The Englishmen had reckoned with certainty upon a draw, but they now had to fight hard to avert defeat, and even a draw would not be in their favour.
‘It is a most extraordinary game,’ said Robert Foster. ‘The glorious uncertainty of cricket again. You never can tell how it will go until a match is over, no matter how favourable it may look for a particular side.’
He had joined the ladies, and they were all watching the game with interest, taking keen note of every good stroke and every brilliant piece of fielding.
Will Brown looked at his watch.
‘They have only half-an-hour left,’ he said. ‘I should not wonder if they were got out in that time.’
The thousands of spectators also wondered how the game would end.
Ten minutes before time Morley joined Shaw at the wickets. They were not good bats—anything but that, and the crowd knew it. Morley hit out recklessly and made a couple of fours, and Shaw played steadily. The Australians did all in their power to separate them, but, as luck would have it, they failed to do so. The game ended in a draw, which practically amounted to a victory for the Australians, as the English eleven required over seventy runs to win.
The result of this match was the subject of conversation for some days, and the grand struggle made by the Australians was commented upon on all sides.
At Elm Lodge the event was duly celebrated, and, as Robert Foster promised, the party made a night of it.
When the tour of the Australians was finished they left for home, but Edgar Foster did not return with them. At his father’s request he remained at home.