Scotland v Surrey 30 June, 1 & 2 July 1892
by Cricket Scotland


Ground:Raeburn Place, Edinburgh
Scorecard:Scotland v Surrey
Event:Surrey in Scotland 1892

DateLine: 4th February 2013

Scotsman

Day 1:
A start was made yesterday at the Grange ground, Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, with this contest, the most important on the Scottish cricket card of 1892. Fortunately the weather was of the most brilliant description, and there was a large and fashionable turnout of spectators, the largest, indeed, on record for the first day of a Scottish cricket match.

The visitors had the good luck to bat first, and making every use of their opportunity they occupied the wickets for the entire day, and when stumps were drawn at 6.30 they had scored 391. Towards this grand total W.W. Read contributed 156 in his own polished style, Shuter, Lohmann, Maurice Read, and Lockwood also materially assisted in raising the score.

The home fielding generally was good, MacGregor, Wauchope, Stevenson, and R.H. Johnston shining in this department, the last named bringing off one of the finest catches ever witnessed at Raeburn Place. Scott, though he only captured a couple of wickets, bowled well, his analysis at one time reading eight maiden overs for one wicket.

Play will be resumed today at noon, and should the weather hold good, an interesting day's cricket may be anticipated. The following will show the run of the game,

Shuter, with customary luck, beat Balfour with the toss, and naturally elected to take the first of the excellent wicket which Terry had prepared for the occasion. At 12.15 Baldwin and W. W. Read faced the deliveries of Robertson and Steele, the last named taking the pavilion end.

From the outset the batsmen played good cricket, and despite fine bowling, frequently changed, backed up by close fielding, the score was taken to 69 before Baldwin fell a victim to Macgregor's dexterity at the wickets. The outgoing batsman claimed 25 made in pretty fashion.

Lohmann joined Read, and the pair kept their wickets intact until lunch time, when the score stood at 108. Resuming after luncheon, Robertson and Steele took up the attack. The batsmen soon had the measure of the bowling, and with a fine off-drive the amateur completed his hundred amid general cheering, the score then being 171.

With the total at 182, Read hit a ball high into the air, and though Steele waited patiently for the ball, he dropped it. The very next ball, however, proved too much for Lohmann, who retired amid loud cheering for a freely hit innings of 44. The Reads were now together, and the second century was soon hoisted, the result of two hours and three quarters play.

The batsmen made another stand, and several bowling changes were resorted to. At 258 Palmer smartly caught and bowled W.W. who had been batting three hours and twenty minutes for his 150. Mr Read's innings contained one 5 (4 for an overthrow) and twenty five 4's, and on returning he was loudly and deservedly cheered for a stylish display of all round cricket.

His namesake did not long survive, a magnificent catch by R.H. Johnston, took the ball low down in front of the pavilion rails, leading to his downfall. The indicator showed 259 for 4. Abel made a short stay, MacGregor smartly stumping the little man from Stevenson's lobs when he had only 14 to his credit.

Shuter and Lockwood were then associated, and both treated the spectators to some lively batting. The total was carried to 331, when the professional was bowled with a beauty from Steele when he had made 24. Shuter and Henderson carried the total to 359, when the visiting captain was brilliantly held in slips by L.M. Balfour.

Mr Shuter was awarded a fine reception on retiring, his 58 having been compiled in his customary free and graceful manner. Henderson was secured at square leg by Fleming, who waited patiently for the catch. Just as the fourth century was being reached, Stevenson found his way to Wood's wicket. The next ball settled Sharpe, the innings closing for 391.

Day 2:
This contest was brought to a conclusion at the Grange ground, Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, yesterday, the Surrey eleven being returned the winners by the substantial majority of an innings and 247 runs. The batting of the Scotsmen was intensely disappointing, for at their first attempt they could only put together the paltry total of 44 runs. At the second attempt they certainly did better, but their display was much below anticipations, some of the cracks being easily disposed of.

The Johnstons and Robertson did their best to stem the tide of misfortune, but in the end the venture only realised 100 runs. In the first innings Lohmann and Lockwood bowled with deadly effect, but at the second attempt the former had to retire with an injured finger. This counterbalanced the loss of Gregor MacGregor to Scotland, who was unable to play for his country on account of a domestic bereavement.

The wicket played true to the very end, so that the losers had no excuse on that ground. Nervousness, perhaps, as much as anything else contributed to his defeat. Though a failure from a cricket point of view, the match financially was a great success, and the early defeat of the home team was all the more regretted as a large gate was anticipated today.

There will be no show match, as the Surrey men returned home last evening. The arrangements for the comfort of the spectators, carried out by the hon. Secretary of the Grange, Mr Alexander Patten, assisted by Terry, left nothing to be desired.

The Scotsmen started on their uphill task at 12.15, with Balfour and Robertson, who faced Lohmann and Lockwood. A very bad start was made, for with but 6 on the scoresheet both batsmen were dismissed, the home captain from a bad stroke at extra-point, and the west country crack by a very smart catch at the wickets.

The Scottish disasters did not end here, for that usually safe scorer, R.H. Johnston, had only contributed a single when he played on to Lockwood, the total then being 15. Only two runs were added when Tom Johnston was easily secured by Henderson at mid-on.

Fleming, who never seemed comfortable, lashed out at Lohmann, with the result that the ball fell into the safe hands of Maurice Read at long-off. Five wickets for 20 was the condition of affairs when Wauchope came out, but the Fettesian did not remain long, for in pulling Lockwood he was smartly held with one hand by Sharpe at mid-on, the telegraph board showing 24-6-2.

A slight stand was made by Stevenson and Steele, and 41 was reached before the Academical failed to get proper hold of one from Lohmann, and he was neatly secured by Lockwood in the slips. Steels followed lbw for an invaluable innings of 15, the total remaining unaltered.

The end soon came, for, with MacGregor absent, the whole side were out at 1.45 for the paltry total of 44. Lohmann and Lockwood bowled with great success and the fielding all round was admirable. The home team started their second venture at three o'clock with the same pair as in the first innings, but the Surrey bowling was slightly changed, Sharpe taking Lockwood's place.

The start was little better than at the first attempt, the Scottish captain being responsible for 10 only when Lohmann had him at third man. Tom Johnston and Robertson were next associated, and in attempting to hold a hard return from the first named batsman, Lohmann hurt his finger so badly that he was forced to retire.

Mr Balfour came out to field, and Abel took the wicket vacated by the great bowler. So well did the batsmen play that the total of the first innings was soon passed, and with 50 up Abel handed the ball to Lockwood, while Sharpe made way from Brockwell.

The score was taken to 54 before T. Johnston was out lbw for an exceedingly pretty innings of 24, and on retiring he was loudly cheered. As so often happens with long stands, Robertson left just after, caught by Balfour at slip, for a most patient and useful contribution of 18.

Fleming again failed to come off, Brockwell easily getting past his defence. Steele, who did so well in the first innings, did nothing, and the very next ball proved too much for Wauchope, his bails being neatly nipped off.

The score rose by stages to 77, at which total Wood cleverly caught R.H. Johnston at the second attempt. An unexpected stand was made by the last pair, and Abel was requisitioned vice Brockwell. The change had the desired effect, Scott being well caught at point by Shuter at 5.45, the innings thus being brought to an end.

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