Lives in Cricket No 27 - CB Llewellyn

59 place of that expedition in 1910/11 became a pre-condition for the organisation of a future triangular tournament, which eventually took place in 1912. The South African visit to Australia, after a few more wobbles, duly took place and Buck was a participant. His form with the bat continued to be moderate following the contest with the Australians; he did not reach 40 until the match with Derbyshire at Southampton which started on 15 July over five weeks – and seven games – later, when he hit a spirited 63, at Hampshire’s second attempt. He also took three wickets cheaply in each innings. Up to that point in the season, he had captured five wickets in an innings on five occasions, and by the successful end of the Derbyshire game, his victims numbered 48, to which he added three more against Worcestershire at Northlands Road. He furthered his county’s cause when Hampshire batted a second time, with a lead of 20 runs on the first innings. In company with Alec Bowell, who scored 102, he added 199 for the fourth wicket in an unbroken stand which occupied only a couple of hours. The Hampshire attack then dismissed Worcestershire for 139, the last wicket falling six minutes before time, leaving the home side victorious by 152 runs. The weak Gloucestershire team, lacking Gilbert Jessop, were the next visitors, in a match at Portsmouth which began on 26 July. Llewellyn had a peculiar experience, opening the bowling and being hit for 69 runs from 10 overs and five balls, from the last of which he took his only wicket. He captured only two further wickets, in his remaining seven fixtures, all in August, resulting in a monthly return of 35 overs, six maidens and 119 runs for two wickets! The conclusion may be that he had hurt himself in the match with Gloucestershire. There is no reference in Wisden to him suffering an injury, the only comment in the summary of Hampshire’s season being that he batted brilliantly, ‘and often bowled with effect’. So he did, but not in the final eight matches, the last of which he missed altogether. His batting was certainly brilliant in the first of the August matches against Sussex at Hove; the home side always held the upper hand and won by 105 runs. Fry did not play against the side he had captained from 1903 to 1908. After Sussex had stayed in for the whole of the first day, for a total of 369, Hampshire soon lost Bowell, Mead and Stone. Batting at four and given a little luck, Llewellyn received useful support from Sprot and Remnant, before being eighth out for 130. When Hampshire batted in the fourth innings, Phil Mead was leg before wicket for 26, and no other The Beneficiary