John and James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion 1882

104 for an accident to Mr. J. R. Napier, Mr. Spencer would scarcely have gained a place in the team. The opening day turned out very showery, and winning the toss was certainly a considerable advantage. At first it seemed as though the Oxonians would run up a long score, hut after Messrs. Patterson and Trevor were separated there was a rapid downfall. Mr. C. T. Studd went on bowling as second change, and was remarkably successful. Some vigorous hitting by Messrs. Kemp and M‘Lachlan partially redeemed the innings, but when the last wicket fell at 131, the friends of Oxford felt by no means satisfied. On Cambridge going in Mr. G. B. Studd was at once clean bowled, but Messrs. Bligh and C. T. Studd played finely, and had made about 60 runs when rain came down and caused a long delay This was the Cantabs’ first piece of bad luck. On returning to the field they had to play Mr. Evans in a very bad light, and in three quarters of an hour the fast bowler dismissed Mr. Bligh, Mr. C. T. Studd, and Mr. Steel. The weather next morning was beautifully fine, and the wicket in much better order than before. Messrs. Whitfeld and Ford offered a stubborn resist­ ance, and, thanks to their exertions, the innings ended with a majority for Cambridge of 48 runs. Now came the turning point of the match. Messrs. Patterson and Trevor opened Oxford’s second innings, and when the latter gentleman was bowled, the score stood at 70. This was a brilliant beginning, but batting even more remarkable was to come. Mr. Leslie went in, and so complete a mastery was obtained over the Cambridge bowling that when he left for a capital 70—second wicket down—the total had reached 181. Very early in this partnership a curious incident occurred. Mr. Leslie hit a ball back to Mr. Ford, the bowler, who caught it and threw it in the air. At once leaving the wicket, Mr. Leslie was making his way back to the pavilion, when Mr. Patterson appealed to Farrands, the umpire at the bowler's wicket. Farrands referred the matter to Price, who said that it was not his place to give a decision. Obliged to decide, Farrands said that the catch was made from a “ bump ball,” and Mr. Leslie then went on with his innings. Stumps were drawn when the last Oxford wicket went down, Mr. Patterson taking out his bat for 107. A finer display of defensive batting no one could wish to see. Though suffering from a badly injured finger, Mr. Patterson kept pluckily to his post, and from first to last played most correct and finished cricket. His is the sixth innings of 100 in the University matches. On the Wednesday morning Cambridge went in to get 259, but it soon became evident that such a number would not be reached. The wicket, which had been in capital order on the previous day, seemed worn out, and to face Mr. Evans’s bowling became absolutely dangerous. Putting on his greatest pace, the Oxford captain knocked the batsmen about severely, and carried all before him. Messrs. Steel and C. T. Studd did their best, but to no purpose, and the innings ended for 123. Thus Oxford won a remarkable match by 135 runs. The bad light on the Monday, however, and the difficult wicket on the Wednesday, go far to account for the breakdown of the Cambridge batting. Everything came off for the Oxonians. Their three best batsmen made between them 274 runs, and their only dangerous bowler took 13 wickets. On the other hand, the Cambridge batsmen did not score nearly so well as in their trial matches’ and Mr. Steel failed as a bowler when his services were most urgently needed. The victory was a triumphant finish to the University career of Mr. A. H. Evans, who worked untiringly for his side, and had a hand in