Cricket 1910

CRICKET: a w e e k l y ' r e c o r d o f t h e g a m e . SEPTEM BERJ 5 . 1910 . No. 85 5. v o l . xxix. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1910. o n e p e n n y . N O R F O L K C R I C K E T . (Continued Jrom page 388.) That those who were responsible for the formation of the Norfolk County Cricket Club in 1827 wished it to be worthy of the name it bore is evident from the fact that one of their first acts was to establish grounds in the neighbourhood of Norwich, Yarmouth, Swaffham and Guntcn. At Norwich and Swaffham the game was des­ tined to flourish bravely, but Gunton failed to become such a cricketing centre as was hoped and at Yarmouth the game made even less progress. In April, 1828, however, the County Club announced the completion at East Dereham of a cricket ground which was said to be one of the best in the provinces. Several good matches were destined to be played there, and it was on that ground that the County collapsed for 11 runs against W. Lillywhite and Cobbett in 1831. There it was, too, that the first inter­ county match played by the Club — against Lincoln­ shire, in July, 1828— took place. Norfolk could score only 74 and 30 and were beaten by an innings and 6 runs. On the evening of the first day of the match a dinner, presided over by Lord Suffield and attended by 86 ladies and gentlemen, was given in the Assembly Eooms, and on the following evening there was a grand ball. Norwich, however, was the recognised head-quarters of the county’s cricket. The Norwich C.C. was one of the strongest local organizations in East Anglia, and for many years numbered the Cambridge Town and Bury Clubs among their regular opponents. In July, 1828, we are told that the Club had “ engrafted an archery branch ” on their own “ excellent establishment,” and that the members of the archery section were permitted the use of the cricket ground on certain days. In 1829 we find the County playing Eton College, Suffolk and the M.C.C. Herbert Jenner was the most prominent figure in Norfolk cricket in those days, and se'dom indeed was it that he failed to make his presence felt. For some seasons Fuller Pilch was engaged by the Bury Club and in con­ sequence is found assisting Suffolk, even against his native county. Still, whenever possible (until he settled in Kent, and even then occasionally), he played for Norfolk and he was naturally a tower of strength to the side. One of the best of the early per­ formances on the part of the county was at Lord’s in July, 1830, when they beat the M.C.C., who had W. Lillywhite, Jas. Broad- bridge and Mr. E. H. Budd to bowl for them, by 24 runs. The last-named was, of course, then past his best, but he made two most use­ ful scores of 25 and 22, thereby obtaining more runs in the match than any other player. In the return game, at Dereham, the M.C.C. were beaten by eight wickets although they had the assistance of three of the best players of the day in Lillywhite, Jas. Broadbridge and Saunders. Mr. Jenner was then in his prime, and, in addition to making 28 not out (the high­ est score hit for either side), stumped four men, caught one and bowled five ! In the following June Norwich beat the M.C.C. at Lord’s by 45 runs, and in a report of the match it is stated that “ Bet­ ting at the start was 6 to 4 on Marylebone, and at the end of the first day’s play the odds were 7 and 8 to 1 in favour of Norwich.” (Fortunately for cricket no such announcement is ever seen now : betting in connection with the game is, happily, unknown and one trusts always will be.) It is rather strange that both Nor­ folk and Norwich should beat the M.C.C. at Lord’s and meet with defeat on their own ground—the County (at East Dereham) by 69 runs and Norwich by 38. It was said that “ Both at Norwich and at Dereham the Norfolk men were evidently beaten by 'tfce system of bowling,” yet on previous occasions they had played successfully against the round-arm bowling then being exploited by Lillywhite and Broadbridge In 1833 Pilch enjoyed a most successful season, being especially to the fore in July, when he made 115 not out for Norwich against Norfolk and beat the renowned Tom Marsden at single-wicket by an innings and 70 runs; both matches were played on the Norwich ground. A month later he met Marsden again—at Hyde Park, Sheffield— and won by 127 runs, scoring 82 and 106 against 26 and 35. These performances naturally caused some sensation at the time, and Pilch’s reputation was increased in the From a hitherto] [unpublished Portrait. FULLER PILCH.