by The Professor » Thu Jul 20, 2017 8:58 am
On this day in 1898 the Gentlemen crumble to hand victory to the Players.
The overnight partnership of Bill Storer and John Tunnicliffe batted together through most of the morning session to add 85 to the Players' lead. When Tunnicliffe was sent back on 44 by Jack Mason, Billy Gunn continued the fast paced run scoring. When Storer was also sent back in for 73, clean bowled by Charlie Townsend, Gunn took on the responsibility himself. He was joined by a myriad of partners but none showed any intentions of sticking around as Mason ran through the tail. The highest score from any batsmen batting from four down was last man in, John Hearne. The Players were all out for 263 - a lead of 295.
The equation was simple - the Players needed to bowl the Gentlemen out, the Gentlemen needed to survive the day.
The Gentlemen began poorly and it degenerated from there. Wickets were lost with some regularity - both openers were gone for a joint total of 14 runs. It was only the batting of Stanley Jackson who managed to make the score look respectable. Then the middle order was gutted with scores of 9 for Sammy Woods and ducks for both Teddy Wynyard and Mason. Shortly after that Hearne claimed Jackson and it looked like the race was run.
Right at the bitter end it looked like an unlikely pair might have given the Gentlemen hope. W.G. Grace, batting very far down the order, and Charles Kortright, last man in, put on a phenomenal stand of 78 runs. As the clock ticked towards half past six and the stand continued, the crowd celebrated thinking that was the time to draw stumps - the umpires had to point out play was due to finish at 7. Time ticked on. With 5 minutes left to go Bill Lockwood dispatched Kortright for 46 and stranded Grace on 31. A heartbreaking dismissal handed the Players a 137 run victory.
"It has been said of the unseen army of the dead, on their everlasting march, that when they are passing a rural cricket ground the Englishman falls out of the ranks for a moment to look over the gate and smile."