Lives in Cricket No 7 - Richard Daft

moment and they ran through Surrey’s middle order, to leave Notts victorious by an innings and 65 runs. There followed a rain-interrupted draw against Gloucestershire at Trent Bridge. On to 9 August, 1880 and Bramall Lane, Sheffield, in which Notts were defeated for the only time that summer. The weather was splendid and an immense throng of people assembled on each of the first two days: affected by the recent heavy rains, the wicket favoured the bowlers throughout. By the end of the first day, the scores read: Notts 102, Yorkshire 75 for nine. At the close of the next day, Notts, the second time around, had subsided for 92; the home side needed only ten more runs to win, which they soon obtained next morning. In the return match between Gloucestershire and Notts at Cheltenham College, William Barnes took the opportunity to play a remarkable innings of 143. He entered with the score on two and was last out at 272. He hit eight fours, but W.G’s cunning placement of the field resulted in his running as many as 47 singles. Richard was his only substantial supporter, compiling a steady 40 before he was splendidly caught by Fred Grace, who next day top-scored for Gloucestershire with 62. Two months later, only 30 years old, he was dead as the result of a chill. Notts had to chip away at their opponents’ batsmen as it took 170.2 four-ball overs to grind them out for 172. As the home side’s deficit was 100, they were compelled to follow on and it took Notts another 176.3 overs to dismiss them a second time: they were then only 71 runs ahead, but there was no more time for play. Barnes played two further splendid innings when Middlesex visited Trent Bridge for the match beginning 19 August. Only two days were necessary as Shaw, Morley and Barnes bowled the visitors out for 93. Notts gained a lead on the first innings of 79; Middlesex next day slumped again before a late rally left Notts 73 for victory. They lost five wickets in gaining their objective. Richard stayed for a while with Barnes in the first innings and was in at the kill with an undefeated single. Notts finished the season as undoubted champions. Much later, in September, came Notts’ big match of the season. It was a great coup for Captain Holden to have arranged the fixture with the Australians. In the spring they faced a hostile cricket establishment after a fracas at Melbourne in the winter of 1878/79 when Lord Harris, captain of England, was assaulted on the pitch. 98 Triumph and Tribulation