Lives in Cricket No 11 - CP Lewis

Chapter Six A Cup Held Aloft After their game with the Australians, the remaining matches held by the South Wales Club in 1878 were inevitably something of an anti-climax. On 3 June they had held their annual trial at Swansea prior to the London tour. Lewis scored 20, and took six wickets in the first innings, followed by three in the second. The game, though, featured few of the region’s leading players, as many were unable to get time off to play either in the trial at St. Helen’s or the games on the London tour. With several new faces in the South Wales side, including Edward Hill, a colonel in the Glamorgan Militia and a prominent figure in local politics, C.P. did not play at Lord’s and gave others a chance to play on the hallowed turf. He returned to the side for the match at Hove, taking four wickets in one innings and five in the next. The two-day game against the Gentlemen of Sussex drew a sparse crowd, and there were few people on the ground to see the South Wales side dismiss the home side for 79 en route to a handsome victory by 142 runs. Lewis continued to play with great success for the Llandovery Town side and, as was the custom at that time, the College side as well. Against Christ College, Brecon he made 18 out of 36, a total which was less than half the opponents 79. Against Cowbridge Grammar School he scored 26 out of 103. Cowbridge got 126 thanks to a batsman called Crosby who went for the bowling. ‘He gave three hard chances, but such hitting,’ said one newspaper. In 1878 the College also played Sennybridge, down the valley towards Brecon, but never noted for cricketers. They were bowled out for 13 and 11, with Lewis running amok through their batting line-up. It was a similar story when he played for the College against the Town, who made just 10 and 35. There were eight ducks in the Town’s total of 10, and, though no bowling figures or dismissals are recorded, we can guess who was the bowler chiefly responsible. In July, Builth Wells came to Llandovery and Lewis made 129 out of their total of 332. Poor Builth got just 32, once again failing to come to terms with Lewis’ bowling. 57