Lives in Cricket No 46 - George Raikes

73 early Norfolk days and a further 66 runs were added before Sprot was bowled for a highly meritorious 130. Llewellyn now joined Raikes and the remaining runs were easily knocked off, the Manchester Guardian stating “Raikes and Llewellyn easily rubbed off the remaining runs required with an hour to spare.” Raikes final share was 39 not out - not a large knock but a vital one in ensuring the victory. For the second year running, Raikes’ first-class season ended with a game against Yorkshire and this time he did nothing of note. Hampshire’s decision to bat first back-fired when a strong wind made George Hirst almost unplayable and he took six wickets quite smartly; Raikes made just nine as the innings ended at an inadequate 204. Yorkshire responded by racking up a total of 439 with centuries from J.T.Brown and Tom Taylor. Raikes appeared to have lost the confidence of his skipper again as, whilst Llewellyn was asked to bowl 40.4 overs and Barton 32, Raikes was only called upon to bowl seven overs. He then ‘failed to trouble’ and, unsurprisingly, “stood down” before he was dropped. Whilst he had played a crucial role in the victory over Derbyshire, he failed to make any impression in his other four games. Raikes played his final match for Hampshire against Derbyshire, starting on 19 May 1902. He was a spectator as Charlie Llewellyn took seven cheap wickets but was eventually called upon to see off a tail that was wagging annoyingly and Jack Hulme duly became his third victim ‘stumped’ for Hampshire. He then played an innings of 39 as Hampshire totalled 168, Edward Sprot, scorer of a match-winning 130 for Hampshire against Derbyshire in 1901, was aided in securing victory by a stubborn innings from George Raikes. The Curate of Portsea; Was Raikes A Muscular Christian?