One word more about this never-to-be-forgotten match. The unique
performance of Cobden has unduly cast in the shade Mr. Ward’s
performance in the second innings. It was a good wicket, and Oxford
had certainly on the whole a good batting eleven. Yet Mr. Ward bowled
thirty-two overs for 29 runs and got six wickets, and of those six
wickets five were certainly the best batsmen on the side. He clean
bowled Messrs. Fortescue, Pauncefote, and Tylecote, and got out in
other ways Messrs. Ottaway, Townshend, and Francis. It is hardly too
much to say that in this innings Mr. Ward got the six best wickets and
Mr. Cobden the four worst. In the whole match Mr. Ward got nine wickets
for 62 runs, and this again, let it be said, on an excellent ground.
Comparisons are odious, however, and the four Cambridge men, Yardley,
Dale, Ward, and Cobden, have no reason to be jealous of each other, and
every reason to be satisfied with themselves.
Oxford have got a victory to set off against this Cambridge triumph
in 1870. It took place five years later, and though Mr. Ridley’s
bowling at the finish was not condensed into one sensational over like
Cobden’s, still the greatest credit is due to him for putting himself
on at the right moment, fully realising an undoubted truth, that lobs
are most terrifying to very nervous players at a crisis.
Comparing the two elevens, on paper it would appear that Oxford were
the better bowling eleven, and were considerably superior in fielding.
In 1870 Cambridge deserved to have lost the match on account of their
bad fielding; in 1875 they succeeded in doing so. Messrs. Webbe and
Lang started by making 86 for the first wicket, and Mr. Webbe was twice
badly missed at short-slip. Mr. Lang ought to have been easily stumped.
In Oxford’s second innings four Oxford wickets, including Ridley and
Webbe, were down for 34. Mr. Briggs came in and was badly missed at
short-slip directly, and disaster was averted for some time; and Mr.
Game, who scored 22, was missed shortly after he went to the wicket.
The Oxford fielding was very fine all through, though one member missed
two easy catches. The bowling was more evenly divided; Oxford had more
bowlers than Cambridge, though Messrs. Sharpe and Patterson were as
good as, or better than, Messrs. Lang and Buckland. But besides these
two Oxford had Mr. Royle and Mr. Ridley and Mr. Kelcey, while the two
Cambridge bowlers had to do most of the work.
In batting the position was somewhat similar. Ridley and Webbe were
superior to Longman and the second best Cantab, but on the other hand
Cambridge were stronger all through. On the whole the sides were very
even.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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