Lives in Cricket No 44 - LCH Palairet

later the side were all out for 122. This defeat prompted the Bath Chronicle to add that after the openers were gone Somerset’s batting was weak; it would not get any better as time would show. Another innings defeat followed at Manchester against Lancashire. Lionel ran himself out for nought in the first innings and on their way back the team drew with Warwickshire as the match was badly spoilt by rain. Lionel’s bad run continued as he made only six in his only innings. The weather again spoilt the next game at Bristol. Despite both Lionel and Gilbert Jessop using declarations to try and force a result, the game ended with Somerset with two wickets left, requiring 13 to win. Happily back on home turf at Bath, the team registered their second win of the season as they romped home by seven wickets against Warwickshire. Braund’s match analysis of 14 for 141 was the main factor as he bowled in his form of a few years previously. Somerset then travelled to Hastings and lost by nine wickets, best remembered for the reappearance of the slow left-arm bowler, Ted Tyler, as he took nine for 83; however it was only to be a flash in the pan. Lionel’s 43 in the second innings was his best innings for some time. Returning to Taunton a close game looked on the cards as after one innings each, Somerset held a slender lead of 18. Gloucestershire were then skittled by Lewis and Mordaunt for only 37. Somerset though lost four wickets getting the 20 needed. A crushing innings defeat to Middlesex followed. Braund again carried his bat (67 out of 226). Lionel after a poor run had dropped down to four. The only note of cheer was Peter Johnson and Frank Phillips, back in the team to bolster the batting until the end of the season. After a drought of over two months Lionel made 78 against Hampshire in the first innings. An unbeaten 71 form Robson, who then took seven for 60, helped set up a lead of 59. However Somerset’s 95 all out resulted in an eight wicket loss after another dismal batting display. Lionel’s return to form continued as he made 62 against Kent, but the side were soundly thrashed by an innings. The last Championship games resulted in Hampshire performing the double, and the last fixture against the tourists SouthAfrica ended Captain of Somerset, and the Earl of Devon 100