Lives in Cricket No 6 - Bill Copson

The scene was now being set for Derbyshire’s final run in to their eventual triumph, although there were still some final tremors to be overcome. Their next match was against Surrey at Kennington Oval. The team had gained a first innings lead of 117 runs, with Copson and Mitchell having accounted for nine of Surrey’s first innings’ wickets. Derbyshire’s reply was dominated by a superb innings of 102 from Denis Smith, his first century of the season. A series of dropped catches cost Derbyshire dearly as Surrey totalled 315 for the loss of seven wickets in their second innings, but bad light and rain caused the game to be abandoned as a draw. Copson had a further three wickets to give him a match analysis of seven for 101. They defeated Leicestershire comfortably enough, by nine wickets, in their penultimate home game and Bill distinguished himself by taking three wickets in four balls, making ‘the ball leave the turf at bewildering pace’ according to the Wisden report. He had match figures of nine for 79. A drawn match at Worksop followed when a last day undefeated opening partnership by W.W.Keeton and C.B.Harris, in three hours and twenty minutes, enabled the home team to draw the game. Copson had a further four wickets in the Nottinghamshire first innings. Derbyshire’s last home fixture of the season was against Northamptonshire at Chesterfield and they were very nearly defeated. In the visitors’ second innings, a magnificent 241 not out by A.H.Bakewell, in an innings total of 411 for six declared, set the county 347 runs to win but, having lost half their wickets for 64, had to settle for a draw finishing the game on 173 for the loss of seven wickets. Mitchell, when batting in the second innings, was struck on the thumb and could not play again in the season. On their way home from this match Northamptonshire suffered a tragedy when R.P.Northway was killed and Bakewell severely injured in a car accident. The latter’s right arm was badly damaged and this innings proved to be his last in the first-class game. Copson had a further four wickets in the Northamptonshire first innings. Although Derbyshire lost their next game at Wells by the narrow margin of one wicket, their second defeat by Somerset during the season, they were duly acclaimed as champions on the early evening of Friday, 28 August, when it became known that Yorkshire only managed a draw in their penultimate match at Hove against Sussex. Copson had a good return in Somerset’s second innings with six wickets. Arthur Wellard, the renowned Somerset hitter made 86, striking five consecutive sixes on a ground with short boundaries off Tommy Armstrong, who had Annus Mirabilis 29