Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/360

 Mr. William Patterson (cricketer) was born at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, March 11th, 1859. He was in the Harrow Eleven in 1877, represented Oxford University in the 1880 Inter-University match, and has played for Kent from 1880 to the present time; he has also represented the Gentlemen against the Players.

The year 1881 saw him in his very best form, doing good work for his county, and carrying his bat right through the innings for 107 for Oxford v. Cambridge. Altogether he was batting five hours for his score, and it was owing to his fine defence and great patience that Oxford won the match when it was regarded as a certainty for Cambridge.

For Kent he has saved and won more than one match by the same patience and sound defence, and there is no more reliable bat in the eleven. When Mr. Patterson has made up his mind to save a match nothing will tempt him to risk anything. The years 1884 and 1885 were notable ones for him in that respect, and on two or three occasions he and that fine and enthusiastic player the Rev. Richard Thornton Thornton staved off defeat and gained an unexpected victory. Last year (1890) he was very successful, and had the very fine average of 50.2 for 8 innings. His 123 not out against Nottinghamshire, at Trent Bridge, was his principal score, and it was a wonderful performance, considering that he had only two or three night's practice before the day of the match.

He bats in very correct style, but his strong characteristics are patience and fine judgment in accommodating himself to every kind of wicket. On a sticky wicket he is almost as safe as on a fast, true wicket. He is also a very reliable field anywhere, but more especially in the long-field; and he can bowl medium-pace with fair success at times.