Arunabha Sengupta and Sumit Gangopadhyay
Lord’s. 9 June 1911.
The three-day match ended in two days.
The end of what can be considered the third unofficial ‘Test’ played by India since 1892-93.
Batting first, India lost 3 wickets for just 36, including that of the Maharaja of Patiala. Then Kekasharu Mistry, the 'Clem Hill of India', and Mulla put on 61 for the fourth wicket.
Mistry scored 78. But the procession restarted. After a short while it was 144/7.
Subsequently, JS Warden (of the 5 wickets off 5 balls in Calcutta fame) and Palwankar Baloo added 55. Warden 36 Baloo 23. The remaining wickets amounted to 5 more. India all out 204.
There were three Test cricketers in the MCC side. Of them JT Hearne captured 5 for 47.
When MCC batted Khan Salam-ud-din struck. The Aligarh University cricketer, uncle of future Test bowler Jahangir Khan, removed the Australian Frank Tarrant early. Baloo got Geoffrey Foster, one of the many many men of the Foster clan who turned out for Worcestershire. And at 67, Salam-ud-din trapped JW Hearne leg-before. 67 for 3. Match in balance.
However, EHD Sewell, who later would go on to write several valuable books on the game, was joined by the seasoned Derbyshire cricketer Albert Lawton. A partnership of 112 followed, before Salam-ud-din got Lawton to hit one back to him at 75. By the end of the day, MCC had taken the lead with just four wickets down.
The following day captain Gerry Weigall and Sewell both slammed hundreds, adding 139 for the fifth wicket. The lower order flogged a tiring attack. In spite of a five-for for Salam-ud-din and a four-wicket haul for Baloo, the MCC first innings amounted to 468.
India floundered in their second innings against JT Hearne and Tarrant. They were bowled out for 96, Bangalore Jayaram, the WG recruit for London County, providing the sole resistance.
Inexperience told in the end. India lost the match by an innings and 168 runs. Their third loss in as many matches on the tour.