Overton shines in Anderson's continued absence
The non-appearance of Lancashire’s Jimmy Anderson, either walking out at No 11 or with the new ball in Somerset’s second innings, confirmed England worries about the seriousness of the suspected groin tweak which took him off the field on Thursday evening.
A tracksuited Anderson was spotted on the field before play, but spent the time in earnest discussion with Keaton Jennings rather than warming up. At the same time, Durham’s Brydon Carse, another in England’s pace-ace-hand, was being sent for a scan for a possible side strain.
It was a good moment then for Craig Overton to hit full fitness, powering in from the James Anderson end, squinting into the bright, bright Manchester sun. Overton has been bothered with tendonitis in the left knee all season and this was the best dedicated Somerset watchers had seen him bowling– all Chesterfield sofa shoulders, sharp bounce and enormous strides. He immediately got rid of Friday’s nightwatchman Will Williams, followed soon afterwards by Steven Croft before cutting off George Balderson (71) and George Bell (38) in their prime.
Overton was also Matt Henry’s dedicated ball polisher at second slip, working up a large cherry stain on his white vest in the process. Henry picked up four including his compatriot Daryl Mitchell, who put together a superb 105 on Lancashire debut, thrashing two huge sixes and weaving an acceptable team total, before becoming last out with Lancashire trailing by 35.
Mitchell was warmly applauded, becoming only the ninth player to make a hundred on first-class debut for Lancashire. With shadows pointing long fingers, Somerset lost three evening wickets but lead by 149 heading into today’s final day.
Glamorgan galloped to a 10-wicket win over Worcestershire at Sophia Gardens to bag their first victory of the season after they rattled through the visitors’ tail in less than an hour. Timm van der Gugten’s third five fer of the season made him the leading wicket-taker in Division Two. Eddie Byrom and David Lloyd rapidly knocked off the required runs.
Warwickshire overtook Surrey at the top of Division One after a three-day win over Essex at Edgbaston.
It has been an unexpectedly fruitful start to the season for
Warwickshire who only hung onto Division One status last year by half a fingernail in a final day thriller.
Chris Rushworth finished with eight wickets in the match as Essex were dismissed for 215, an unbeaten fifty from Simon Harmer at least giving their bowlers something to run in for. And Warwickshire’s victory charge wasn’t without its scares as an easy chase of 100 turned sticky before an unbeaten 23 from Ed Barnard got them over the line to win by four wickets.
Northamptonshire had a day to forget after being thrashed by an innings and 25 runs by Nottinghamshire, their second innings very soon resembling Piglet’s limp balloon, all out for 72. South Africa’s Dane Paterson cut through the top order in ideal bowling conditions, pocketing five for 16. Saif Zaib (26) was the only man to reach double figures. Northants have now lost three of their five games, and promoted Notts polish their buttons in third.
Tom Alsop made a fine unbeaten 182 in Sussex’s 430. Rehan Ahmed swung merrily on his way to 59 but it wasn’t enough to get Leicestershire past the follow-on. Cheteshwar Pujara’s decision to enforce squeezed yet further Steve Smith’s chances of a decent innings for Sussex before the start of the Ashes. Surrey are on top in the London derby, after a wonderful 97 from Jamie Smith and some tail wagging. Middlesex had lost three wickets by stumps and were still 43 in arrears.
A rip-roarer at Chester-le-Street will tip into the fourth day, with Durham needing 33 more runs and Yorkshire two more wickets, one of them the crocked Carse, for their first win of the season. Fifties from Ben Charlesworth and Miles Hammond gave Gloucestershire the best of the day, though Derbyshire opener Harry Came scored a finely-judged maiden first-class century. And Kent have a sniff of a draw with Hampshire after an unbeaten stand of 66 between Zak Crawley and Ben Compton at Canterbury.
Updated
The covers are coming on everywhere, including at The Riverside in a thriller which has swung from Durham to Yorkshire and back again. Join us tomorrow morning for the final day of this round, to see if Durham can scrape 33 runs, or Yorkshire two wickets for their first win of the season. Till then, enjoy your Saturday night.
