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!
