Roundup: Henry helps Somerset swat aside Northants
A contented hum rose and fell at Cheltenham, much as the seagulls eyeing up the college pitch circled before bombing down in search of a crumb. Despite the coal-dust cloud that threatened just before 11 o’clock, play was undisturbed all day as Glamorgan dashed to 450 before declaring. A typically stylish 76 from Kiran Carlson, which included a six that bounced off the pavilion spire, was complemented by a beautifully timed 98 from Billy Root and 86 from Chris Cooke.
With a deluge promised on Saturday, all Gloucestershire had to do was not collapse, and Chris Dent and Ollie Price duly played sensibly till stumps. It was all music to the two little boys playing cricket in a makeshift net as Benny the labrador, the first Gloucestershire member with a wet nose and fluffy tail, queued up for a free ice-cream from the van.
Somerset completed a good week’s work by polishing off Northamptonshire by lunchtime. Matt Henry, hero of Saturday’s Blast final, finished with five wickets. Hampshire notched up their fifth Championship victory of the year, over Nottinghamshire, despite a busy 81 from Tom Moores.
In Division Two it took Worcestershire only 25 minutes to grab the three wickets they needed to defeat Leicestershire. Josh Tongue’s five for 29 were his best figures of the summer. The main drama came when Leicestershire announced they would ask the ECB to look into taking disciplinary action against Worcestershire, saying they erroneously claimed the catch of Colin Ackermann on Thursday afternoon, despite “clear evidence” that the catcher grounded the ball.
Elsewhere, Kent’s Harry Finch batted for five hours for 114 to keep Essex at bay; Keaton Jennings’s careful 64 helped Lancashire to a sizeable lead at Edgbaston; half centuries for Matthew Potts and Brydon Carse took Durham to maximum batting points for the fifth time on a dreamboat batting pitch at The County Ground, Derby. Middlesex were forced to follow on at Lord’s; Sussex resisted at Headingley.
Three wins wrapped up, with the weather looming ominously over the rest. Thanks for dropping in while fireworks were going off at Old Trafford. Jim Wallace will be your guide to whatever the rain allows tomorrow. From Cheltenham, with the mowers plodding up and down and an occasional drunken bellow from the hospitality tent, good night!
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 458-8dec v Kent 207 and 265-7
Lord’s: Middlesex 238 and 272-9 v Surrey 433
The County Ground: Somerset 351 and 56-1 BEAT Northamptonshire 180 and 224 by nine wickets
Trent Bridge: Hampshire 166 and 344-5dec BEAT Nottinghamshire 100 and 294 BY 116 RUNS
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 212 v Lancashire 327 and 182-6
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 443 and 89-0 v Durham 575
Oakham: Worcestershire 178 and 169 BEAT Leicestershire 110 and 137 BY 100 RUNS
Headingley: Yorkshire 364-8dec v Sussex 216 and 236-7
Day one: Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 134-1 v Glamorgan 450-6dec
A last squizz round the grounds before I write up for Friday deadlines, Kent and Middlesex holding on for dear life, Notts have lost Clarke for 67 but the target has come down to 189 with five wickets in hand. At Edgbaston, someone remembered to wind Jennings up and he is now unbeaten on 50 – the Lancs lead 277; Durham have an 131-run lead in the run palace at The County Ground; Carter has taken Sussex to parity at Headingley. And Dent and Ollie Price are keeping the scoreboard ticking over here at Cheltenham.
Do keep chatting BTL, we are always open, Test match chat and all.
After a calm twenty minutes or so after tea, Ben Charlesworth leans back to Australian Swepson, only to hear the death rattle of uncoupled stumps. Glos 39-1.
If you’re at Cheltenham, do come and visit The Next Test’s stand, next to the second-hand book stall. We’re trying to raise awareness of how cricket is threatened by the climate crisis, how it contributes, and how we can help. In case you’re interested, this is the website.
Thanks so much to @Gloscricket for letting us have our first stand at a cricket ground. Great to talk to so many people. pic.twitter.com/HmJg3aXd8b
— TheNextTest (@TheNextTest) July 21, 2023
Time for a quick drink, back shortly.
Tea-time-ish scores
Chelmsford: Essex 458-8dec v Kent 207 and 179-4
Lord’s: Middlesex 238 and 163-5 v Surrey 433
The County Ground: Somerset 351 and 56-1 BEAT Northamptonshire 180 and 224 by nine wickets
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 100 and 157-4 v Hampshire 166 and 344-5dec Notts need 254 to win
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 212 v Lancashire 327 and 118-5
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 443 v Durham 529-8
Oakham: Worcestershire 178 and 169 BEAT Leicestershire 110 and 137 BY 100 RUNS
Headingley: Yorkshire 364-8dec v Sussex 216 and 118-3
Day one: Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 15-0 v Glamorgan 450-6dec
In the party division, Durham have been boosted by fifties sensible and slappy from England men in waiting Potts and Carse. Durham 529-8, 86 ahead of Derbyshire.
Sussex are 116-3 in their second innings, unbeaten forties for Tom Clark and Oli Carter, still trail Yorkshire by 31; and Gloucestershire made it safely through that mini-session, 15-0 at tea.
A quick scramble round the Div One grounds, where Middlesex are 159-5, Holden and Higgins coaxing things along, 35 runs behind Surrey.
Harry Finch is stranded on 97 at tea, in Kent’s quietly stoical 177-4. Kent trail Essex by 74.
The rain has abated at Trent Bridge, where Joe Clarke and Tom Moores have put on 69. Notts 145-4, need another 266 to win. And at Edgbaston, Jennings continues in his adhesive journey, 37 from 140, now joined by first-innings saviour Balderson after Bell was caught for 13. Lancs 114-5, 229 ahead.
Out come the players, van der Gugten taking long-legged strides in from the College Lawn end. Charlesworth and Dent have an afternoon to bat out before tomorrow’s rain. Clouds stack over Cleeve Hill.
Glamorgan have declared on 448-6, Cooked 86 not out. And I’ve just come across this peculiarity from earlier this afternoon at Durham. Washer stops play.
We had Bat Gate here last year. Today, we bring you Washer Gate.
— Martin Emmerson (@Martycricket) July 21, 2023
A washer is embedded in the pitch. They have decided to leave it because it has been there for the entirety of the game and will damage the track.
It's been a funny old day.#BBCCricket https://t.co/N7IFY4ArPZ
Cooke tucks into Zafar, one sprayed over extra cover, one up and our way, we duck bravely under the trestle table and the ball bounces off the spire onto the balcony. Cooke 80, Glamorgan 441-6.
What a shame! Root B shapes to drive but instead edges Zafar to first slip, and whisks his bat in frustration, chin tipped to the sky. Super innings though.
Found both the notebook and the fantastically fluffy Benny, who obediently sat for a photo.
Benny, Gloucestershire's first canine member. pic.twitter.com/wcuhErWC03
— tanya aldred (@tjaldred) July 21, 2023
Glamorgan notch up another batting point and Cooke pips Root to the milestone, skipping to 50 with his ninth boundary.
I think I’ve left my notebook in the portaloos… just going on a quick search. Drinks here at Cheltenham, Glamorgan 382-5, Root 92 not out.
Lancashire’s middle-order has taken a shellacking. Bohannon, Salt and Mitchell all gone for not much more than a swing. Lancs 59-4, Jennings still there on a sedate 13 (from 80). The lead over Warwicks 174.
Kent and Middlesex are batting with a bit more gumption in their second innings.Kent 132-2, still 119 behind Essex, Finch 72 not out. While Middlesex, following on, are 93-2, still 102 behind Surrey.
Worcestershire’s head coach Alan Richardson on his star bowlers Josh Tongue and Dillon Pennington, leaving for pastures new at the end of the season.
“The way Josh Tongue finished it off today was clinical, which is something Josh has. He can get good batters out, as he showed on his Test debut, and he can make life pretty uncomfortable for batters coming in at the bottom of the order, as he showed today with a bit of good, old-fashioned fast bowling.
“People might say that it was through a big contribution from Josh and Dillon that we won the match, and that these are the two that are leaving us at the end of the season.
“Obviously I’m disappointed that they are leaving but at the same time they are still our players and they still want to perform for us for the rest of the season, to help us achieve our goals and having them in the team makes us better. We aren’t going to change our opinion on that just because they are leaving at the end of the season.”
Leicestershire to report Worcestershire over contntious dismissal.
The cricket might be all over at Oakham school but some bad blood remains. Leicestershire are going to ask the ECB to look into taking disciplinary action against Worcestershire, claiming that Worcestershire erroneously claimed the catch of Colin Ackermann, caught at third slip yesterday afternoon, despite knowing there was “clear evidence” that the catcher, Josh Baker, grounded the ball.
Baker dived for the ball, grabbing it with one hand, and fumbled it before clasping it to his chest as he fell. The fielders appealed but Ackermann remained, looking at the fielders and then at umpires Neil Bainton and Hassan Adnan, before being given confirmation that he was out.
Alfonso Thomas, Leicestershire’s acting joint-head coach, compared the incident with wicketkeeper Lewis McManus’s controversial stumping of Leicestershire’s Hassan Azad in 2021, when McManus broke the stumps without the ball in his hand. The wicket was given but McManus was later handed a disciplinary penalty.
“Umpires are going to make mistakes,” Thomas said. “Our disappointment was more about Colin Ackermann’s dismissal yesterday when there was clear evidence (from the video replay) that the ball was on the floor.
“There is a lot of chat currently about the spirit of cricket. I am all for playing the game hard. I probably stepped over the line myself a couple of times as a player. But I would certainly not be advocating that as a coach where there was nothing stopping them from calling Colin back.
“On a pitch like that you are probably going to get another opportunity and it would have put them in a better light had they called him back.
“I have had a chat with the match referee. I was with Hampshire at the time when there was the incident with Lewis McManus, against Leicestershire, and there were major consequences. Ultimately there was a disciplinary hearing.
“I would like to see consistency and hopefully this goes the same way.”
Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson said:
“I’ve seen the replay and can only say that it was inconclusive. You never like there to be contentious incidents like this but Josh said he took the catch cleanly and I have to trust my player.”
Updated
Happy punters at Cheltenham at lunchtim, two boys playing cricket in a makeshift net, asking each other which club they play for, pints in shirtsleeves, club ties, floral dresses. And some very well-behaved dogs. Ollie Price and Zafar Gohar use up the overs before the second new ball. Glamorgan pass 350.
Lunchtime scores
Chelmsford: Essex 458-8dec v Kent 207 and 91-1
Lord’s: Middlesex 238 and 30-1 v Surrey 433
The County Ground: Somerset 351 and 56-1 BEAT Northamptonshire 180 and 224 by nine wickets
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 100 and 45-2 v Hampshire 166 and 344-5dec
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 212 v Lancashire 327 and 28-2
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 443 v Durham 378-5
Oakham: Worcestershire 178 and 169 BEAT Leicestershire 110 and 137 BY 100 RUNS
Headingley: Yorkshire 364-8dec v Sussex 216 and 23-0
Day one: Cheltenham: Gloucestershire v Glamorgan 311-5
The wind getting up here where they’re playing on till 1.20 to catch up a little on yesterday’s lost time. A back foot push for four takes Cooke up to seven, Root on fifty. Lunch round some of the grounds, scores to follow.
Somerset beat Northamptonshire by nine wickets!
The County Ground: Somerset 351 and 56-1 BEAT Northamptonshire 180 and 224 by nine wickets
A win in the back pocket and pretty safe for the season.
In Division Two, a brief resumption at Derby before the rain came again. Time for Pretorius to become a fourth wicket for Conners, lbw for 36. Durham 378-5.
Leicestershire have won; rain still at Headingley, where Sussex are 23-0, and Glamorgan racing along here at Cheltenham – but that’s a wicket at last as Carlson pulls Dent and is caught by van Meekeren! Glamorgan 296-5.
As Carlson sweeps Zafar with style just underneath the overhang of the balcony for four more, lets skip round the grounds.
Kent found stability in their cornflakes this morning, Compton and Finch in an unbroken stand of 73; Kent 77-1, trail by 174.
Middlesex are all out, losing 5-59 this morning. And must follow up. Good luck with that. Three wickets to Joverton, Abbott and Lawes.
Somerset have lost Dickson, but only need another 24 to wrap up the win.
They’ve taken an early lunch at Trent Bridge, with Notts 45-2.
And after Warwicks were rattled out for 212 this morning, two-wicket Luke Wells’s morning took a downward turn, lbw to the third ball of the innings for a duck. Lancs 17-1, lead by 132.
Shaw doesn’t get his just rewards as Kiran Carlson is dropped/missed by a slow-diving mid-on. Reaches a stylish fifty.
That Foakes catch for the fans:
"Foakes has taken a worldie behind the stumps!" 🎙️👊
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) July 21, 2023
🤎 | #SurreyCricket https://t.co/9IORBToVU4 pic.twitter.com/XU9NlSUdj2
Glamorgan getting quite a test from Shaw, fizzing past a groping Billy Root. A lovely out-ground mumbling rises and falls in accompaniment.
Updated
Somerset need 54 to win...
…after Northants are rattled out for 224: Henry eight in the match, Coverton seven. And Somerset’s summer’s spring in their step continues.
Weather sticking its fingers where it has no business: off for bad light at Trent Bridge, Abbas and Abbott picking up one each, Notts 45-2, needing 366 to win. And no play yet at The County Ground, where Durham yesterday raced to 364-4.
Yorkshire declare! 364-8, just after Malan falls for 92. Sussex trail by 148 and have a nervy hour to survive before lunch against Fisher and Coad.
Somerset creeping closer to wrapping this up today too: Sanderson a fifth wicket for Matt Henry, who has one more Championship game after this before flying home at the end of the month. Northants 211-8, lead by 40.
Ben Foakes takes a stunner to scoop up John Simpson for 60 at Lord’s, and Middlesex wobble to 197-6.
An absolutely gorgeous shot from Kiran Carlson, skimming through the covers towards the black and red tent, brings up the Glamorgan 200.
Worcestershire beat Leicestershire by 100 runs!
First result of the round, 25 minutes into day three. A real shame for Oakham and outground cricket, but the heavy rain of the last few weeks didn’t help with preparation. Josh Tongue picked up the three remaining wickets, to give him 5-29.
Oakham: Leicestershire 110 and 137 v Worcestershire 178 and 169. WORCESTERSHIRE WIN BY 100 RUNS
Tongue getting in the groove for the Oval https://t.co/LnLRASdpJN
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) July 21, 2023
Updated
Such is the morning lethargy of the internet that Sam Northeast was bowled by van Meekeren while the last entry travelled through the stratosphere. A second of the morning to van Meekeren. Glamorgan 183-3.
An early wicket here at Cheltenham, which gives the crowd the enticing duo of Sam Northeast and Kiran Carlson. The threatening cloud has gone for now, just puffed up cushions of this and that.
Just in case your attention drifts to Old Trafford, Geoff is your man:
First to a thousand - Alex Lees
“I was pretty underwhelming for the first half-a-dozen games of the season, I kept getting 40 and out so the last few games have been pleasing on an individual standpoint but the biggest thing I was happy with today was we were in a little bit of a tricky position after losing two early wickets.
“From that view I was particularly happy because we were in a bit of trouble and so to come up trumps with a good innings with Dave (Bedingham) playing exceptionally as well was the most rewarding part of the day.
“The main aim is to win games for your team and hopefully contribute some good performances so obviously it’s nice (to become the first to 1,000 runs) but my main aim within the season is trying to get promoted with Durham. Those individual things are sat in the background and my main focus is the team.”
A cloud like a coal-stained king-sized duvet is currently skirting the ground.
Cheltenham day 2. pic.twitter.com/aWSYODc52s
— tanya aldred (@tjaldred) July 21, 2023
Thursday's round-up
If Durham couldn’t quite keep pace with England at Old Trafford, they gave it their best shot, tucking into Derbyshire’s attack with lip-smacking gusto. Alex Lees, one of Zac Crawley’s ex-opening partners, now discarded, became the first player to pass a 1,000 Championship runs this summer during his 171, and shared a record third-wicket stand of 305 with David Bedingham (138). Earlier Derbyshire’s Brooke Guest had been last man out for 197.
Nineteen wickets fell on day two at Oakham school, one more than on an eventful Wednesday, batters carefully picking their way through the minefield to get to the crease. Leicestershire were set an unlikely 238 to win mid-afternoon, but had deflated to 114 for seven at stumps, Dillon Pennington and England’s Josh Tongue doing the damage. Their one hope is that Rehan Ahmed remains, unbeaten on 33. Sandwiched between Leicestershire innings, Worcestershire stumped up 169, largely set up by Jake Libby. Chris Wright took four for 44.
Somerset zipped up the pressure at Wantage Road, enforcing the follow on as 16 wickets tumbled. Northamptonshire’s first innings 180, propped up by 78 from Ricardo Vasconcelos, was followed by more quick wickets in the second. Matt Henry and Craig Overton proved a particular menace.
Essex rattled to 458-8 before declaring, giving Sam Cook and Simon Harmer five overs to bowl at Kent, with due result. Matt Critchley had earlier danced to 117. While at Lord’s John Simpson and Max Holden gave Middlesex a chance of saving the follow-on.
At Cheltenham, rain and bad light restricted play to 40 overs. David Lloyd put together a fluent 81 despite being hit hard on the helmet by a rampaging Paul van Meekeren and being dropped on 44. An Adam Lyth century put Yorkshire in the driving seat at Headingley; while an unbeaten century from Ian Holland on a crazy paving pitch Trent Bridge did the same for Hampshire.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 458-8dec v Kent 207 and 4-1
Lord’s: Middlesex 179-5 v Surrey 433
Northants: Northamptonshire 180 and 151-6 v Somerset 351
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 100 and 11-0 v Hampshire 166 and 344-5dec
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 179-5 v Lancashire 327
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 443 v Durham 364-4
Oakham: Leicestershire 110 and 114-7 v Worcestershire 178 and 169
Headingley: Yorkshire 286-4 v Sussex 216
Day one: Cheltenham: Gloucestershire v Glamorgan 152-2
Preamble
Hello! It’s a muggy old morning, Cheltenham clouds closing in threateningly but the Met office don’t seem too worried. Here’s your forecast:
A mixture of sunshine and showers today, showers most frequent across northern regions. Rain will move in across some western and northwestern areas, especially later, accompanied by brisk winds. Another mostly cool day.
Gloucestershire’s players are do-see-doing through their morning exercises, Glamorgan are playing football and there is some gentle trade at the second-hand book stall. It is a gorgeous town, all intellectual regency buildings and old fashioned marigolds sitting obediently in the park beds.
