Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia
To be held on Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
6th, 7th, 8th & 9th August 2026
Lot 23
Estimate: £300/500
Scarborough Cricket Club v The Parsees (Bombay, India) 1888. Early and original handbill for the match played at the Cricket Ground, North Marine Road, Scarborough on the 27th August 1888. Title ‘Grand Cricket Match at Scarborough’ to top border and below ‘The Parsees (from Bombay) versus the Scarborough Club. This Grand Match will be played on the Cricket Ground, North Marine Road This Day. Wickets pitched at 12 o’clock. The match bill printed in black and red print and to lower border ‘Refreshments provided on the Ground by Mr Bishop, Star Hotel. Admission sixpence’. The handbill, with folds, has some wear and nicks to edges in particular the top edge which has suffered some loss, the paper becoming brittle, minor worm holes, the majority to top and lower border and odd one to main body otherwise in good condition Printed by J. Maude of North Street, Scarborough. A rare early paper survivor from this early and historic tour match
The match bill comes from direct descent from Jal Merwanjee Morenas who toured both in 1886 and 1888 with the Parsees, one of only two players to make the trip twice. Although the match bill is not dated, it is believed that it relates to the 1888 match. The match was drawn, the Parsees batted first and made 119 all out, Bapasola top scored with 34, Scarborough then batted and made 140 all out with Leadbeater top scoring with 42, Pavri taking four wickets. In the Parsees second innings they were bowled out for 91 with Bapasola again top scoring with 27, Leadbeater taking four wickets, at close of play Scarborough managed to hold on for the draw on 70-7, Pavri again taking four wickets. The game was drawn with the scores level when the tourists restricted the hosts to 70/7 in the 2nd innings, an exciting game. Morenas opened the batting and made 3 before being out lbw to Baker in the first innings and 2 in the second, again being out lbw to Bland