Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 14 June 1895
Denaby Main 40 Rawmarsh 43 for 1
The most optimistic inhabitant of Denaby Main would have a difficulty in standing up now and telling his fellow-men that at any moment of the play in Saturday’s match he suffered from a desire to wax enthusiastic, or that his appreciation of the grand old pastime of cricket was in any wise strengthened by the display of either team.
Denaby Main entered into the engagement under difficulties. Newton, their best bowler, was absent, and generally speaking they had not their best strong batting side. Yet all things considered, and particularly having regard to the fact that they batted first on a good wicket, they ought to have pulled a few trees up and not have failed so utterly and entirely as to be beaten by nine wickets.
When Denaby won the toss and Routledge and Moore went in to bat, one prepared for a brilliant exposition of the art of hitting. It was imagined that Moore’s best on record would be eclipsed and Routledge would add to his existing laurels. But it never happened. Lister bowled a maiden over, and then Routledge scored a single off Parkin only to have his happy home broken up by the first ball of Lister’s second over.
Normanton then went in and began to hit, while Moore also smote the Philistines until he had accumulated three, when, in playing forward to Lister, he omitted to clout the ball and his wicket went to ruin at his feet. He was succeeded by Ambler, better known at Denaby as “Gentleman Jim.” Jim had a short life. He played the first ball bowled to him and the second played him. He came out smiling and kept his temper, notwithstanding the many unkind things said of him.
The wickets then fell rapidly. Normanton, who had received a nasty knock when the score was ten, never played comfortably afterwards and was caught at 29. Roberts, who had begun hitting freely, was out by somewhat sharp practice. Lister had bowled to Riley at the other end and had picked up the ball as it was returned to the batsman. As he walked back to his crease Roberts stepped out and Lister put his wicket down. There was some dispute about it, many thinking the ball was dead, but he was given out.
The last man in scored only a single before Lister got round his defence, and the innings closed for 40.
Denaby
Routledge, b Lister – 1
Moore, b Lister – 3
Normanton, c Taylor, b Payling – 15
Ambler, b Lister – 0
Trueman, c Hawkins, b Parkin – 6
Palmer, c Taylor, b Parkin – 2
G. Hardy, b Lister – 1
M. Hardy, c Heptinstall, b Lister – 0
Roberts, run out – 6
Riley, not out – 4
H. Hardy, b Lister – 1
Extras – 2
Total – 40
Score at the fall of each wicket:
1, 10, 10, 21, 23, 29, 29, 29, 39, 40
Bowling Analysis
Lister – Overs 11, Maidens 6, Runs 15, Wickets 6
Parkin – Overs 9, Maidens 1, Runs 20, Wickets 2
Payling – Overs 2, Maidens 0, Runs 4, Wickets 1
Lister and Heptinstall went to the wickets for Rawmarsh, the bowlers being Routledge and Trueman. The Rawmarsh batsmen began getting runs at once. Lister in the first over smacked Trueman for three and at the opposite end cut Routledge for four.
The first wicket fell with half the Denaby total scored. John Allott followed the breach and quickly began scoring. Lister made a single, and Allott struck a three. Hardy was entrusted with the task of altering the bowling, and although the batsmen took liberties with him in the first over, they afterwards found it advisable to be careful.
It was impossible for Denaby to save the match. Both batsmen hit hard and often, and finally Allott with a four passed the Denaby total and won the match.
Rawmarsh
Lister, not out – 18
Heptinstall, c Routledge, b Trueman – 8
Jno. Allott, not out – 11
Payling, Derry, Oates, Taylor, Twigg, Hargreaves, Parkin, and Hawkins – to bat
Extras – 6
Total (1 wicket) – 43
Bowling Analysis
Trueman – Overs 8, Maidens 1, Runs 19, Wickets 1
Routledge – Overs 4, Maidens 0, Runs 13, Wickets 0
Hardy – Overs 4, Maidens 2, Runs 5, Wickets 0
The correspondent concludes that he must pay Denaby another visit, but hopes it will not be until they are in better form and able to play decent cricket.
The Man on the Spot.