It is 150 years ago today that Worcestershire CCC played their first ever match against Bromsgrove Grammar School.
After the club was formed at the Star Hotel, Foregate Street on March 3, 1865, just eight weeks later they tasted their first action on April 29, 1865.
And it was a winning start for Worcs CCC who triumphed by eight wickets in the two innings match.
The game was played on a chilly Saturday and Bromsgrove were dismissed for 62 in their first innings with SG Lyttelton taking seven wickets.
Worcestershire replied by scoring 163 with Cambridge Blue CG Lyttelton scoring 102 not out.
Bromsgrove, faced with a deficit of 101, fared slightly better second time around but were still dismissed for 128 to leave Worcestershire requiring only 28 for victory.
Both team then participated in a a post-match dinner at The Golden Cross, the old coaching inn on Bromsgrove High Street.
Later in the 1865 season, Worcs CCC also defeated Herefordshire and Malvern CC, but lost to Warwickshire, Incogniti, and the return match with Bromsgrove School at Boughton.
They also drew a controversial match at Tenbury, and drew with Shropshire at Shrewsbury.
The Worcestershire side, in batting order, for the county's opening game were:
WH King
Rev A Waller
SG Lyttelton
CG Lyttelton
J Raybould
AB Martin
H Hickman
Rev A Walker
Rev BN Cherry
T Claughton
JPS Cocks (aged 16)
*Thanks to Andrew Thomas whose book 'Pears 150, The Life And Times of WCCC 1865-2014 is due to be published shortly.
