Tanya Aldred's county roundup
Surrey extended their lead at the top of the Championship table, despite another half-century from Somerset’s James Rew and some bish-bosh from Craig Overton.
There were four wickets for Jordan Clark, who munched into Somerset’s top order, and from there all Somerset could do was plug away and hope for rain. Rew passed a thousand runs, the first to click up four figures in Division One, to happy applause from the Taunton faithful, and Craig Overton thrashed five sixes in his unbeaten 70, one picked out of the car park by brother Jamie. After a breathless last-wicket stand of 77, Rory Burns and Dom Sibley quickly knocked off the 29 runs needed to pocket a handy lead going into the August break. With just four rounds left until the end of the season, Surrey’s lead over second-placed Essex is 17 points.
Essex kept themselves in contention after winning a small but nervy run-chase at the Ageas Bowl where a result pitch fell foul of the hosts. Jamie Porter grabbed 10 wickets in a match for the first time since 2018, as Hampshire lost four for nine runs just after elevenses. Set 83 to win, Essex wobbled but they didn’t fall down, as the fearsome Kyle Abbot steamed in, pocketing three for 23.
At Edgbaston, Middlesex pulled off an unexpected win against Warwickshire, pulling themselves out of the Division One relegation zone in the process. Warwickshire’s day started badly and got rapidly worse as they lost their remaining six second-innings wickets for 35 runs. Ethan Bamber notched up nine for the match. A brisk unbeaten 52 from Mark Stoneman then hurried Middlesex to victory with little stress.
Elsewhere, 19-year-old Joe Phillips and 22-year-old Ollie Price made half-centuries as Gloucestershire bubbled along at Cheltenham in reply to Worcestershire’s 406; Derbyshire collapsed and were forced to follow on against Glamorgan; Luke Wells, Josh Bohannon and Phil Salt all made centuries for Lancashire at a soggy Old Trafford against Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire gave themselves the sneeze of a chance of victory against Kent. Rain ruined any chance of play at Scarborough.
That’s all from me for today – and indeed until September. Jim will be back tomorrow to guide you through the last day of this round. Thanks for all your messages, happy holidays to those of you able to take a break and good night!
Close of play scores
Southampton: Essex 169 and 86-4 BEAT Hampshire 120 and 131 by six wickets.
Manchester: Northamptonshire 342 v Lancashire 498-7
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 350 and 176-1 v Kent 316
Taunton: Surrey 368 and 29-0 BEAT Somerset 170 and 226 by 10 wickets
Edgbaston: Middlesex 199 and 97-2 BEAT Warwickshire 60 & 232 by eight wickets
Division Two
Derby: Glamorgan 521-8dec v Derbyshire 318 and 78-0
Scarborough: Yorkshire 340 v Durham 106-1 No play today – rain
Cheltenham College: Gloucestershire 212-4 v Worcestershire 406 (day 2)
Somerset all out 226, Overton an unbeaten 70. Surrey need a trifle (29) to win. And with Lancashire launching into the stratosphere, Derbyshire untroubled in the follow-on, Gloucestershire plugging away and Slater and Hameed batting nicely – time for me to write up for the paper. Do chat away BTL.
A sixth six for Craig Overton, over the stand and into the car park. Jamie had the irritation of going to fetch it. A test of brotherly love. The Somerset lead now 18 and a partnership of 71 for the last wicket.
Craig Overton slaps Atkinson for six, and is promptly dropped. Surrey will have to bat again – a small victory.
Craig Overton giving it some humpty at Taunton, but Somerset nearly out of their misery. More likely now that brother Jamie has been brought back into the attack. Somerset 191-9, seven runs behind.
A hundred for Josh Bohannon!
England’s next cab off the rank last summer, gets his second hundred of the year in typical style. Lancashire fast-approaching parity.
Glamorgan enforce the follow-on!
Derbyshire go again, after being dismissed for 318. Three wickets for van der Gugten, two each for McIlroy, Swepson, and ul Hassan. Leus du Plooy passed a thousand runs for the summer as well, in the process of his 41.
Updated
Teatime-ish scores
Southampton: Essex 169 and 86-4 BEAT Hampshire 120 and 131 by six wickets.
Manchester: Northamptonshire 342 v Lancashire 269-2
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 350 v Kent 316-9
Taunton: Somerset 170 and 139-7 v Surrey 368
Edgbaston: Middlesex 199 and 97-2 BEAT Warwickshire 60 & 232 by eight wickets
Division Two
Derby: Glamorgan 521-8dec v Derbyshire 309-6
Scarborough: Yorkshire 340 v Durham 106-1 No play today – rain
Cheltenham College: Gloucestershire 118-2 v Worcestershire 406 (day 2)
Updated
Fifty for James Rew
The inevitable for the immovable.
Overton battle rejoined at Taunton. Craig stops Jamie mid-approach to the wicket, distracted by a fly…Somerset 131-7, Rew 47 not our.
A hundred for Luke Wells, fifty for Josh Bohannon!
Eyes to Old Trafford where damp play has been possible after lunch. Luke Wells, whose run of fc scores since mid-June reads 3, 30, 0, 75, 6, and 0, makes three figures, caught for 119. Bohannon still there on a quick-step 76. Lancs 257-2.
Vibes from Scarborough are that the teams will try and contrive something out of the dampness tomorrow:
Ryan Campbell, Durham’s Head Coach, on rain, outgrounds and Durham’s rise and rise.
“It’s frustrating, especially when you come to the outgrounds. You have wonderful supporters here, big crowds, and you want to play cricket. Unfortunately the weather hasn’t been that fair for anyone throughout this year.
“I think Gloucester are the other ones who have copped a lot of rain. But, at the end of the day, we’re pretty clear at the top of the table.
“Everyone knows I hate draws, so we’ll have a think about ways to get around that in this game and maybe set something up. But this ground has copped a lot of weather. I’m not sure how much more it can take.
“Whatever happens from here on in, the way we’ve played, we deserve to be well clear at the top. We’re happy with our position, and those final three games in September we play I think the second, third and fourth teams in the table. We’re going to have destiny in our own hands.
“We’re striving to be one of the best teams in England, and that’s what we’re after. What I’m really pleased about is different individuals standing up at different times. Then you throw in an Alex Lees, who has had an unbelievable last four or five games. He’s been the cream on top.
“People may look at us and say, ‘They haven’t been tested all year’. But we were down to zero bowlers at one stage. Ben Raine I think is the only guy who has played all our games from the bowling department. Our depth has been tested, but it’s nice to be back to full strength almost for this game.”
Many thanks to Romeo for pointing out that it was NOT Brooke Guest who scored 131!!! I knew I should have put my reading glasses on. Guest made a four-ball duck. Apologies to all those Brooke Guest fans out there, and to Luis Reece who in fact scored 131.
A chance to win £500 for your club in Greenest Ground Competition
Excuse the plug, be great to spread the word.
This year there is a £500 prize for the winner of the Cricketer's Greenest Ground competition! Do enter, however far along you are on your journey.And pls retweet-let's reach as many clubs as possible! Entry form⬇️@danmusson1978 @RogerMGwriter @MarkCocker2 @BASIS_org @maddyjorr https://t.co/PSa7BtUlKJ
— TheNextTest (@TheNextTest) July 27, 2023
In Division Two, Gloucestershire darting along nicely at Cheltenham – with a half century for Joe Phillips: 78-1,
And to Derbyshire, an apology. I seem to have missed Brooke Guest’s Luis Reece’s hundred, out for 131. Derbyshire: 276-5, three for van der Gugten.
Updated
Tumble of wickets at The Oval… and at Taunton, where James Rew remains but Tom Abell has had to trudge back, lbw to Jordan Clark, who picks up his fourth. Surrey look certain to go into the August break with a tasty Div One lead.
A thousand runs for James Rew!
The batting sensation of the year – surely the CWC young player of 2023 – clicks round to four figures. Rew, 21 not out, and standing between Somerset and the Surrey juggernaut. Somerset 92-5 in their second innings, still 106 behind Surrey’s 368.
Middlesex beat Warwickshire by eight wickets!
This wasn’t on my results radar prior to this round. A half century for Stoneman makes a potentially tricky total easy-peasy.
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 60 & 232 v Middlesex 199 and 97-2
Middx 19 points, Warwickshire 3 points
Middlesex exit the relegation zone, closing the door behind them.
Fifty for Harry Finch
His third in three games as Kent press on – but he’s lost the company of Blake for 30, a third wicket for Hutton. Kent 225-5, follow on averted, game probably peetering out….
James Vince (almost) accepts the inevitable:
“I guess [the Championship title] has been taken out of our control. It isn’t impossible mathematically but we are going to be relying on other teams to slip up and for us to step up and beat teams above us.
“It is going to be extremely tough to get where we want to be, but not impossible. If we had got on the right side of this result then we would have kept it reasonable without our control.”
Play abandoned for the day at Scarborough
Heavy overnight rain kiboshed any hope of play today, with areas of the outfield unplayable. More rain returned after an early lunch, which closed the door on any chances of play. Fingers crossed for better luck with the weather in September for the Championship game against Derbyshire.
A second wicket for YouBears, but too little too late. Middlesex’s target in kicking distance. Both wickets to Brookes, Stoneman still there 38 not out.
We have play at Old Trafford, but rain at Scarborough.
Matt Askin retires from international cricket
England Physical Disability player Matt Askin has retired from international cricket after a career spanning 13 years. He played 40 games for England, and was part of the the squad that won the first PD World Cup in 2015.
“I’m incredibly fortunate to have had such a long international career with the PD team,” Askin said. “It’s been a dream come true to represent my country for 13 years, I feel like I’ve been a part of the beginning of something huge and there’s so much more to look forward to in this space.
“It’s been a really tough decision to take a step back but it feels like the right time for me. I’m going to spend as much time with my beautiful family as possible. I feel like I’ve done everything I can for this team and I hope I’ve done everybody proud.”
Essex beat Hampshire by six wickets!
Southampton: Essex 169 and 86-4 BEAT Hampshire 120 and 131 by six wickets.
Guardian Div One winners prediction up in smoke. Ten wickets for Jamie Porter, his first double-figure haul since 2018. Essex still in the running for the title.
Lunchtime scores
Southampton: Hampshire 120 and 131 v Essex 169 and 72-4 ESSEX NEED 11 To WIN
Manchester: Northamptonshire 342 v Lancashire 121-1 No play yet today
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 350 v Kent 184-4
Taunton: Somerset 170 and 46-4 v Surrey 368
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 60 & 232 v Middlesex 199 and 41-1
Division Two
Derby: Glamorgan 521-8dec v Derbyshire 170-2
Scarborough: Yorkshire 340 v Durham 106-1 No play yet today
Cheltenham College: Gloucestershire v Worcestershire 406 (day 2)
A fluffed catch off Abbas probably Hampshire’s last chance.
Somerset’s day not going any better, now 42-4, 156 behind Surrey. Three wickets for Jordan Clark.
OOOh. Errrr. Another wicket at Southampton. 54-4, 29 needed.
Warwickshire collapsed in a bit of heap this morning. losing six for 43. Four wickets for Bamber, three for Helm, all of which left Middlesex to polish off the 94 runs needed. So far so good, 23-0.
A wicket! A wicket! An lbw for Mohammad Abbas at last. Seven more wickets needed. But only 34 more runs to play with. And Essex practised holding their nerve at Blackpool a couple of weeks ago.
A shout out for the World Premier of Cricket Green at the Bradford Festival on Friday at 6pm. Commissioned by the Bradford Producing Hub and Bradford Festival ahead of Bradford 2025, this timely piece tells the story of a cricket match between Team Earth and Team Climate. The Balbir Singh Dance Company’s piece is a fusion of music, theatre, contemporary and traditional Indian dance, and is a celebration of cricket and nature. Ultimately, despite the deepening climate crisis, it remains optimistic. In the words of artistic director Balbir Singh:
“Through the work we hope to allow audiences new ways of thinking about how they can value and connect with nature and at the same time understand the impact of the climate crisis through a creative lens, which may lead to small individual changes that together can lead to larger initiatives.”
Just two days to go until the first performance of #CricketGreen. Be prepared to be bowled over and inspired by our super performers in a unique mix of music, theatre and dance. Come and join us on Friday (6pm) or Saturday (12 noon or 3pm) at the Bradford Festival in City Park. pic.twitter.com/NisiPkf9pc
— Balbir Singh Dance Co (@balbirdance) July 26, 2023
Somerset make the usual start. This time Dickson the man to go – a wicket for Clark, a catch for Sibley. Somerset 17-1, still trail Surrey by 181 and it feels like a Surrey sort of day to me.
A wicket at lovely Cheltenham, where the more-than-handy eighth wicket stand has been broken. Baker the man to go for 75; D’Oliveira still there on 80. Worcs 340-8. Good to see three wickets for Zaman Akhter (signed after training with the SACA) – which will be – at least- his second-best haul for Gloucestershire.
At Taunton, they will restart shortly.
Essex slowly ticking them off. Target now down to 58.
Next inspection at Scarborough at 1pm. Rain holding off at OT at the moment.
Westley choses the wrong moment to stop scoring runs, a cracking catch at square leg, asecond wicket for Abbott at Southampton. Essex 16-2, 67 needed.
Elsewhere, Leaning and Finch have steadied the ship for Kent after the early loss of Geddes: Kent 129-3.
Warwickshire have lost three quick wickets – Hain, Bethell and Burgess. Barnard, an expert on rearguards from his New Road days, still there. Warwicks 214-7, a lead of 75 over Middlesex.
Harry Came and Luis Reece charge on at what I assume is a dream batting pitch at ,The County Ground. Derbyshire 124-0.
And D’Oliveira and Baker have now put on 141 in their rescue act at Cheltenham, Worcs 323-7.
Can Essex really balls this up? 83 to win would be the lowest scores of the match. But SAC already back in the pavilion. 8/1.
If your mind is drifting Ashes-ward, the OBO is up and active, Duckett and Crawley whizzing along.
And that’s the full stop on Hampshire’s innings. Gubbins bowled for 45. Hampshire 131 all out.
Another catch for Harmer! Three wickets in 20 minutes. Ten wickets for Porter in the match. Hampshire nine down – the lead 82. Mohammad Abbas is shortly going to have to roll up his sleeves and send down some magic. First of all he can try to see Gubbins through to fifty, still there on 45.
Super catch by bucket-hands Harmer, Abbott a second wicket for Cook, Hampshire in deep trouble -124-8.
Two quick wickets:Ben Geddes’s batting debut comes to an end, caught at slip for 36 off Hutton; And Fuller gone in the fast-forward game at Southampton – another for Jamie Porter.
They were on, but now they’re off, at Taunton. That pesky rain again.
Delayed starts at Edgbaston ( inspection at 1045) and at Scarborough (where the covers are on).
Dog has crept soggily into her basket. Drizzle fading but Manchester skies still light pebble . No play before lunch.
And the continuing story of Ben Stokes’ knee:
Ali’s final Test preview of the summer, the Ashes over before the end of July.
And while the rain threatens to ruin this round, yet more depressing climate conclusions from the Met Office.2022, the year of the 40 degree day in the UK, when cricket sessions were shortened in the Championship and Matthew Potts had to leave the field of play with dehydration in the ODI at The Riverside, will, under a medium emissions scenario, be considered an average year in terms of temperature by 2060, while by 2100 it would be considered a cool year.
Jim's Wednesday round-up
After 22 wickets fell in a single day yesterday it was a more sedate affair at Edgbaston on day two. Warwickshire were staring down the barrel of a heavy defeat as Middlesex reduced them to 69 for three but salvation came in an obdurate 110-run stand between Dan Mousley and Sam Hain.
The home side duly wiped off the first-innings deficit and had crept to a 50-run lead by the time the rain arrived in Birmingham to wash out the evening session. Hain occupied the crease for nigh on five hours and will resume on 66.
Headline writers in Taunton were gifted a double-glazed opportunity by Jamie Overton midway through the afternoon session, the Surrey all-rounder biffed Somerset’s Shoaib Bashir over long-on and straight through a window in the Colin Atkinson Pavilion. Earlier, both Tom Latham and Will Jacks departed for 99 as Surrey eventually posted 368 to put themselves firmly in control.
Of the other Division One games the most pulse quickening is at the Ageas Bowl where Hampshire managed to dust down Essex for 169 and went to 122 for six thanks to a steely 44 not out from Nick Gubbins. The home side have four wickets in hand to grow a tricksy lead that currently sits at 73 runs.
The matches at Old Trafford and Trent Bridge were on the simmer as the rains arrived at tea. Lancashire lost Keaton Jennings to post 121 for one in response to Northamptonshire’s 342 whilst Ben Geddes and Jack Leaning steered Kent to 102 for two to trail Nottinghamshire by 248. Brett Hutton kept his spot at the top of the Championship’s wicket table by pinning Ben Compton lbw for his 46th scalp of the season.
Worcestershire recovered from 18 for three against Gloucestershire to close on 265 for seven on a truncated first day at Cheltenham College, and Derbyshire battled bravely to reach 95 without loss in response to Glamorgan’s highest ever total (521 for eight) at Derby.
At Scarborough, Durham closed on 106 for one in reply to Yorkshire’s 340. Adam Lyth struck his third century of the season.
Scores on the doors
Division One
Southampton: Hampshire 120 and 122-6 v Essex 169
Manchester: Northamptonshire 342 v Lancashire 121-1
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 350 v Kent 102-2
Taunton: Somerset 170 and 0-0 v Surrey 368
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 60 & 189-4 v Middlesex 199
Division Two
Derby: Glamorgan 521-8dec v Derbyshire 95-0
Scarborough: Yorkshire 340 v Durham 106-1
Cheltenham College: Gloucestershire v Worcestershire 265-7 (day 2)
Preamble
Good morning! It’s the penultimate day of round twelve –with just another four rounds to go (sob!), which run every week through September.Rain and wickets have been the main beneficiaries of the first two days – and many thanks to Jim for blogging so generously through them.
The Met Office forecast today is iffy with a sprig of summer: Rather cloudy with patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle, especially on west facing coasts and hills. Conditions slowly improve from the west with some sunny spells possible later. Feeling humid.
The rain continues to fall in Manchester, very unlikely to start on time at Old Trafford, though I’ll be able to report back more when I return in half an hour with a wet dog.
