Australia v England 1886-87

The great match, and also the most conspicuous triumph of the tour, the Englishmen winning by 13 runs, after being dismissed in their first innings for a total of 45. When stumps were drawn on the Saturday they did not seem to have even a remote chance of success, being only some 20 odd runs to the good with three wickets to fall in their second innings. On the Monday, however, they played up in splendid style, and gained a victory that might fairly be compared to the seven runs win of Australia over England at Kennington Oval in 1882.

Briggs, Flowers, and Sherwin batted so well that Australia had to go in with 111 to get to win. With the wicket in very fair order this seemed an easy task, and defeat was not thought of, but Barnes bowled so finely, and was so ably supported by Lohmann that the total only reached 97. Barring one mistake the English fielding was magnificent. Except that Giffen was still too ill to appear, the Australian team was almost a representative one, though Palmer and Horan should have been played in preference to Midwinter and McShane.