It’s over 70 years since one of Workington’s most famous cricket matches was played in the town.
That match, between a Cumberland and Westmorland X1 and Clive Walcott Commonwealth X1 was staged at the Workington cricket field – now known as the Ernest Valentine Ground – on July 19, 1951.
Over the years the game has frequently been recalled by those who were there – although for obvious reasons the numbers who witnessed it have declined.
But the game has been back in the spotlight after a senior cricket enthusiast (who wasn’t at the game) found a copy of an old scorecard while he was cleaning out a cupboard at home.
It’s pretty tattered, and it isn’t quite clear as to how many runs were scored on the day, but evidence points to the game being drawn and heavily in favour of the Commonwealth side.
They were spearheaded by the great Three Ws – Frank Worrell, Clive Walcott and Everton Weekes and backed by one of the original spin twins Sonny Ramadhin.
Tales of the day over the years have always highlighted one of the straight sixes from Walcott that cleared the old Brewery and has always gone down in folklore as the biggest and longest six ever struck on the ground.
The Commonwealth side made 214-5 led by Walcott (72no) and Weekes (70). Roy Marshall, who went on to enjoy a long and successful County career with Hampshire made 23, as did Worrell.
The Twin Counties wicket takers were J. D. Heaton of Durham University (two), P. F. Judge of Carlisle (two) and W. A. S. Wesson of Carlisle (one).
The spin of Ramadhin proved decisive for the visitors as the home side had limped to about 117-8 by the finish. He took five wickets.
The best contributions for the home side came from Wesson (27) and E. Walmsley (Whitehaven) who scored 20.
The Twin Counties were very much a new entity, having been re-formed in 1948 – the third such attempt to establish a county club and they entered the Minor Counties Championship for the first time in side.
Dick Ellwood of Kendal was the captain; Carlisle’s Wesson was said to be the stylist in the side while Jimmy Denver, the Whitehaven wicket-keeper would have had trials with Lancashire but for World War Two a few years earlier.
Judge, professional for Carlisle, had been a County Championship player with Glamorgan.
A touring West Indies side had actually played Cumberland and Westmorland at Carlisle’s Edenside the year before – September 14, 1950 in front of around 8,000 people.
Again the result was a draw, with the highlights being 82 from Marshall and four wickets from the other spin twin Alf Valentine.
The chap who found the old scorecard is keen to meet up with anyone still around who can remember the game. Email admin@cumbriacrack.com
