by The Professor » Mon May 22, 2017 7:12 am
On this day in 1919 a strange event sees a tied game between Somerset and Sussex.
The overnight pair of Herbert Wilson and Arthur Somerset put on a bit of a fight at the start of the second day but were sent back in quick succession. The rest of the batsmen did not offer much, with the exception of Maurice Tate who put on a handy 69, batting at number eight. Harold Heygate batted at number eleven and was dismissed for a duck. The Sussex innings drew to a close with the visiting side a mere 1 run behind Somerset.
Sussex took to the field without Heygate for the second Sussex innings due to pain caused from rheumatism. Somerset's second innings was characterised by poor batting and low scores. The first three Somerset batsmen, who had put on 104 together in the first innings, got a combined total of 16 with George Cox dismissing all three. From there, things got marginally better with a succession of batsmen getting scores in the double figures but the top score was Jimmy Bridges' 14. Somerset could only manage 103 in reply with Cox getting four wickets and taking bragging rights.
Sussex would have felt in pole position chasing 105 and Wilson batted with great character from the off...the problem was that his supporting cast did not support him. It was not until his partnership with Henry Roberts for the seventh wicket that he got a partner with whom he shared more than a dozen runs. When Roberts fell for 28 off Dudley Rippon, Tate attempted to put up a bit of a fight and was then gone for 11 off the bowling of Bridges.
When George Stannard and George Cox, batting at nine and ten, were dismissed for ducks, the scores were tied and Somerset celebrated a drawn game that they looked to have been losing. But then came the twist. Heygate, whose last contribution to the match had been at the end of the first innings, was asked if he wanted to bat. Despite being dressed in regular clothes he agreed. As he made his way rheumatically around the dressing room, the Somerset captain appealed for dismissal, citing Law 45, stating that a batsman must be at the crease within two minutes of the previous batsman leaving.
When Heygate emerged from the pavilion he was informed that he had already been given out and the game called as a tie. Gallingly this proved to be Heygate's last game.
"It has been said of the unseen army of the dead, on their everlasting march, that when they are passing a rural cricket ground the Englishman falls out of the ranks for a moment to look over the gate and smile."