Lives in Cricket No 44 - LCH Palairet

finishing with match figures of 10 for 268. Somerset had fought well and given the champions a good game; the return later in the summer would be even more dramatic. After such a good performance in the first game, Somerset would have travelled in good spirits to play Middlesex at Lord’s. However the team was badly beaten. PlumWarner carried his bat for 197 in the second innings, and Somerset were set 464 in well under a day. Although Lionel made 55 of the first 82 in ‘charming style’ (according to the Taunton Courier ), the team were then already four down. Apart from Woods (83) no one else lasted long and the innings closed for 205, Somerset losing by 258 runs. Somerset followed this with an even heavier defeat at Hove to Sussex, by an innings and 39 runs; Ranjitsinjhi made 133 for the home team. Lionel top scored in the second innings with a fluent 52, but he seemed to become over-confident and was stumped just after reaching his half-century. A third successive heavy defeat came against Surrey at the Oval by 204 runs. Again the batting badly let Somerset down; Lionel’s first innings of 47 was the highest score in either of Somerset’s innings. After four Championship games the team had lost them all and was bottom (with Derbyshire) of the table. Hopes of a good season had already evaporated. The next game was a friendly against Oxford University at The Parks. For a change Lionel travelled to play his old university. Somerset took a weak team, though making his debut was Henry Martyn, who was at Oxford University. Born in Devon, Martyn was a brilliant wicket-keeper who stood up to almost any bowler, slow or fast. He was to render useful service to Somerset as an amateur, though after 1906 he dropped out of cricket due to work commitments; this was particularly sad as he was developing into a fine batsman. His finest hour was his unbeaten 130 against the Australians in 1905. Like Lionel he turned down the chance to tour Australia in 1903-04. At Oxford, Somerset won the toss and batted. Lionel went in at the fall of the second wicket at 39. He hit a fine 73, but the county could only post 173. In reply Cranfield and Gill shot out the students for only 81. By the close of play Somerset reached 94 for one with Lionel on 67. He was out early the following A new century and 1901 69