Lives in Cricket No 26 - HV Hesketh-Prichard

105 Lord’s in Alec Hearne’s rather wet benefit match. There was no play on the first day, Saturday 10 May, and on the Monday, a Bank Holiday, they were bowled out for 51 by Middlesex, Frank Tarrant taking seven for 27. That was all there was on Monday. On Tuesday Hex kept Middlesex to 166, taking seven for 38 in 17.5 overs, with The Times saying ‘It was not in reality Mr Hesketh-Prichard’s wicket, but he bowled manfully, and though he too sent down some short ones, he deserved his wickets, for he bowled many difficult balls.’ Frank Tarrant then took eight for 20 in a second innings of 79 and the county went down by an innings. The Times , having nothing better to do, with very little cricket on the Saturday, ran an article suggesting that batting left-handed should be banned. Hex took his team to Worplesdon for the usual annual game on 17 May and in a twelve-a-side game his team won by 106 to 98. The team included Johnnie Douglas and Teddy Wynyard and a couple of others with first- class experience, but also Lord Grimston and both Geoffrey and Alfred Gathorne-Hardy, who were decent shots but not exactly cricketers, so had a fine spread of ability. Hampshire then played Derbyshire at Southampton without Hex, and lost by eight wickets. The home side stayed on at Southampton to play Leicestershire. Hampshire made 219, Leicestershire 241: Hex, brought on third change, took one for 24 in his 8.1 overs. Hampshire declared at 376 for eight, but the game was heading for a draw and Leicestershire ended up at 240 for three: Hex bowled 13 overs for 42. Hampshire then played a match against MCC at Lord’s and won in two days against a weakish side. Hampshire made 180 and 382, MCC 226 and 128. Hex bowled five overs in the first innings for none for 21, but took three for 49 in the second. On 26 May they were back at Southampton, losing to Warwickshire without Hex. Then on 2 June it was Surrey at The Oval and it was to be another innings defeat, even after Hampshire made 355 – Hex, batting last, made 36 in 18 minutes, in a last-wicket stand of 44, his highest county championship score. However Surrey made 531, Hex being particularly expensive, going for 114 in 21.5 overs and taking only the wicket of the number eleven, Tom Rushby. Hampshire’s second innings of 136 meant another innings defeat. Hex did not play against Warwickshire at Edgbaston (another defeat) but was there at Derby on 12 June for what was to be the first win of the season. However, he bowled only eight overs in the first innings, taking one for 14 as Newman and Brown bowled Derbyshire out for 169. Hampshire made 310 with Hex nightwatching, this time unsuccessfully as he was bowled by Slater for five. Derby’s second knock was 238 but Hex again bowled only six overs, for 32. Then, starting on 16 June, came a tight match with Surrey at Southampton. Surrey made 295, with Hex taking three for 52, and Hampshire’s first innings lead of 28 came about with a last-wicket partnership of 57, of which Hex made 12*. Surrey made 259, Hex four for 83, but there were Before the War