The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-24 00:00:00

CRICKET.

THE GENTLEMEN V. THE PLAYERS OF BLACK-
HEATH.—This annual match was commenced at
Blackheath on Tuesday, but the inauspicious weather
rendered it impossible for it to be continued to its
final ending. The score of the first innings left the
gentlemen in a majority of two runs only. There
was some very fine play throughout, but the bowling on
each side proved too killing for any lengthened score
to be effected. On behalf of the gentlemen, the
bowlers were, Mr. Craven and Mr. F. Dyer; and of
the players, T. Hoblis and Hook. The score of the
first hands was as follows :—The gentlemen, 31 ; the
players, 29.
In former years there have been two of these
matches, but we lament to say that the gentleman
who was then the leading organ of their coming off,
has departed this life, after a few hours' illness, since
the termination of the last season. To the late Dr.
Fyffe, all cricketers on Blackheath, whether gentle-
men or players, were greatly indebted for the trouble
and expense he incurred in getting up the annual
contests between them. Next year we hope there
will again be two matches, and, moreover, that they
will be played in an earlier part of the season. In
preceding years the gentlemen's eleven have embraced
nearly the whole strength of the " Heath," but on
the present occasion the late period at which the
affair was appointed, rendered it impossible for seve-
ral of those parties to participate in one of their best
matches of the year. Many thanks are due to Mr.
Andrews for his exertions in gathering the elevens,
for had it not been for that gentleman, we think the
match would have been omitted this year.
ST. MARK'S, DULWICH, AND ST. GEORGE'S, CAM..
BERWELL.—The return match between these two
Clubs was played on the ground of the latter, the
Rosemary Branch, Peckham, and terminated in fa-
vour of the St. George's, by nine wickets. The
batting of Messrs. G. Bevington and R. Roberts, on
the part of St. George's, and of Messrs. R. Russell
and B. Judkin, elicited frequent ebullitions of ap-
proval, and the bowling of Mr. Roberts on the one
side, and of Mr. Russell on the other, was of a high
character. Indeed, in the second innings of the
Dulwich, Mr. Roberts was almost untouchable. That
it was most effective will be seen by a perusal of the
scores. St. Mark's—First innings, 106 ; second inn-
ing-s, 29. St. George's—First innings, 68 ; second
innings, 69. The St. George's thus were the winners
by nine wickets.
THE ELEVEN V. TWENTY-TWO (Or THE ALBION,
ISLINGTON).—For several years it has been the custom
of this powerful Club to " wind up" the season with
this match ; and a good plan it is, notwithstanding
there are those who condemn the playing with any
excess of the regular number, and because it extends
the interest of one match of the season at all events,
to 33 instead of 22 of the members. Suppose the
match were between two elevens only • either the
strength must be divided, or the second eleven would
have no chance against their more gifted opponents.
It is at all times advisable in all large clubs, and the
Albion musters upwards of 100 members, to have at
least one match in the year which shall take in as
many as possible, inasmuch that it not only gives an
interest and a zest in the game itself, but in the club,
amongst an increased number of the members. Be-
yond this, too, it is a match which, in this and other
clubs, is looked forward to from the commencement
of each season with no small anxiety, and its pro-
spect encourages a second eleven men of the preceding
year to practise hard, with the hope of becoming so
valuable a player, as to make it a matter of necessity
that the " first eleven" shall not be complete unless
he form one of that body. Thus there is an advantage
of no trifling consideration accomplished by such a
match as the "First Eleven v. Twenty-two." With
this contest the season for several years has, in the
Albion Club, been brought to its close, and accord-
ingly, on Wednesday last, there was a numerous
muster on the Copenhagen ground to carry out the
match,
By an arrangement between the parties, eleven only
of the twenty-two took the bat in the first instance
These gentlemen made 126 runs. Mr. Robinson told
up 18, by a four, a three, a two, and the rest in ones.
But the high scores were achieved by Mr. Batson and
Mr. Bewsher, both of whom batted amazingly well.
The former ran up a number amounting to 27, in two
fours, a three, three twos, and ten singles; whereas
the latter obtained 35, by means of one four, four
threes, two twos, and fifteen ones. Mr. Garrett was
"not out," with a score of four and three ones (seven
in all) attached to his name. The eleven opened their
hands with Mr. Price and Mr. Tildesley. The latter,
after having made five singles, was caught by Paull,
off the left-handed bowling f Mr. Bewsher. Mr.
Thompson thereupon joined Mr. Price, and much
admirable play followed. At length the same
bowler reached the wicket of the latter gentleman,

just as he had accomplished a score of nineteen, which
was thus composed—three threes, three twos, and
four ones. He was succeeded by Mr. Dewdney, and
the fine play was resumed and carried on until the
shades of evening gave notice that the game could not
be continued, but that it was time to retire, to partake
of the many good things which had been carefully
provided for the closing dinner. At this period the
score stood thus :—The twenty-two, 126 ; the eleven,
93. The eleven had thus lost four wickets for 93 runs.