The 1750 English cricket season saw the deaths of Robert Colchin ("Long Robin") and Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond.
Single wicket matches remained popular. In the eleven-a-side form, Kent played Surrey in three inter-county matches. [note 1]
On Friday, 6 July, Kent played Surrey on Dartford Brent. [5] Surrey scored 57 and 36; Kent replied with 54 and 40/7 to win by 3 wickets. No individual scores are known, but the teams were:
The first name of John Frame’s brother is unknown. Kent were without Robert Colchin, who had died in April, aged 36. [6]
There was a return match three days later on the Artillery Ground. [5] Kent scored 53 and 55; Surrey replied with 80 and 29/1 to win with some ease, by 9 wickets. The teams were unchanged from the first match but, again, no individual scores are known. [6]
The third match, which may have been arranged as a decider, was played 20 July on the Artillery Ground. [5] Surrey scored 55 and 42; Kent replied with 63 and 35/9 to win a very tight contest by 1 wicket. Five runs were still needed when the penultimate wicket fell. The teams were unchanged from the two previous matches but again there are no individual scores. The London Club ruled beforehand that players must reside in the county they play for. The Frames still lived at Warlingham in 1750, though John Frame was latterly associated with Dartford. [6]
In a match played Tuesday, 17 July, Dartford hosted Addington on Dartford Brent. [5] [6]
Dartford scored 46 and 34; Addington replied with 39 and 35, so Dartford won by 6 runs. William Hodsoll and the two Bryants all played for Dartford as given men. According to the London Evening Post on Thursday, 19 July, Dartford lost five second innings wickets in five successive deliveries by a mixture of caught and bowled, but they still made enough to win. The source says: "It is remarkable Dartford had five men bowled and caught out in five succeeding bowls the last hands". [7]
Thursday, 26 July. Five of Richmond played Five of London for a guinea a man on the Artillery Ground. No details are known. [6]
Monday, 10 September. The first of three "fives" between Stephen Dingate's Five and Tom Faulkner's Five at the Artillery Ground. Faulkner's team won this one, which was played for fifty guineas. Teams were: Stephen Dingate, James Bryant, John Bryant, John Bell, and Thomas Bell versus Tom Faulkner, Joseph Harris, John Harris, Durling, and Perry. [6]
Friday, 14 September. The second match ended in a tie, both teams totalling nine. As single-wicket rules applied, all batsmen were out. It is known they were all bowled (but not who by) except for Dingate who was caught in the 2nd innings, Thomas Bell who was run out in the 2nd innings and Joe Harris who was caught in the 2nd innings (apparently while trying to hit the winning run). [6]
Monday, 17 September. The third and deciding game of "fives" was won by Tom Faulkner’s team by an innings and one run. Dingate’s team scored 10 and 18 but Faulkner’s scored 29. The individual figures in the recorded score of Dingate’s second innings add up to 20 but 18 was definitely the correct total so one or more of the individual scores was wrong. [6]
Monday, 24 September. Five of London v Five of Addington. Venue unknown. [8]
In At the Sign of the Wicket, F. S. Ashley-Cooper gives the opinion that the Hambledon Club was founded in or about 1750, but there is no evidence to support this view and the club's origin remains unknown. [6]
c. Monday, 27 April. Death, at Deptford, of Robert Colchin (1713–1750), aka "Long Robin", apparently of smallpox. [9]
Monday, 18 June. A match between "Two Elevens" on the Artillery Ground. The teams played for 50 guineas, and were composed entirely of players from Kent, London, Middlesex, and Surrey. The result is unknown. [5] [6] >
Friday, 20 July. Bearsted played Hadlow at an unknown venue. There was a one-line announcement in the Kentish Weekly Post on Saturday, 21 June. No other details are known. [7]
Wednesday, 8 August. London played Hampton on the Artillery Ground. No details reported. [5] [6]
Wednesday, 8 August. Death, at Godalming, of Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond (1701–1750), who was arguably the greatest of the game’s early patrons, particularly of the Slindon Cricket Club and of Sussex cricket in general. His death was followed by an immediate slump in Sussex cricket and it is not until 1766 that a recovery can be discerned. [10]