Lives in Cricket No 27 - CB Llewellyn

48 turn out for the remainder of that season, and the major did not play for Hampshire again. This Sussex match was a high-scoring draw. Buck achieved little as June wore on. He missed the Kent match at Tonbridge and the Somerset fixture, both of which resulted in heavy defeats, but on his return against the West Indian tourists at Southampton in early July, he stroked a fluent 60 in a partnership of 124 with Phil Mead, which was a major contribution to the county’s victory by six wickets. He bowled no more than eight unsuccessful overs, and those only in the visitors’ second innings. Sprot seemed to regard him as no more than a change bowler, but luckily for Buck, he showed better form in the return match with Somerset at Taunton, removing three tailenders at a personal cost of 38, and sharing in a partnership of 110 with the Rev W.V.Jephson, which continued into the second day. With Langford in at six another 52 were added, before the fall of three wickets as the score limped from 205 to 209. Both Langford and Gunner were run out, while Buck was caught on 98. His three wickets for 43 in the second innings completed his contribution to Hampshire’s victory by five wickets. Four victims for 64 in two Northamptonshire innings, and an undefeated score of 61 in an unbroken partnership with Sprot then brought another win, with eight wickets to spare. A week later, Buck’s totals of 37 and 91 against Sussex at Portsmouth atoned in part for his bowling figures of three for 158 while Sussex piled up 489, but did not save Hampshire from defeat by an innings and nine runs. There followed three wins in a row – two with no thanks to Llewellyn. The third was a different matter, for in the match with Worcestershire at Portsmouth beginning on 18 August he showed signs of his best form, following an innings of 80, in the course of which he shared with the faithful Stone in a stand of 86 for the eighth wicket, with an analysis of five for 72, giving him eight victims for 110 in the match, which brought Hampshire victory by 131 runs. He clearly benefitted from the steady support of F.J.C.Wyatt, right-arm medium pace, who returned figures of four for 62 and four for 82. The county’s season reached its end at Dean Park, Bournemouth. Kent, in tremendous form, were about to become champion county for the first time, provided that Hampshire did not defeat them. To ensure that this outcome moved from improbable to impossible, Kent smashed the hosts’ attack to all parts, as, with two large centuries and three other innings over 50, they raced Triumph in England