🧢 Captain's Log

Mon 28 Aug 1893 🧢 1st XIv The Mote CC · HomeformDLLLW

On Monday last, the 28th of August, we welcomed The Mote CC to our ground for a keenly contested affair. The toss went against me, and our visitors, electing to take first strike, set about their innings with evident purpose.

Their batting owed much to A J Thornton, who compiled a sound 40, ably supported by F M Atkins with 35 and the Reverend E L Colebrooke with 33, before the whole side were sent back to the pavilion. Our trundlers held the upper hand throughout, none more so than J N Tonge, who ran quite riot with five wickets for not a run conceded. E Fisher lent capital support with four wickets, and H Waghorn chipped in with one.

Our reply rested chiefly upon the willow of X Easby, whose innings of 110, three figures no less, was the finest sight of the day. E Fisher, past his fifty with 80, and J N Tonge, adding a further 39, gave able assistance, though W W Tarrance and C A Whittaker were less fortunate, each departing for a golden duck, before our innings too came to a close.

The day was not without its milestones. X Easby's fine form carries him past Ernest Cruttenden into eighteenth place among the club's all-time run-scorers, while H Waghorn's endeavours with the ball lift him past Tom Peach Snr into tenth on the wicket-takers' roll, both gentlemen presently well placed in this season's charts. Neither side could force the issue, and honours were shared, a result I thought fair reward for two sides who gave their all.

Fri 18 Aug 1893 🧢 1st XIv EC Eton Ramblers CC · HomeformDDLLL

The toss fell kindly to us on Friams, and Eton Ramblers CC being our guests at home, I did not hesitate to send our visitors into the field first. It proved a happy decision. Leslie Wilson gave a truly capital display, carrying his bat to three figures with 101 to his name, while E C Streatfield played a fine supporting innings of 52 and F Marchant was not far behind with 50. I cannot pretend the card was without blemish, for both Jack Fryer and A Kent were sent back without troubling the scorers, but the innings as a whole did our side great credit.

When our opponents took the willow in reply, they found little comfort against our trundlers. R H Mitchell top-scored with a watchful 33, well supported by V R Hoare's 32 and H Foljambe's 27, yet three of their number, C E Farmer, the Hon J R Tufton and H Philipson, departed for ducks. E C Streatfield bowled quite splendidly to finish with five wickets for 47, and had able assistance from S Christopherson, who claimed three, and H Waghorn, who took two. I confess our fielding behind the timbers was less than tidy, thirteen byes being conceded, a fact Jack Fryer will not thank me for recording. For my own part I contributed a modest 7, sufficient, I am told, to carry me to the head of the club's run-scorers of all time, a distinction I owe entirely to the good fortune of longevity rather than any brilliance of stroke. Streatfield's bowling, meanwhile, lifted him to fourth among our wicket-takers. A handsome victory by an innings and 44 runs, and our visitors left us, as ever, the best of opponents.

Wed 16 Aug 1893 🧢 1st XIv FC Free Foresters CC · HomeformDDDLL

Winning the toss on Wednesday the sixteenth of August, I had no hesitation in choosing to bat, the wicket appearing true and inviting to our batsmen. Our innings was carried chiefly by F Marchant, whose patient 41 formed the backbone of the total, well supported by E C Streatfield's useful 34. Not every man was in his best form, and George Champion had the misfortune to be sent back to the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

Free Foresters CC, our visitors, gave a spirited reply. A E Leatham led their innings with a capital 43, ably followed by A G Grant-Aster with 28 and W D Bovill with 26. Major Curteis fared less happily, departing for a duck to our attack. S Christopherson bowled finely to finish with four wickets for 66, while George Champion, chipping in with the ball as well as the bat, took three for 35, and Streatfield claimed one wicket without cost.

Our man behind the timbers had a trying afternoon, a generous quota of byes going to the credit of our visitors, a small matter we shall look to correct another day. It is worth setting down that Marchant's innings carried him past Mr G J V Weigall to fifth among the club's run-getters of all time, and that Streatfield's wicket lifted him past Mr T Gandy to fourth among our bowlers, he standing this season first in the run charts with 125 and second among the wicket-takers of our first eleven with ten.

We were beaten by three wickets in the end, a result our visitors thoroughly deserved, and we shall be the better for the lesson next week.

Mon 14 Aug 1893 🧢 1st XIv RC Royal Engineers CC · HomeformDDDDL

Monday last, the 14th of August, saw the Royal Engineers CC our guests upon the home ground, and losing the toss I was obliged to lead our men into the field first. Their innings owed most to a well-made fifty from Major L Friend, who made 60, capitally supported by Captain Hamilton with 26. Only W J Johnston was sent back without troubling the scorers. E C Streatfield carried our attack, spinning through their order to finish with 6 for 59, H Waghorn lending good support with 4 for 48.

At the wicket ourselves, we could not quite match their total. Streatfield, having done such execution with the ball, followed handsomely with the bat, his 47 the backbone of the innings, F Marchant adding a useful 36 and Jack Fryer remaining not out with 21. A Kent, less fortunate, departed for a golden duck. Twelve byes crept into the Engineers' total, a testing afternoon behind the timbers for Fryer, though none begrudge him a difficult day in the field.

The day was not without its milestones, Streatfield's 60 runs carrying him past W H Fryer into third place upon the club's all-time list of run-scorers, and his nine wickets lifting him past J Woollett into fifth among our wicket-takers, a fine double for one afternoon. He stands, too, at the head of this season's run charts, as H Waghorn does among the bowlers with eleven wickets.

We were beaten in the end by 78 runs, and beaten fairly, for our visitors played the better cricket throughout. We shall be the better for the lesson, and look forward in good spirit to our next encounter.