Lives in Cricket No 42 - Frank and George Mann

68 The Title Race Turns Nasty: 1924 to follow on 209 runs behind. At 108 for five, really 108 for six as Bruce had retired hurt with an injured hand, it looked all over, but Guise, on vacation from Oxford, hit exactly three figures; then at 283 for eight Bruce returned to the wicket and, batting with one hand, hit seven fours in his 58. Needing only 150 to win, Gunn and Whysall opened with 72 in fifty minutes before Gubby Allen was given the ball and, bowling with terrifying speed, responded to his captain’s belief that he could win the match for him, took six for 31 and Middlesex had won by 27 runs. Before resuming their Championship cricket, Middlesex entertained the South Africans at Lord‘s but with the second day rained off the game drifted to an uninteresting draw. This was followed by victory over Somerset, thanks to another brilliant spell of bowling from Allen who took seven for 32 in the first innings, and victory over Sussex at Hove. Middlesex were now top of the table, well ahead of Yorkshire, and they were favourites to win the Championship with only five more matches to play. They could only draw with Surrey but beat Warwickshire by an innings: then, with the title almost in their hands, rain on the last day prevented a result at Canterbury. Now they travelled down to Bristol and although Yorkshire were breathing down their necks, they knew that victory would mean that the title was theirs, and when Gloucestershire were all out for 31 in just over an hour with Haig taking six for 11, it looked like time to begin the celebrations. Unfortunately Middlesex themselves were soon skittled out for only 74, with Parker taking seven for 30 including a hat- trick with first Twining and then Allen being caught and finally Frank, who characteristically opted to attack the third ball and was immediately stumped. Then Hammond hit an unbeaten 174 out of 294 and Middlesex were set 252 to win. Parker enjoyed another hat-trick and Middlesex lost by 61 runs. All was not lost and, clutching at straws according to some, but with the usual confident approach from Frank, there was an outside chance that the title could still be theirs. The last game was at home to Surrey: if they won that and Yorkshire lost both of their last two matches against Hampshire and Sussex, Middlesex would be champions. The game at Lord’s was ruined by rain and Yorkshire won both of their matches to take their third title in succession under Geoffrey Wilson.