Roundup: Surrey hold firm at Taunton, Pepper hits century
The Somerset teenager Archie Vaughan continues to make a name for himself. The 18-year-old son of the former England captain, Michael Vaughan, followed his fluent first-day 44 by taking all three Surrey wickets on day two with his right-arm off-breaks at Taunton. But the visitors and Championship leaders will have ended the day happier, having progressed cautiously to 169 for 3 in a match second-placed Somerset need to win.
After Vaughan claimed two early strikes, Ben Geddes, in only his seventh first-class match, made a fifty in a partnership with Ryan Patel, who did likewise. Vaughan then snared Geddes, inducing a top-edged sweep, but Patel and Ben Foakes kept things steady before the weather ended play early.
Among the relegation strugglers Lancashire are in deep trouble at Durham, who powered ahead of the visitors’ 228 thanks to a colossal partnership between South Africa’s David Bedingham, who returned from international duty with a daddy hundred, and Colin Ackermann, who also reached three figures just before stumps.
Their fellow toilers Nottinghamshire were made to suffer by an accomplished century from Essex’s Michael Pepper, who hit a hundred for the second consecutive match. Pepper was aided by a half-century from Simon Harmer as Essex ploughed beyond 450. The ever-lively Sam Cook then had the Notts captain, Haseeb Hameed, caught at backward point before the rain came.
Below them, doomed Kent capitulated again, crumbling to 63 for 5 after Tom Prest and Brad Wheal shepherded Hampshire’s tail masterfully to take them beyond 400.
The top three in Division Two all look set fair for victory, weather permitting. The leaders, Sussex, put the game beyond Glamorgan at Hove courtesy of an unbeaten 194 partnership between the veteran John Simpson, who hit his 15th hundred, and Tom Clark (79 not out).
Jonathan Tattersall’s century helped Yorkshire to a huge first-innings lead over Leicestershire, who lost two cheap wickets in their second knock before rain reprieved them. And Middlesex have the upper hand against Gloucestershire, Toby Roland-Jones striking three times at Lord’s.
Updated
Close of play scores
Chester-le-street: Durham 367-4 v Lancashire 228
Chelmsford: Essex 457 v Nottinghamshire 37-1
Canterbury: Kent 64-5 v Hampshire 403.
Taunton: Somerset 317 v Surrey 169-3
Worcester: Worcestershire 307 v Warwickshire 112-4
Division Two
Leicester: Leicestershire 98 & 35-2 v Yorkshire 379
Lord’s: Middlesex 377 v Gloucestershire 154-5
Northampton: Northants 219 & 178-5 v Derbyshire 165
Hove: Sussex 407-5 v Glamorgan 186
With not so much going on, and not likely to now, I’m going to write up for the paper now. In the meantime here’s Northants’ Rob Keogh having some fun with his reverse sweep.
45 | Keogh on the charge! 📈
— Northamptonshire CCC (@NorthantsCCC) September 10, 2024
Three reverse sweeps, three fours and 15 from the over.
Northamptonshire 176/5, leading by 230.
Watch live 👉 https://t.co/CU8uwtfknL pic.twitter.com/eGyIZQtgLE
Kent will probably be relieved that worsening light has forced the players off at Canterbury, with the top flight’s bottom club 63 for 5 in reply to Hampshire’s tail-waggy 403. Joey Evison was the latest to fall, caught behind off Brad Wheal, who’s had a fun day.
A century for Durham’s David Bedingham. The South African swipes into the onside off Tom Hartley for a single and that’s a fine return. Runs flowing freely for the home side at Chester-le-Street now, and they have a first-innings lead with only four down – 240-4 and more woe for Lancs.
It’s still raining at Taunton, and here at Chelmsford where a smattering of spectator remain huddled in the stands with a combination of bloody-mindedness and optimism that I can only stand and salute.
It’s a second hundred in three matches for Sussex’s John Simpson. The 36-year-old has struck 15 fours and two sixes in his 111*, and he and Tom Clark have now added 193. Sussex lead Glamorgan by 221 on 407 for 5. You’d back the innings win on that one.
It may be grim down south but it’s bright and beautiful up at the Riverside as I switch streams to there and watch Colin Ackermann punish a Tom Hartley half-tracker, cracking it to the extra cover boundary. Durham now 220-4 and a first-innings lead looks inevitable. Ackermann has 60, Bedingham 89.
And off for bad light at Chelmsford. Notts don’t want to stay out there if they don’t want to.
They’ve called it a day at rainy Grace Road, where Leicestershire are 35-2 in their second dig, 246 behind Yorkshire, and there are still rain delays at Taunton and Lord’s. Here at Chelmsford it’s getting gloomier too but Ben Slater is looking in good touch, with four crisp boundaries, and he’s in a good battle with Sam Cook, who’s making the odd ball talk on not the most responsive of surfaces. Notts 37-1.
Lancashire are toiling once more. Durham’s South African pairing of David Bedingham and Colin Ackerman have now put on 79 now, and they’re closing on Lancs’ 218 at 178-4. Another long unbeaten partnership continues at Hove, where Sussex’s Simpson and Clark have now put on nearly 150. Sussex 356-5 and miles ahead.
Anyway, they’re off for bad light/tea now at Chelmsford (Notts 21-1) so I’m off for a quick break. Play nicely.
Just a couple more teatimely updates: Sam Cook has just made Essex’s first breakthrough, having Haseeb Hameed caught at backward point, and Kent’s season continues to capsize, 27-4 now with Kyle Abbott taking three to boost Hampshire’s chances of finishing as runners-up.
Teatime (ish) scores
Division One
Chester-le-street: Durham 148-4 v Lancashire 228
Chelmsford: Essex 457 v Nottinghamshire 19-1
Canterbury: Kent 27-2 v Hampshire 403.
Taunton: Somerset 317 v Surrey 169-3
Worcester: Worcestershire 307 v Warwickshire 112-4
Division Two
Leicester: Leicestershire 98 & 35-2 v Yorkshire 379
Lord’s: Middlesex 377 v Gloucestershire 154-5
Northampton: Northants 219 & 97-3 v Derbyshire 165
Hove: Sussex 335-5 v Glamorgan 186
While their team have their feet up, Surrey fans – and everyone else – can read about their England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, who reflects on his first season as a Test player with Simon Burnton:
As feared, there’s a bit of rain about, and it’s paused proceedings at Taunton (where a cautious Surrey have crawled to 169-3), at Leicester (Leics 35-2, trailing by 246) and at New Road, where Warwickshire are 112-4 in reply to Worcestershire’s 307. Meanwhile at Hove, Sussex are well on top against Glamorgan with Tom Clark and John Simpson both passing 50 and their side 316-5, 130 ahead.
Essex are all out 457, the tail subsiding quite quickly in the end and Michael Pepper, having registered his highest first-class score earlier in the over, is bowled having a swish at Liam Patterson-White. Now Notts must navigate Cook, Porter and co under cloud cover. Notts’ relegation rivals Lancashire are evenly poised against Durham, who have advanced to 130 for 4, David Bedingham scoring a half-century on his return from South Africa duty.
Good to have you back, Bedders.😎#ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/VJ0m3Ghh8y
— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) September 10, 2024
England Test squad news
The ECB has announced the tourists to Pakistan. More soon. Inevitable chat here about the irony of Dan Lawrence leaving Essex for Surrey to bolster his England chances, only to be dropped, while Jordan Cox’s journey in the opposite direction has resulted in him landing a tour place. But Lawrence shouldn’t be judged on how he did in a position for which he was never suited.
🦁 Happy with our squad? 🏏
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 10, 2024
🇵🇰 #PAKvENG 🏴 | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/VBAryp083p
Updated
Talking of prodigious teenage spinners with England-capped relatives, young Farhan Ahmed has just bowled Shane Snater, going for a big slog, with one he just pushed in on the Essex man – the hosts now 441-8 at Chelmsford.
And it’s slow going at Taunton at the moment, Surrey proceeding methodically to 160 for 3. But that’s all they really need to go.
Hundred for Michael Pepper! The Essex wicketkeeper-batter pushes towards mid-on and scampers through for the single that gives him a century for the second successive match. Simon Harmer has also brought up his 50 at the other end in an innings that has lost much of its sense of jeopardy. Notts look toothless, and Essex should just now get a wriggle on and declare.
A bit of chat in the press box around me over whether anyone else can match Pepper in scoring two Championship hundreds and two T20 hundreds in a season. Any thoughts?
Hampshire are finally all out for 403, Brad Wheal bowled by Charlie Stobo for 61. And Gloucestershire are now five down at Lord’s, Ryan Higgins snaring Graeme van Buuren. 126-5 replying to 377. Given that Yorkshire are already almost in the home straight against Leicestershire, Middlesex need this strong position.
A fourth batting point for Essex as Michael Pepper dabs Liam Patterson-White to the boundary to take the score to 402-6, the partnership between Pepper (86) and Harmer (44) now in three figures.
Around the grounds, Durham are recovering from two early losses through Alex Lees and David Beddingham and have progressed to 82-2, and Hampshire are still batting on 390-9, their last-wicket pair of Brad Wheal and Mohammad Abbas having added 58.
In Division Two, Yorkshire’s attack are in and among them again with Matt Fisher taking two more wickets, leaving Leicestershire 35-2 and struggling to avoid an innings defeat. And Toby Roland-Jones has put Middlesex in a good position against Gloucestershire, who are now 107-4 with the former England quick taking three wickets.
Vaughan again! A much-needed breakthrough for Somerset as young Archie induces a top-edged sweep from Geddes and it balloons up into the hands of Lewis Goldsworthy at backward square leg. The teenager has three for 36 from his marathon 18-over stint.
GONE!! Fifty and out for Geddes as Archie Vaughan finds a top edge! Surrey 128/3
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) September 10, 2024
LIVE STREAM ➡️ https://t.co/aRtGCP76ez#SOMvSUR#WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/3CDxSYlawZ
Updated
Needing a breakthrough, Somerset break up their all-spin attack and bring on Kasey Aldridge, though Archie Vaughan’s still plugging away, positively, at the other end, bowling to two slips and a silly mid-off against the left-handed Ryan Patel. But at 127-2 Surrey, and Ben Geddes having just brought up a composed 92-ball half-century, will be much the happier of the two teams. A draw suits them just fine anyway.
Here at Chelmsford, Notts look a tad weary and unthreatening in the field, typified by a howling misfield by Jack Haynes on the deep midwicket boundary just now that gifted Simon Harmer a four. The South African has cruised to 34 and Essex 371 for 6 with Michael Pepper unbeaten on 70. If he can cut loose, then 450 and a good couple of hours in the field today is on.
Hampshire’s. last-wicket pair are nudging them nearer to 400 at Canterbury, building on foundations laid by Tom Prest’s 102. Below the line, Viriditan is impressed: “Well batted, Tom Prest. I made a half-arsed attempt to jinx him earlier and got the punishment I deserved. He’s really, really good.” Hants 377-9.
Some England v Sri Lanka verdicts from our man Gary Naylor:
Chelmsford in September is very much one for the stoics and diehards, but it was good to see a party of schoolkids enjoying some catching practice on the outfield during the lunch break, in open defiance of the ECB’s stipulation that under no circumstances should the County Championship be exposed to children.
Anyway, they’re back out at Taunton – Leach still wheeling away – and Derbyshire have been swiftly dismissed for 165 at Northampton. Yuzvendra Chahal, signed for the run-in, proving his worth with five wickets.
Right, just a couple of things to catch up on before I go for a stroll round the ground. Yorkshire’s innings is over at Grace Road, Tattersall finally going for 126 and Matt Fisher making an impressive 88 from No 10. Yorks could go a long way to wrapping this one up today. And the Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has taken three for Northants against Derbyshire. Anyway, lunch beckons. Back in a bit.
Lunchtime(ish) scores
Division One
Chester-le-street: Durham 38-2 v Lancashire 228
Chelmsford: Essex 347-6 v Nottinghamshire
Canterbury: Kent v Hampshire 353-9.
Taunton: Somerset 317 v Surrey 91-2
Worcester: Worcestershire 307 v Warwickshire 76-1
Division Two
Leicester: Leicestershire 98 v Yorkshire 379
Lord’s: Middlesex 377 v Gloucestershire 62-2
Northampton: Northants 219 v Derbyshire 165-8
Hove: Sussex 213-5 v Glamorgan 186
Division One
Lunch at Taunton, with Surrey 91-2, Ryan Patel and Ben Geddes progressing reasonably serenely against an all-spin Somerset attack in the past 45 minutes or so.
Michael Pepper has brought up a diligent 50 for Essex. As with Tom Banton at Somerset yesterday, here’s a player more renowned for his white-ball exploits who’s developing layers to his batting in the longer form. He’s on 53 and his team 332-6 against relegation-threatened Notts.
And Notts won’t be cheered to learn that Lancashire have claimed two early Durham wickets – Anderson Philip bowling Ben McKinney for eight and Scott Borthwick caught behind off Tom Bailey for nine. Durham 25-2.
Vaughan Jr strikes again! Archie has both Surrey openers, Rory Burns – who’d looked in decent touch – is lbw for 21 after missing a sweep. Will Shoaib Bashir get back into this team (in the rare event of his availability/’suitability’)? Surrey are 63-2 and this one is deliciously poised. Though Surrey do bat very deep.
In Division Two, Gloucestershire have lost both openers against Middlesex but are cruising along at five an over (62-2) and Sussex have lost their set overnight batters in quick succession, Dan Hughes for 83 and Henry Crocombe for 54, shortly before the rain came at Hove. They’re 198-3, 12 ahead of Glamorgan, with plenty of runs still out there.
Updated
A second bowling point for Hampshire against Kent – Tom Prest doing a good job shepherding the tail from No 8, with 82 not out. Hants 308-8. And Warwickshire have lost Rob Yates for 12 to Tom Taylor – they’re 38-1 in reply to Worcestershire’s 307.
No batting points for Lancs – they’ve been bowled out for 228, which might give something to play with given the conditions. Matty Hurst was run out for 90 in the end trying to force the pace. Ben Raine claimed his 14th five-wicket Championship haul.
Huge breakthrough! Great work from de Leede x Robinson & Hurst departs for 90. #ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/sc9oTzCgsG
— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) September 10, 2024
And Tom Westley is bowled for 122, chopping on to one that lifted sharply at him from Robert Lord. Given the overhead conditions, I’d imagine Sam Cook and Jamie Porter are looking forward to having a bowl later – Essex 297-6.
Lots of bantz below the line about Sibley’s uncharacteristic hoiked dismissal, and also a bit more from Middlesex v Gloucestershire, which I perhaps slightly overlooked at times yesterday, including seven catches from the inestimable James Bracey. Here’s MrLloyd:
Absent btl yesterday as I was on a field trip to Lord’s. Excellent day’s cricket with Middlesex batting very steadily and Gloucs coming back strongly with the second new ball in the last hour. The partnership between De Caires and Davies was key, and they both batted with some assurance – real shame Davies missed out on his hundred. Singh Dale and Tom Price bowled with vim at the end of the day and Bracey helped himself to seven catches. The sun even came out. Great stuff. Balance probably with Middlesex, but very nicely poised. Hope the weather allows it all to play out properly, though sadly I will have no opportunity for a return visit.
Am pondering taking this one in on Thursday if a tasty finish looks on.
I am at Chelmsford at last. Play has just resumed. All is right with the world. Essex are 284-5. Meanwhile at Grace Road, we have a hundred for Yorkshire’s Jonny Tattersall – he now has 117* out of the Tykes’ 321 for 8. They lead by 223.
And Archie Vaughan has struck for Somerset! The young all-rounder in just his second match has had Dom Sibley caught by Tom Abell for 16 just as Surrey’s opening pair seemed to be cutting loose. The champions are 41 for 1.
GONE!! Archie Vaughan removes Sibley, caught by Abell at mid-wicket! Surrey 41/1
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) September 10, 2024
LIVE STREAM ➡️ https://t.co/aRtGCP76ez#SOMvSUR#WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/pHNnhQZdNa
Updated
At the top of Division Two, Sussex are absolutely motoring against Glamorgan, only 24 behind with Daniel Hughes and Henry Crocombe well set. 162-1
Jack Leach is on already at Taunton, two slips in, and rips a beauty past Sibley’s outside edge but Surrey’s openers still there and looking calm.
More angst for Lancs, as one some-time. England bowler, Matt Potts, pins another, Tom Hartley, in front for 16. Matty Hurst still there at Chester-le-Street on 81 though. Lancashire 191-7. And it’s started raining in Chelmsford now. The gods punishing the Essex area in general.
If there’s a few more empty seats than usual at Chelmsford, then we can blame the sizeable problems with the trains in the area, with cancellations aplenty due to an overhead wire coming down, writes your correspondent, currently becalmed (but not calm) at bleedin’ Shenfield. Those inside the ground have seen Essex chug along to 279 for 5, Westley 116 and Michael Pepper, in good red-ball nick, on 28.
It’s cloudier in Taunton than it was yesterday and Somerset’s new ball bowlers, Craig Overton and Brett Randell, have found a bit of zip against Surrey’s before-times England openers Rory Burns and Dom Sibley. Three for 0 after three. Yorkshire’s Jonathan Tattersall is closing in on a fourth first-class hundred. The 29-year-old Harrogate lad has 92 of Yorkshire’s 271 for 8, the visitors nearly 200 ahead and in a very strong position at Grace Road.
Updated
Weather watch: our only delayed start so far is at Lord’s (rain), where Gloucestershire are waiting to start their reply to Middlesex’s 377 yesterday.
Pre-play reading: Some germane thoughts here.
Day one roundup:
Shakib cameo works a treat for Surrey
Surrey’s decision to enlist Shakib Al Hasan on a one-match deal paid dividends late on day one in the top-two showdown at Taunton, the all-rounder striking three times in a late-order Somerset collapse that weakened foundations laid by Tom Banton’s brilliant century.
The veteran Bangladesh all‑rounder Shakib was given plenty of practice by the Championship leaders, sending down 33.5 overs and taking four for 97, leading the way for Surrey alongside the miserly Dan Worrall, who grabbed three wickets of his own.
The afternoon had hitherto belonged to Banton, who further demonstrated his development from short-form dazzler to red-ball performer with a sparkling 132, one short of his career best, that combined dash and daring – typified by two glorious reverse-sweeps in succession against Shakib – with orthodox style. Archie Vaughan, moved up to open in only his second first-class match, also impressed with some chip-off-the-old-block drives and pulls in his 44. His dad, Michael, would have approved.
At the bottom of Division One, Lancashire’s travails continued against Durham at Chester-le-Street where Ben Raine’s tricky seamers brought him four wickets as the visitors laboured to 177 for six, Matty Hurst’s 74 not out providing ballast. Their relegation rivals Nottinghamshire also toiled after a promising start against Essex, who recovered from 86 for four through a century partnership between Tom Westley, who struck his first century of the season, and Paul Walter.
Sussex’s charge to promotion from Division Two continued with their Indian left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat taking four wickets as Glamorgan were skittled cheaply at Hove. Dan Hughes hit a half century as Sussex cut the deficit to 65 for the loss of one wicket.
A career-best 91 from Jack Davies helped second-placed Middlesex to a promising position against Gloucestershire while it was the bowlers who filled their boots for their promotion rivals Yorkshire, who had Leicestershire three for four early on en route to dismissing their hosts for 98, Ben Coad leading the charge with five wickets. Yorkshire’s batters found the going tough initially too, but Jonathan Tattersall’s unbeaten 90 guided them to a hefty lead.
Preamble
Morning everyone. And welcome to the only place to go for red-ball cricket for the rest of the English summer. Day one of the latest round of matches was busier than might have been expected, given the weather, and the clash of the top two, Somerset and Surrrey, had plenty of twists and turns as Tom Banton’s sparkling hundred was undermined by a late Somerset collapse, with Shakib Al Hasan among the wickets on his one-match deal.
At the bottom, Lancashire and Notts toiled, and I’ll be keeping an eye on the latter in particular today as I toddle off up to Chelmsford (assuming they stop cancelling trains) to watch them take on Essex, who are decently placed thanks to Tom Westley’s unbeaten century.
In the second tier, we’ll be tracking the promotion hopefuls Sussex, Yorkshire and Middlesex who all had promising days yesterday, and as much else as we can. Now for this train to start …
Scores on the doors:
Division One
Chester-le-street: Durham v Lancashire 177-6 (Chester-le-Street).
Chelmsford: Essex 262-5 v Nottinghamshire
Canterbury: Kent v Hampshire 213-7.
Taunton: Somerset 317 v Surrey
Worcester: Worcestershire 294-8 v Warwickshire
Division Two
Leicester: Leicestershire 98 v Yorkshire 263-8
Lord’s: Middlesex 377 v Gloucestershire
Northampton: Northants 219 v Derbyshire 65-1
Hove: Sussex 121-1 v Glamorgan 186
Division One
