When Murch and Bannman commenced again, every stroke was followed with interest. Runs came freely, and Bannman was not disposed of until he had made seventy. Then Edgar Foster joined his captain, and the reception he received on going to the wicket proved his father’s prowess in the field was not forgotten. Foster, in days gone by, was a name to conjure by, and people remembered Robert Foster’s feats with the bat.
Muriel Wylde felt anxious, and whispered to Doris Foster:
‘He will try to do so, because he knows it will give you pleasure,’ said Doris.
Murch spoke to Edgar when he went in to bat, and gave him a hint or two as to the bowling. Edgar played the last ball of the over, and then Murch scored a couple in the next over.
The bowling was splendid. Both Shaw and Morley were doing their level best. Edgar found Alf Shaw could deceive a batsman, and put in a swift ball when least expected. He scored a single off the last ball, and then faced Morley. Edgar was partial to swift bowling, as Morley soon discovered, and the over proved productive.
‘I’m getting well set,’ thought Edgar. ‘I believe I’m in for a good score.’
The runs came freely, and it was not until he had made a hundred and sixty runs that Murch was caught.
He had done splendidly, and his return to the pavilion was a triumph. Royle joined Edgar and played steadily.
Grace took the ball and faced Edgar. The English captain knew Edgar was a free hitter, and placed his men far out. Then he tried to tempt him to send a catch. Edgar narrowly escaped being caught at the second ball of the over, and this made him careful. The last ball, however, was one he could not resist hitting. He drove it straight as a dart, and it landed over the boundary. It was a tremendous hit, and caused an outburst of cheering.
The next exciting moment came when E. M. Grace made a magnificent catch at long-on from a very high hit by Royle. He caught the ball with one hand, having had to run for it, and, much to Royle’s surprise, held it.
Donnell came next, and then there was some big hitting. Both batsmen knocked the bowling about terribly. When Edgar had scored fifty there was a hearty cheer, and he appeared likely to make as big a score as his captain. The Australians were playing a splendid uphill game, and keeping up their reputation as ‘men who never know when they are beaten.’