Lives in Cricket No 27 - CB Llewellyn

81 Accrington three of them Accrington were never lower than fourth in the league table. Young amateur members of the club were stirred by his example and other players encouraged to join the club. On 5 June, he played a major role in the crushing of Rawtenstall by nine wickets, following four wickets for 47 by an undefeated innings of 115. As already noted, the club were heated rivals of neighbouring Church, whose professional was the great Cecil Parkin. Always a fearsome bowler of various paces, moods and styles, he was also an entertainer and raiser of controversy. There was on the field an edge between Llewellyn and Parkin; in one match this came to light after Parkin had clean bowled Billy Ormerod and Moore, two of Accrington’s best batsmen. Llewellyn came to the wicket clearly determined to shield his colleagues from Parkin. In this league match he batted for 80 minutes for 18, making it possible for his partner, Johnny Pollard to hit up a splendid 60 from the other bowlers. That this was not a typical performance is easily demonstrated by the events of Wednesday, 16 July 1913, when Accrington were hosts to Bacup, who took the field first. The Australian fast bowler, Alex Kermode had joined Bacup after a spell with Lancashire in county cricket, and Llewellyn coming to the crease at the fall of the second wicket, set about him. Dropped at cover when he had reached 15, he cut and drove 31 boundaries – there were no six hits then – to set a new league record score of 188 not out, which endured for 24 years. He had the major share of a sixth-wicket stand of 154 with Arnold Chadwick, whose score was 22 not out. Accrington finished on 288 for five from 55 overs. Kermode’s analysis was one for 105 off 23 overs. Llewellyn then dismissed five Bacup batsmen for 64, as they just avoided defeat on 131 for nine. Accrington W.H.Morley b Thompson 10 *W.Brown b Kermode 41 J.Pollard c Haworth b Thompson 0 C.B.Llewellyn (pro) not out 188 G.Parker c Dickinson b Thompson 6 J.A.Ramsbottom lbw b Dickinson 15 A.W.Chadwick not out 22 †D.Parkinson did not bat H.E.Boothman did not bat [unknown] did not bat [unknown] did not bat