Lives in Cricket No 44 - LCH Palairet

despite George Brann making a century. By the close Lionel and Lewis had already made an unbeaten 158 for the first wicket with Lionel going in on 73. The following morning the partnership was raised to 258 when Lewis was caught for 120. Lionel then added 104 with Braund before he was out for an excellent 194; he had batted four hours ten minutes and hit 28 fours. Somerset were able to declare on 560 for eight. Somerset had just over a day to bowl Sussex out; however after an opening stand of 174 by Joe Vine and Ranjitsinjhi, Sussex batted the rest of the day without losing another wicket; they closed on 466 for one, Ranjitsinjhi making 285 and CB Fry 119 as the pair added an unbroken 292. An innings defeat followed to Kent, although after Kent closed on the first day at 435 for four it rained and made the wicket treacherous; 26 wickets fell on the second day for only 181 runs, with Colin Blythe and John Mason bowling unchanged in each innings. It was then back to Taunton and happily better weather for the visit of Surrey. Winning the toss Lionel and Braund started the Somerset innings. Both began shakily, snicking balls through the slips. Despite this both soon settled and scored freely. After half an hour fifty went up. After 55 minutes of play Lionel sent up his fifty. The opening stand was broken after an hour and a half, with Braund going for 44. With the score at only 149, Lionel reached a brilliant hundred. At lunch the score was 161 for one, Lionel having scored a fifth century of the season and all of them before lunch; an unrivalled feat in one season. In two of them he was not out overnight and added at least a hundred in the session. Lionel added 111 for the second wicket with Lewis (113), before he finally fell to William Brockwell for 140; his innings lasting two hours and fifty minutes, he had scored 19 boundaries. Somerset eventually posted 438, but solid batting in each innings by Bobby Abel and Tom Hayward ensured a draw for Surrey, Lionel adding 44 to his first innings century. Lionel had a quiet time in the last two county games at Taunton; Somerset were heavily beaten by Hampshire and finishing the season against Gloucestershire the county beat their western rivals by 75 runs. There were centuries from Braund and Bernard. A new century and 1901 77