Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/394

 Eleven, some of his long-hops bounding over their heads, causing them to change colour and funk at the next straight one. He died at the early age of 31.

Mr. Charles Thornton (cricketer) was born at Llanwarne, Herefordshire, 20th March, 1850. His height is 6 ft.; weight, 13 st. No more sensational hitter or enthusiastic lover of the game has ever appeared on a cricket-ground. He played for Eton v. Harrow in 1866, 1867, and 1868; scoring 46 not out and 7 first year, 35 and 47 second, 44 and 13 third. In the first innings of the 1868 match he commenced his hitting by sending a ball over the bowler's head and over the old pavilion at Lord's into the garden beyond.

At Cambridge, where he was much esteemed, he did a wonderful bit of hitting for his University in June, 1871, his most successful year for the eleven. Playing against the Gentlemen of England, he scored 74 at a great pace. Mr. D. Buchanan, one of the best amateur bowlers of that time, bowled the first over to him, and a hot one it was. The first ball was hit for 6, the second and third for 4 each, and the fourth for 6. I was playing in that match, and not being the bowler, could afford to laugh heartily.

The same year, at the Oval, playing for the Gentlemen of South v. Players of South, he scored 31 in 16 minutes first innings, and 61 in 47 minutes second. One hit of the 61, off Southerton's bowling, travelled a great distance, right over the old racquet-court, which used to be situated by the present entrance gate, and into the road beyond. An uncommon and amusing incident occurred in the same match. In the first innings of the Players, Thornton was put on to bowl at the beginning of it a compliment, I should think, never paid him before or since. Of course it was underhand grubs he bowled, and he obtained three or four wickets for a very small number of runs. The captain of the Players,