1781 English cricket season

The 1781 English cricket season saw the end of Broadhalfpenny Down and the beginning of cricket in Lancashire.

The following matches are classified as important:

All-England 101 (J Aylward 25; W Lamborn 7w, N Mann 3w) & 232 (J Aylward 73, R Clifford 48, B Rimmington 31; N Mann 4w, R Nyren 2w); Hampshire 206 (T Sueter 66, John Small 47; E Stevens 2w) & 128-2 (N Mann 73, W Bedster 49)

ACS call this Hampshire v Kent but S&B calls it Hampshire v All-England with a note that most of the All-England players were Kent men. However, as S&B called 30 July game Hampshire v Kent with Bedster, it seems the intention on 6 June was to field an All-England team (it included Lumpy and Yalden of Surrey and there is some doubt about the origin of the three Rimmingtons who may have been from Essex rather than Kent).

Sir Horace Mann’s XI 136 (R Clifford 32, J Miller 29; E Stevens 2w, W Bedster 2w) & 84 (Mr R Hosmer 37*); Duke of Dorset’s XI 158 (T Pattenden 50*, T Sueter 34; R Clifford 4w, W Lamborn 3w) & 63-0 (N Mann 37*, W Bullen 26*)

Odiham scored 135 & 95; Maidenhead replied with 118 & 81.

Kent 181 (J Miller 29, J Aylward 29, R Clifford 26; W Lamborn 3w, R Nyren 2w) & 186 (R Clifford 57, J Aylward 25; J Freemantle 2w); Hampshire 59 (E Stevens 2w, R Clifford 2w) & 158 (G Leer 53, R A Veck 26; E Stevens 4w)

Maidenhead scored 60 & 49; Odiham 73 and 37-0.

Kent 218 (R Clifford 66, J Miller 45, W Bowra 29; R Nyren 4w, R Purchase 3w, W Lamborn 2w) & 188 (W Bullen 54, W Bowra 42*, J Aylward 28); Hampshire 185 (N Mann 49, T Taylor 34, R A Veck 26; W Bullen 6w) & 183 (R A Veck 44, N Mann 41*, John Small 34, T Taylor 23; R Clifford 2w)

An outstanding all-round performance by William Bullen. Richard Purchase’s name had not appeared in a match since 1774.

The end of an era. This match marked the end of Broadhalfpenny Down as a big match venue. The Hambledon Club began using Windmill Down next year.

Reported in the Leicester Journal on Sat 4 August.

Duke of Dorset’s XI 170 (T Sueter 58, T Pattenden 26*; R Clifford 3w, W Lamborn 2w) & 184 (T Sueter 56, W Bullen 36; W Lamborn 3w, R Clifford 3w); Sir Horace Mann’s XI 147 (J Aylward 36, J Miller 31, R Clifford 24; E Stevens 4w) & 101 (J Aylward 44, John Small 28; E Stevens 4w)

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