Tanya Aldred's roundup
A downpour of wickets, 66 in all, on another damp County Championship Thursday. Kent suffered the biggest malfunction, all out for 95 after James Fuller made hay with five for 21. Zak Crawley clapped one four before becoming Keith Barker’s 500th first-class wicket. Hampshire were just six runs behind, with all 10 wickets left, at stumps.
Australian Ashes hopeful Michael Neser followed up his seven for 32 against Yorkshire with four for 40 against Worcestershire, who crumbled to 109 all out. James Harris pocketed four for 18. Glamorgan crunched past, with 42 for Marnus Labuschagne and a morale inducing 48 from the previously out of luck David Lloyd.
Humidity and heavy cloud gave Jimmy Anderson dream bowling conditions at Old Trafford, and he took advantage, grabbing two for 16 from 14 overs, with three catches dropped off his bowling, including a caught and bowled. Somerset recovered from 12 for three to the relative riches of 109 for four, Tom Lammonby gripping on to a three-hour 34 before the rain fell. At the County Ground, Northamptonshire reached 86 for two against Nottinghamshire.
Chris Rushworth’s triple-wicket maiden before tea, and Oliver Hannon-Dalby’s trio afterwards for Warwickshire knocked over Essex in double-quick time: 126 all out in an innings containing four ducks. Jamie Porter’s two wicket evening burst made things interesting.
Middlesex suffered a banana-skin slide against Surrey after encountering an inspired Dan Worrall at the Oval, slipping from 166 for one to 209 all out. It had all seemed so different when Sam Robson (76) and Pieter Malan (66) were at the crease. Gus Atkinson removed both just before tea, then Worrall’s 26-ball spell of five wickets for one run changed the match.
Yorkshire collected the only batting point of the day, new captain Shan Masood, fresh from Pakistan duties, top-scored with 44 against Durham. Jonny Bairstow, in his second game back, notched 27. There were four wickets for Matthew Potts.
No play was possible at Derby, or Grace Road, where Sussex’s Steve Smith is alert for more Ashes toe-touching stretches.
Meanwhile in India, Joe Root’s wait for an IPL innings continues, after Rajasthan Royals chased down Kolkata Knight Riders’ 149 for eight in 13.1 overs.
Updated
That’s it from me on a damp wicket-addled day. We’ll be back tomorrow, from Old Trafford. Till then, good night!
