and S. W. Scott (93 not out). With 344 runs to win, Kent lost four of its best wickets in a very bad light on the second night , and in all only three of the eleven got double figures , Lord Harris carrying out his bat for 35. Mr. C. T. Studd's bowling had muchto do with the result of the match. Middlesex won by242 runs . Middlesex , 156 and 338 ; total ,494. Kent, 151 and 101 ; total , 252. Overs. Maidens. R u n s. Wickets. 6 8 1 0 Mr. C. T. Studd (Middlesex) . (7) Oxford v. C a m b r i d g e. June 30 and July 1. 3 1 7 1 O n public form the fiftieth Inter -University match was regarded as a certainty for the Oxford Eleven. The Cantabs, from the commencement ofthe season, showed indifferent form at all points , and they were, indeed , a weaker team than any which had represented the University for several years . They were lucky enough to win the toss , but Paravicini's play was the only noteworthy feature of their batting , and at the end of the first hands Oxford were 98 runs ahead. Mr. Rock's excellent defence , in the second innings of Cambridge , entirely changed the aspect of the game, and had he been at all well supported by the tail , the result might have been close . H e was in for three hours and twenty minutes , and his play was worthy of high praise . Messrs . Wright, Bainbridge , and Studd showed good cricket , but after Mr. Rock retired acollapse set in, and the last six wickets only added 17. Oxford , with 80 to win, lost two wickets without a run ; but Messrs . Hine-Haycock and Page played the Cambridge bowling with confidence , and the remaining runs were got for the loss of the latter's wicket . Mr. O'Brien , who had been scoring very heavily during the season , failed to score in either innings . O nthe first day 11,462 paid for admission into the ground, and on the second 9,114 ,