Lives in Cricket No 26 - HV Hesketh-Prichard

61 ‘followed in a gathering mass as they do, and shouted for Hex to come out to the window above. He was in his bath by that time but his head showed for a moment with his towel round his neck.’ He was asked to turn out for the ‘other’ Gentlemen v Players match at The Oval, immediately following, but declined the invitation, turning out instead for Hampshire against the South Africans in the only first-class match ever played on the Municipal Ground at Alton. The county, once again, got thumped. The South Africans made 380, Hex bowling 27 overs and taking three for 98, but Hampshire were rolled over for 168 and 193. Hex – revelling in this new batting form – made 13 in the first innings and in the second was actually promoted to number nine (and made four). After that it was Yorkshire at Portsmouth, and another innings defeat. Yorkshire made 549 with hundreds from Tunnicliffe and Hirst and 98 from Rhodes. Hex had 32 overs and three for 109. Hampshire made 331 and 200, but it was nothing like enough. On 18 July there was an away match at Worcester. After being 27 for four Hampshire got to 207, but Worcester were past that with two wickets down and reached 510. Hex, toiling, bowled 35 overs and took one for 119. At the end of the second day Hex was actually sent in as nightwatchman and proceeded to hang on the next morning, taking his score to a new personal first-class best of 23. The second innings reached 367 but Worcester needed only 68 to win, and got there for the loss of one wicket. Hex had none for 27 in ten overs. Always ready for a game, Hex then turned out on 25 and 26 July at Lord’s for the Gentlemen of MCC against the Household Brigade, taking five for 38 as the soldiers were bowled out for 115. He followed this up with a duck and two for 87 as the Brigade pulled themselves together in the second innings. Surrey came to Southampton on 28 July but the game was spoiled by rain: at the end of the first day Surrey had scored 346, Hex bowling 31 overs, taking two for 84. Hampshire had called out of retirement Harry Baldwin, at 43, and he had to bowl 34 overs. But there was no play on the second day and on the third Hampshire went on to 297 for five, with Arthur Webb batting all day for his career-best score of 162*. Webb was one of the professional journeymen who had kept the team going – he had been there since 1896 – and this was to be his last season. He was given a benefit this year but it amounted to only £150 or so. Then came an away game with Derbyshire, starting on 1 August. Hex and Baldwin dismissed the home side for 120, bowling unchanged – Hex six for 68, Baldwin four for 47. For a fast bowler 19 overs unchanged with an off-spinner at the other end might seem quite a lot to ask! By the close Hampshire were 264 for eight, with Hex about to come in and make 18 towards the final 292. Derby’s second innings was 221, with Hex sending down a further 31 overs for two for 82: Harry Baldwin took five for 53. And Hampshire, needing 52 to win, got them for one wicket down. It was a bit late in the year to record the first win of the season, but perhaps One of the Gentlemen