Five for none versus the 1896 Australians
Pougher's Wisden obituary recalls his "most memorable feat" when he played for Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) against the 1896 Australian tourists at Lord's on 11 June 1896.[2] MCC had batted first and were all out for 219. The pitch was deteriorating after heavy rain and the Australian batsmen had to work hard against the bowling of J. T. Hearne and William Attewell to reach 18/3 in the first seventeen overs. At that point, W. G. Grace, the MCC captain, decided to replace Attewell with Pougher.[3]
From his first delivery, Pougher caught and bowled Jim Kelly, taking the catch with his right hand. Pougher then bowled Clem Hill with a delivery that "bewildered" the batsman. Hugh Trumble survived the three remaining balls of the five-ball over without scoring so Pougher had a double-wicket maiden. Jack Hearne continued bowling from the other end. Pougher's second over, again bowling to Trumble, was another maiden but without a wicket falling. With the second ball of his next over, Hearne bowled Frank Iredale and the Australians were then 18/6 (effectively 18/7 because George Giffen had been taken ill and was out of the match). Hearne had taken 4/4 in eleven overs. Pougher came on for his third over and finished the innings at 18/9 by bowling Trumble with his second delivery, then bowling Charles Eady with his third and, off the fifth and last ball of the over, having Tom McKibbin caught by George Davidson.[3]
Pougher took five wickets in fifteen deliveries (including three wickets in four deliveries) without conceding a run. In scorecard notation, the sequence of his deliveries was:[4]
- ww...|.....|.ww.w (w = wicket taken; . = no run scored; | = end of over)
Having been dismissed for only 18, the Australians were obliged to bat again and reached close of play with 25/2, still 176 runs behind. On the second day, they were all out for 183 after a good partnership of 112 between Joe Darling (76) and Eady (42). Pougher bowled 28 overs in the second innings, including 15 maidens, but took no more wickets and his return was 0/33. Jack Hearne, however, took 9/73 for a match analysis of 13/77.[5]