Charles Dryden (cricketer)

Charles Henry Dryden (13 January 1860 – 1 July 1943) was a New Zealand cricketer who played first-class cricket for Wellington from 1885 to 1894.

Cricket career
Dryden was a leg-spin bowler – "a wily slow bowler, great in a tight corner" – who achieved some impressive bowling figures for Wellington. He was also a stubborn batsman and a safe fieldsman.

Dryden's best match figures were 12 for 93 (7 for 58 and 5 for 35) in a loss to Canterbury in 1889–90, when Albert Moss took all ten Wellington wickets in the first innings. He twice took his best innings figures of 7 for 24: when Nelson needed 84 to win in 1886–87 he was mainly responsible for dismissing them for 70; and in 1893–94 he helped dismiss Auckland for 77.

Personal life
Dryden worked as a building contractor in Wellington. He and his wife had a daughter and a son. He died in hospital at Kawakawa in the Bay of Islands in July 1943, aged 83. His brother Walter played one first-class match in 1885–86, alongside Charles.