Scotland v Ireland 11 & 12 July 1890 by Cricket Scotland

---

Ground:	Raeburn Place, Edinburgh
Scorecard:	Scotland v Ireland
Event:	Ireland in Scotland 1890

---

DateLine: 3rd February 2013

 

 

Day 1:
This important two days' fixture, the leading match on the local card, was commenced yesterday at the Grange ground, Raeburn Place, Edinburgh. Fine weather favoured the venture, and quite a large number of spectators watched the proceedings.

 

The Scottish eleven was a very strong one, but general regret was expressed at the absence of Mr L.M. Balfour, more especially when it became known that the Grange captain had not been offered a place in the team. The Irishmen were minus several of their best players.

 

Mr Wauchope, the Scottish captain, won the toss and took the first use of a good wicket. Despite the excellent bowling and fielding of the Irishmen, the home players occupied the wickets for the greater part of the day, the innings realising 304. Asher and MacGregor were the principal contributors to this total, both playing splendid cricket for their runs.

 

Wauchope, Mannes, and Johnston also materially assisted in increasing the total, Trotter and Weir failing to score. Seven bowlers were all tried, Booth as will be seen from the analysis, being most successful. With an hour to play, the visitors lost three wickets for 65 runs.

 

The bowling and fielding of the Scotsmen could not possibly have been improved upon, MacGregor creating a most favourable impression behind the stumps. Certainly such admirable wicket keeping has seldom, if ever, been seen at Raeburn Place.

 

Data is:-Play commenced at 12.18, Allan and Jardine facing the deliveries of Johnston and Hughes. The start was not promising, the Oxford crack being clean bowled in trying to pull a straight ball, with but 12 on the scoresheet. At the same total the Drumpellier representative fell to a good catch at mid-on.

 

Stevenson and Asher greatly improved matters, and the total was raised to 70 at two o'clock, when lunch was taken. On a resumption ten runs were added, when Stevenson was caught at cover for a useful dozen, which had taken him one hour and a half to compile.

 

The famous Cambridge wicket-keeper, who has been selected to represent England in the first match against Australia, was loudly cheered as he filled the vacancy. Between them the batsmen increased the total to 112, when Asher was unfortunately run out. His admirable score of 70 was without blemish.

 

Johnston and MacGregor made another long stand, and 193 was registered when the former was clean bowled. His innings, as usual, was compiled by plucky and resolute batting. MacGregor fell at 238 in the very same way as Jardine, and he, like Asher, was loudly cheered on returning to the pavilion. Bar one hard chance his batting was faultless.

 

Further trouble was in store for the fielders on Mannes and Wauchope being associated, both indulging in some very tall hitting, the western player having the hit of the day, a magnificent drive clean out of the ground on the north side. Thornton hit hard during his brief stay, but he could get no one to stay with him, the innings closing for 304 runs.

 

Browning and Gavin led the way for the strangers, Weir and Thornton sharing the bowling. With ten on the scoresheet a magnificent catch at the wickets sent back Browning, the feat being loudly cheered. Eight runs later a beautiful ball from Thornton completely beat and bowled Gavin.

 

Thompson made a short stay, but Meldon and Nunn batted out time, the score reaching 65 when stumps were drawn at seven o'clock. Play will be resumed today at 11.30.

 

Day 2:
This match was resumed at Raeburn place shortly before noon on Saturday, and finished amid a scene of excitement probably unrivalled in Scottish cricket. The result was a nominal draw, though another over would almost certainly have made a win for Scotland, as only two runs were required to win with six wickets to fall.

 

It is but fair to the visitors that the time for drawing the stumps was first fixed for six o'clock, and then they agreed to play till 6.30 and then 6.40 if there was any chance of the match being finished, leaving themselves barely time to catch the train.

 

During the afternoon there was a large turnout of spectators, who were treated to a capital display of cricket. Mr L.M. Balfour's omission from the Scottish team was again the cause of general remark on the ground, as his generalship was sadly missed during the day.

 

Nunn and Meldon hit hard and best in both innings of their respective scores, while the rapidity with which Mannes, Johnston, and Asher scored was the feature of the second innings of the Scotsmen.

 

The not-outs of the previous evening Meldon (32), Nunn (10) faced the bowling of Thornton and Weir. Despite several changes in the bowling the batsmen continued to hit away till 117 was scored, when a splendid catch by Trotter off his own bowling brought about the retirement of Nunn after an excellent 33, and Vint did not stay long, and then Meldon was very well bowled.

 

Synott and Johnston played well, but none of the others did much, and the innings closed for 176, which necessitated a "follow on." Meldon and Nunn started the second innings for Ireland to the bowling of Trotter and Weir.

 

The batsmen played the bowlers all over the field, and at 31 Thornton took the ball from Trotter. Runs came faster than ever, and 50 figured on the board without a separation being effected. Stevenson's lobs were tried, and Meldon ought to have been taken at long-on, an easy catch, which was dropped.

 

Mannes was then tried, Nunn getting him to leg prettily twice for 4. At 115 Nunn was well held at short leg, and Browning joined Meldon. The batsmen remained together through several changes in the bowling till 154, when Browning succumbed to a bailer from Trotter.

 

Gavin came next, and did some heavy hitting off Stevenson, but at 183 lost his partner. At this figure also Gavin was smartly caught at wickets. With Synott and Thompson together the batting was of a much more steady order.

 

At last the 200 appeared from a boundary from Synott. Thornton dissolved the lengthy but not over productive partnership at 209, and at the same total Synott was grandly held at cover. Vint was badly missed by Weir before he had scored, but with the last ball of the same over was dismissed.

 

A fine catch by Stevenson got rid of Johnston at 223, when Fleming was also bowled, at which figure the innings closed. This left the Scotsmen with 95 to win, and 55 and ultimately 35 minutes to get them in.

 

Mannes and R.H. Johnston were the first to face the bowling of Hughes and Johnston. The idea was evidently to force the pace, and a better pair to score fast could not have been chosen. The Drumpellier man, in particular, roused the enthusiasm of the onlookers by his vigorous hitting.

 

To show the rapidity of the scoring it may be mentioned that 30 runs were scored in twelve minutes, 45 runs in 16 minutes, and fifty runs in 18 minutes. Vint went on with "grubs" which stopped the rapid scoring.

 

Johnston unfortunately ran himself out on 50, while his successor (MacGregor) after making a good start, was also run out on 57, while Jardine was bowled at 64.

 

Asher was keen to hit as any of his predecessors, and helped Mannes bring the total to 94 when time was called. The Scotsmen's fielding was generally smart-Jardine being specially reliable more than once. MacGregor's wicket-keeping was also noteworthy.

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