Lives in Cricket No 24 - Edgar Willsher

78 by removing both Tarrant and Freeman within the space of three balls, leaving the contest on a knife-edge at 65 for nine. Willsher now played one of the most vital innings of his life, eking out the runs in a watchful partnership punctuated by lusty blows for two and three. Both batsmen were given a chance in the deep, but eventually Charlwood fell caught in the outfield going for another boundary, but not before he had contributed 45 to a total of 92, giving a tiny but precious lead of four runs. His captain remained 13 not out. The Gazette reported breathlessly that ‘the wonder and astonishment of the spectators was only equalled by the gratification felt by the twenty-two themselves’, and certainly the eleven had been rattled by the consistent pace of Charles Newhall, who finished with six for 48. The fightback began almost as soon as England took the field, but it came not from the expected source of George Freeman, but from Griffith, bowling deceptive ‘slow left-hand twisters’ that lured unsuspecting batsmen to their fate. By the close he had taken five of the 10 wickets to fall for a dismal 21 runs, and although he had no more success on the resumption, his captain’s gamble had paid off. When battle re-commenced the next day, Freeman completed the job in clinical fashion with freakish figures of 13 for 11, including a sensational over containing four wickets in consecutive balls, assisted by Willsher, who picked up a couple of wickets during a spell of nine consecutive maidens. In an all- out total of 35, Hargraves had top-scored with 13, with nobody else managing more than five. The Gazette was considerably less jaunty in its appraisal of the Philadelphians’ performance: ‘Of the batting in this innings … nothing can be said in commendation … to say it was poor is about all that is necessary. … It was a sort of race to see who could stay in the shortest time.’ Weekend cricketers around the globe will know the feeling only too well. With only 32 needed in just over two hours, England’s task seemed a formality, but nothing in this match went exactly according to the form-book. After a steady start from Smith and Jupp, the first wicket did not fall until 12 had been compiled in 11 overs, but then the floodgates were opened. Charles Newhall and Meade worked their way steadily through the top order to leave the eleven on the brink at 22 for six. At this point Freeman received a taste of his own medicine, being bowled by Newhall for his second ‘blob’ of the match: 26 for seven. With Lillywhite at the other end, Griffith continued to chip away calmly at the victory target until, with the scores tied, an incident occurred that provoked scenes reminiscent of The Oval in 1862. Lillywhite himself provides the Cricket on the Brain