Page:Cricket, by WG Grace.djvu/65

 turned up at Canterbury on Tuesday, and for England scored a "duck" first innings, 56 second. Willsher, Sewell, and Mr. Lipscomb were the bowlers, and his 56 included 9 fours and 6 twos.

There was a little friction over the second match. The Captain of the Gentlemen of Kent objected to E. M. playing for M.C.C., not being a member; but Mr. Baker very firmly said: "I have given my promise to the Hon. Spencer Ponsonby that Mr. Grace shall be allowed to play; and if you insist upon your objection being enforced, then I have no alternative but to resign the Secretaryship of the County Club." That put an end to the discussion, and E. M. carried everything before him.

Kent scored 141 first innings. E. M. went in first for the M.C.C. at one o'clock on Friday, and after seeing four wickets go down for 65 runs, he began to hit. He hit all that day, and was 105 not out at the end of it. A good deal of rain fell during the afternoon, and the wicket became heavy, but he made the ball travel at a great rate. Next morning he was in the same vein, and finished up with 192 not out; total, 344. His score was made up of 26 fours, 7 threes, 9 twos, and singles. He broke one bat in compiling it; but Lord Sefton, on behalf of the M.C.C., presented him with another.

The story of his being out first ball, and Fuller Pilch giving him "not out" on the ground that he "wanted to see the young gentleman bat," is a myth. In the early part of the innings the bowler appealed for a catch at the wicket, but Pilch unhesitatingly said "Not out." He was chaffed for his decision afterwards, but said he had no doubt about it. Then laughingly added, "Perhaps I should not have given him out if I had. I wanted to see Mr. Grace do a bit of hitting."

The second innings of the Kent Gentlemen lasted a little over three hours, E. M. capturing all ten wickets.