Lives in Cricket No 20 - Maurice Tompkin

grinning Maurice Tompkin who appeared to let it go. I amassed nine edgy runs.’ Happy memories for Tony Lewis maybe, but Charles Palmer remembered that the game became ill-tempered. The Glamorgan fielders believed that Vic Jackson should have been given out early on in the innings, but he went on to score 105, and they grumbled about this for the rest of the game. So annoying did this become that Palmer offered his team champagne on the train back to London if they won in double-quick time. No surprise that they did so and received their reward. The next match, against Middlesex, was the scene of a treble celebration. On the second day, Maurice completed another century at Lord’s, a four-hour 121 which included two sixes off Jack Young, who probably rued that he did not decide to become a Leicestershire player back in 1939. With this innings Maurice brought his aggregate to 1,981 runs for the season, just one short of his record in 1953. The MCC ‘A’ team for Pakistan was also announced, and there was general satisfaction with his selection. ‘Well deserved’ was the reaction, for it was genuinely felt that perhaps he was unlucky not to have been given a chance earlier, and this was at least a belated recognition of his talent. The Times applauded his recognition under an unlikely sub-heading, coupling him with Allan Watkins as the party’s Regimental Sergeant Majors. Even though his team suffered defeat by 40 runs, Palmer could still describe the match as ‘delightful’. Maurice scored just 19, but this was just enough for him to reach 2,000 runs for the season. For the third and last time he was Leicestershire’s top run-scorer of the season. Senior Professional 107 In full flight. Maurice on-drivng at Lord’s against Middlesex in August 1955, with Leslie Compton keeping.