James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Companion 1884

f|>IlE SUER FA" COMMITTEE were not able to secure the best I elevens for their Gentlemen and Players match, which com- menced at Kennington Oval on June 28. Mr. W. G. Grace was absent from the Gentlemen's Eleven for the first time since 1867; a Surrey match at Southampton kept away Mr. W. W. Read and Maurice Read, and Messrs. Alfred Lyttelton, A. \V. Ridley, E. F. S. Tylecote, and V. F. Royle were all compelled to decline the invitations sent them. Pilling was unable to play owing to illness, but Sherwin proved an admirable substitute. All drawbacks notwithstanding, the game aroused great interest, and the finish provoked immense excitement. For the first time in a Gentlemen and Players match the result was a tie. Messrs. C. W. Wright, M. C. Kemp, W. F. Forbes, and J. Frank made their first appearance in the representative match. There was some excellent batting for the Players. Barlow pla}red very sound and patient cricket each time, and Ulyett’s 63, except for a chance in the long field, was a capital innings. Best of all, however, was Bates’s 76 —a splendid display of brilliant hitting. At the (‘.lose of the second day's cricket the Gentlemen had an innings to play and wanted 150 runs to win. This task seemed an easy one, but a storm of rain on the Friday night seriously affected the wicket, and gave the pro­ fessionals an obvious advantage. When the eighth wicket had fallen, 35 runs were wanted, and Mr. Lucas, who had gone in first, was joined by Mr. Frank. The score was carried from 115 to 136, and then Mr. Frank was bowled by a bailer. Mr. Rotherham was the last man. With the total at 142, or only 8 to win, he gave an easy chance at long- on, but Bates, after getting the ball in his hands, let it fall. This blunder robbed the Players of a victory. When the match was a tie, Peate was put on at the Gas-works end, and his second ball clean bowled Mr. Rotherham. Mr. Lucas took out his bat for 47—an innings that displayed his exceptional patience and defence to the highest possible advantage. When he had scored 8, there was a general appeal against him for a catch at point, but as neither umpire was in a position to see, the batsman had the benefit of the doubt. Full score and bowling analysis :— PLAYERS. Barlow, bSteel...... ...... Llj ett, cKemp, bSteel...... Shrewsbury, bStudd ...... Lockwood, bRotherham Barriea, cSteel, bRotherham Robinson, cForbos, bStudd Bates, notout .............. Flowers, candbRotherham Emmett, bRotherham...... Peate,bRotherham Sherwin, bRotherham... B5, 1b 1 ... • # » • » * • « ( < n• • • Total i « «m • « « 1stInns. 2 ndInns. 47 cForbes, bSteel ■ • • • M 31 63 candbRotherham... • • • I M 10 11 bSteel ............... * • • a a a 0 18 bSteel ............... • # • • * * 8 20 fitKemp, bSteel a a 4 28 8 oandbSteel ...... a a 4 a a • 8 19 bFrank .......... • • 0 a « • 76 0 cLuca**, bSteel...... 9 9 9 7 8 bSteel............... » ■ 4 0 0 candbFrank..... . • a 4 3 3 notout............... 9 9 9 A m A 2 G B4, 1b 6 ...... • 9 • w w w f 1 I ♦ 10 • • t oCO Total ...... IM 181