James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1896

THE COUNTIES IN 1 8 9 5 . 8 5 (1) G lou ces tersh ire v . Som ersetsh ire , Bristol<, May 16, 17 and 18. D r . G race ’ s H undredth H undred . Both Counties were strongly represented, the ground was in admirable condition, and Somerset had little difficulty in knocking up 300, with 118 by Mr.*Fowler (who hit wonderfully hard) and 80 by Mr. Lionel Palairet. But the match will be for ever memorable as that in which Dr. W. G. Grace completed the magnificent feat of scoring 100 indvidual innings of over 100. Remaining at the wickets for the whole of the second day, W. G. while in made 288 out of 463 in 5J hours. Not since the phenomenal year of 1876 has he done so great a thing. In addition to being the third highest score of his life, this was his second three-figure innings in a fortnight’s first-class cricket. Mr. C. L. Townsend (95) alone supported his captain adequately; but Gloucestershire won easily by nine wickets. Gloucestershire, 474 and 19 (1 wicket); total, 493. Somersetshire, 303 and 189; total, 492. (2) G lou ce s te rsh ire v. K en t . Gravesend , May 23, 24 and 25. A. Hearne (155), G. Hearne (49), and Mr. Weigall (74) were principal scorers in a total so large that Kentish partisans may well have regarded the encounter as a “ good thing” for their eleven. It was reserved for W. G., however, to achieve the colossal feat of making 500 runs within a week. He scarcely made a mistake in compiling 257 runs, and Mr. Kitcat, of the others, was by himself in getting 50. An utter change now came over the wicket, Painter and Roberts utilising the cracked wicket so well that Gloucestershire were finally left with a nine wickets victory—undoubtedly the work of their captain. W. G. was on the field while every ball in the match was bowled. Going in first, he was last out in the first innings. In all he scored 350 for once out. In the match 1,095 runs were scored for thirty-one wickets. Gloucestershire, 443 and 106 (1 wicket); total, 549. Kent, 470 and 76; total, 546. (3) G lou ces te rsh ire v . Sussex . Brighton , June 3 and 4. With Messrs. Townsend, Ferris, and Sewell away, as well as Painter and Murch, Gloucestershire had only a very moderate side. The result wfas that in spite of a rather good showr by W. G., wrho scored 91 and 25, the aggregate of the two innings only amounted to 297. The scoring, indeed, on both sides was below the average, as Marlow (75 and 36) was far and away the most successful run-getter for Sussex. Parris' bowling in the first innings of Gloucestershire was one of the best features of the match. Sussex won by six wickets. Sussex, 213 and 86 (4 wickets); total, 299. Gloucestershire, 151 and 146; total, 297. Overs. Maidens. Runs. Wickets. Parris (1st inns. Gloucestershire) 5*3 3 14 5 (4) G loucestersh ire v . Su rrey . Oral, June 6 and 7. A disagreeable check, after a particularly brilliant opening for Gloucester, who were without Painter and Mr. Townsend, and were sadly m need of more bowling. As it was, Hayward (123), Mr. Walter Bead (o4) Wood (4o). and total than 400 It was notW . G. Grace s day, and his failure seemed to have a disheartening effect. At least, the eleven were badly b ^ n by RichMdwjn and Lockwood, and tbe end was a decisive win for Surrey by the huge majority of an innings and 105 runs. Surrey, 40;>. Gloucestershire, 1-3 and , 1 , total, 210.