100 Years Ago: 25 October 1924

MCC make dropped catches pay

Day 1

Perth: Western Australia v M.C.C.

Lucky Hundred for Gilligan

M.C.C. 397 (J B Hobbs 17, W W Whysall 32, J W Hearne 54, A P F Chapman 44, J L Bryan 20, A E R Gilligan 138, M W Tate 44; G R Blundell 5/59). WESTERN AUSTRALIA to bat.

Although M.C.C. spent the day making 397 runs, they were helped by the shocking catching of the home side, who dropped one chance after another.  Dodger Whysall was the first beneficiary, missed in the slips before he had scored, but Jack Hobbs had no such luck, being well caught at point for 17.  There was a good stand of 81 for the third wicket between Jack Hearne and Percy Chapman, although the latter rarely took on the bowling in his usual fashion, apart for one six.

A score of 190 for six wickets was not very good, but then Arthur Gilligan and Maurice Tate started to attack the bowling and it paid off.  Tate was missed once in the field, but Gilligan was dropped on six occasions in making the highest score of his career.  Their partnership was worth 127 for the seventh wicket before a fielder could be found to catch Tate.  Gilligan reached his century in an hour and 35 minutes, and when finally unlucky enough to be caught at mid-on he had scored 138 in two hours and ten minutes, with 5 sixes and 10 fours.  Robert Blundell was the best bowler for Western Australia, but Leslie Freemantle suffered worst from dropped catches and failed actually to take a wicket.  Patsy Hendren was expected to play today, but his hand injury is still troubling him.

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