Lives in Cricket No 17 - Fuller Pilch

help the village finally record a victory over Brighton who, this time, were without Lillywhite. It would be nearly six weeks before he would savour the sea air of Sussex again as the powers of Kent cricket laid their plans to keep him where they believed he belonged, while he played three matches in their county and three at Lord’s. On 8 and 9 July, Fuller helped MCC beat England at Lord’s by six wickets and then joined Penshurst at Benenden where his 48 out of 105 in the second innings saved them from defeat with the game unfinished. It was back to Lord’s for England’s innings and a one-run victory over a combined Nottinghamshire and Sussex eleven on 23 and 24 July and then five days later contributing 28 to the Players massive first innings of 235 runs from 574 balls against a Gentlemen eleven playing without any given men who would have lost by an innings if rain had not intervened. Kent’s return match against Sussex, at Town Malling on 5 and 6 August, was another triumph for Fuller with top score of 41 out of 112 in the first innings and 37 out of 77 in the second that saw another Kent victory by three wickets. Three days later he was at Penshurst where his unbeaten 48 out of 94 gave them a first innings lead of 26 over Benenden, but a second innings collapse saw Benenden earn victory by four wickets. Still keeping his options open, Fuller then accepted another engagement to play for the Gentlemen of Sussex at Brighton on 15 and 16 August, this time against MCC. His top score of 36 out of 128 in the second innings was another demonstration that, whichever county secured his services, they would certainly be receiving value for their money. Fred Gale reported in Echoes From Old Cricket Fields , published in 1871, that when the fixture lists were being prepared for the 1839 season it had been generally recognised that Kent ‘was the only county which could contend against England’ and a match was duly arranged between them, the first for three years. Kent supporters hoped this would demonstrate to Fuller that Kent was the place to be. MCC had agreed to send the strongest England team they could find to Town Malling for the match on 19, 20 and 21 August and now Thomas Selby announced that he had persuaded the powers at Lord’s to take over as patrons, with Lord Frederick Beauclerk as manager of the England team. But the biggest news of all was that the match would be played as a benefit for Fuller Pilch, now in his thirty-sixth year. The usual large crowds gathered, with the ground roped and enclosed by wagons. Kent won the toss and made 145, thanks to 35 from Fuller and 37 from Wenman, facing the bowling of Lillywhite, Cobbett and Redgate: ‘Whether the balls came fast or slow, creeping grounders or regular flings, Pilch and Wenman knew exactly how to take them and frequently elicited the admiration of the company by the style in which they played,’ reported the Maidstone Journal . When Kent batted again they were 15 runs in front and had reached 30 without loss when lightning struck. Redgate was brought into the attack and in his first over completely changed the game Attracted by the seaside charms of Sussex 64