Lives in Cricket No 46 - George Raikes

97 Raikes’ Third Spell For Norfolk: The Championship Won Again XI, Cambridgeshire duly folded but skipper Herbert Tebbutt did hit Raikes ‘to the seats’ three times off three consecutive balls, forcing the Norfolk captain to set a much more defensive field. Norfolk looked much less certain against visiting Bedfordshire; after Raikes (top score with 38) and Ralph Thurgar put on 57 for the first wicket they collapsed to 136 and though Bedfordshire were put out for just 102, thanks to five wicket hauls for Falcon and Gibson, another collapse saw Norfolk reduced to 71 for eight. Only 105 ahead, they looked doomed but were rescued by the unlikely figure of Norwich City footballer Tommy Allsopp, who was mainly a bowler; first he added 53 for the ninth wicket with Claude Treglown and then he put on 83 for the last wicket with Eric Fulcher (a ludicrously good batsman to ‘whip in’) before Raikes declared, setting Bedfordshire 242 in 150 minutes. For the third match running, Norfolk’s opponents collapsed in their second innings; Raikes took five for 55 as Bedfordshire made just 129. Norfolk then steam-rollered past Cambridgeshire, racking up 422 (Gervase Birkbeck 111, Raikes and Bob Collinson 63 each), enforcing the follow-on and winning by an innings and 198. Raikes bagged seven wickets in the victory, which ensured that Norfolk finished on top of the North and East Division of the Championship and qualified to meet Berkshire, winners of the South and West Division in the Championship final (note 4) . Norfolk, who were stated to be the strong favourites despite the fact that Berkshire had much the superior record with nine wins in their ten The Norfolk Eleven that defeated Nottinghamshire second XI in August 1910. Standing (from left): B.K.Wilson (Hon Sec), E.Gibson, E.J.Fulcher, G.Williams, G.W.Birkbeck, R.W.Collinson, T.C.Allsopp, C.B.L.Prior (Hon Sec). Sitting (from left): G.A.Stevens, M.Falcon, Rev G.B.Raikes (capt.), R.A.A.Beresford, R.W.Thurgar.