CRICKET IN ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1241, 11 September 1875, Page 17

CRICKET IN ENGLAND.

(FROM OUB OWK CORRESPONDENT. ) The cricket season is now at its zenith, and big matches are so numerous that the barest record of them would occupy a large amount of space. One of the most noteworthy features of the < season is the downfall of Gloucestershire, which for several years past has carried everything before it, thanks to the Graces. The "Leviathan" has shown a decided falling off t in form this year, for, though he has made several good scores; he has been oftener disposed of for small figures, and has only once passed the century. His brother, "G. F.," however, has shown some good cricket. Surrey, which seems, to be reviving again, beat Gloucestershire through the fine bowling of Southertou, and the splendid wicket-keeping of Poolen, who dismissed no less than six men. Both verft- carried round the ground in triomph. Sussex inflicted a much heavier defeat on the western team. Yorkshire (playing at home) beat Surrey by four wickets, A. Greenwood, one of the " Tykes," adding largely to the high j reputation as a batsman he has won this year. | (N.B.— lt was Luke Greenwood who visited Australia.) The M.C.C. beat Notts by 62 run 3, notwithstanding the- marvellous bowling I of Alfred Shaw during the M.C.C.'s second innings. He bowled 41£ overs (36 maidens) for ; 7 runs and 7 wickets, among which he clean bowled W. G. Grace, C. F. Buller, and Lord Harris— three of the best batsmen in England. The annual match between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge was played on Lord's ground on the 28th June and two following ! | days. The result was a victory for Oxford i by the very narrow number of cix runs, the total scores being :— Oxford, 200 and 137 ; Cambridge, 163 and 168. The excitement at the end of the match was intense, and the cheering «t times almost frantic. A heavy shower of rain interrupted^the play for threequarters of an hour towards the end of Cambridge's second ianings, but the spectators sat it out manfully. The last three Cambridge wickets fell in 11 balls for seven runs. The highest scorer for Cambridge was the captain Longman, with 40 and 23. For Oxford, Webbe was the top scorer, with 55 and 21. This player, from the form he has displayed in several first-class matches this season, ia likely to make his mark in the cricketing world. He combines those two chief excellencies in a batsman, steadiness and good hitting powers.' Oxford has now won 20 matches, Cambridge 19, and three have been drawn. A match between the North and South of England, was played at Nottingham on the same day as the inter-University contest, but ended in a draw. The scores at the end of the v^J^b 8400 !? £ hus: South > 146 aud 111 ; North, 158 and 52, with four wickets down. Lockwood (North), with 66 and 22 (not out), was the Wheat scorer in the match. ■£*??'£• (South) made 21 and 25, while his brother, G. F. was disposed of for 0 and 8. On the other hand, Dr E. M. Grace, who seems co have time to spare for cricket from his duties as County Coroner, has played a tremendous innings at Alveston, near Bristol, scoring no le*s than 230 runs off his own bat. One doesn't know whom to pity most in such a case— the batsman, bowlers, or fielders. Dr Grace's innings has been beaten this season, however, by Mr Renny-Tailvour, playing for the Koyal Engineers agajust the Royal 4rtili ex Zi JHc^F "s»°™ted to no less a totul than 280 (not out), made up of three 6's six b\ nineteen 4's, twelve 3's, thirty 2's, and sixtv-hve singles. The whole innings of the Engineers amounted to 556, while the two «™»igs of then- opponents together made only 23a. The annual match between Eton arid Winchester was played on the fin* three days of July, on the former 1 1 ground, and resulted in a victory for Eton by five wickets, the scores being-Eton, 230 and 46 (with five wickets down) ; Winchester, 136 and 139. On the same day, the Gentlemen and Playera tried conclusions at Kennuigton Oval, but the match was, unfortunately, • drawn, on aeecount of rain. The scores then stood as fol-' and 31 (with 7 wickets <W) Jupp was the highest scorer for the Players, with 46 and 52, ™a }J' G ™° raC£ ; for tlle Gei *Wn, with 32 andl7. The return match was played at Lords on the first three days of this week and

the weather being fine, the scoring was much heavier. W. G. Grace "came off" at last in the Gentlemen's second innings, scoring 152 before he was run out. Several other big scores were made, and the innings closed for 444. 1 he Players only succeeded in putting together 105 at their second attempt, so that the Gentlemen won by 202 runs. For +he Players Lockwood was top scorer, with seven, and 67, A. ureenwood coming next, with 51 and 16.