Day 1:
Under the auspices of the Cupar Cricket Club (who have during the past year or so shown a considerable amount of enterprise) a two days' match was begun at Bonvil Park yesterday between a team of Scottish players and the Notts Amateurs. The latter combination have been playing in Scotland this week, but the team that opposed them in their concluding match is looked upon as stronger than that which Perthshire, or even the Grange, whipped up against them.

Delightful weather prevailed, and when the Notts men took the field (for their Captain lost the toss) there was a large crowd of spectators, including a number of ladies. Dawson and Dr. Macgregor were the batsmen, this Duncan and Gregory bowling.

The wicket looked well, and seemed good foe getting runs, but Dawson was bowled with the third ball of the over from Dixon, the ball being well pitched up and shooting in fast. E Rice, Perthshire, came next, and the scoring was opened by Macgregor sending Gregory to the slips for a brace. Rice stepped out to Dixon, and placed him safely for 2.

After a maiden from Gregory, Rice had two nice leg strokes off Dixon - the one yielding a brace and the other a single. He now had his first ball from Gregory, and he pulled it to the boundary, and swiped the next one for 2. Macgregor had a single when Rice fell to a ball from Dixon, almost identical to that which dismissed Dawson. Two for 14.

Macgregor was bowled by Gregory without any addition, and DLA Smith and CT Mannes became associated. The Drumpellier man, after making a single, tried to cut Dixon, but did nit catch the ball fair, and the fielder almost got hold of it. Twenty soon appeared, and then Mannes drove Gregory to the leg boundary.

It was impossible to take liberties with the bowling, while the fielding was very smart, and it was difficult to get the ball away. Mannes, however, had a grand stroke to the boundary off Dixon, but then lost Smith, who got a ball with a lot of spin on from Dixon, and was caught in the slips. Four for 32.

Mannes was joined by his clubmate Tripney, and the former continued to make the runs. He spanked Gregory to the boundary, and followed this by driving a slow one from Dixon for 4, and playing him to leg for a brace. Tripney now had his first look in, and with affine stroke of Gregory he registered 4.

It was off Mannes' bat that most of the runs came and the half century came up after nearly an hour's play. Tripney was soon afterwards caught in the long field, and the half of the wickets were down for 53. Mannes seemed fairly set, and treated the bowling with great freedom. He punished Dixon for 6 in one over, and Russell taking a single, 60 appeared. The Cupar man, however, was snapped in slips with score unaltered.

Mannes was caught at the wickets of Dixon just as the lunch bell rang, and retired with 37 to his credit, after playing very fine free cricket. After this nothing was done, and innings closed for the paltry total of 68. Dixon came out with the very fine analysis of six wickets for 33 and Gregory had four for 31.

The Englishmen began their innings at three o'clock, with SM Gwynne and MA Cursham, the attack being shared by Soult and Smith. A maiden came from each end and Gwynne opened the scoring by cutting Soult for a brace.

Runs came very slowly, and after a quarter of an hour's play, with the total at 6, Soult broke through Gwynne's defence, and levelled the off stump. Robinson came out next, and had a brace off Soult, while 10 appeared immediately afterwards. Then Smith bowled Cursham, and Dixon, who appeared, took the first boundary of the innings off the Grange crack. Soult once more got amongst the wood, Robinson this time being the victim. Three for 16.

Dixon was next to go, being caught in slips by Soult who, at the first attempt failed to hold the ball, but he got it before it reached the ground. Mason and HA Dawson followed, and each hit Soult for 3, while the former drove Soult to the boundary. Gradually the score crept up, and the batsmen settled down to play pretty cricket, each hitting Smith over the fence. At last, however, Dawson was caught at slips, and five wickets were down for 54.

Anthony joined his brother professional, but Mason was sent back caught and bowled on Smith's next over, after playing a fine innings for 28. JH Johnston and Anthony brought about a change in the bowling, McMillan taking Soult's place; but the separation came from the other end, Smith dismissing Anthony with a grand low ball. Seven for 64.

Maltby and Johnston played carefully, and the home total was passed with the couple still together. Dawson was tried for McMillan, but then Smith got rid of Johnston leg before, and eight were down for 77.

Forman was the next batsman, and as Dawson was being rather severely punished, he retired, and Soult resumed. Again, however, Smith split the partnership, getting Maltby caught at point by Mannes. Nine for 90. Gregory was last man, but with 4 added he was caught by Tripney of Smith.

The Englishmen thus led on the first innings by 26 runs. Smith bowled throughout the entire innings which lasted a little over two hours, and all the time bowled splendidly. He kept a fine length and varied his deliveries in such a way as to cause much anxiety to the batsmen. He had the grand analysis eight wickets for 41 runs, Soult having the remaining two wickets for 30.

The Scotchmen had 25 minutes play in their second innings, and in that time lost one wicket for 13 runs.

Day 2:
The rain overnight notwithstanding, the wicket at Bonvil Park, Cupar, was a little bumpy when the match between the Scotch Eleven and the Notts Amateurs was resumed. On Friday night, when time was called, the Scotchmen had little more than begun their second innings, the stumps being drawn with a total of 13 for one wicket.

"AR Campbell" and Dr Macgregor opened against the bowling of Mason and Gregory. Mason, however, only bowled one over when he made way for Dixon. The play at the start was very slow, four overs being sent down without a hit being made.

Dixon in his second over got Macgregor caught in the slips before the Dunfermline man had broken his duck. Rice then came in, and wakened things up a bit, opening with a swinging drive to the boundary. "Campbell" followed with a fine stroke to leg, and play was getting a little exciting when "Campbell" spooned a ball into Gwynne's hand, but the fielder made a poor attempt to retain it, allowing it to slip to the ground.

Shortly afterwards, "Campbell" essayed a run, but the ball was smartly returned, and he was stumped before he could get back into his ground. The two heavy hitters of the team - Rice and Mannes - now became associated, and it looked as if some brilliant play was to be witnessed. Mannes sent the ball away to leg with his old stroke, and Rice had another pretty drive when the combination was unexpectedly broken.

Mannes played a fast ball from Dixon as a slow, and paid the penalty of his miscalculation. Addison Smith took his place. Rice had another boundary and Smith followed suit. After the next ball but one, however, he had to retire, being held by Dixon in the slips.

The Cupar prof. joined Rice, and the score increased gradually, chiefly by singles until, at 56, when Dawson got his leg before the wicket, and was given out, six wickets being down for 56. Tripney had a cut to the boundary, but was immediately afterwards caught by Anthony off Dixon. Rice, with Russell as his partner, had two grand drives and a cut to the boundary, but these were his final efforts, the Ardvreck master falling to Mason with a ball that broke from the off. His 40 was skilfully comprised, and included no less than six 4's.

When the bell sounded for luncheon, eight wickets had fallen for 79. On resuming, Soult was associated with Russell, but the latter soon fell to Mason, and Hunter went to the wicket. The Grange man had some fine hits, and soon the century was reached. Soult pulled the ball right round to the leg boundary.

Mason was instrumental in bringing the innings to a close at 109, Soult being caught in the slips by Gregory off Dixon.

Dixon and Johnston were the first to defend for Notts, Soult and Addison Smith bowling. In the first over Dixon pulled Soult to the leg boundary, but play after this was somewhat slow, the score going up by an occasional singles. Johnston skied a ball from Soult, by Rice failed to hold it.

When the score had reached 18, Hunter went on in place of Soult, and the change was effective, Dixon's wicket being got with the first ball of the over. Robinson filled the vacancy, but retired without increasing the score, being clean bowled by Smith.

Mason, who came in next, fell soon afterwards, being caught by Rice at extra cover-point, and three wickets were down for 23 runs. Dowson now partnered Johnston, and scoring became a little faster, the former having a boundary off Hunter, who shortly afterwards gave way to Soult. The Clydesdale professional got Johnston, who played the ball on to the wicket.

Cursham, who went in next, hit out with vigour, and Dowson drove Smith out of the grounds - the only six of the day. Dowson had another boundary of Smith, whose bowling was being played much more easily than it was on Friday. The score soon reached 60. McMillan took Smith's place, but Cursham got him to the leg boundary.

Smith was tried at the north end, and McMillan gave way to Hunter. Dowson had some fine drives off Smith, one of which was badly missed by Ashton, who fielded for Dr Macgregor. A separation, however, was effected by Soult holding Cursham in the slips off Smith. Anthony now joined Dowson, and the telegraph soon showed 84 giving on the two innings a victory to the Notts by five wickets. It was decided, however, the remaining five players should give an exhibition and some pretty hitting was witnessed.

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