The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-07-18 00:00:00

CRICKET.

STOCRBRIDUE r. BIRMINOKAM STANhARD..—This, which
proved to be up to the rrment time, the mast exciting
match of the season, was played on the ground at Amble•
cote, on Saturday afternoon last. The weather was very
favourable for cricket, there being • total abstinence of
wind and sun. 'Slits wiil, doubtless, account in some
measure fur the large scores that were wade on both
sides. The " Birmiugham Standard" has a high repu-
tation amongst cricketers, as being one of the best clubs
in the Midland Counties, and they confidently antic,pa-
ted that they should gain an easy victory over the Stour.
bridge team ; hot as will be seen from the scores below,
although they wade an excellent innings . they were
doomed to disapointment, aid there is but little doubt
that Ivid time allowed of the watch being played out
they would on this occasion have sustained defeat. The
Stourbridge won the toss, and elected to send is their
opponents, who chose an their champions Messrs. Layton
and Wilson. They were faced by Messrs. Webb and
Parker (bowlers). Rum were made rather slowly at first,
the bowling and the fielding on the part et the Stour-
bridge bele(' exceedingly good, whilst the defence of the
batsmen was equally praiseworthy. Layton WWI Mean
bowled by K. Clifton for 10 which consisted of use 5, two
l's, three 2's, and two singles. Wilson was caught by
Ingold, off K. Clifton's bowling when he had •dded but
nine to the score, after an innings of more than an hours'
duration. Cooper was clean bowled for two, by one of
Robinson's swift "daisy cutters," thus making room for
A. Hideo., who proved to be a regular "sticker." E.
Clifton joined hire, and the pair bit away very freely
until the latter was cleverly caught by K. Clifton off
tee bowling of Ingold, when he had made 15. E. Oakes,
the well known Dudley cricketer, then went in to do
battle for Birminghaw, and right well did he sustain his
, reputation as • first-rate Woman. At first beginnag
I wish Ls, the score was rapidly augmented by the addi-
tion of on, 3's, and in one instance of even .5. Both
Riden and Oakes were batting in magnificient form, and
although the bowling on the part of Stourbridge was
frequently changed, a considerable time elapsed before
the batsmen could be separated, which was at length ef-
fected by Hideo being given out, leg before wicket, after
he had placed 45 to the credit of his club. H. W. Mason, ,
who took his place was disposed of by a ball from K. I
Clifton for around 0. E Oakes was shortly afterward'. I
magnificently " caught " by W. Davis, off Clifton's
bowling, after he had placed 75 runs to the account of
Birmingham, consisting of one 5, one, .1, eight 3's,
eleven 2's, and the remainder singles. He was loudly I
applauded on his return to the tent. The only other '
who succeeded in scoring double figures, was D. Astkin,
who made 11, before he was bowled by Inquiet, J. Allday,
being taught and bowled by the same I,,srler the 2
whilst 8. Derricott was run out before he had scored, and
03 Davis was not out for 4. The total score was 211, and
as there was but an hour•and.a.half to elapse before the
time for drawing the stumps, it looked • well-nigh hope.
lase case for Stourbridge. In fact, some of the Birming-
ham men confidently predicted that they should get the
whole of the Stourbridge out for 50; but, subsequent
events proved them to be egregiously mistaken. Stour.
bridge sent in H. I'arker and K. Clifton, and they were
not long at the wickets before the Birmingham team
found out that their opponents were not to be despised.
The former began to hit away in magnificent style,
knocking the ball over the boundary on all sides of the
field. K. Clifton was unluckily caught by Cooper, off E.
Clifton's bowling, when he had male eight by some steady
play ; whilst his aucceasor, J. W. Parkes, was bowled by
IL Clifton when he had scored but 1. J. Webb then went
in to join Parker, and runs were made rapidly. The
bowling was fairly "collared,' and although the captain
of the Birmingham team changed the bowlers frequently,
and widened hie "field to cope with the extraordinary