Lives in Cricket No 5 - Rockley Wilson

Cambridge 146 runs short of avoiding an innings defeat. But in Cambridge’s second innings Wilson scored 142 in an innings lasting three and a half hours and in which he only just failed to carry his bat. This was to prove the highest score of Rockley Wilson’s first-class career. When it came to the University match, Rockley had the great satisfaction of captaining Cambridge to victory by five wickets. Oxford scored 206 and 251 in their two innings, Cambridge 186 and 274 for five wickets. A major factor in the success was the bowling of Rockley Wilson and Dowson. Opening the bowling in both Oxford innings, they took all but two of the twenty Oxford wickets, Rockley finishing with five for 53 off 35 overs and three for 66 off 26.5 overs. Dowson took ten wickets in the match and S.H.Day, who scored 117 not out in Cambridge’s second innings and probably would have won the “Man of the Match” award had there been such a thing in those days, paid tribute to Wilson’s captaincy. “He could make Dowson bowl without trying too many After Graduation 38 Effortless superiority. The Cambridge University side of 1902. Standing (l to r): R.N.R.Blaker, C.E.Winter, L.T.Driffield, J.Gilman, F.B.Wilson. Seated: S.H.Day, E.M.Dowson, E.R.Wilson (captain), L.V.Harper, E.F.Penn. On the ground: C.M.H.Ebden.