Page:Seventy One Not Out.pdf/27

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13

CHAPTER III.


I COMMENCE MY PUBLIC CAREER.


My first appearance in first-class cricket was for the Players of Surrey v. the Gentlemen of Surrey, on June 4 and 5, 1849, at the Oval, this being the match before alluded to, when my father so strongly objected to my playing. The Gentlemen scored 79 and 94, and the Players 166 and 9 for no wickets, thus winning by 10 wickets. I made the top score of the match (46), Julius Cæsar being next with 30. I also took 2 wickets in the first innings and 1 in the second. Caesar actually bowled 11 wides in this match! I next appeared for Surrey v. Sussex at the Oval a few weeks later. As this, was my first inter-county match, I was, as will be understood, rather nervous. Surrey and Sussex had not met for nineteen years, and the present contest excited a great deal of interest. It turned out to be a very evenly fought game, Surrey being victorious by 15 runs. On this occasion I was unsuccessful with the bat, mak-