Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/133

 a very fine performance, considering that he was now 38 years of age, and that it was his first appearance in those contests. The Gentlemen won by one innings and 87 runs, this being their second win at the Oval. Their first win on that ground was in 1866, and Mr. Burrup, the Secretary, was so elated over it, that he presented every member of the eleven with a bat. There was less excitement on this occasion, and at last the happy time had come when the Gentlemen could hold their own in these contests.

The return match between the North of the Thames and the South of the Thames, on the St. Lawrence Greund at Canterbury, August 3rd, 4th, and 5th, was a remarkable, and in one respect historical, match. For the North the Rev. J. McCormick scored 137 in the first innings in two and a half hours, and hit our bowling all over the field; in the second innings, Mr. R. A. H. Mitchell scored 90, and Mr. H. N. Tennant 45 not out. For the South, I scored 130 first innings; 102 not out second. Altogether, 1,018 runs were scored in the three days; and it was the first time I scored two centuries in a match. It should be remembered that the St. Lawrence Ground was always an easy scoring one; and on that occasion, being hard and dry, it was particularly so, and suited me exactly. Besides, there were boundary hits at that date there, and I did not have anything like the running I had for my 134 at Lord's.

The year 1869 showed no decline in high scoring; in reality it showed an increase in three-figure innings and averages. The century was made close upon 250 times: nine times by myself; five times each by my brother Fred and Jupp; four times by Mr. I. D. Walker; and three times each by Messrs. B. B. Cooper, E. L. Fellowes, A. N. Hornby, C.I. Thornton, F.W. Wright, B. Pauncefote,