James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual 1898

THE COUNTIES IN 1897. 7 1 (8) Derbyshirev. Notts. Derby, July 5, 6 and 7. Amatchfor the benefit of Davidson, the Derbyshire professional , whose all -round cricket had been of great service to the County for several years . Fortunately , too , for the cause the match lasted out the three days. Derby- shire had the good luck for once to win the toss , and utilised it to the extent of a total of 338. Mr. S. H. Evershed (98) and Chatterton (92) both just failed to get their hundred. On the other hand, Gunnmade 152 in his very best style , and his score enabled Notts to get a lead of ten runs on the first hands. Going in again Derbyshire fell far short of their first innings . Indeed, they only reached 156 , of which Storer (59) andDavidson (37) contributed the larger part. The gamewas drawn. Derbyshire , 338 and 156 ; total , 494. Notts, 3 4 8. (9) Derbyshirev. Essex. Derby, July 19, 20 and 21. Again Derbyshire utilised the opportunity of batting first , and scored to a considerable tune. Mr. S. H. Evershed (112) once moreplayed fine cricket , with this time Davidson (97) and W. Sugg (84) as his principal supporters . After getting Derbyshire out for 428 Essex had to bat on a bowler's wicket , thanks to the rain . Most of the earlier batsmen, as a consequence , failed , and it was only a determined stand by Mr. Kortright (60) and Mead(36) for the ninth wicket that relieved the innings . In the follow on with the ground improving , all the batsmen whowent in scored , with in the result a creditable sumof 213 for five wickets . Thematchwas drawn. Derbyshire , 428. Essex, 186 and 213 (5 wickets ) ; total , 399. (10) Derbyshirev. Leicestershire . Leicester , July 22, 23 and 24. As neither County had wona matchup to date , their meeting attracted morethan ordinary interest . As it happened luck went against Derbyshire , andwinning the toss wasrather a loss than a gain to them. Thewicket had indeed improved by the time that Leicestershire went in, and they were consequently able to get a useful lead of 88 runs at the end of an innings . So far Mr. Marriott's 43 for Leicestershire hadbeen the highest score . Intheir second innings most of the Derbyshire batsmen got runs , though Storer's 50 wasthe best figure . Leicestershire had 187 to get to win at the finish , and the result was by no means a certainty . Still , the earlier batsmen, notably Coe (53), Knight (38), and Tomlin (31 not out), played up so well that the requisite numberwere got with only half the side out. Leicestershire wonby five wickets . Leicestershire , 213 and 187 (5 wickets ) ; total , 400. Derbyshire , 125and274; total , 399. (11) Derbyshirev. Surrey. Derby, July 26, 27 and 28. Derbyshire hadfirst innings , but madepoor use of it, Mr. S. H. Evershed (62) being the only batsmanto get over twenty. Surrey's start wasonly a little better, as at the end of the first dayfive of the best wickets were d o w nfor 100. O n the following morning, however, Holland (93) and Mr. Key(130, not out) punished the Derbyshire bowling severely , and the stand for the seventh wicket changed the whole aspect of the game. Mr. Keyhit brilliantly , indeed h ew a sbattingfor a little less thanthree hours. W h e ntheywentin asecond time Derbyshire began so well that 132 had been got for the loss of only two wickets . Messrs. Evershed (40) and L. G. Wrighthadboth played well , and later on Bagshaw(40) and Davidson (72 not out) gave the Surrey bowlers serious trouble . Still , Surrey hadonly two to get at the finish , andwonwith all their ten wickets in hand. Surrey , 377 and 4 (no wicket ) ; total , 381 . Derbyshire, 143 and235 ; total , 378. D 2