Featured for April: The Amazonian Cricket Match of 1811

Amazonian Cricket Match

Sporting Magazine October 1811 at 3-4

This extraordinary performance, between the Hampshire and Surrey heroines, commenced on Wednesday, the 2nd instant, in a field belonging to Mr. Strong, at the back of Newington-green, near Ball’s Pond, Middlesex. The wickets were pitched at eleven o’clock. It was made by two Noblemen, for five hundred guineas. This grand match was to have taken place at Clapham a few weeks back, but, owing to some unforeseen misunderstanding it was put off till the time mentioned. The ground, which is spacious, was enlivened with marquees and booths, well supplied with gin, beer, and gingerbread. The performers in this contest were of all ages and sizes, from fourteen to sixty; the young had shawls, and the old, long cloaks. The Hampshire were distinguished by the colour of true blue, which was pinned in their bonnets in the shape of the Prince’s plume. The Surrey was equally as smart; their colours were blue, surmounted with orange. Those Amazonians’ names were as follows–they consisted of eleven on each side:--

The Surrey side consisted of–

Ann Baker (sixty years of age, the best runner and bowler on that side), Ann Taylor, Maria Barfatt, Hannah Higgs, Elizabeth Gale, Hannah Collas, Hannah Bartlett, Maria Cooke, Charlotte Cooke, Elizabeth Stock and Mary Fry.

The Hampshire side consisted of–

Sarah Luff, Charlotte Pulain, Hannah Parker, Elizabeth Smith, Martha Smith, Mary Woodson, Nancy Porter, Ann Poulters, Mary Novell, Mary Hislock and Mary Jougan.

Very excellent play took place on Wednesday; one of the Hampshire lasses made forty-one innings before she was thrown out; at the conclusion of the day’s sport the Hampshire lasses were eighty-one-a-head–the unfavourableness of the weather prevented any more sport that day, though the ground was filled with spectators. On the following day the Surrey lasses kept the field with great success, and on Monday the 7th, being the last day to decide the contest, an unusual assemblage of vehicles of all descriptions surrounded the ground by eleven o’clock; tandems, dog-carts, hackney-coaches, &c., formed a complete ring; several handsome females, dressed in azure blue mantles, graced those vehicles. The Earl of Barrymore, in a single horse-chaise, was amongst the spectators. His little friend, who goes by the name of Tiger, was on his poney. At three o’clock, the match was won by the Hampshire lasses, who, not being willing to leave the field at so early an hour, and having only won by two innings, they played a single game, in which they were also successful. Afterwards they marched in triumph to the Angel in Islington, and took some refreshment.