James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1896

THE COUNTIES IN 1 8 9 5 . 1 0 5 (8) L a n c a sh ir e v . S om e r s e tsh ir e . R ecord R un G e t t in g . #■ Taun ton , J u ly 15, 16 and 17. This was the match of 1895, in that it beat all records for first-class English cricket, both as to individual score and aggregate. Somerset were without Nichols, Captain Hedlev, and Mr. Roe, leaving only Mr. Woods and Tyler as regular howlers. Winning the toss on a faultless wicket the Lancastrians proceeded to astonish both themselves and the world at large. Th e ir total amounted to 801, and M r . A . C. M c L a r en ' a con tribu tion to 424. Such hitting had never before been seen in “ Zummerzet.’ ’ The previous best innings in a first-class English match wras the 703 of Cambridge University against Sussex, and which came within 30 runs of the colossal total in the Smokers v. Non-Smokers’ match at Melbourne some years ago. Mr. Archie McLaren is the first to achieve the proud distinction oi 400 as an individual score in first- class cricket, thus eclipsing, in point of quantity, Dr. W . G. Grace’s great score in 1876. Mr. McLaren’s principal supporter was Paul—now in quite the first rank of batsmen—who hit up the fine total of 177. Utterly worn out and dispirited the Somerset batsmen were cheaply dismissed twice, the only redeeming feature being when Mr. S. M. J. Woods was in. Lancashire won by the remarkable majority of an innings and 452 runs. Lancashire, 801. Somerset, 143 and 206; total, 349. ♦ (9) L a n c a s h ir e v . W a rw ic k s h ir e . B irm ingham , J u ly 29, 30 and 31. Tyldesley was in this instance the hero of the match, and in his free- hitting 152 (not out) for Lancashire were included a great number of big hits. Richards (61 not out and 29) alone among the Warwickshire players met Mold and Briggs with confidence, and when he was in with Mr. Glover there seemed a possibility of saving an innings defeat. They could not quite manage it. however, and Lancashire were left with another hollow victory by an innings and 54 runs. Lancashire, 361. Warwickshire, 195 and 112 ; total, 307. Overs. Maidens. Puns. Wickets. Mold (Lancashire) ........................ 79*4 40 125 12 # (10) L a n c a sh ir e v . Y o r k s h i r e . M an ch ester , A u g . 5, 6 and 7. ^T^The improved form shown by Yorkshire excited £reat public inferest in this return match. Rain, however, interrupted, and Peel and Waiiwright, with the ground as their ally, dismissed their ancient foes for a small total of 103. On the third day the turf had become soft and easy, and after the dis­ missal of Mr. Stanley Jackson (76), who with Mr. Frank Mitchell made a brilliant stand for the first wicket, Moorhouse and his captain (61 not out) put on runs at a rattling pace. Lord Hawke closed his innings at mid-day ; but Mr. McLaren and Ward made an invaluable stand for the first partnership, so that Yorkshire’ s only consolation was that on paper they had all the best of the draw. Lancashire, 103 and 227 (8 wickets, innings declared); total, 330. Yorkshire, 270 (7 wickets, innings declared).