Date-stamped : 10 Jun95 - 18:23
CC: WARWICKSHIRE v LANCASHIRE, Birmingham, 21-24 July 1951.

The record crowds which attended this meeting between  the  Cham-
pionship  leaders,  Warwickshire, and Lancashire, their only con-
querors thus far, were rewarded with cricket of the highest  ord-
er,  the  most  memorable features being the batting of Washbrook
and Dollery. Before 25,000 spectators  on the  first  day,   Lan-
cashire   quickly  gained  the  upper hand when Wharton sent back
Spooner and Gardner in his first two  overs.  Tattersall   bowled
splendidly  on a good batting surface and, despite determined ef-
forts by Dollery, Ord and Hitchcock, Warwickshire were  dismissed
cheaply.

They hit back through Grove and Pritchard, but found Washbrook in
magnificent  form.  For seven hours the England batsman dominated
the cricket with a display of superb  strokes  which made   field
placing  an  unenviable  task. After good stands with Grieves and
Howard, Washbrook hit 72 of the 78 runs added in  an   unfinished
partnership with Wilson.

Excitement was intense on the last day as Warwickshire  struggled
to  avoid  their  second  defeat by Lancashire. Again the opening
pair failed, but Ord and Hitchcock began a recovery with a  stand
of  65. Then Dollery took control.  For three and a half hours he
defied the excellent bowling of Hilton, and by the time  he  com-
pleted  his  first century of the season Warwickshire were out of
danger. Successive partners all gave valuable  assistance  in   a
struggle  that  reflected  great credit on the fighting spirit of
the team. Paying attendance for the three days TOTALled 32,091.

Source :: Wisden 1952.
<END> Contributed by J.R.F.Evans (en92jrfe@exeter.ac.uk)