Lives in Cricket No 11 - CP Lewis

middle-order – made an accomplished 141. Lewis got 24, even though he didn’t bat till No.10. Wisden at that time often reported on matches in lyrical tones: ‘The promenade “Under the Elms” was crowded; and on “Turf Terrace” and the public seats round the ground there was a large expectant throng of people who had gone to Prince’s to witness big hitting, and it is to be hoped they had their fill of it.’ Lewis and Vernon Royle added 56 for the ninth wicket, by which time the bowlers were probably on their knees, with Old Harrovian Robert Henderson bowling no fewer than 95 overs in the Oxford innings. The third innings did not start till 5.10 pm on the third and last day. Lewis was spared any more bowling by his captain – something for which he was no doubt grateful as Middlesex scored 120 in the first hour of their innings, a feat awarded triple-decker exclamation marks by the Almanack. Play ended at 7 pm, with the Middlesex score at 166 for four, and the county still seven runs in arrears. The University then went on to Lord’s for the return match against M.C.C. Dull, thundery weather greeted the players on the first day, and after 95 from A.J.Webbe, the students declined to 204. Lewis, at number ten, was bowled by W.G.Grace for a duck, and soon found himself bowling, largely with no effect, against ‘The Champion’ and his opening partner, the former Cambridge Blue Clement Booth. The openers added 116 as Lewis ended up with just one wicket, but an impressive one nonetheless as he removed Lord Harris of Kent and England. 9 Buckland met with more success with his round-arm leg-cutters, taking six for 86 in his 71 overs. At the end of the second day’s play, the conditions were so miserable that the teams and umpires decided the weather was ‘unsuitable for cricket’ and abandoned the game. Two days later, the University match began on the same ground. By then, the sun and warmth had arrived, and a decent-sized crowd headed to St. John’s Wood to attend the contest which had become part of the season in fashionable society. Wisden reported: ‘The match is annually becoming more fashionable with that section of society who “do Eton and Harrow” because it is fashionable to do so, and as the wonderfully widespread public interest displayed throughout the country respecting the Boat Race appeared, to Oxford and a Lost Cause 27 9 Lord Harris is best-known now for his overbearing character. In his day, though, he was a good batsman, and in 1876 he scored, in 17 first-class matches, 916 runs at 31.58, putting him at about eighth in the national averages.