Day 1:
The second of the important engagements with English teams which have this season been promoted by the Glasgow City and District Cricket Committee was commenced at Hamilton Crescent, Partick, yesterday.

The English eleven, which is captained by Quaife, late of Sussex, has undergone considerable alteration The three Yorkshiremen, Peel, Ulyett, and Wainwright, are absent, together with Bean and Hide of Sussex. Davidson and Chatterton, Derbyshire, fill the places of Bean and Hide, and Surrey men (of whom there are seven altogether in the eleven) have been selected for the other vacancies.

The Scottish team is a strong one, although it would have been all the better if it had included several of the crack Eastern batsmen. H.J. Stevenson was absent, and his place was given to J.M. Anderson, Clydesdale.

The great interest aroused by the match was well reflected in the large attendance of spectators, of whom there would be about 2000. The drawings at the gate amounted to £70. In the forenoon the weather was rather dull and threatening like, but by the time the game was fully under way the atmospheric conditions were of the most favourable description. The wicket was in good order, and gave evidence of careful preparation on the part of Butler, the groundsman.

The result of the first day's play seems to indicate that this will probably prove one of the most interesting contests ever witnessed at Hamilton Crescent. The Scottish team, which has been supplemented by J.J. Ferris, the distinguished Australian bowler and Gregor MacGregor, of Cambridge University, played a splendid game throughout, the batting being especially good all over. It was, however, matter for regret that C.T. Mannes had to retire owing to injury to one of his fingers.

Undoubtedly the best cricket was shown by Dr Pope, late of the Edinburgh Australasians, whose batting was really superb. His action, both forward and behind, was as good as has been seen at Partick for a long time. In point of prettiness, W. Neilson (Merchiston) showed, perhaps, the next best cricket. J "Robertson" also batted well.

When the luncheon bell rang, four wickets were down for 98, but on the resumption, Sharpe, the Surrey crack bowled in grand form and the remaining batsmen succumbed for a total of 143.The two Surrey bowlers took seven wickets, and considering the state of the wicket, this was a creditable performance. Davidson (Derbyshire) and Lockwood also bowled well.

All the bowlers were on the fast side, Sharpe especially so. The Englishmen ran up 116 for the loss of six wickets before play was stopped for the pay, Abel, Quaife, and Lockwood being the principal contributors. Quaife played pretty cricket, while Lockwood had a brilliant innings.

The visitors showed to better advantage than the Scotsmen in the field. The Englishmen ran to meet the ball, but with one exception, the Scotsmen waited till the ball came to them. Mr MacGregor's wicket-keeping excited general admiration, and his magnificent performance was something like a revelation to the majority of onlookers. His action is of lightning speed, and the way he gets the bails off is simply marvellous.

The Scotsmen were fortunate in winning the toss, and they started batting shortly after twelve o'clock with J. "Robertson" and R.J. Pope. Lohmann opened to the Australasian who got the last ball of the over through the slips to the boundary. Sharpe began at the other end, and "Robertson" opened his account with one to leg for 2, which he followed with a drive for a like figure.

Pope then got a 3 off Lohmann which brought out 10. In Sharpe's next over "Robertson" scored heavily, and 20 appeared after fully ten minutes play. A pretty cut to the boundary by the same batsman raised the enthusiasm of the crowd, but unfortunately, he put the next ball into Lohmann's hands at slip just when he appeared likely to make a long stand. The score stood at 26, of which the outgoing batsman had 18.

W.J. Wright filled the vacancy, and had added 7 when he was held by Sharpe. Gregor MacGregor next partnered Pope, and he began with a single off Lohmann. Singles were the order of the day for a time, but a 3 by Pope caused 40 to be signalled after half an hour's play.

The score rose slowly to 50, and 10 runs later Davidson took the ball from Lohmann at the low end. The Derbyshire representative sent down a maiden over to MacGregor; while in the next over Pope got Sharpe to the boundary for 4. The change being ineffectual, Lockwood was tried at 65 in place of Sharpe, and only a single had been added when the Cambridge University captain was held by Abel immediately behind the wicket-keeper.

This companionship had exactly doubled the score, the bulk of it having been done by Pope, who was playing in fine style. J.J. Ferris was the next batsman, and he and Pope gave a fine exhibition. At 82 Pope fell a victim to Diver's smartness at wickets, and retired with 37 to his credit, which had been compiled by good cricket in an hour and three quarters.

C.T. Mannes succeeded, and after a few good strokes, only for singles however, he opened out and had a boundary hit off Davidson. Just after the luncheon bell rang with the score at 98.

On resuming after luncheon the weather had become delightfully fine, and the crowd had increased considerably. A.R. Don Wauchope accompanied Ferris to the wicket in place of Mannes to continue the innings. On inquiry it was ascertained that, most fortunately for the Scottish eleven, the Drumpellier representative had received a knock on the right hand which had broken one of the fingers, and the doctor would on no account allow him to play.

Lohmann and Sharpe again shared the bowling. A hit for 3 by Ferris caused the century to appear. Wauchope hit out freely, but at 119 he lost Ferris, who, like Pope was held behind the wickets. The Grange representative had got into double figures when he shared a similar fate.

W. Neilson and J.M. Anderson were now together, and they had raised the total to 137 when the Clydesdale man was dismissed by Diver. R. Scott succeeded, and saw Neilson bowled by Sharpe. J. McLaren came next, and after scoring 4 he put one into Sharpe's hands at mid-off, the innings thus closing for 143.

The Englishmen shortly after four o'clock commenced their innings with Abel and Chatterton, the attack being entrusted to Ferris and Scott.

The Surrey man opened his account with one to leg for 3 off Ferris, while he obtained 7 off Scott's first over. Chatterton had only a single when he was well held in the slips by McLaren off the Australian's bowling. Quaife filled this early vacancy, and at 26 saw Abel clean bowled by Ferris.

Lockwood came next, and had scored 5 when he gave a difficult chance to Pope, who failed to take it. Lockwood after this played with great vigour, his driving being exceptionally brilliant. Quaife contented himself with leg hitting.

The score gradually crept up, and Robertson went on to bowl vice Scott at 50. His first ball was a wide, but in his second over he got his length, and the batsmen had great difficulty in playing him. At 81 Lockwood "skied" one, which was grandly secured by Don Wauchope. Quaife only stayed 10 runs later, being beaten by Robertson, after playing very prettily for 31.

Lohmann was never at home with Ferris, and after three unsuccessful attempts he was secured at point by the Blair Lodge boy. Diver and Major were together when at sic o'clock play was stopped for the day, the score standing at 116 for six wickets.

Day 2
The second day's play in this important contest at Hamilton Crescent, Partick, was favoured with almost ideal cricketing weather. The wicket was somewhat worn and of this the English bowlers took full advantage. There was a slight breeze, too, from the south-west, and this effected the batsmen to some little extent.

Overnight the game had been left in a somewhat interesting condition, and this became more so when the Englishmen succumbed with only five runs ahead of the Scottish total. The cricket on the whole, was of as high an order and as interesting as on the first day, although it went somewhat against the Scottish eleven.

Undoubtedly the Englishmen bowled better in their second essay. Lockwood, who is fast, medium, and slow alternately, took seven wickets at a cost of 27 runs. Dr Pope and A.R. Don Wauchope were the only batsmen who seemed at home with the bowling, and but for these two the failure would indeed have been great.

Dr Pope's innings of 41 was even better than his effort of the previous day, his placing being remarkably good, especially on the off; and while waiting with great patience, he did not fail to take advantage of every loose ball.

Mr A.R. Don Wauchope had a good 24 before he was well taken by Major. None of the other batsmen did anything worth of comment, the second venture realising only 108.

The Englishmen went in, and although the result was a foregone conclusion, they lost five wickets before the requisite number of runs had been made. Lohmann hit out in capital form after giving two chances. In his 36 he had no less than eight 4's.

Quaife, who was out for 24, played the patient game, and a little after six o'clock the match closed, the Englishmen winning by five wickets.

Mr MacGregor was again seen to great advantage, and only one extra was attributed to him during the course of the two innings. The home eleven were less smart in the field than on the previous day. Several catches were missed, while their returns were sometimes very wide. Altogether, the cricket was quite first class, and the attendance was again large, the gate money realising close on £70 making over £150 for the two days. A new game will be commenced today.

At 12.20 the overnight not outs, Diver (16) and Major (1), appeared at the wickets to continue the English innings against the attack of Ferris and "Robertson." Major cut one to the boundary bringing out 120, and then Diver soon carried the total to 130 with boundary hits. Seven runs later the Australian beat Diver, the wicket having added 21.

Davidson, who succeeded, went out to one from Ferris, and fell a victim to MacGregor's smartness at wickets, after adding only 2. Sharpe came next, and he with a two off "Robertson" carried the score beyond the Scottish total after half an hours play. A few minutes later Sharpe was bowled by "Robertson," and as Maurice Read was unable to bat owing to having sprained his arm while fielding, the innings closed for 148, or five ahead of the Scotsmen.

There were no extras, which speaks well for MacGregor. The Scotsmen began their second venture about half past one o'clock, Dr Pope and J "Robertson" facing the bowling of Lohmann and Sharpe.

The Australasian at once re-opened his account by sending Lohmann square for two. In the third over, "Robertson", who had a single, cut one from Lohmann which went straight into Lockwood's hands at point. W.J. Wright went out, but was also held off Lohmann by Abel in the slips, without improving the score, making two wickets down for three runs.

G. MacGregor was the next batsman, but he made but a brief stay, as at ten he was clean bowled by Sharpe. J.J. Ferris then partnered Dr Pope, and these two offered more resistance, and luncheon time found them still together with the score 22 for the loss of three wickets.

On resuming about three o'clock, the two Australians continued to play steadily, and the score crept up gradually to 40. At 44, Lockwood superseded Sharpe at the low end, and the new bowler's first ball effected a separation, Ferris being dismissed. A.R. Don Wauchope then joined Dr Pope, who was playing very cautiously. At 50 Davidson took the ball from Lohmann, and the Grange man hit one from the Derbyshire bowler for a single, and then got a boundary hit off Lockwood.. Pope responded with a single off Davidson which through an overthrow was converted into five.

Shortly afterwards, the Australasian was caught behind the wicket off Lockwood. The score stood at 71 of which the outgoing batsman had 41, got by pretty cricket, and which included one 5 (4 for an overthrow) and five 4's. Dr Pope received a great ovation on retiring.

W. Neilson filled the vacancy, and then Wauchope sent Davidson to the off for 3; and in the next over he got Lockwood through slips for 3 and 2, and then cut him for 4, the over producing 9. The Merchiston had stayed till 87, and J.M. Anderson on joining Wauchope, had a fine cut to the boundary off Lockwood.

Wauchope followed with a capital drive to the ropes, and a bye for four brought out the century amidst cheers, after an hour and a half's play. At 102 Wauchope left, having been caught by Major off Lockwood after a dashing innings of 24.

At 107 Anderson was beaten by Lockwood, and the remaining wicket fell at 108 shortly after four o'clock, leaving the Englishmen 104 to get to win.

With two hours in which to accomplish this, Abel and Chatterton went in to the bowling of Ferris and McLaren. Runs came slowly, and, after making 2, Abel was beautifully caught and bowled by the Australian.

Quaife came in, and shortly afterwards Scott relieved the Blair Lodge boy. The score had now risen to 30, and 6 runs later Chatterton was dismissed by a grand catch at slip by Ferris. Diver got a good square leg hit first ball, but two balls later his wickets were scattered by Scott.

Lohmann and Quaife were now together, and the score rose rapidly, and the Scotsmen lost a chance of winning the game. Scott failed to take Lohmann, and the next over Anderson missed a lofty hit from the same man, while Quaife was missed at short slip by Ferris.

The century went up, but a series of misfortunes followed, as Quaife was given out "leg before" and Lohmann met a similar fate immediately afterwards, both batsmen complaining they had played the ball. The match ended shortly after six o'clock in a win for the Englishmen as already mentioned of five wickets.

(Article: Copyright © 2013 Cricket Scotland http://cricketscotland.com)