1734 English cricket season

The 1734 cricket season was the 137th in England since the earliest known definite reference to cricket in January 1597 (i.e., Old Style – 1598 New Style). Details have survived of (possibly) eight important matches.

Four counties (Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex) and two clubs (Croydon and London) took part in all the known games. Records have been found of the earliest known match at the Vine Cricket Ground in Sevenoaks (a.k.a. Sevenoaks Vine).

The following matches are classified as important:

London beat Kent on Dartford Brimp (sic) "though there was 6 to 4 laid against London in the middle of the game".

Team scores are known: Kent 31 & 51; London 107. A resounding win for London, especially given their victory at Dartford the previous Wednesday.

No details are given of this game except the winners. The report includes a pre-announcement of the following game.

It is known that London won the game. Reported in the Grub Street Journal of Thursday, 8 August.

Pre-announced in the London Evening Post of Thu 22 August. It says: "the wickets to be pitched precisely (sic) between 12 and 1 o'clock"! No surviving post-match report has been found and so there is no evidence that the game took place.

Lord Middlesex (1710–1769) and his brother Lord John Philip Sackville (1713–1765) played for Kent; and Sir William Gage for Sussex. On a biographical note, Lord Middlesex (Charles Sackville) was 2nd Duke of Dorset 1765–1769. The famous 3rd Duke of Dorset was his nephew, being the son of Lord John Philip Sackville.

...
Wikipedia