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16 about to come off; and to this he agreed. My first achievement at "headquarters" was nothing wonderful. I made 17 and 8 runs and took no wickets. Sussex defeated us by 7 wickets, Wisden's bowling being very destructive.

I next opposed Sussex in their match v. Surrey at. the Oval, and succeeded in making the top score (73 run out). This innings was the means of making my place in first-class cricket secure. In the first innings of Sussex, George Picknell, going in late, made 9 not out, and on his side having to follow their innings, he was put in first, one of the Sussex gentlemen jokingly telling him that if he succeeded in carrying his bat this time he would give him a five-pound note. The result was that Picknell did carry his bat again for 27, being nearly half the total number of runs scored! I took part in a North and South match this year, which was one of the most remarkable I ever played in, made so by the fact of Wisden bowling all our wickets down in the second innings for 76 runs, of which I was top scorer with 24. Wisden's performance was indeed a remarkable one when one considers that it was a first-class match. Of course he was helped a good deal by the wicket, which was generally all in favour of the bowler at Lord's in those days. I may add that in our first innings we were all disposed of for 36 (W. Clarke taking 6 wickets), and here again I was the top scorer with 9 runs!