by The Professor » Wed Aug 23, 2017 9:33 am
On this day in 1849 the second match of the Canterbury Cricket Week takes place between the Gentlemen of Kent and England.
Many high class spectators flooded to Canterbury to take in this marquis fixture and saw England win the toss and bat.
The openers, Edward Grimston and Esrom, were immediately put under the cosh by the Kent bowlers. Grimston, who had been in bad form for some time, was out for just five. He was replaced by John Lee who barely got himself settled before he was caught by Nicholas Felix off the bowling of James Dyer. Charles Harenc got his first wicket of the day through removing Esrom for 13.
The English tide seemed to be turning when William Nicholson came out and began to score quickly but was out just as quickly for 6 bowled by Harenc. In the selfsame over Edward Hartopp was gone lbw for a duck. The score was now 37-5.
Harry Fellowes was removed for just one, which then brought together Jones Nash and Robert Keate. This pair belied what had gone before and put on a healthy stand together. Nash had put on 16 before Felix displaced him. Keate then found a willing partner in Whitehead. This partnership, along with the one that went before, frustrated Kent. They brought on Arthur Mynn who managed to displace Whitehead on 8. The score was now 80-8.
Keate was the next to fall, bowled by Harenc on 18. England were 88-9. A single run was added before Frederick Bathurst was the last man out.
Traill and Norton opened the batting for Kent. Nash got the first Kentish scalp, bowling a slower ball to do for Traill for just five. James Dyer then joined Norton but managed just two runs when he was caught by Esrom off the bowling of Bathurst. Mynn came in and was beaten by another one of Nash's slower balls and Kent were suddenly 12-3.
Felix then put on something of a stand with Norton. The pair scored around the ground and, as their confidence grew, they got more aggressive. England swapped their bowlers around but to no avail. The pair had put on 47 when Norton was run out on 20.
Normal service then resumed for Kent. Harenc was caught by Fellowes off the bowling of Nash for 0. Burnett then joined the free-hitting Felix and they began to play well. By the time Burnett was bowled by Bathurst the score was 120-6.
Henry Andrews came and went for the addition of no runs, being bowled by Fellowes. After this Felix's innings came to an end after he skied a delivery from Bathurst into the hands of Nash. He had made 70. This was the last ball of the day.
With two wickets left to go, stumps were drawn on Day One. The second day would begin with both Bosworth and George Dickens on nought. With 121 runs on the board, Kent had a lead of 32.
"It has been said of the unseen army of the dead, on their everlasting march, that when they are passing a rural cricket ground the Englishman falls out of the ranks for a moment to look over the gate and smile."