The Express.
London, England, 1868-08-04 00:00:00

CRICKET.

THE CANTERBURY WEEK.
CANTERBURY, Atrauer 3.
The "csleket week" in this city, and indeed through-
out the (-astern division of the county, is regarded as a
great "institution," and its annual recurrence in the
first week in August in looked forward to by all grades of
society with pleasurable anticipations. The nobility and
gentry of the county make it an occasion of assembling,
probably for the first time, after the break-up of the Lon-
don season. The members of the hiarylebone and I Zin-
gari clubs, and all whose business or *enure, as
the case may be, have demanded their attendance
at Lords or elsewhere during the late active cricket
campaign, hail the reunion here with the most
lively satisfaction. The farmers and others engaged in
agricultural pursuits will this ear be enabled to attend
the meeting without let or hindrance, harvest operations
in Kent being all but completed ; indeed there is scarcely
au acre of 'standing corn to be seen between this city and
the metropolis. As to the trade of Canterbury, it of
course receives a great impetus from this meeting, all the
hotels and lodging-houses being full to repletion. The
whole week is one continuous round of amusement; and
apart from the attractions of the cricket field,
Canterbury itself is so richly stored with objects of
interest and pleasurable research, added to the
hroverbial beauty of the surrounding neighbour-
ood, that he must be a dullard indeed who
fails to appreciate them. The weather, it is almost
superfluous to add, was this morning bright and beautiful,
though fleecy clouds were driven by a pleasant breeze
from an easterly direction.
The St. Lawrence Ground, whereon the matches are
played, is about a mile from the City on the Dover-road,
and the area, which is about ten acres in extent, presents
a dead level. The ground is under the tutelage of Fuller
itch, the celebrated Kent veteran, whobestowegreat pains
on its " condition." both in and out of season. Surrounding
the grounds are some noble aspen and sycamore trees,
;dreading a delicious shade, and it is beneath the former
and upon the slopes adjacent that the beauty and fashion
of the,aunty assemble on these occasions. Numerous
tents belonging to "I. Z.," the "Band of Brothers," and
other private clubs. with a profusion of gay bunting
flying, add considerably to the beauty of the scene. The
first mat,-h on the programme was

NORTH v. SOUTH OF THE THAMES (armee),
• hich commenced shortly after half-past 12 o'clock
on a pair of good wickets upon the
Run of which peat pains had evidently Mae:-
',ended. The North having won the toss elected
to commence defensive operations, and commissioned Mr.
74 Cormick and Summers to hegin the batting. The South
bowlers were Willeher and Lillywhite. Mr. M'Cormick
at once showed that ho was in grand hitting form by
driving Lillywhite to long-on for 4—(4 was allowed for
every hit to the " ring,")—Willsher bowled a couple of
maiden overs—and the first wicket went to Lillywhite's
credit when the score stood at 9, he being well caught at
the wicket—(l for 9). Coward began by a " gaick "
for 4, and Mr. M'Cormick made some capital drives,
which carried the score rapidly up. Mr. Lipscomb got
his left thumb dislocated in fielding • ball driven hotly to
him by Coward at cover point. With the score at 69, Mr.
Gilbert Grace went on bowling at Willsher's wicket, and
with it at 70 Mr. Lipscomb pluckily took Lillywhite's
Clace—very well and freely did- both Mr. WCormick and
oward hit—the latter's drives off both bowlers being
most conspicuous. One hundred runs were put on during
the first hour, and one over of Mr. Grace's yielded
eight runs. Mr. Lipscomb now got credit for Coward's
wicket, whom Mr. E. M. Grace caught splendidly at
point. His 46 was made up of nine fours (principally
cuts) and two twos (2 for 115). Here dinner intervenes',
and afterwards the vacant wicket was taken possession of
by Mr. Buller. Off Mr. Gilbert Grace's third over Mr.
M'Cormick made three fours in succession, which caused
the secession of the gentleman bowler in favour of Griffith
with the score at 135. His bowling shared the same fate,
us Mr. M'Cormick drove two consecutive balls for four
each. Mr. Lipscomb now ielministeral his quietus to Mr.
Buller in the next over (3 for 149). The next operator
was Mr. Mitchell, whose first big hit was a four to leg.
Mr. Lipscomb now got it "awfully hot," Mr. M'Cormick
making no lees than fourteen off one over, which had
the effeet of bringing on Lillywhite again with the
total at 179, who bowled three overs for two
runs. Mr. 31'('ormiek continued to administer punish-
inent till he broke his bat, and bad to re-arm. At 201
Dr. Grace took up the bowling with slows, and his first
over was an eventful one. Mr. M'Cormick was nearly
out with the first ball, the second he landed on the canvas
roof of a booth an the on side, and the third, pitched
right up, clean bowled him. Mr. M'Cormick's finely hit
inn.ngs of 137 included no less than twenty-four fours,
two threes, and seven twos which took him something
over two hours and a half to manipulate—(4 for 206).
Tom Hearne now came in, and made a fine four (off drive)
from the Doctor, then a four in the slips from Litywhite,
anda brace of, fours (off drives) from two successive slows.
Mr. Grace gave a "Yorker' to Mr. Mitchell, which
was hit to leg, and taken by Humphrey, but on ap-
peal the umpires fiat was in favour of the batsman.
With the score at 223 Willsher went on bowling, this time
at Lillywhite's end, and with the second boll of his fourth
over he shut down Mr. Mitchell's off stump (6 for 243).
Heanie's turn came next, he being well caught by Jupp
near the refection booth off a splendid drive (6 for 247).
Hearne made five fours and a two. Mr. Tennent was
clean bowled by the third hall he received (7 for 247).
Willsher'• bowling was very good at this time, four overs
for one run and two wickets, and seven oven for nine
runs. In the next over Plumb was caught at mid-off (8 for
247). Hewitt wee caught at wicket (9 for 249). Grundywas
also had at the wicket off Dr. Grace (10 for 242). The time
being 4.40. The South innings analyses thus :—Willaher,
23 eve's, 11 maidens, 36 runs, 2 wickets. Lillywhite,
26 oven., 11 maidens, 67 runs, 1 wicket. W. G. Grace,
14 overs, 2 maidens, 46 runs. Lipscomb, 17 overs, 6
maidens, 46 runs, 2 wiekets. E. M. Grate, 13 event, 8
maidenas 27 runs, 5 wicket* Griffith, 12 over,, 5 maidens,
31 runs.

At 4:55 the South begsm batting with Mr. Gilbert
limos and Jubb, Wootton delivering a maiden over to
being with. Howitt was the other bowler. Wootton,
with the last ball of his foul .% over, bowled Atop, who
played the ball on to hia whosep (1 for 11). -He was
succeeded by Humphrey, stay was short, Plumb
taking advantage of an opportunity to stump him (2 for
17). Ile next comer (Lillywhitai a few Win
when Wootton thieniesed him (3 fort 21). Another
Sussex "bat" (Cbarlwood) succeeded, and after "crack-
ing" Wootton away to long on for thews, driving Howitt to
long off for four, and making an on drive for four, his leg
stump fell to the deadly aim of Wootton, Grundybegan bowl -
Lag at 42 (4 for 43). Dr. Grace joined his brother, and at
once booked a brace of fours off Wootton's (off drive and
cut). The brothers (hare did se Mitt bitting while