Lives in Cricket No 17 - Fuller Pilch

Chapter Ten Champion of England, Part Two The second part of the challenge was played at Sheffield two weeks later and advertised in the Sheffield Mercury : Hyde Park Cricket Ground GREAT SINGLE CRICKET MATCH FOR £100 W.Woolhouse respectfully informs his friends and the Public that the GREAT SINGLE CRICKET MATCH, between MARSDEN and PILCH, will commence playing on Monday, August 5th, 1833. Stumps to be pitched at one o’clock Umpires, Messrs J.Dark and W.Caldecourt, from Lord’s Cricket Ground, London Admittance to the Ground 6d; to the Stand 1s NB No Dogs allowed on the Ground’ Batting first this time, Fuller played much more cautiously and occupied the crease for nearly five hours while scoring 82 runs from 198 balls, including four wides. At the end of the day Marsden was unbeaten on 26 and it was beginning to look that this time, in front of his own supporters, he was going to make it a genuine contest. But it was not to be: he was bowled without adding to his total at the start of the second day. According to the Sheffield Independent , Pilch then ‘commenced his second innings with his accustomed coolness, and played with as much ease and as little embarrassment as possible.’ Play ended for the day when he was bowled for 100 from 148 hits facing 200 balls plus six wides. Needing 162 runs to win, Marsden made a real fight of it and by dinner on the third day he was 35 not out after facing 183 balls. Of the resumption of play, the Independent reported that ‘Marsden again took his bat, when a most tremendous ball was delivered by Pilch, which put an end to one of greatest and most important matches ever played.’ The Independent summed it up: ‘The batting of Pilch was of the most superior description; in fact he may be considered the crack player of England. The grace, ease, and certainty with which he met the best of Marsden’s balls, excited universal astonishment and praise.’ Five days after the second single-wicket challenge, Fuller and Marsden were at Chislehurst playing for MCC against the Gentlemen of Kent. It seems that there was no ill-feeling between the two Championship contenders and they may even have been on the same stagecoach to travel south together for the first of a short series of matches in which they would be joining forces. For Fuller it was very much a question of the ‘glorious uncertainty of cricket’ when he was out for a ‘pair’ at Chislehurst, although 39