Lives in Cricket No 11 - CP Lewis

in a friendly at Swansea in 1895. As year followed year, Lewis was clearly content with social cricket, and others took the lead in organising county matches in Carmarthenshire. In 1904 he could still top-score for Llandovery against Llanelli, and take good wickets, including that of Claude Warner, later of Glamorgan. In that same year, Llanelli tried to arrange a Carmarthenshire v Glamorgan match. J.H.Brain, the Glamorgan secretary, was keen, but in the end, he could not interest his amateurs – who were already involved in a substantial Minor County programme – to travel to West Wales for a two-day friendly. However, there was a trial match at Stradey Park, which was described by the local newspaper as being ‘under the auspices of the county club’. Some sort of entity had clearly been created, but C.P. did not seem to be involved as he was noticeably absent amongst the 29 players who took part. A similar match was arranged for 1906, but it had to be cancelled through ‘cold and wet’ in early April. A Carmarthenshire fixture was secured against the Gentlemen of Essex for whom Charlie McGahey, who had played Test cricket for England, scored 305 not out, the highest score at Stradey Park in any class of cricket. Lewis did not play, nor against the Gentlemen of Glamorgan or for an all-amateur side which played Shropshire. County Cricket for Carmarthenshire 101 Outgunned. Carmarthenshire and the Gentlemen of Essex line up before their match at Llanelli on 9 and 10 July, 1906. C.P.McGahey (dark blazer and pads, sitting, and not a ‘true’ amateur) scored a triple century for the visitors.