Lives in Cricket No 36 - WE Astill

70 The First ‘Doubles’ undefeated captain A.T.Sharp. In the Championship he was immediately into his stride with 17 wickets in the first two matches, his six for 78 in 52 overs snatching a thrilling victory for his side at Northampton with only five minutes remaining. 132 His first 50 of the season, a dogged innings lasting two and a quarter hours, came in the fifth match and with his six wickets played a vital rôle in Leicestershire’s ‘sensational’ home victory over Sussex with a single ball to spare after the visitors had opened with a total of 479 for nine declared. A further eight wickets in 56 overs in the loss to Gloucestershire were the prelude to a long-awaited event in his career. On the first day of the first-ever Championship match at Swansea, and in his own 309th innings, Astill at last reached the coveted three figures, an innings of 115 in two and a half hours with 15 fours in which he ‘rarely missed a chance of punishing a likely ball’ and, according to The Times correspondent played ‘a number of square and late cuts’. Later that evening the team was ‘entertained at a civic smoking concert at which Astill … followed up his century by a very good “turn” at the piano’. 133 Despite an abysmal collapse in their second innings Leicestershire further celebrated the feat with a victory, albeit one by a mere 20 runs. 132 Leicestershire Liberals must have been proud as in this match Astill and Benskin were joined by a third player, Pratt, all with the Gladstonian names of William Ewart. 133 ‘Reynard’ in Leicester Sports Mercury , 4 June 1927. The life and soul of the party. Astill was an accomplished musician who often entertained his team-mates after matches. Here he is pictured in army uniform, including puttees, at the piano.