Lives in Cricket No 44 - LCH Palairet

and 25 minutes making an unbeaten 147. After two more heavy defeats, he was chosen to represent the Gentlemen versus Players at the Oval starting on July 6. In an exciting game the Gentlemen won by one wicket, however Lionel could only muster one and eight. On conclusion of the game he went straight to Southampton for Somerset’s return game against Hampshire. Electing to bat Lionel started in fine form immediately opening up with some fine drives, pulls and cuts. He kept losing partners, and it was not until Robson arrived that he made a long partnership. At the close Somerset had reached 417 for seven with Lionel unbeaten on 251; his only chance was a simple one to Tom Soar when 141. The following morning the pair took their partnership to 131 before Robson was run out; Lionel fell shortly afterwards for 292, having hit 44 boundaries in a stay of six and a half hours. Somerset went on to win by eight wickets. In two innings against Hampshire he had scored 439 runs for once out; his innings would remain the highest score by a Somerset batsman until it was broken by Harold Gimblett in 1948. Lionel was then picked for the second Gentlemen-Players game of the season, at Lord’s. The Gentlemen won by six wickets; Lionel started well in both innings but could only make 22 and 18. It was not until the game against Middlesex at Taunton that he returned to his best form as he scored 35 and 63. Thanks to a second innings century by William Roe, Somerset held on to a creditable draw. The team played Sussex fromAugust 6. In good weather and on an excellent wicket Sussex elected to bat, and stayed in the field for well over a day, finally dismissed for 559. In reply Somerset soon lost Challen, but then the two Palairets came together and both batted magnificently for the rest of the day, adding 174 as the team closed on 181 for one; Lionel being the most aggressive as he closed on 109. The following morning the pair continued where they had left off, adding 249 for the second wicket until Lionel was out for 154. His innings lasted only two hours and 50 minutes, and included 26 fours. With the score at 348, Richard was out for a career best 156, his second and final century in first class cricket. The game ended in a draw Marriage, family, work and Somerset 51