James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1898

T H EM A R Y L E B O N EC L U BIN 1897. 6 3 (2) M i d d l e s e xv. Somersetshire. Lord's , June 7, 8 and9. AnotherWhitMonday'sbenefit match spoiled by the rain ; hard luck on, W .Hearn, a deserving cricketer , long connected with the ground staff at. Lord's. Middlesex had the good luck to get first knock, and were batting all the first dayfor a total of 377. Messrs. H a y m a n(54) and Warner(83) put on90 for the first wicket , andlater on Sir T. C. O'Brien scored 80 out of 117 by brilliant batting . On the second day, notwithstanding the overnight rain , thewicket was fairly easy , and the brothers Palairet (L. C. H. 92 and R. C. N. 56) played so well , that while the play lasted 233 runs were scored for the loss of only eight batsmen. This was the extent of the game, as no play waspossible onthe third day. Middlesex , 377. Somersetshire , 233 (8 wickets ). (3) Middlesexv. N o t t s. Lord's, June 14, 15 and 16. Notts had the good luck to get first innings , but made little use of it , Gunn's41being the highest score . O n the second day Middlesex gave a much livelier display , although the batting was rather uneven . Mr. Warner's 176 wasa particularly sound as well as a by no means unattractive innings ; Mr. F. G. J. Ford, too , hit in his most brilliant style for 77. O n the second night Shrewsbury (80) and Mr. A. O. Jones (47) put on 74 for Notts without the loss of awicket . Onthe Tuesday Mr. Dixon (61), Dench (not out 65), andAttewell (66), all played up well , so that there was never any chance of finishing the match. Notts , 202 and 393 (6 wickets ) ; total , 595. Middlesex , 375 . (4) Middlesexv. Yorkshire. Lord's, June 17, 18 and 19 . Theearly part of the gamesuggested the ultimate success of Yorkshire . Winningthe toss was a great advantage to them, and they utilised it well to the extent of a big total of 439. For this the chief credit belonged to Wain- wright (171 ) and Lord Hawke (75). The former's was the highest innings he has ever ever played , and a splendid display it was, lasting over four hours . Rainovernight had affected the wicket a little on the second morning, and this madethe batting of Middlesex the more praiseworthy . Mr. F. G. J. Ford (29) was the first to offer anyreal resistance to the Yorkshire bowlers , though Mr. A. J. Webbe(74) and Dr. G. Thornton (56) subsequently played equally fine cricket . In the follow on Mr. Ford, who scored 122 in the match for once out, Messrs. Stoddart (57) and H a y m a n(56) played up so well that at the end there was little in the game. Middlesex , 311 and 222 (4 wickets ) ; total , 533 . Yorkshire, 439. (5) Middlesexv. Philadelphians. Lord's, June21, 22 and 23. Middlesex put astrongish side into the field to oppose the Philadelphians ,and w o ninthee n dwith seven wickets to spare. Mr. F. G. J. Fordwasin his best run-getting vein, and his scores of 40 and 112 did very muchto turn the scale against the Americans. Four of the Philadelphians got double figures each time. Thesewere A. M. W o o d(12 and 80), H. C. Thayer (34 and 49), J. A. Lester (15 and 31), and C. Coates , jun. (23 and 25) ; otherwise the batting was rather disappointing . Middlesex wonby seven wickets . Middlesex , 234 and 154(3 wickets); total , 388. Philadelphians , 117 and 270 ; total , 387.