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27 further occasions, once in 1921 and once in 2005. For Surrey, three bowlers each took three wickets – Budgen and two of the less specialist bowlers, Abel and Bird. Their one genuine first-team-squad bowler, Bill Hitch, ended with the unhappy figures of 0-131. Although Abel left early, Surrey’s first innings reached 46-1 before they lost three wickets (Bird, Goatly and Altham) while adding only 15 more runs. Sarel however was showing “excellent form”, and he and Raphael took the score past 100 without further loss. Sarel brought up his maiden first-class half-century with “a pretty leg-glance for four” before Raphael fell for 31 with the score at 124. Sarel himself went for 57 ten runs later, and wickets fell steadily thereafter to see Surrey all out for 191. Batting at number nine, 54-year-old John Shuter hit 18 with four fours and a two, while local hero Harry Budgen “played excellent cricket”, and when he was finally the last man out he “was warmly applauded for his contribution of 25 – the third highest recorded by his side”. As at The Oval, enforcing the follow-on was a formality, and Surrey batted again 386 runs in arrears. It was soon clear that they were not going to be able to make a decent fight of it. Their batting order was substantially altered but to no avail, as four wickets fell quickly, and there was to be no way back from 10-4. When the seventh wicket fell at 91, Surrey seemingly were on their way to as quick a defeat as was being experienced by the senior side at The Oval. Indeed, at this point it was agreed to play on until 7pm instead of the usual 6.30, “in the hope of finishing the match that evening” ( Cricket ). 23 But the tail wagged. Budgen once again stood firm, and he and Goatly added a further 60 runs before play was concluded for the day, with no further loss. Surrey were still 235 runs behind, and although defeat looked inevitable, at least the Surrey XI at Reigate - unlike its Oval counterpart - had managed to extend the game into its final day. Day 3 – Wednesday 23 June 1909 The Reigate weather was not to come to Surrey’s rescue. Play resumed on time, and the overnight partnership was quickly broken when Budgen left without adding to his overnight score of 30. Vigar joined Goatly and “vigorous cricket was witnessed”, with 47 runs added in 25 minutes before Goatly was caught behind for 69, Surrey’s top score of the match. 211-9, still 175 runs behind; but still Surrey would not lie down. Bill Hitch came in at number 11, perhaps still smarting after his expensive nought-for in Oxford’s innings. Although bowling was his speciality, he was renowned as a hitter, and he lived up to that reputation today as he “hit out with great vigour in all directions”. His 50 came up in only 30 minutes, and was the second maiden first-class 50 by a Surrey player in the match. But ten minutes later it was all over when he was caught off le Couteur’s leg-spin for 59, made in 40 minutes out of a last-wicket stand of 77. Surrey had been beaten by an innings and 98 runs, but the resistance offered for their last three wickets did credit to the players concerned. 23 ‘Hope’ may not quite be the right word as far as Surrey were concerned, but we know what they mean! Surrey in 1909
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