James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1888

T H EM A R Y L E B O N EC L U BIN 1887. 5 7 (7) M i d d l e s e xv. K e n t. June20, 21, and 22. Kentcould only put a weak eleven into the field to oppose a very strong side of Middlesex , and the result was really never in doubt. TheKent eleven had the first use of a fast wicket, but failed utterly , andonly four batsmen, the most successful of them G. G. Hearne, with 27, were able even to get double figures . Messrs . Stoddart (78) and A. J. Webbe(49) passed the Kenttotal by 31 runs be- fore the first wicket of Middlesex fell , and only two of the teamgot less than doubles. W h e nthey wentin a second time, Kentm a d ea better show, and thanks to some brilliant batting by Mr. F. S. Ireland (85), whohad not appeared in the Kent eleven for manyyears , just managedto save an innings defeat . Middlesex wonby nine wickets . Middlesex , 327 and 8 (one wicket ) ; total , 335. Kent, 98 and 236 ; total , 334 . A J. W e b b e(2ndinnings Kent) Overs. 2 6 M a i d e n s. 1 6 R u n s . W i c k e t s . 2 3 5 (8) Oxfordv. Cambridge. July 4, 5, and 6. O nthe formof the later trials Oxfordwereconsidered to be the better side all round, and they were so beyond a doubt, as the result of the game proved . TheCambridge captain was fortunate enough to get the first use of an excellent wicket, and at one time there seemed every likelihood of a large score . A t luncheon the total was 152 for three wickets , but the tail madea sorry show, a n dthe last six batsmenon the side were only responsible for an aggregate of 20 runs. A tthe end of the first d a y Oxfordh a dlost three wickets for 113, and thanks to some bad fielding , Mr. Key(35) and Lord George Scott (24), the not outs, were able to add 104 for the fourth wicket. Lateron Mr. Forster showed excellent cricket . He made60 of the last 117 runs got, andcarried out his bat. LordGeorge Scott w a s in four hours for his hundred. Theearlier part of his innings was excellent , but towards the finish he ought to have been caughtandbowled three times . Going in a second time in a minority of 106 , Cambridgedid not fare well , and whenplay ceased on the second evening were only 28 runs on with four wickets down. Mr. Crawley, whoplayed fine cricket throughout , though , received useful help from the last three batsmen , Messrs . Orford, Hale, and Toppin, and the score was increased by 118 , exactly one-half of which were got by Mr. Crawley, before the innings closed . Mr. Crawley, w h owas batting four hours and three -quarters , carried out his bat for 103- a remarkable display of sound and judicious batting . Oxford, with 147 to win, made a bad start , losing Messrs . Gresson and Rashleigh for 23. Lord George Scott , however, again batted in brilliant form, and the match was practically wonduring his partnership with Mr. Nepean , which produced 112 runs . Oxford wonby seven wickets , and they were undoubtedly the better all- round team. It was singular that Lord George Scott and Mr. Crawley, both of w h o mgot their colours at the last moment, should have been the highest scorers for their respective sides , and the former has the distinction of having madethe highest aggregate in an Oxford and Cambridge match. Mr. Key's success was very popular , as it enabled him to claim the honour of the largest numberof runs (294) made by any batsman up to the present time in inter -University contests . In all 24,002 persons paid for admission to see the play . Of the 53 matches so far played , Cambridge has won26 and Oxford 25, the other two having been unfinished .