[Illustration]
Tobin and Money, Fryer and Scott had made but 8 among them, but Dale was
in, and Yardley joined him. Mr. Dale was playing in perfect style, and
he needed to do so, for Mr. Francis was bowling his best. Then came an
hour and a half, or so, of sorrow for Oxford. Mr. Butler was tried, and
bowled eight overs for 8 runs, but his arm was hurt, and he had to go
off. He got Mr. Thornton's wicket, but Oxford were playing, as Tom
Sayers fought, with a broken arm. Seven bowlers were put on, but the end
of it was that, after making the first 100 recorded in these matches,
Mr. Yardley sent a hard hit to Mr. Francis, who caught and bowled him.
Mr. Dale was splendidly caught at leg by Mr. Ottaway, off Mr. Francis,
with one hand over the ropes. He got 67; there was but one other double
figure, Mr. Thornton's 11.
Oxford had to make 178 to win, and 178 is never easy to get, especially
in a University match, where _so much depends on it_, and men are often
nervous, as you shall see. Mr. Hadow came to grief, but Mr. Ottaway and
Mr. Fortescue were not nervous bats. Mr. Ward bowled beautifully, but
they got 44 and 69; it was 72 for one wicket, and Oxford were buoyant.
At 86, however, the second wicket fell, and E. F. S. joined Mr. Ottaway.
He put on 29, and Ottaway's defence was like a stone wall. Finally Mr.
Ward bowled Mr. Tylecote; 25 to get and seven wickets to get them. It
seemed all over but shouting. Another wicket fell for 1; 24 to get, and
six wickets to fall. Mr. Hill came in, and played like a printed book,
while Mr. Ottaway was always there. He played a ball to short leg, and
Mr. Fryer held it so low down that Mr. Ottaway appealed. I dare say
Oxford men in the pavilion distinctly saw that ball touch the ground,
but the umpire did not; 17 to get, and four wickets to fall; but the
last two wickets had scored exactly nothing in the first innings. But
Mr. Francis could bat, and he stayed while Mr. Hill made 12, when he was
l. b. w. to Ward, for a single. Four runs to get, and three wickets to
fall! 'Mr. Charles Marsham's face wore a look that his friends know
well.' Mr. Butler came in; he scored well in the first innings, and he
could hit. Then came a bye. Four to get and three wickets to fall. Mr.
Hill hit the next square, good for a 4, but Mr. Bourne got at it, and
only a single was run. Three to get and three wickets to fall. _We did
not get them!_ Mr. Cobden, who had not done much, took the ball. Mr.
Hill made a single to cover point. The next ball, to Mr. Butler, was
well up on the off stump. Mr. Butler drove at it, Mr. Bourne caught it,
and Mr. Belcher walked in, 'rather pale,' says Mr. Lyttelton, and if so,
it was unusual. Mr. Belcher was of a ruddy countenance. He was yorked!
he took a yorker for a half volley. Let us pity Mr. Stewart. If he could
escape that one ball, the odds were that Mr. Hill would make the runs
next over. Mr. Pauncefote had told Mr. Stewart to keep his bat immovable
in the block-hole, but--he did not.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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