Trent Bridge Inn proprietor John Chapman revived the Nottingham v Sheffield fixture in 1848. With Tom Redgate and Thomas Barker in retirement and William Clarke, Butler Parr and Sam Parr absentees, Nottingham were beaten by six wickets in the first game at the Hyde Park Ground in Sheffield in early July, the three-day game finishing in two days. Nottingham scored 145 with Joe Guy top scoring with 40, Sheffield replied with 134 with Charley Brown taking 4-18. Nottingham collapsed to 52 all out in their second innings, Thomas Barker of Sheffield with figures of 5-12. Sheffield made 64-4 in their second innings. Nottingham suffered a further humiliation in the return at Trent Bridge on 17, 18 and 19 August. The crowd was so sparse that Chapman lost £40 on the match which the visitors won by 85 runs. Sheffield 111 (Henry Sampson 55, Francis Tinley 5-41) and 81 (Tinley 5-28); Nottingham 36 (Barker 5-11, Tom Hunt 5-25) and 71 (George Parr 38, Richard Skelton 5-13). This was the last First-Class match played by the Nottingham Old Club, though they continued to play at other levels.
Two games were also played against Sussex. The one at the Royal Brunswick Ground in Hove in mid July was lost by an innings and 32 runs. Sussex decided to bat and made 243, George Picknell with 52 was the top scorer. John Wisden took 14 wickets in the match as Notts were bowled out for 127 and 84. George Parr scored 52 in the Notts first innings. In mid-September, the sides met at Trent Bridge. The match ended as a draw. Sussex were 181 with Tom Box with 52 and Francis Tinley 6-59, Notts replied with 134. John Wisden took 4-53 and followed this up with 92 in Sussex in second innings total of 243-9 as the game ended in a draw.
Four players made their debut in the year. William Selby, a professional, was the father of the England Test and Notts cricketer John Selby. The Rev Champion de Crespigny made his single Notts appearance v Sussex at Trent Bridge. Cambridge-educated he was curate at Southwell from 1847 to 1850 and whilst there was a tower of strength to the Nottingham Gentlemen Cricket Club. The other newcomers were John Johnson, a local solicitor who later became Honorary Secretary of Notts CCC, and William ‘Dusty’ Jackson, a fast bowler from Hyson Green.
August 2020
Scorecards and stats can be seen here