Although he is known to have played for a team organised by Dorset as early as 1769, Bowra made his first-class debut in a 1775 match between a Kent XI and a Hampshire sideatBroadhalfpenny Down, the ground used by the Hambledon Club.[2] In a Hampshire Chronicle report of the game, his name is spelt "Bower".[9] He went on to make 50 appearances in matches which have been given first-class status, 19 of which were for Kent sides and 15 for England teams.[c] He played for West Kent twice, for a combined Hampshire and Kent side once and three times for teams put together by Dorset in first-class matches against teams organised by Sir Horatio Mann, another Kent cricket patron.[d] He played twice for Surrey sides against Hampshire in 1776 as a given man and twice for Hampshire against England sides in 1779 in the same role. After making his final appearance for Kent in 1788, he played in five more first-class matches in 1791 and 1792 for Brighton Cricket Club.[2] His highest first-class score of 60 not out was made in one of these matches against MCC at Lord's Old Ground.[2] He scored 1,138 runs and took at least four wickets[a] in first-class matches.[2]
He returned to Knole in 1807, again as gamekeeper, and it is believed he stayed there[citation needed] until his death in 1820.[3]
^ abDuring this period, wickets taken by bowlers were normally only recorded if they were bowled. Other means of dismissal were not credited to any bowler.[1] As a result it is impossible to know how many wickets Bowra took. It is also impossible to know how many balls he bowled, the number of runs he conceded or to calculate an accurate bowling average.
^The Duke of Dorset was a major patron of cricket matches, staging matches on his own ground at Sevenoaks Vine and contesting them with sides organised by other patrons. The Vine ground was given as a gift to Sevenoaks in 1773.[5][6][7]
^During the time Bowra played, England sides were not representative of the country. Instead, they were sides composed of players from a range of locations brought together to play against another side.[10]
^Mann had his estate at Bourne Park House near Bishopsbourne at the time. He and Dorset regularly organised teams which played first-class matches.[11]
