James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annaul 1897

T H EM A R Y L E B O N E C L U BIN 1896. 7 3 (2) Middlesexv. Somersetshire. M a y25, 26 and 27. TheWhitMondaymatch, and for the benefit of J. T. Rawlin, the Middlesex fast bowler. Theinnings of Middlesex was, curiously , like its first score against Yorkshire , producing 386 against 384. Mr. Stoddart's individual performances werevery similar , as, while he made100 against Yorkshire , this time hegot 21 runs more. But the most noteworthy stand was quite at the finish . Mr. Bromley-Davenport , the last man, scored 50, and with Mr. A. J. Webbe (79 not out), the total was raised to 386. D. Smith (62) and Mr. G. Fowler (56) started well for Somersetshire , makingthe score 76 before they were parted . There Somersetshire's successes with the bat began and ended. The majority found J. T. Hearne's bowling too muchfor them, and as the aggregate of their two innings only reached 285 Middlesex woneasily byan innings and101 runs. Middlesex, 386 ; Somersetshire , 179 and106; total , 285 . Hearne(Middlesex) O v e r s. M a i d e n s . 5 1 . 3 1 7 (3) M i d d l e s e xv. N o t t s. J u n e4 a n d5. R u n s. 9 1 W i c k e t s. 1 2 T h echoice of innings had muchto do in giving Middlesex the victory . Thewicket, indeed , wasall against the batsmenwhenNotts , after dismissing Middlesex for 227, went in. Thanksto Shrewsbury (49) and Gunn(33) they were able to save the follow on, but the lead of 107 obtained by Middlesex on thefirst innings was far too great for Notts to have a chance. Thehighest individual score was Mr. Hayman'sfirst of 51, the best aggregate Sir T. C. O'Brien's 43 and 21, both for Middlesex . Attewell , J. T. Hearne, and Rawlin all hadexceptional bowling figures . Middlesex wonby 123 runs. Middlesex , 227and90; total , 317. Notts, 120 and 74; total , 194. R u n s. W i c k e t s. Attewell (Notts) Rawlin(Middlesex) Hearne(Middlesex) Overs. Maidens. 6 5 4 1 5 8 1 1 4 2 1 7 8 3 1 0 5 7 . 2 3 3 6 3 9 (4) Middlesexv. Gloucestershire. J u n e1 8, 1 9 a n d2 0. TheMiddlesex captain once again wonthe toss , and his side profited by theopportunity of first knock. TheGloucestershire fielding was very faulty , andto this wasto be attributed in some measure the high scores of some of the Middlesex batsmen. Mr. Haymanplayed fine cricket for 80, and Mr. W e b b efor his 95. Dr. G. Thornton (161) was at times very lucky , though of coursethere wasboundto be s o m egoodcricket . W . G .set the Gloucestershire Elevena good example with two excellent scores of 60 and56. Otherwise there wasnothing very conspicuous in their batting . Middlesex wonby an innings and77 runs. Middlesex , 450 ; Gloucestershire , 143 and230 ; total , 373 . (5) Englandv. Australia . June22, 23 and 24. T h efirst of the three test matches, and, in spite of a very plucky display by the Australians in their second innings , a fairly easy win for England . The Committee of the Marylebone Club ruled that K. S. Ranjitsinhji was not eligible to represent England, or he would have been included in the eleven . Still , it was a very strong side which opposed the Australians , although another bowler wouldhave been useful . Winning the toss the Australians were thought toha gained a big advantage . Instead they made a poor show , and Richardson andLohmannunchanged got them out for 53. O n the other hand, the Englishmenbeganwell , and, had Eadyonly held an easy chance given by Abelin the slips , the innings might have been muchshorter . As it wasAbel increased his score to 94, and, with contributions of 66 by W.G. and44 by Mr. Jackson, the total reached 292. Following on 239 to the bad, the Australians