Middlesex secure first win of the season
With 10 men in a squeezed inner ring, the skies quickly darkening and Stuart Broad springing in from the pavilion end, elbows scissoring, Middlesex scrambled to their first win of the season with just an over to spare. After rain had washed out play until 3.30, it had been a bold declaration by the Nottinghamshire captain Steven Mullaney, setting Middlesex 249 to chase in 40 overs.
Suddenly thrown into a short-form thrash, Middlesex’s batters seem freed from the pressures that have pressed in on them in Division One. Pieter Malan and Max Holden both stroked their way to exhilarating fifties, for the first time this year. The promoted Stevie Eskinazi cover-drove Broad’s second ball for four and Stoneman flamed him into the Grandstand for six, but Broad continued to throw everything at Middlesex, finishing with three wickets.
Kasey Aldridge saved the day for Somerset at Taunton with a mature maiden first-class half-century to deny Lancashire. Somerset had quickly slipped from 41 for 0 to 53 for three in the morning session, to James Anderson and Tom Bailey, the ship steadied by forties from Tom Abell and James Rew who took advantage of some uncharacteristically messy Lancashire fielding. But it was the unbroken partnership of 87 between Aldridge and Lewis Gregory that took Somerset to handshakes, resolute even against a last-chance new ball in the hands of Anderson.
Worcestershire can polish their collective lucky pennies after escaping with a damp draw in what will remembered as Tom Price’s match. Gloucestershire threw themselves into the morning, adding 54 in ten overs before declaring. Marchant de Lange burned up the grass, sending down five overs of heady hostility which had Jack Haynes caught for a duck and cracked Brett D’Oliveira so viciously on the hand that he retired hurt. There was time for Tom Price to take two more wickets to add to his maiden hundred and hat-trick in the first innings, before the rain rescued Worcestershire from 51-4.
The weather also eased Glamorgan to a damp draw against Durham at Sophia Gardens, after they were made to follow-on despite a second hundred of the season from the impressive Kiran Carlson.
Yorkshire were denied a first victory of the season at Hove, the rain washing out the game against Sussex with just 68 runs needed. Otis Gibson confirmed that Jonny Bairstow would play in the second XI match against Nottinghamshire, to check on his fitness both in the field and behind the stumps. Rain also washed out the game at Canterbury, where Zac Crawley’s 170 lit up Saturday.
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It’s been fun! A fabulous win for Middlesex, a sporting declaration from Notts. I’m heading home – till Thursday, goodnight!
Middlesex win by four wickets with an over remaining!
With a crazy single and the skies darkening, Middlesex make it! A generous declaration resulted in an excellent chase and great entertainment for those who stuck it out.
Lord’s: Middlesex 274 and 249-6 v Nottinghamshire 364 and 158-6dec Middx win by four wickets!
Eight needed, three overs left. The skies quickly darkening.
Nine men parade the Lord’s boundary….13 needed, three and a half overs left.
Jonny Bairstow watch
Ottis Gibson confirms that YJB will play for Yorkshire seconds against Notts later this week. “We’ll go and have a look at him and see how he goes. He’s had such a long lay-off, so it’s a fitness assessment for him to see what his capacity is and what he can do on the field in terms running around in the outfield or standing behind the stumps. He will probably do both to see which one he’s most comfortable with.”
With five overs left, Middlesex need 21. Four wickets in hand.
At just over the half way stage at Lord’s, Middx are 143 for two, 19 overs left, 106 runs needed. Malan and Holden batting like a dream where the early season hadn’t happened.
Right, I must leave you now to write up for the paper. Will pop back if anything outrageous happens at Lord’s.
Somerset draw with Lancashire
Well played Somerset! We never doubted you.
Taunton: Somerset 441 and 256-6 v Lancashire 554
Yorkshire draw with Sussex
Yorkies thwarted by the weather with just 63 needed.
A maiden f-c fifty for Kasey Aldridge!
What a time to do it, against Jimmy Anderson with the new ball. Somerset 243-6, the lead 130, and safety in sight.
Broad in a sunhat joins in an intense hands-on-hips chat between Mullaney and Clarke after Holden picks up four the last ball of Paterson’s over. Runs a-flowing for Middlesex in the sun.
At Taunton, the new ball is in the hands of Anderson and Bailey. Somerset have survived – so far. 228-6.
Mark Stoneman falls, lbw after a swift 43, but Max Holden takes two fours off the same over from Paterson. Middx 97-2.
At Taunton, the new ball approaches, and with it Lancashire’s last hope. Aldridge and Gregory doing a sterling job for Somerset, a partnership lasting twenty overs plus. Somerset 227-6, the lead 114.
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Over at Sophia Gardens, Kiran Carlson can’t repeat his heroics of the first innings – out for seven. Lloyd gone to0, for 31. Glamorgan 55 for five. Three wickets for Coughlin, one each for Carse and Raine. The draw looks a long way away for Glamorgan.
Broad sprints in for his sixth over, elbows bustling the air out of the way. Singles more than boundaries now for Middx. 73-1 off 10 and a bit.
Broad runs in in bright sunshine, his shrunk shadow racing him to the crease. An appeal. A mini appeal for lbw. Turned down. Middx have a breath – 67 for one after nine overs.
Worcestershire draw with Gloucestershire
The rain has the last say in Tom Price’s match.
New Road: Worcestershire 157 and 51-4 v Gloucestershire 231 and 226-4dec.
Worcs 8 points, Gloucs 8 points.
Forgive me. I thought I’d read somewhere that Middlesex couldn’t buy a run. Malan flambes Hutton for six. Middx 59 for one.
Great energy here by Middlesex. They sprint two and Malan throws himself back in his crease after a rocket throw by Duckett on the rope. And a gorgeous clip off the ankles by Malan off Broad brings four.
Fifty up off 41 balls!
An absolute plum pudding of an lbw at Lord’s after Middlesex get off to a flier. Eskinazi out to Stuart Broad, racing in from the Pavilion End. It isn’t Sam Robson who replaces him but Pieter Malan. Middx 34-1 off five overs.
Tea-time scores
DIVISION ONE
Canterbury: Kent 342-7 v Essex 451-5dec Match drawn
Lord’s: Middlesex 274 and 24-0 v Nottinghamshire 364 and 158-6dec
The County Ground: Northamptonshire 149 and 63 v Hampshire 482-8dec Hampshire WIN by an innings and 270.
Taunton: Somerset 441 and 197-6 v Lancashire 554
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 305 and 48-3 v Durham 471-9dec
Hove: Sussex 361 and 137 v Yorkshire 298 and 138-3 Yorkshire need 63 to win. No play yet today, inspection 3.45pm
New Road: Worcestershire 157 and 51-4 v Gloucestershire 231 and 226-4dec. Worcs need 250 to win.
Pitch inspection at 4pm at New Road
Cricket’s tenacity in the face of rain is impressive.
Glamorgan all of a flap, as Coughlin picks up Northeast for four. Carlson finds himself back in, all of an hour and a half after he was last out. Glamorgan 47 for three.
Actual cheers at Lord’s, as Eskinazi and Stoneman get comfortable in the crease. Broad opens the bowling from the pavilion end, white head band a-go-go. And that is four from Eskinazi, through the covers. Lovely.
The Lord’s bell rings.
Round the grounds: they are peeling back the covers at New Road; Labuschagne’s skills are being tested at Sophia Gardens – after the fall of Byrom for nine. And as I type that, Labuschagne is caught for five. Glamorgan 34-2.
At Taunton, Somerset have bolted the door and are now nailing the curtain down. 184 for six, a lead of 71 over Lancs.
Notts have declared! Middlesex chase 249 in 40 overs
The hover cover is escorted off, and the chase will begin imminently.
Glamorgan do know they’re not in a run chase? 19-0 off 2.5 overs.
Glamorgan follow on
The rain relents, VDG holes out to mid on, and Durham get the chance to twist the knife.
Don’t worry, it’s the Emergency Alert. Early.
Gregory more than capable of getting right up Lancashire’s nose here.
Covers coming off at Lord’s. Seagulls flapping about. Play at 3.30pm if no further rain. I salute those in the stands who have been sitting there since ten o’clock with hope in their hearts (and elite staying power).
Youtube tells me that 2751 people are currently watching the Somerset live stream. I tune in just in time to see James Rew open the face and deliver the ball into the hands of Luke Wells at slip . The subtitles tell me that Rew “just had a pretty good game as an alien.”
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Raining at New Road too. So just action at Taunton.
Round the grounds:
Kiran Carlson gone, caught and bowled by Trevaskis for 119 after his second century of the season! Follow on not saved, but the rain is helping. All off the field at the moment with Glamorgan 301-9, 170 behind. A hearty 51 from van der Gugten keeping the dream alive. Four wickets for Raine, three for Carse.
The Lancs machine chugs on, Tom Abell, Bailey’s third wicket, bowled for 40. But Rew plays on 46 not out. We spotted him first. He’s been dropped, obviously, at slip. Jimmy returns to the attack.
At Lord’s the skies are damp and the grass damper. Out come the umpires to inspect.
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Darker and darker and darker at Lord’s.
Abell tickles Balderson to the rope, and play resumes at Taunton. Can Anderson and Mahmood get Lancs over the line? Loved this quote from Tom Lammonby yesterday on Anderson – would be an excellent job if Abell and Rew could take Somerset to safety.
“You have to pinch yourself when you’re playing guys you are used to seeing on TV,” said Tom Lammonby, “but it’s good to test yourself against the best.”
Some vintage Hoppsy for your lunchtime, live streams et al:
In-house streams packed with advertising or the reliability of BBC commentators. County cricket's dilemma was on show at Northampton as Hampshire took a grip whatever channel you chose.https://t.co/3DAz75mnXz
— David Hopps (@DavidKHopps) April 21, 2023
They've called it a day at Canterbury: match drawn
Canterbury: Kent 342-7 v Essex 451-5dec
Essex 12 points; Kent 8.
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Sandwiches and a stroll to check out the precipitation situation. Back soon!
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Canterbury: Kent 342-7 v Essex 451-5dec No play yet today
Lord’s: Middlesex 274 v Nottinghamshire 364 and 158-6 No play yet today
The County Ground: Northamptonshire 149 and 63 v Hampshire 482-8dec Hampshire WIN by an innings and 270.
Taunton: Somerset 441 and 121-4 v Lancashire 554
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 257-8 v Durham 471-9dec
Hove: Sussex 361 and 137 v Yorkshire 298 and 138-3 Yorkshire need 63 to win. No play yet today
New Road: Worcestershire 157 and 51-4 v Gloucestershire 231 and 226-4dec
A hundred for Kiran Carlson!
Well played! His second of the season and a sensational effort on the empty dance floor. Twelve fours and a six, 142 balls. Glam 257-8.
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Abell and Rew carry Somerset to lunch, and eke the lead over Lancs up to eight runs.
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Marchant’s de Lange’s five-over spell came to an end with a wicket, a suspected broken arm and some scorch marks, but Worcs lose another wicket just before lunch – Jake Libby to six-wicket first-innings hero Singh-Dale. Looking sticky unless the rain saves them. Worcs 49-4.
Puddles galore at Hove:
It continues to rain here at Hove. #SUSvYORhttps://t.co/wQPs2Lumyw
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) April 23, 2023
Our Ali contacts me to point out Marchant de Lange’s serious gas at New Road. That rearing delivery hitting D’Oliveira’s forearm looks very nasty.
There's not much you can do with a bouncer like this...#GoGlos 💛🖤 https://t.co/FxIss9tKCd pic.twitter.com/K15jfEiFQM
— Gloucestershire Cricket (@Gloscricket) April 23, 2023
Round de grounds:
Rew and Abell attempt to rescue Somerset again. TKC drives, and is caught at slip for 16. Somerset 103-4, still trail Lancs by 10.
Brett D’Oliverira retires hurt, to add to Worcestershire’s 30-3 woes. Two for Tom Price now. Just the 271 to win.
Kiran Carlson still there on 89, can the tail escort him to his century (yes?) or the follow-on (no.) Glam 230-8, trail Durham by 241.
Covers on again at Lord’s. We won’t be starting at 12.30 after all. Just been chatting to Gus Fraser, who you might spot umpiring if you play in the Middlesex league. Said that Middx currently run seven over 50s sides! Also that the club can’t keep on top of all the cricket that people want to play.
Tom Price watch
Pollock can’t resist trying to pull Tom Price to the boundary, but only top-ends a catch. Worcs 5-1.
Covers coming off at Lord’s. Wheelbarrow and sandbags still in the middle so we’re still a while away I think.
Thanks to Guy Hornsby for this gem. Grant “it’s stupid” Flower not mincing his words.
On Alex Orr, @tjaldred, shots fired (I think, perhaps harshly) by Sussex's batting coach Grant Flower on the dismissals. But I guess how many times do you have to be out that way for it to be careless, not unlucky? Feels a freaky occurrence to me, at least. https://t.co/eVIYJQC8mr
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) April 23, 2023
Gloucestershire declare! Worcestershire need 301 to win!
Nice work! Well thwacked van Buuren (34 not out). Now then Worcs….
Finger on the pulse as ever, I’d missed this series of unfortunate events!
There's unlucky, and then there's Ali Orr
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) April 22, 2023
He has been run out backing up three times in his last five innings 😳 #LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/vRgdwltmQs
At Lord’s, a groundsman in shorts is sweeping the covers.
The future in a tweet:
Someone facing every ball of an over purely just for 6s will start happening more and more in cricket I think…
— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) April 22, 2023
In the first half hour round the grounds:
Somerset, oh Somerset, have lost three for four. Two for Bailey, one for Jimmy. Abell (again) rebuilds.
Kiran Carlson has passed 50 at Sophia Gardens, but Glamorgan are going to struggle to avoid the follow on. Currently 291 behind, with just four wickets left.
A wicket for Waite at New Road – the Gloucs lead already 239, not sure I’d put money on Worcs batting it out this afternoon.
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Yorkshire’s victory dash looks thwarted at the moment with heavy rain predicted till lunchtime. Not without Hope though.
Climate change threatens cricket. Blah, blah, blah.
Rain watch Two
Ignore my previous post: the west of England is good enough to be dry for now. Action at Sophia Gardens, but also New Road and Taunton.
Rain watch
Delayed starts at Canterbury, Lord’s, Taunton, Hove and New Road. That’s a full set apart from at Sophia Gardens, where they have taken to the sward.
Arrived at Lord’s to find the covers on and a delayed start. Drizzle rather than anything substantial. Thinking that when I write my blockbuster, all rights reserved by Hollywood, one of those big cream houses near Little Venice would be nice.
Saturday's roundup
At a sun-dappled Lord’s, cherry blossom dangling over the ground, stacks of Panama hats in the MCC shop, Middlesex had one of their better days. They passed 200 for only the second time in 2023, avoided the follow on and picked up their first batting point of the season thanks to Ryan Higgins’ 53 plus support from the tail.
An on-the-money Stuart Broad finished with four for 68, though after play he let his thoughts drift to the Ashes, and David Warner in particular. “He’s a world-class player, isn’t he?” said Broad.
“He’s been phenomenal for them across his 100 Test matches. He got a double hundred for them at the MCG. It’s quite surprising he’s still under pressure. We will always plan and spend our time working on him because we know if he gets it right, he can hurt us.”
There was also a twinkle of delight that the new delivery he’s been practising with Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne in mind, was coming out so well. “I’ve been working on this load-up with Kevin Shine to create more flow in my action,” Broad explained. “It was nice to see, the ball I’ve been working on coming to fruition.”
“My stock delivery will always be wobble seam trying to nip back on off stump, because I think that’s the most dangerous ball. But to those guys, I think dragging them across with away swing is important. So this action tweak is pretty much designed at those two, and it was good to see it really swinging away today.”
Elsewhere, Zak Crawley hit the accelerator at Canterbury, screeching to his first century for Kent since the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy. After playing out a cautious few overs before lunch, Crawley let loose, cutting ferociously, depositing Simon Harmer back over his head to reach 50, pulling him through midwicket to tick over to three figures, off 96 balls. He fell to Jamie Porter for 170, his highest first-class score for Kent. Harmer reeled his way through 31 overs in just over two sessions, pocketing four for 141 for Essex.
Northamptonshire collapsed to the eighth-heaviest defeat in their history, in two and a half days, losing to Hampshire by an innings and 270 runs. Their batsmen dropped like tired Christmas tree needles, 14 wickets falling in three hours as they were first dismissed for 149, then, following-on, 63. James Fuller finished Northants off in the first innings, with six for 37, Mohammad Abbas and Kyle Abbott gave them no chance in the second.
A delighted James Vince, whose Hampshire had fallen to a nine-wicket loss to Surrey, was buzzing: “A bounce back with a performance like that after defeat last week at the Oval, we did all we can. We’ve got a week off now, which will be good, and then another batch of three matches so if we can make sure we’re bang on it for those, and get some more good results, it takes us near enough halfway through the season where the table will take a bit more shape.”
A freak hamstring injury cut Lancashire’s Keaton Jennings off in his prime as he attempted to stuff another double-century into his daddy ton bag. He had to limp off with 189 chalked against his name, having tried and failed to carry on playing with a runner at a chilly Taunton.
Within nine balls Dane Vilas and Colin de Grandhomme followed and Lancashire’s runaway train first innings came to a halt with a lead of 113. There were three wickets each for a disciplined Lewis Gregory and Peter Siddle, and six catches for James Rew behind the stumps to go with his first-innings century. Somerset’s openers batted through till stumps, seeing off six overs from Jimmy Anderson in the gloom. “You have to pinch yourself when you’re playing guys you are used to seeing on TV,” said Tom Lammonby, “but it’s good to test yourself against the best.”
Heaters were rolled on to the pitch at New Road to dry the bowler’s run-ups after Friday’s deluge, but it did not distract Ajeet Dale who nipped out the final three Worcestershire wickets to finish with six for 41 – his first first-class five-wicket return. Chris Dent and James Bracey made half-centuries as Gloucestershire stretched their lead to 246, Josh Tongue taking all three wickets.
It was a promising day for Durham, but a mixed day for Marnus Labuschagne. He snaffled four for 81, career-best bowling figures, by bowling off-spin for the first time in a professional game; but was out for 17 as Glamorgan lost five wickets on a rainy day at Sophia Gardens. Earlier, Brydon Carse had hacked his way to a career-best 91 before Durham declared on 471 for nine.
Sprightly half-centuries for Adam Lyth and Shai Hope put a first victory of the season in touching distance for Yorkshire after Sussex had reduced them to 39 for three chasing 201 for victory. Sussex squandered a first-innings lead of 63 by being bowled out for 137, three wickets to Dom Bess.
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Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Canterbury: Kent 342-7 v Essex 451-5dec
Lord’s: Middlesex 274 v Nottinghamshire 364 and 158-6
The County Ground: Northamptonshire 149 and 63 v Hampshire 482-8dec Hampshire WIN by an innings and 270.
Taunton: Somerset 441 and 41-0 v Lancashire 554
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 153-5 v Durham 471-9dec
Hove: Sussex 361 and 137 v Yorkshire 298 and 138-3 Yorkshire need 63 to win
New Road: Worcestershire 157 v Gloucestershire 231 and 172-3
Preamble
Good morning from a coffee shop somewhere on the way to Lord’s. I dived in because it was starting to rain, which may, or may not, be what you want to hear – depending on how you feel about Middlesex’s batting.
The good news is that the hedgehog Ali took to the rescue centre is skitting around happily in a cardboard box, the bad – that weather may generally spoil the rest of this round. The Met office top line: “unsettled and showery, turning colder.”
And to everyone doing the London marathon today – may the wind be with you!
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