HISTORIC CRICKET TROPHIES

Southland Times, Issue 25748, 11 August 1945, Page 3

HISTORIC CRICKET TROPHIES

OLD HAT TRICK RECALLED An incident occurred at Lord’s pavilion during the third Victory Test, which will probably never be repeated. An old gentleman stopped in front of a glass case in which many historic crickdt trophies are displayed, and after gazing for a long time he withdrew and went to the secretary’s office and demanded to see Sir Pelham Warner. When Sir Pelham Warner was found the old gentleman requested that the case be opened so that he could touch one of its exhibits.

It was pointed out to him that the relics were in the glass case so that people could not touch them, but the old man, pointing, said: “I did want to touch that ball again.”

He pointed to a ball commemorating F. C. Cobden’s famous hat trick in the Cambridge-Oxford gaine in June, 1870.

“Again?” asked the puzzled Sir Pelham Warner.

“Again, yes,” said the old gentleman. “You see, I helped in that hat trick.” The old gentleman was the Mackinnon of Mackinnon, the 35th Chieftain of that clan, who was a Cambridge undergraduate and played in the match in 1870. The case was opened and the old gentleman fondled the ball for a few minutes, thanked Sir Pelham Warner, and left.

So long as old gentlemen gather at Lord’s when Oxford and Cambridge play there will be talk of “Cobden’s match.” This has been put into verse in the following couplet: Cobden, whose name in Cambridge halls, The feat unto this day recalls— Three wickets with the last three balls, To win the match by two.

The scores in the match were: Cambridge, 147 (Francis five for 59, Belcher four for 52) and 206 (Yardley 100, Francis seven for 102). Oxford, 175 (Cobden four for 41, Ward three for 33) and 176 (Ottaway 69; Cobden four for 35, Ward,, six for 30). Cobden took the last three wickets in poor light in each innings. In Oxford’s second innings the score was 163 for six when he was brought on. Two runs had been added when, in Ward’s next over, Townshend was dismissed lbw after making 75.

Four runs were needed with three wickets in hand, when Cobden commenced the final over. Hill, who was well set, took a single off the first ball —it would have been a boundary but for skilful fielding by Bourne at midoff. The second ball resulted in Butler being caught by Bourne. The third bowled Belcher. The fourth spreadeagled Stewart’s wicket, completing Cobden’s hat-trick and giving Cambridge the match. The Mackinnon, who called to handle the ball again made 17 not out in the first innings and 2 in the second. One incident which Cambridge could enjoy after the match occurred when Dale missed an easy catch off Tylecote at point and saw that batsman go on to get a good score. When his captain remonstrated with him he replied, “Sorry, Walter, I was watching a lady get out of a drag!”