Harmer and Snater bowl Essex to big win
With the Championship season about to go into temporary bubble wrap, as the Blast takes over, and half the matches completed, Essex leapt to within two points of the Division One leaders Surrey after thrashing Kent by an innings and 96 runs.
After batting practically all day on Sunday, Kent were invited to follow on, but found the pitch more tricksy and the bowlers more sparky.
Simon Harmer, after a tepid start to the summer by his lofty standards, wheeled away for 23 overs for four for 32, and Shane Snater snaffled out three for 15. Joe Denly was Kent’s top scorer with 23, as they were bowled out for 109 and sank to the bottom of Division One.
The weather washed out play at Old Trafford until after tea, whereupon Warwickshire declared, leaving Lancashire to chase 231 in 44 overs. In the next 75 frantic minutes until the rain returned, Lancashire lost four wickets including Keaton Jennings reverse-swiping Jacob Bethell in soapy shoes, falling earthwards, and losing his leg stump. But Tom Bruce and Matty Hurst biffed 43 to keep things, briefly, alive.
There was late high drama at Wantage Road as Northamptonshire chased an unlikely 326 in just over two sessions, led by an unbeaten 129 full of gumption from Ricardo Vasconcelos. But a possible win turned to desperate defence as Yorkshire fought back, Adam Lyth taking a career-best four for 56. Gloucestershire’s Australian, Beau Webster, followed up his six wickets with a swashbuckling 76 in the draw with Derbyshire.
Spectators were treated to the unusual sight of Australian opener Marcus Harris bowling against Glamorgan in the rain-affected draw at Grace Road, Leicestershire the only team to have drawn all seven of their matches. Middlesex and Sussex shook hands on their high-scoring draw at Lord’s, where Nathan Fernandes made 91. Rain washed out any chance of play at New Road again, Worcestershire still winless after drawing against Nottinghamshire.
Goodbye!
And that’s it from me for a while, after eight rounds of wet but entertaining cricket – the Kookaburra ball, Ben Stokes and his iron knee, Dan Worrall, Lancs-ups and more. Thanks for all your messages as ever, enjoy the white-ball stuff. Bye!
Updated
Division Two Table - after seven games
1 Sussex 109
2 Middlesex 101
3 Leicestershire 92
4 Gloucestershire 90
5 Northamptonshire 83
6 Glamorgan 82
7 Yorkshire 77
8 Derbyshire 70
Updated
Division One Table - after seven games
1 Surrey 115
2 Essex 113
3 Somerset 99
4 Hampshire 85
5 Durham 83
6 Nottinghamshire 79
7 Warwickshire 77
8 Worcestershire 70
9 Lancashire 64
10 Kent 61
Final scores
DIVISION ONE
Chester-le-Street: Durham 265 BEAT Somerset 171 and 88 BY AN INNINGS AND SIX RUNS
Southampton: Hampshire 608-6dec BEAT Surrey 127 and 203 BY AN INNINGS AND 278 RUNS
Canterbury: Kent 394 and 101 LOSE TO Essex 591-7dec BY AN INNINGS AND 96 RUNS
Old Trafford: Lancashire 149 DRAW WITH 89-4 v Warwickshire 284 and 96-3.
New Road: Worcestershire 80 DRAW WITH Nottinghamshire 234-3
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 530 DRAW WITH Derbyshire 526 and 166-4
Grace Road: Leicestershire 343-9dec DRAW WITH Glamorgan 387 and 157-4
Lord’s: Middlesex 613-9 DRAW WITH Sussex 554-9dec
County Ground: Northamptonshire 301 & 250-8 DRAW WITH Yorkshire 362 & 264-6 dec
Northants DRAW with Yorkshire
County Ground: Northamptonshire 301 & 250-8 DRAW WITH Yorkshire 362 & 264-6 dec
A thriller at the last. Vasconcelos a magnificent 129 not out, Lyth 4-56.
Northants points, Yorkshire
One game left, Northants now six down and Yorkshire hold the upper hand. Northants 192-6, Vasconcelos still there, the target 326.
I’m going to write up now, as the sun comes out at OT.
Lancashire DRAW WITH Warwickshire
And Lancashire shuffle off the bottom of Division One, three points above Kent
Old Trafford: Lancashire 149 DRAW WITH 89-4 v Warwickshire 284 and 96-3.
Lancashire 11 points, Warwickshire 12
Gloucestershire DRAW with Derbyshire
Bristol: Gloucestershire 530 DRAW WITH Derbyshire 526 and 166-4
Derbyshire 15 points, Gloucestershire 14
Middlesex DRAW with Sussex
Lord’s: Middlesex 613-9 DRAW WITH Sussex 554-9dec
Middlesex 12 points, Sussex 13
Looking dark, wet and ominous at OT. Think that’s probably curtains.
At The County Ground, Revis has made things more difficult for Northants by prising out Karun Nair for a happy-clappy 36. Northants 190-3, need 156.
Rain at OT
Just when it was getting interesting. Lancashire 89-4, need another 143.
Updated
In the three Division Two games still going:
Middlesex have passed 600 at Lord’s – handshakes fast approaching.
Fifty for Brooke Guest in Derbyshire’s 149-2, lead Gloucestershire by 145.
And Northants are making a good fist of chasing 326 . Vasconcelos 74 not out, they need about six an over, two wickets down.
Leicestershire DRAW with Glamorgan
The rain kills off what might have been. Leicestershire remain the only team to have drawn every one of their Championship matches this season.
Grace Road: Leicestershire 343-9dec DRAW WITH Glamorgan 387 and 157-4
Leicestershire 13 pts, Glamorgan 13.
Bruce batting with intent here – no shutting up of the red-rose shop. Lancs 63-4. Let’s have a quick peruse around the grounds.
Another dirty swipe, this time by Bell ,flies high and into the hands of the waiting Hassan. Lancs 46-4.
Bohannon gone too. A stride to leg-side, a mashed top edge, and a dolly to Davies off giant head-band wearing quick Rae. 41-3.
Updated
Jacob Bethell strikes again, as Keaton reverse-swipes like a man in soapy shoes on a soapy floor and inelegantly loses his leg stump Lancs 38 for two.
Updated
Lost ball here. Jennings finding his inner Bazball. Josh Bo’s season rebuild starts here. I’ve got a good feeling in my bones for Lancs here, though the clouds are ominious. Lancs 31-1 off 6.2.
Essex beat Kent by an innings and 96 runs!
Canterbury: Kent 394 and 101 LOSE TO Essex 591-7dec BY AN INNINGS AND 96 RUNS
A Cook-less Essex do the business. Harmer finishes with 4 for 32, Snater 3 for 15. And Essex are now just two points behind Surrey in the Division One table – both sides have won four, drawn two and lost one.
It’s all happened in the time it took me to cycle to OT. Essex have polished off Kent; Warwicks declared, Wells hit a long hop to deep square and Bohannon flambeed a four and a six. Lancs are chasing this! The target: 231 off 44 overs.
Updated
Flirting for the selectors.
Alert. Sussex's Ollie Robinson is bowling spin. pic.twitter.com/9hvV6lSW3q
— Vitality County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 27, 2024
News from OT
Tea is being taken, the sun is out, and things will restart at 3.15 with 44 overs left.
Worcestershire DRAW with Nottinghamshire
And they call it a day at New Road. Wishing them endless sunshine for the Blast. Unlucky for Notts, who played superbly during the one day where the weather relented.
New Road: Worcestershire 80 DRAW WITH Nottinghamshire 234-3
Stewart bobs up and down on the crease and is beaten by a ball from round the wicket from Snater that nips in at the last. Kent slipping, sliding, towards defeat: 85 for seven.
Feels like Lord’s could do with a rain shower – Middlesex seven runs short of parity to make it over 1100 runs in the match so far.
And Shane Snater makes the breakthrough at Canterbury – 83-6.
Kent’s progress rather smoother after lunch, Denly and Evison digging their heels in. Kent 79-5, 118 behind.
No other Division One cricket happening. This looks worth a read
A snap of our latest Bulletin cover with news of how @IPL became a one-sided farce, how PCA want free for all for their members, why @KentCricket legend Derek Underwood should be remembered, why the England women’s coach uses AI, and much, much more. ✍️🏏🥱https://t.co/ojQbhQSGkV pic.twitter.com/tF5T1n7OO9
— The Cricket Society (@CricketSociety) May 27, 2024
Rain news -raining against at New Road – time to pack up and call it a day there I think. Rain at The County Ground, just after the dangerous Emilio Gay was dismissed for two.
With a thud, lands another threat to the English cricketing summer.
And the 1.30 start at OT is duly delayed by rain…
Play delayed till 1.30 at OT, but I can report skies darkening again.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chester-le-Street: Durham 265 BEAT Somerset 171 and 88 BY AN INNINGS AND SIX RUNS
Southampton: Hampshire 608-6dec BEAT Surrey 127 and 203 BY AN INNINGS AND 278 RUNS
Canterbury: Kent 394 and 64-5 v Essex 591-7dec
Old Trafford: Lancashire 149 v Warwickshire 284 and 96-3 no play before lunch
New Road: Worcestershire 80 v Nottinghamshire 234-3
no play before lunch
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 530 v Derbyshire 526
Grace Road: Leicestershire 343-9dec v Glamorgan 387 and 84-3
Lord’s: Middlesex 508-8 v Sussex 554-9dec
County Ground: Northamptonshire 301 and 13-0 v Yorkshire 362 and 264-6dec Northants need 313 to win
And to complete the set, Gloucestershire have passed 500, Webster not out 62 (Chappell 5-52) in another high-scoring stalemate; and a game bubbling at Grace Road where Glamorgan lead Leics by 120 in their second innings, seven wickets in hand.
Oh, and Finch unwisely opts for a reverse-sweep against Harmer. The inevitable finger rises. Kent 58-5, still 139 behind.
Harmer pulls out one of his one-kneed pleas of desperation against Finch.
In Division Two: Yorkshire have declared after Masood took 17 from Rob Keogh’s over. The lead 325. Can Yorkshire claim a win in the fist half of the season?
And a high-scoring game drifting to a close at Lord’s, where Fernandes is unbeaten on 82 and Carson has 4-137. Middx still trail Sussex by 61.
Updated
The wicket at Canterbury suddenly looking mischievous. Harmer hurrying through each ball on a endless loop, three close fielders crouch and mutter. Denly isn’t having it and breaks the circuit by sweeping Harmer for four.
Double strike for Essex – first Harmer gets O’Riordan, then Critchley traps DBD lbw with a low scutter . Kent 45-4.
Leading run scorers
Division One’s leading run scorers in this 8-match clump: Bedingham – 795 at 88.33, Jordan Cox 731 at 73.10, Alex Davies 672 at 67.20, Keaton Jennings 649 at 59, Joe Clarke 629 at 69.89, DBD 618 at 56.18
Division Two: Colin Ingram 697 at 99.57, Northeast 586 at 73, Emilio Gay 541 at 67.63, Higgins 530 at 106, du Plooy 522 at 74.57
At Bristol, Gloucestershire have bagged maximum batting points, but motor onwards. Yesterday’s power couple – Bracey and van Buuren – both out now, Bracey for 144 and van Buuren for 187 – three sixes and 23 fours. Currently 484-7, 40 behind Derbyshire, three wickets for Chappell.
At Canterbury, which doesn’t look at its sunny best, the physio is checking that O’Riordan is ok after being hit on the helmet. Kent 36-2, time for another DBD special.
Lunch has now been pushed forward to 12.30 at Old Trafford, with a start at 1.10 – weather permitting!
Updated
An early lunch at New Road, alongside an inspection at half past 12.
In the one Division One game in play, Simon Harmer has just got Mr reliable Ben Compton lbw for 12! Kent are 2 down following on.
100 for Shan Masood
Comes up with four through third man, his second century of the season. Yorkshire now have a lead of 262 – presume they’ll get a bit of a move on now if they can.
Hosing it down here in Manchester – though play is due to start at 12.15. All depends whether OT can dodge the showers. Roses, honeysuckle, cricket pitch, all sad and soggy.
Hello Nick Richards. “Sorry to bother you but do you know why Hants got 23 points?
“The win is 16, 3 bowling points and 2 batting points makes 21. (Between 300 and 350 at 110 overs).I can’t find an explanation anywhere.”
Hmmm, I make it 16 for a win, three bowling points, two batting points too. Mea culpa, I just copied 23 points from the report and didn’t do the maths.Ah, have just checked with the tables: Hants had 64 points before this game and now have 85, so 21 it is.
Chris Jordan on his good friend Jofra Archer:
It’s raining at Grace Road
In Div 2 the leading wicket-takers are: Seales (23), Coad (21), Sanderson and de Lange (18)
It is a bad sort of Zak Crawley day, lbw for one to Shane Snater. Not the start Kent were looking for.
Just looked up Simon Harmer’s stats – I know he’s a slow starter but this season has been unfruitful ( by his lofty standards) so far = 14 wickets at 45. By comparison, Liam Dawson has 27 at 25.
In Division One the leading wicket takers are Cook and Porter (29), Worrall (28), Dawson (27) and Pennington (24).
Kent are following on, it’ll be a Zak Crawley day one way or another.
Apologies for the late start, the dog’s 30 min walk took much longer than intended when she ran away and hid in the long grass. Anyway, it’s raining at Old Trafford, raining at NewRoad.
Sunday's round-up
Surrey suffered a calamitous tumble down the staircase of fortune as the locked-in Championship favourites were beaten by an innings and 278 runs by Hampshire, their largest hiding in a Championship match. Felix Organ (five for 104) and Liam Dawson (four for 45) ripped through the Surrey card with feisty forties from Dans Worrall and Lawrence the only real resistance, save for a stoical 19 not out off 107 balls from Ben Foakes, who’d spent the last two days on the physio’s table. “I hope this is a one-off,” said Surrey head coach Gareth Batty afterwards, “I would be very disappointed if it is not.”
Warwickshire slowly clenched the glove at Old Trafford as Lancashire collapsed to 149 all out, losing six for 36 either side of lunch - including Keaton Jennings, lbw for a limpet-like 36. The unlikely destroyers were spinners Jacob Bethell (a career-best four for 20) and Jake Lintott (a career best three for 10). It was the third time Lancashire had been dismissed for less than 150 in their first innings this season. Warwickshire then built a lead of 231 with some flowing panache from Ed Barnard and Dan Mousley, before thunder, lighting and rain brought the players off.
Kent battered down the hatches till the last over of the day at Canterbury, keeping Essex at bay with eighties from Joe Denly and Harry Finch and a career-best 48 from nightwatchman Matt Parkinson. There were five wickets for Matt Critchley, but Essex were hamstrung by the absence of the injured Sam Cook. Essex lead by 197 going into the final day. Runs continued to flow at Lord’s, Sam Robson and Ryan Higgins both made centuries as Middlesex eyed up Sussex’s 554-9dec.
Rain truncated play at Bristol, where James Bracey (137) and Graeme van Buuren (156) added 156 in 21 overs with a smash and grab attack on the Derbyshire new ball before the rain fell. Their stand of 268 overhauled the previous Gloucestershire record for the fifth wicket, held by WG Grace and William Moberly.
Rotten weather also at The County Ground where Yorkshire captain Shan Masood picked up a wrist injury but bombasted a boundary heavy 82 not out to give Yorkshire a lead of 217 over Northamptonshire. At Grace Road, Leicestershire declared 44 in arrears after a puzzling period of play when their scoring rate almost ground to a halt. There was time for Glamorgan’s Billy Root to be bowled by Matt Salisbury before the umbrellas opened. There was no play at all at New Road.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chester-le-Street: Durham 265 BEAT Somerset 171 and 88 BY AN INNINGS AND SIX RUNS
Southampton: Hampshire 608-6dec BEAT Surrey 127 and 203 BY AN INNINGS AND 278 RUNS
Canterbury: Kent 394 v Essex 591-7dec
Old Trafford: Lancashire 149 v Warwickshire 284 and 96-3
New Road: Worcestershire 80 v Nottinghamshire 234-3
No play today.
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 399-4 v Derbyshire 526
Grace Road: Leicestershire 343-9dec v Glamorgan 387 and 14-1
Lord’s: Middlesex 403-6 v Sussex 554-9dec
County Ground: Northamptonshire 301 v Yorkshire 362 and 156-5
Preamble
Good morning! It’s the final day of CCLive! for a while, so pull up your chair and join the throng. Yesterday, Surrey had a most surprising fall from grace, a exultant towelling by Hampshire, by an innings and 278 runs. They’re still top of the table mind and Essex have some work to do today – minus Sam Cook – if they’re to get close.
