The Free Foresters will be hoping that it’s not another 122 years before they get the chance to avenge their defeat in 1878 at the hands of I Zingari. Today’s re-match in the Oxford 2000 festival ended in a in a draw. Discussion prior to the start of today’s game suggested that the reason the two clubs had not met for such a long time was simply because there had been nowhere for them to play!

The last encounter was a two-innings twelve-a-side affair in which I Zingari won by 61 runs. It took place (according to “The Annals of The Free Foresters 1856-1894” available at Wisteria Book Company) on the 23rd, 24th and 25th of July at Walton and produced only 427 runs (there were 565 in one day today!) . Perhaps there were lengthy interludes for the claret and port so liked by R.P.Long, one of the founders of I Zingari, although that is not a known historical fact. Whether or not that was the case, it was champagne from Duval-Leroy that was much in evidence in the spectator enclosures today.

Back in 1878, I Zingari batted first and, thanks mainly to 45 from W.F.Forbes, reached 144 and with D.Buchanan taking six wickets. The Free Foresters replied with 102, H.S.Maul being the top-scorer, making 39 before retiring hurt. In their second innings, I Zingari only reached 102, Forbes again being the best batsman in hitting 47, while A.Appleby took seven wickets. In spite of needing only 130 to win, the Foresters were dismissed for 64. Ironically, the chief destroyer for I Zingari was a forefather of more recent well-known Foresters – Mr O.Mordaunt, who took thirteen wickets in the match.

© The Cricketer