Roundup: Yorkshire foiled again by bad light, plus valiant Kent resistance
For the second consecutive week, Yorkshire were left frustrated, unable to force a result, as first Kentish resistance and then bad light threw sharp pins under their victory tyres. A morning and afternoon of careful accumulation by Kent, especially Ben Compton, who became Division One’s leading run-scorer before he was out for 93, suddenly sprang into life after tea. First, a limping Grant Stewart, impeded by a hamstring injury and a runner, took to the Yorkshire bowling like Gordon Greenidge, belting sixes and scattering fours. But, with the lead past a hundred, and Stewart onto an almost run-a-ball 90, he was run out.
With that, the floodgates opened, as Matthew Milnes was lbw for a nine-ball one and Nathan Gilchrist gave leaden-footed catching practice to mid-off, first ball, dragging himself off the field. With dimming light, and floodlights on, Matthew Quinn fell two overs later to give Steven Patterson his fifth wicket.
Ollie Robinson, unbeaten on 85, was roundly congratulated by Yorkshire, whose opening pair were soon out in the middle again, set 114 in 21 overs. But the umpires took one look at their light metres and pulled the plug, to a chorus of riled boos. With Haris Rauf off the field throughout the day with a side strain, Yorkshire were left to rue a number of dropped catches.
There was a thrilling, unexpected run chase at Derby, where Marnus Labuschagne led the charge against Derbyshire with a magnificent 85, and David Lloyd and Kiran Carlson proved more than capable sidekicks. Set 331 in 55 overs, Sam Northeast almost hauled Glamorgan over the line, but he was caught on the rope in the penultimate over for 81, with just 22 needed, but only two wickets in hand. The players shook hands with one ball to go.
Essex batted out the day to pull the rug from under Northamptonshire’s feet. Paul Walter made a stoical, five-and-a-half-hour 93 and Adam Wheater a stonewalling 174-ball 33. Rob Keogh collected four for 51 and Tom Taylor three for 62.
Rain put Gloucestershire’s match against Surrey out of its misery, with 1,046 runs scored and only 12 wickets lost. Surrey remain top of the Division One table, six points above Hampshire, whose game against Lancashire drew to a similarly soggy conclusion at the Rose Bowl. It was called off as both teams played resigned games of football on the soggy grass, a disappointing end to a match that had swung to and fro almost at whim.
There was another draw at the run-factory at Hove, where Sean Dickson and Alex Lees outwitted Sussex’s bowlers to ink in the fourth-highest partnership in Durham’s history: 313 for the first wicket.
What a finish at The County Ground! Congratulations Glamorgan and Derby for finding a siren song in a sea of draws. That’s it for this round - we’ll be back on Thursday for more. Thank you, as always, for your company - have a lovely evening!
Match drawn here at Headingley. So all eyes to the County Ground, where Glamorgan are living their best life.
And, with the players out on the pitch, the umpires say it is too dark to play. A large boo follows them.
Kent?! Yorkshire need 114 in 21 overs.
Time for me to write up, Kent looking very solid.
Just the 30 off two overs after tea.. Kent swinging the bat: Robionson 73, Stewart 68, and doubling the lead.
An email! Hello Paul McIntyre AKA (Somerset supporter still grumpy after those points deductions!)
“Should penalties be imposed for pitches which favour batters to the point that there is no fair contest between bat and ball? It seems to be assumed that a poor pitch, justifying inspections and potentially points penalties, has to be one on which the bowlers have too much of the whip hand. But what about Bristol, for example, in this round of games? Even without the rain today, a bore draw seemed inevitable for most of the match.”
A great question! Discuss.
Teatime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 193 and 285-7 v Northants 390 all out. Essex lead by 88 runs
Bristol: Gloucestershire 443-2 v Surrey 603. Gloucs trail by 160 runs. Match drawn.
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 246 and 344 v Lancashire 240 and 9-0. Lancs need 342 runs to win No play before tea
Taunton: Somerset 458 v Warwickshire 209 & 167. Somerset win by an innings and 82 runs
Headingley: Yorkshire 571 v Kent 291 and 312-6. Kent lead by 32 runs
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 368 and 349-3dec v Glamorgan 387 and 101-2. Glamorgan need 230 to win
Lords: Middlesex 370 v Leicestershire 149 & 272. Middlesex beat Leicestershire by 10 wickets
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 266 and 233-5 v Worcestershire 159 and 339 Notts beat Worcs by five wickets
Hove: Sussex 538 v Durham 223 and 328-2.Durham lead by 13. Rain stopped play
With ten minutes left till tea, Yorkshire turn to Dawid Malan... Stewart rocks onto his back foot ball and plonks his first ball over mid wicket for four.
A disgruntled ex-Guardian journalist writes:
Another final day watching third-rate spinners on Championship pitches that don't break up. Those who advocate this sort of tedium can watch it. I've put the football on #retirementbeckons
— David Hopps (@DavidKHopps) May 1, 2022
Glamorgan can’t be on the chase. Surely. Labuschage and Lloyd scoring at just less than a run a ball, 67-1 off 13. And here Grant Stewart, batting with a runner, without incident, slog-sweeps Dom Bess for six.
Updated
It’s raining at Hove, where they’ve taken an early tea and, well, it’s only heading one way. Durham, 328-2 lead by 13.
This is looking a bit ominous for Yorkshire, will they be stranded for the second week in a row? A remimder that Yorkshire are without Rauf and are missing Fisher and Coad. Kent (281-6) have taken the lead with half an hour till tea.
Marnus is in at the County Ground, which means Salter is out, caught off Lakmal for a duck. Glammy 22-1.
A couple of wickets at Durham, where on-loan Mason Crane dismisses Lees (105) and Dickson (186) in the same over.
Lancs v Hampshire looking like a draw too:
The current situation down south.😐🌧️
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) May 1, 2022
🌹 #RedRoseTogetherpic.twitter.com/U4MZfz4vC8
As Brooke Guest falls, for 138, Derbyshire declare, leaving Glamorgan an immaterial 331 to win. In reply, Glamorgan are 1-0.
Into the history books 📖
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 1, 2022
Brooke Guest becomes the first @DerbyshireCCC wicketkeeper to score centuries in both innings of a match since 1896 👏 #LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/VDriXM7t9s
Updated
Hill strikes straight away, George Linde lbw for 16. Kent 218 for six, still 62 behind.
Gloucestershire draw with Surrey
They’ve given up at Bristol, with the covers still on and nothing ever going to emerge out of it but a draw.
Bristol: Gloucestershire 443-2 v Surrey 603. Gloucs trail by 160 runs No play before lunch
Gloucestershire 15 points; Surrey 11.
An interesting half hour at lunch at Headingley. There was an on field photocall with the Northern Diamonds and their new shirt sponsors, Clean Slate, plus a fist full of dignitaries. Dickie Bird, was there, looking in fine shape, but saying he was 89 now and feeling old. Also Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, Lord Patel, who was bubbling with the way things were going, and Karnesh Ssharma the founder of Clean Slate Studioz, whose sister, Annusha Sharma, is a producer and big-time Hollywood actress and is married to Virat Kohli. Apparently she is starring in a Clean Slate film about Jhulan Goswami which will be out next spring.
In other news, Yorkshrie have taken the new ball and the flood lights are on - Kent 214-5.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 193 and 233-5 v Northants 390 all out. Essex lead by 36 runs
Bristol: Gloucestershire 443-2 v Surrey 603. Gloucs trail by 160 runs No play before lunch
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 246 and 344 v Lancashire 240 and 9-0. Lancs need 342 runs to win No play before lunch
Taunton: Somerset 458 v Warwickshire 209 & 167. Somerset win by an innings and 82 runs
Headingley: Yorkshire 571 v Kent 291 and 200-5. Kent trail by 80 runs
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 368 and 287-2 v Glamorgan 387. Derbys lead by 268
Lords: Middlesex 370 v Leicestershire 149 & 272. Middlesex beat Leicestershire by 10 wickets
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 266 and 233-5 v Worcestershire 159 and 339 Notts beat Worcs by five wickets
Hove: Sussex 538 v Durham 223 and 284-0.Durham trail by 31
Another fifty for Jos Buttler, in the IPL yesterday. He is going to have had such an interesting career, which has near enough coincided with the franchise revolution: playing his first game in 2009. If he doesn’t play another Test, his record, 57 games, average 31.94, 2 hundreds, 18 fifties (averaging five runs more when not wearing the gloves.) is nothing to be ashamed of.
Khushi falls, just a hand-wash before lunch. Essex 227-5, lead by 30.
In Division Two: Durham haven’t lost a wicket this morning, Sean Dickson passes 150, Lees 97 not out. Runs, runs and more runs at Derby: Guest and Madesen have put on 196, with Guest reaching a resolute hundred. Derby 269-2.
A generous round of applause for Ben Compton, this time held safely at second slip by Lyth for 93.
Let’s meander round the grounds, Observer tucked under one arm, steam espresso in the other:
Here at Headingley, Yorkshire are plugging away, Kent still trail by 114, with six wickets in hand.
Essex are fighting hard at Chelmsford, Walter not out 67 in 195 balls, Khushi a stoical 19. They’ve sneaked into the lead by 12 runs.
No play yet at Bristol and Southampton.
A huge roar as Jordan Cox is bowled by Jordan Thompson by one that nips in, for 21. Cox throws his head back in frustration. Kent on the free-fall, I’d wager, 166-4.
Leading wicket takers
DIVISION ONE
Coverton 20
Hasan Ali 20
Barker 20
Jordan Clark 16
Hannon-Dalby 15
DIVISION TWO
Paterson 18
Patterson-White 18
Potts 18
Conners 16
Roland-Jones 15
Division Two’s leading run-scorers
Shan Masood 713
Cheteshwar Pujara 531
Dickson 465
Haines 447
Madsen 436
Duckett 430
D’Oliveira 309
Barnard 303
Bedingham 286
Ben Slater 271
Essex have just been awarded five penalty runs after Revis threw the ball which hit Jordan Cox. Penalty runs can be given for “unacceptable on-field behaviour.”
Those run-eating batters in full:
Division One
Compton 538 (and counting)
Brook 512
Malan 395
Burgess 372
Gubbins 364
Harris 352
Dent 332
Ben Brown 326
Bracey 326
Pope 321
Another drop by the Yorkshire close fielders. After putting two down last night, Compton is dropped at second slip on 71: his second life. Kent 133 for three.
A wicket at Chelmsford! Matt Critchley gone, off Tom Taylor, just three runs short of his half century. Essex 164-4, 33 runs short.
No play before lunch at Bristol.
Jack Leaning tries to leave a ball from Patterson.. but gets a sliver of an edge and is snaffled by Duke. Kent 126-3.
Good news for Kent, Haris Rauf is off the field with a continuation of the slight niggle in his left side.
Rain, I’m afraid, at Bristol and the Rosebowl, but they’re up and running here at Headingley and at Chelmsford, the County Ground and Hove.
Updated
Jimmy Anderson was musing yesterday on his Test future:
“Stuart and I were hoping our careers weren’t over,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire . “So it’s nice to hear there’s a chance.”
“It still means we’ve got to put in some performances here with our counties to prove that we’re playing well enough to get in that final XI.
“Because of the situation and not having people in these roles, you’re just so unsure of what’s going to happen. So now having that clarity is really nice.”
Anderson approved of Ben Stoke’s appointment as Test captain. He called Stokes a “natural leader who has the respect of the group” - and someone who has “a clear idea of how he wants the team to play”.
“I’d love to be part of that. We’ve had a tough few years, we’re down the bottom of the Test Championship. English cricket needs to get back to winning Test matches.”
This is quite some stat!
So - final day here at Chelmsford. Overcast morning. @EssexCricket still 48 behind @NorthantsCCC with seven wickets standing, following on. Will the County’s 24-year wait for a Championship win here end today? Full commentary from 1100 #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/oe0TNurgLf
— Andrew Radd (@oldmanradd) May 1, 2022
I’m going to go and grab some breakfast, back shortly. Here is some Sunday morning reading in the meantime:
and on the nuanced and very difficult issues of Joe Clarke and Alex Hales.
Saturday's round-up
The Yorkshire crowd rose out of their plastic seats in unison to salute Harry Brook, who gloved a short ball behind for 194. A tired shot, it was unbecoming of a chanceless, utterly unruffled innings, full of shots.
Brook, who sits just behind Ben Compton in the Division One runs tally, said he was disappointed he had not been able to better his dad’s highest score of 210, but was phlegmatic about the future. “I’ve looked towards bigger things in the past,” he said. “I’m just trying to stay in the moment.”
All the while, the England selector James Taylor looked on. Zak Crawley was out cheaply as Kent replied, but Compton, as sticky as wallpaper paste, remains, 67 not out.
Somerset’s season burst to life with an innings thrashing of last year’s champions, Warwickshire. Following-on, Warwickshire managed six single-figure scores between them.
Jack Brooks took four for 44, but there were a couple of wickets each for Jack Leach and Craig Overton – who also excelled himself at slip, poaching a salmon at third to send Alex Davies on his way. Sam Hain and Will Rhodes batted carefully, before falling in consecutive overs, Hain to a sucker punch on the boundary.
“That was close to how we were playing our cricket a couple of years ago,” said the Somerset captain, Tom Abell. “I feel we are getting our identity back”
Middlesex completed an innings victory over Leicestershire at Lord’s. This despite Ben Mike’s tromboneing counter-attack, laying into Middlesex, without the injured Tom Helm, and hooking Shaheen Shah Afridi for six. He was left high and dry on 99 before Mark Stoneman and Sam Robson then charged to victory in 10.3 overs.
Essex made a much better fist of their second innings, sent into bat again after being bowled out for 193 by Northamptonshire, riches indeed from the depths of 83 for eight. Shane Snater had kept the flag flying with an unbeaten, and career-best 79. The second innings was wobbling at 58 for three, with Alastair Cook out cheaply again, but Paul Walter and Matt Critchley stitched together an unbeaten 91.
On the Bristol featherbed, Gloucestershire duly made a king-size fluffy duvet against Surrey. Chris Dent raced to a double century, batting all day for his 207; Marcus Harris 124, a sole wicket for Colin de Grandhomme on his debut.After the first-wicket pair were finally prised apart with the score on 296, poor James Bracey, bowled for a duck, was the scorecard anomaly, with Miles Hammond also unbeaten on 75 at the close.
For the first time in his career, Nick Gubbins made two centuries in a Championship match to give Hampshire the edge in the squeaker at Southampton. James Anderson started the day in typical style with four maidens and the wicket of Liam Dawson. But from then on it was Gubbins, who dominated, with Ben Brown the more than competent wingman compiling 72, leaving Lancashire needing 342 to win after ending the day 9-0.
Nottinghamshire rolled to their third Championship victory of the season, despite stubborn resistance from Worcestershire. Ed Barnard knocked his socks off with a career-best 163 not out, made over seven and a half hours, against Stuart Broad aiming to get his Test place back after being given the green light by new England supremo Rob Key. Set 233 to win, Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke both made fifties.
Marnus Labuschagne raced to his sixth century for Glamorgan, and his first since 2019. In reply, Derbyshire’s Shan Masood, out for 42, fell three runs short of a world record number of runs for April.
Scores on the doors
Chelmsford: Essex 193 and 149-3 v Northants 390 all out. Essex trail by 48 runs
Bristol: Gloucestershire 443-2 v Surrey 603. Gloucs trail by 160 runs
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 246 and 344 v Lancashire 240 and 9-0. Lancs need 342 runs to win
Taunton: Somerset 458 v Warwickshire 209 & 167. Somerset win by an innings and 82 runs
Headingley: Yorkshire 571 v Kent 291 and 118-2. Kent trail by 162 runs
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 368 and 170-2 v Glamorgan 387. Derbys lead by 151
Lords: Middlesex 370 v Leicestershire 149 & 272. Middlesex beat Leicestershire by 10 wickets
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 266 and 233-5 v Worcestershire 159 and 339 Notts beat Worcs by five wickets
Hove: Sussex 538 v Durham 223 and 169-0.Durham trail by 146
Preamble
Good morning from a grey and overcast Leeds. It isn’t yet raining but it hangs about like a damp dog outside the kitchen door. The weather could throw a few spanners in the works today, with the Met Office forecast also showing a 50 per cent chance of rain down on the south coast equivalent of Madison Square Gardens. There, Lancashire have the chance to prove their CCLive top seeding.
Elsewhere, it seems unlikely that Kent will hold on at Headingley; Essex have a battle on their hands at Chelmsford; and you’d expect draws both at the Bristol batting paradise and the County Ground. At Hove, Durham, still trail by 146, but have ten wickets in hand against Sussex. They should hold on, but I won’t be betting my morning cup of coffee on it.
Three games finished yesterday, with Somerset at last winning, knocking down the 2021 champs Warwickshire in the process; Middlesex duly bulldozing Leicestershire despite Ben Mike’s heroics, and Notts easing to victory over Worcestershire.
