Lives in Cricket No 11 - CP Lewis

Llandovery College ground on 10 and 11 August. With playing resources fully stretched, Lewis was drafted into the eleven. He duly scored 10 at number eight and didn’t bowl in what proved to be a rain-affected contest, but the match might have taken more out of Lewis than the bare figures suggest: he didn’t play for Llandovery against Llanelli a week later, probably because his body was still aching. Wisden pronounced on Carmarthenshire’s season – they lost seven out of eight and drew one, without in that match securing a first innings lead – that they ‘did not get on very well’ and ascribed the poor outcome to an absence of professional bowlers. Tragedy struck in January 1909 when Lizzie died. Not for the first time in his life, he had to mourn and grieve the loss of someone who meant so much to him. Gradually, C.P. got over his tragic loss and perhaps the arrival of the 1909 season was something of a blessing. He started in the first match of the Minor County programme against Glamorgan at Stradey Park, making a crisp and unbeaten 33 coming in at number ten in the first innings – an effort which saw him subsequently promoted up to number seven for the second innings. However, he was caught off the clever spin bowling of Harry Creber for four as the game ended in a heavy defeat. There were many changes in the home side who, it was reported, ‘gave the most wretched exhibition of fielding imaginable,’ as Glamorgan rattled up 292, with Sweet-Escott scoring a fine 129 as his side comfortably won by an innings and 125 runs. County Cricket for Carmarthenshire 103 Play under way, despite static fielders, in the Minor Counties championship match between Glamorgan and Carmarthenshire at The Gnoll, Neath in June, 1908.