Lives in Cricket No 46 - George Raikes

90 Raikes’ Second Spell for Norfolk: The Minor Counties Championship Won on: his figures were 9.2-1-41-4 and 19-1-76-6. This caused the Eastern Daily Press to reach for the hyperbole: “The cares of leadership evidently sit lightly upon his broad shoulders, for more than he accomplishes could not reasonably be expected from one man. If he never made a run, he would be worth a place in the team for the excellence of his slow bowling and the brilliancy of his fielding, and to-day he stands out as the best all- round player the County has had for many years.” It was at this point that Raikes’ new appointment with the Duke of Portland was announced in the Norfolk Chronicle , it being made clear that he would retain his qualification to play for Norfolk by birth. Disappointment at a probable reduction in his availability remained somewhat implicit. The next three games brought three more easy wins: Hertfordshire succumbed by nine wickets, Cambridgeshire by an innings and two runs and Oxfordshire by ten wickets. This meant that five games in a row had ended in victory and that, providing that they won their last game outright, Norfolk would be undisputed champions. The good news was that their opponents were a feeble Cambridgeshire side – the bad news was that the pitch at Lakenham was a treacherous strip which threatened to make a mockery of the match. Raikes won a toss that he would have preferred to lose and, deciding that the pitch was only likely to deteriorate, unwillingly plumped to take first knock. Norfolk duly collapsed to 40 all out and Cambridgeshire’s reply only managed to reach 108 thanks to a knock of 50 by George Watts. There was still enough time for Norfolk to crumble to 54 for four before the close of play. Few prospective spectators thought it worth turning up the next day so only a lucky handful witnessed one of the most amazing innings in any type of county cricket. Norfolk progressed to 108 for seven when George Pilch went into bat (note 8) . Pilch’s career for Norfolk lasted for 22 years yet his up-and-down pace bowling was cannon fodder for most Championship batsmen whilst his inclination to thrash good length balls to deep midwicket ensured that his batting average remained comfortably in single figures. In the first innings of this match, he had failed to score, having been caught by Oliver Bocock, knowingly positioned on the boundary at midwicket and, in his second knock, he had only just opened his account when he sent up another offering to Bocock. The crowd were resigned to defeat, only to watch Bocock grass the chance. With one bound Pilch was free and he proceeded to play a knock that would have been beyond much better batsmen on less horrible pitches. In just 80 minutes he played an innings of 88 ( eleven times his final career average), which included 14 fours. Batting with Arthur Watson, who made 83, the eighth wicket added 152 (still a Championship record for Norfolk’s eighth wicket) and a Pilch century had been on the cards until Bocock finally made amends out at his usual position. The last two Norfolk wickets lasted just two balls but Cambridgeshire were utterly demoralised and Smith and Gibson bowled them out for just 68. Sensationally, Norfolk had won the Championship outright for the first time. For a more detailed consideration of Pilch’s unlikely feat see the author’s George Pilch. His Day In The Sun.