Lives in Cricket No 24 - Edgar Willsher

72 for 26 out of a total of 33, and the rest of day was dominated by Griffith, who continued where he had left off in Canada. By the close, he was 41 not out, but he had lost Freeman and Rowbotham cheaply on the way to 80 for five. It had been the hardest day yet, but at least humiliation had been avoided. If the bowling was far more taxing than anything faced in Canada, the home team’s batting was little better. After the eleven’s innings had closed on the second morning at 109 (Griffith 48 and Pooley 17), the twenty-two caved in under the sustained pressure, once again, of Willsher and Freeman. Wright top-scored with 12 in a total of just 39, Freeman again taking the lion’s share of the wickets with 13 for 16, Willsher supporting brilliantly with seven for 15. Wickets continued to tumble in England’s second innings, only Jupp holding his end up for long, remaining 17 not out at the end of the day out of a disappointing 33 for four. Play resumed on the Wednesday in front of a crowd much reduced from the 5,000 of the day before, and although England were easily got out for 71 in the morning (Jupp 36) the home team did nothing in their second innings to suggest that those who stayed away had made the wrong decision. Willsher again stepped aside to allow Tarrant some exercise, and he took full advantage with 12 for 16. Freeman continued his wicketfest with seven for 14. The only consolation in a defeat by 104 runs was the fact that they had managed to keep the eleven in the field until four o’clock on the final afternoon. After taking a bow in full cricket costume on stage at the Theatre Comique on Wednesday night, the tourists returned to Riverside Park the next morning for a baseball match against three of the local clubs. Ned sat this one out, along with Freeman, Lillywhite and Griffith. George Wright stood in as pitcher for the Englishmen, and attracted most of the plaudits from the local press. After a defeat by 21 to 4, it was felt only fair that in future matches the full eleven should be allowed to play. In those circumstances, their keen fielding might pull them through, despite their ignorance of the ‘finer points’ of the game. Finally, the colonial upstarts had something to teach their former masters! With no time to lose, the twelve took the 5.45 pm train to New London, arriving there at 10.15 pm, in time for the overnight steamboat to New York. After a sleepless night amidst the hustle and bustle on board ship, the team transferred to the Philadelphia train, reaching their final destination at 4 o’clock in the afternoon of 2 October. This time, there was no delegation to greet the Cricket on the Brain