1781 English cricket season
The earliest known mention of cricket in Lancashire occurred in the 1781 English season, and the Hambledon Club decided to abandon Broadhalfpenny Down. Details of 14 matches are known.
Hampshire v Kent
Hampshire played four matches against Kent between June and August. The venues were Itchin Stoke Down, Bishopsbourne Paddock, and the last-ever important match on Broadhalfpenny Down. The teams won two matches each. There were outstanding performances by several players including Lamborn, Noah Mann, James Aylward, Tom Sueter, Robert Clifford, and William Bullen.Dorset's XI v Mann's XI
The Duke of Dorset and Sir Horatio Mann arranged two matches between their own teams. The first was in June on Sevenoaks Vine, where Dorset's XI won by 10 wickets. The second was in August at Bishopsbourne Paddock. Dorset's XI won again, this time by 106 runs, after Tom Sueter had made two half-centuries in the match with 58 and 56. Lumpy Stevens took four wickets in each of the Mann's XI innings.Leicester v Nottingham
A match between Leicester and Nottingham took place in Loughborough on 17 and 18 September. It was reported in the Leicester Journal on Saturday, 22 September. Nottingham scored 50 and 73; Leicester had scored 73 and 9/2 when the game ended prematurely because of a dispute about wide deliveries. The repercussions dragged on and the dispute remained unresolved a year later.In early August, Leicester had played against Melton Mowbray on Barrowcliffe Meadow in Leicester. Melton Mowbray won by 16 runs.