Lives in Cricket No 17 - Fuller Pilch

His heroic efforts at Leicester were not in vain as the South won the match by 218 runs. Fuller Pilch was bowled by Lillywhite for nought in the first innings and out to the same bowler lbw for 28 in the second, but he was probably still happy not to have faced Redgate who took twelve wickets in the match. Fuller remained in the north for the return Norfolk encounter with Yorkshire at Sheffield on 29, 30 and 31 August where the result was reversed as Norfolk squeezed home by one wicket, achieved with almost no contribution from Fuller. Going in at second wicket down he joined brother Nathaniel in Norfolk’s first innings seeking to overtake Yorkshire’s 60, everything was set for success until disaster struck. The Sheffield Mercury reported: Fuller Pilch – aye, Fuller, ‘the pride of Norfolk’ and ‘terror of Sheffield’, many not having forgot the 153 runs which he obtained in the last match at Sheffield, next made his appearance. The fielders altered their position and spread themselves wider in the field, evidently anticipating extra work from the skill of this well known batsman, but in this they were disappointed. Dearman had the first ball at this Prince of Cricketers, whom, as well as the second, he stopped, but the third lowered his wicket, to the astonishment of himself and every person on the ground – he retired without a run! Norfolk still managed to secure a small first-innings lead and, after dismissing Yorkshire for 88, needed 79 to win. Everyone looked to Fuller to make amends for his first-innings failure and see Norfolk through to victory. The Sheffield Mercury reported: Fuller Pilch was then sent in to regain his lost laurels and received part of Mr Barker’s over. The ball now passed to Dearman’s end, and Hawkes got a run, which placed Fuller at the batting end. At this part of the game, a death-like silence prevailed amongst the spectators, which was followed by the most boisterous applause, Dearman having again lowered his wicket without a run. The Norfolk players were astonished, but not more than their opponents! Putting these reversals behind him, four days later Fuller had accepted an engagement from Nottingham to play at the Forest Ground and made another century, 125 out of Nottingham’s total of 197, that was less illustrious than others, ‘taken as it was from the uneven bowling of his opponents’, a twenty-two of the Nottingham New Forest and Bingham Club.’ Kent still had one more match to play, so Fuller hurried off down to Brighton to face Sussex on 12 and 13 September, but was unable to help prevent a win by seven wickets for the home county. After the game had finished at the end of two days instead of the scheduled three, it was decided to play a single innings match on 14 September. This was easily won by Sussex as well, after Kent were dismissed for 41 with Fuller bowled by Lillywhite, yet again, for nought. Sussex would not beat Kent again for Town Malling and Mr Pickwick 53