Tanya Aldred's roundup
Rain spilled over the country, like a badly kept secret. But it wasn’t enough to stop games fizzing into life in the Championship’s penultimate round.
Leicestershire, powered by victory in the One-Day Cup, and needing a win to stay in the promotion hunt, reduced Yorkshire to 155 for 9 at Grace Road, with four wickets to Will Davis. Finlay Bean top-scored with 40, passing 1,000 runs for the season in the process.
Worcestershire, their rivals for promotion, made a bright start against Durham, though not as explosive as the unexploded second world war shell discovered in the nearby River Severn. Jake Libby, lucky to survive a run-out appeal, also passed 1,000 runs – for the second time in three seasons.
A thousand runs too for Tom Westley (50), but the Chelmsford plaudits went to Adam Rossington, who at last wrestled off a difficult season with a hundred to put Essex in a good position against Hampshire.
Essex are chasing Division One leaders Surrey, who reduced battling Northamptonshire to 171 for six, with a second consecutive half-century for Karun Nair.
Middlesex, fired out for 121, largely by Olly Hannon-Dalby, were given life by Tim Murtagh, in his last appearance at Lord’s, who worried Warwickshire with three for 17. Tom Lammonby made his first hundred of the season, for Somerset against struggling Kent at Taunton.
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With the New Road groundstaff battling the wind, time for me to leave. Thanks for sticking with us on a wet, but fast-moving day. Till tomorrow, good night!
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 310-6 v Hampshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Nottinghamshire no play Tuesday
Lord’s: Middlesex 121 v Warwickshire 72-4
Taunton: Somerset 214-2 v Kent
The Oval: Surrey v Northamptonshire 171-6
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Sussex no play Tuesday
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Yorkshire 155-9
New Road: Worcestershire 104-1 v Durham
And bad light stops play at New Road.
Time has ticked on, with Yorkshire nine down, Northants six, Warwicks three and Essex five, time for me to write up.BTL remains open, of course.
1000 runs for Jake Libby
And that’s the run! Nudged into the leg side. A handsome round of applause from the fleeced-up spectators. The fifth Division Two player to cross the Rubicon this year.
Five frantic moments at New Road: first Jake Libby is run-out, according to the television, but not the umpires. Now on 44, still needs the one run for a thousand in the season. Meanwhile at the other end, Gareth Roderick reaches a fine fifty before losing his middle stump to De Leede.
A hundred for Tom Lammonby!
His first of the season, off 139 balls, giving Somerset a rollicking start against a Kent side desperate for points.
Oh Warwickshire! Oh Middlesex! Oh Murtagh! Warwickshire 28-3; Murtagh 3-8.
Bas de Leede, who flies out to India to join the rest of the Dutch team pre World Cup after this match, takes over at the New Road end, and immediately hits Gareth Roderick in the box. Poor Roderick rolls around in pain. Worcestershire 70-o, going along very nicely, with my nerves about the greenness of the pitch totally unwarranted.
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Two points in Leicestershire’s pocket, Yorkshire six down for 112. But Worcestershire on the case, 60 without loss off 15 overs.
A penultimate innings at Lord’s for Tim Murtagh, a magnificent 0 not out as Middlesex are dismissed for 121.
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Scaffolding on the cathedral tower, four slips having their trousers ruffled by the warm wind. Worcestershire holding on. Libby, on 21, needs 45 for a thousand runs for the season.
And Middlesex are all out for 121. Five for OHD.
Creeping clouds here at New Road, while Yorkshire are wobbling at Grace Road: 96-4. I’ve just noticed that Durham have Ian Botham wines on the back of their shirts.
At The Oval, an excellent effort by Hassan Azad, 47 from 144 balls, has dragged Northants to respectability on a rain affected day – 100-2. Essex 167-5 in that crucial game against Hampshire.
Oh, and a third wicket for Hannon-Dalby, Middlesex eight down, but at least they made it to three figures: 100-8.
Updated
Middlesex and Kent locked in an apparent battle to steal the last relegation spot. Middx 99-7 against Warwickshire; Somerset 127-1 against Kent, at four an over. Kent are on to their fifth bowler already.
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Ben Raine, broad of backside and shoulder, trots in. Roderick drives his second ball for four. A big lbw shout to his last. And Worcestershire survive the first over of the day. At the Diglis End, Fernando gives the ball a thorough polish on his trouser leg.
A sobering interview with Kemar Roach on the future of Test cricket.
As the grass gets a final trim, an announcement for the Christmas Carvery at New Road. Just three months away.
Worcestershire are the unlucky losers of the toss. Play to start in 10 mins.
Worcestershire’s promotions since two Divisions came into fruition: 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2017
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A wicket at Grace Road! Lyth the man to go to Scott Currie. Yorks 58-1.
Right in front of the press box, Vishwa Fernando has just been given his Durham cap.
Play will start here at New Road at 3.45 with 36 overs to be attempted. Full physical jerks in process now: stretches, football, sidesteps, medicine balls.
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Someone spots shadows on the grass where the players are knocking up with a football.
Fifty for Tom Lammonby!
At a quick trip-trap: 59 balls. He’s lost Abell, a wicket for Bhuiyan, for 20. Somerset 75-1.
And at Grace Road, Lyth and Bean looking confident against some wayward Leicestershire bowling. 41-0.
The rain has now reached Chelmsford, where they’ve taken an early tea with Essex 140-5. Matthew Critchley 25 not out. Tea at Lord’s too: 74-5. And the Oval, Northants 82-2.
Play abandoned for the day at Derby
The rain ruins any chances for Sussex to make any amends.
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This is the most promising things have looked for a while at New Road. Nearly all the covers off, and the umpires due to inspect at 3pm. Pity the poor captain who loses the toss. Five hardy souls have just parked themselves on the top row of the Basil D’Oliveira stand.
Another game enters the fray: Yorkshire are having a bat at Grace Road after Leicestershire won the toss and sent them in. Currently 9-0.
Gary Naylor’s always very readable and useful round-up of events:
Key event
Lancs coach Mark Chilton on Tom Hartley, called up for England’s ODI matches against Ireland to replace the injured Craig Overton. Hartley has only played three List A games, but a fistful of T20s.
“One of our key objectives is to try and improve players and get them to a level where they get picked for international and franchise teams. It’s really good reward for his efforts and we’re delighted for him.
“He made an impact in the white ball game at the start of his Lancashire career, but he’s always had a real ambition to keep developing his red ball cricket, and he’s continually worked on that.
“What I’ve seen from Tom is gradual improvement across his whole game.
“He’s a tall spinner and his qualities in short format cricket are being able to bowl the ball into the pitch, hit the top of the stumps a lot, and cramp batters for room (to play their shots).
“In red ball cricket it’s about adding the subtleties and variations of pace and flight into his style. He’s not quite a traditional up-and-down type of spinner, because he’s coming from a good height and if he can get some drift and drop on the ball, and a few more revs, that’s what he’s continually working on with the coaches.
“The other aspect of his game is his batting and to see where he is now, again he’s made continual gradual improvement and that’s what we are trying to do, create an environment where players carry on getting better and see how far they can go.”
The indefatigable ground staff pick up the damp covers again at New Road, skies slightly more hopeful, possibly, in a good light. Before today, the word was that the pitch would “do a bit”. We’ll have to wait and see if that holds. A further inspection at three o’clock.
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Lammonby and Abell whizzing along at Taunton, at almost six an over. Would it be awful to suppose that it won’t last for long? Kent should be energised by the scorecard from Lord’s – Middlesex 74-5.
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James Vince swallows an edge from Dan Lawrence, in his penultimate game for Essex. Some turn from Dawson, which is good news for Hampshire, but also Essex, with Harmer lurking in the cupboard. Essex 96-4.
And if anyone is passing New Road, the PA announcer has just told the bucket seats that the ladies pavilion with its delicious cakes will be open at 2.30.
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Play now only at Chelmsford and Taunton – where Kent have won the toss and inserted Somerset. Good luck to the south-west boys on a emerald square.
Fifty and out for Tom Westley, as he nudges Kyle Abbot to James Vince. Hants 82-3.
At Chelmsford, Tom Westley and Dan Lawrence going nicely, 77-2, as the covers come back on at New Road.
Covers coming off at New Road, and the Durham players are out on the grass with a football. A man walks past a couple of old friends, “I thought I was the only mad one.” “Not there are half a dozen of us.”
Play abandoned for the day at Old Trafford
Relentless rain.
I love New Road. Poppies and marigolds (I think) growing wild under the scoreboard, hawthorn berries for the birds, a car parking space for the tea ladies, benches by the pear tree.
Hawthorn berries for the birds, pears for the humans, a lovely place to watch cricket... and the rain @WorcsCCC. pic.twitter.com/wG1uhoS0EC
— tanya aldred (@tjaldred) September 19, 2023
Anorak zipped up, I’m going to do a round of a damp New Road. Back shortly.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 69-2 v Hampshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Nottinghamshire start delayed
Lord’s: Middlesex 65-5 v Warwickshire
Taunton: Somerset v Kent start delayed
The Oval: Surrey v Northamptonshire 72-2
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Sussex start delayed
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Yorkshire start delayed
New Road: Worcestershire v Durham start delayed
And as warm dinner arrives in the press box, news from Lord’s where Middlesex are now 56 for five. Time for some de Caires magic with the bat to go with his riches with the ball.
A nice rainy-day read by Ali on CCLive favourite, and England call-up, Sam Hain:
And the New Road public address tells us that the bridge has actually reopened, unexploded ordinance somehow dealt with. On the pitch, the ground staff stand and look at the covers.
And things are looking even gloomier for Middlesex at Lord’s, where Ryan Higgins has heard the tumble of bails behind his boots. Middx 54-4.
And news reaches the press box that the police have closed off the bridge over the Severn leading to New Road because of an unexploded World War Two device.
A second wicket at The Oval, Procter pushes at a bouncy one and is snaffled at second slip by Jamie Overton (back on the pitch). Super bowling by Tom Lawes. Quite the challenge for Karun Nair wandering in at No.4. Northants 51-2.
Middlesex’s top order going through the customary motions: 37-3. A wicket each for Chris Rushworth, Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Craig Miles, Stoneman, Robson and Davies back in their tracksuits.
At The Oval, Jamie Overton has hobbled off injured, over completed by Rory Burns. Don’t give up the day job Rory. Northants, rather surprisingly, have only lost one wicket. Emilio Gay caught off Jordan Clark for 16. Northants 48-1.
News from Grace Road, where they will toss at 12.15 and take lunch. Play will/should/might start at 12.55 and there is free entry to celebrate Leicester’s win the in One-day trophy. And if you want a photo of the cup, make your way to the club shop.
Whilst we wait for play to start, remember you can grab a picture with the One Day Cup trophy in the Club Shop. 🏆📸 pic.twitter.com/qWUBWNu4dm
— Leicestershire Foxes 🏏 (@leicsccc) September 19, 2023
Promotion-wise: Leicestershire’s hopes will be dashed, and Worcestershire will go up, if Worcestershire beat Durham, claim at least two bonus points, and claim three more points in total than Leicestershire. I think (please advise if I’m wrong) that in the last 20 years, Worcestershire have been promoted six times.
They’re slowly dragging the covers off at New Road. I’m going to quickly write something up for tomorrow while keeping an eye on things at The Oval, Lord’s and Chelmsford. Do keep chatting below the line as well.
Rain now at Chelmsford, and the little men scurry back into the weather house.
Northants having a torrid time against Kemar Roach at The Oval, but are still intact, 17-0. Surrey captain Rory Burns is now shorn after cutting his ponytail off for charity.
Fresh trim for the skipper ✂️✂️✂️
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 14, 2023
Rory Burns' trademark locks have gone!
The hair will be donated to @LPTrustUK who make wigs for young people who have lost their hair.
🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/Ds7J4ziBL3
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Saudi bosses look to sugar-coat their new tournament with the nicest men in English cricket:
EXC: England stars Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes held talks with Saudi chiefs about being ambassadors for Kingdom’s new T20 competition.
— Isaan Khan (@IsaanKhan_) September 18, 2023
More England players set to be approached @MailSport https://t.co/XPBaifHL5n
An early wicket, and it is Sir Alastair – could it be, could it be his penultimate game – bowled for a three ball duck. Essex 6-1.
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Make that three, on at Lord’s as well, where Middlesex haven’t yet lost a wicket.
No play anywhere in fact, except in the big two Division One games, at The Oval and Chelmsford.
It’s now raining at New Road, the leaves on the old horse chestnut yellowing by the hospitality tent.
Delays, delays … at New Road, Old Trafford, the County Ground and Grace Road.
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The lanterns were lit crossing the bridge to New Road, which wasn’t a great sign. Sure enough the covers are on and the wind screams over the ground.
Weather watch
Autumnal:
Cloud and rain quickly spreading in from the west through the morning, though after a spell of rain, drier with some bright spells for southern parts of the UK. Windy with a risk of coastal gales. Met Office.
Background to Sussex’s promotion-ending penalty points:
Division Two table
1 Durham (12) 198
2 Worcestershire (12) 154
3 Leicestershire (12) 133
4 Glamorgan (13) 131
5 Sussex (12) 124
6 Derbyshire (12) 96
7 Gloucestershire (13) 95
8 Yorkshire (12) 81
Division One Table (all sides have played 12 games)
1 Surrey 205
2 Essex 187
3 Hampshire 153
4 Warwickshire 149
5 Lancashire 146
6 Somerset 128
7 Nottinghamshire 122
8 Middlesex 95
9 Kent 93
10 Northants 63
Updated
Fixtures
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex v Hampshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Nottinghamshire
Lord’s: Middlesex v Warwickshire
Taunton: Somerset v Kent
The Oval: Surrey v Northamptonshire
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Sussex
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Yorkshire
New Road: Worcestershire v Durham
Preamble
Good morning! The bells have been peeling damply over New Road this morning, the roof tops wet, the hills pulling on their cobweb cardigans through the mist. Welcome to mid-September and the penultimate round of this year’s County Championship, with every team on the field except Glamorgan and Gloucestershire.
I’m at New Road today, to watch what seems likely to be the two clubs promoted to Division One next season. Second-placed Worcestershire’s hopes look sunnier thanks to Sussex being landed with an automatic 12-point deduction after picking up four fixed-penalties in the season. Jack Carlson (level two penalty breach) and Tom Haines (level one penalty breach) have both been dropped by Sussex for today’s match against Derbyshire, while Cheteshwar Pujara receives an automatic one-match suspension as the captain on the field. Ari Karvelas has also been withdrawn, pending an investigation. A sad end to what has been an encouraging season at Hove, and which leaves them down in fifth place, 30 points behind Worcestershire.
Durham need just five points at New Road to secure the Division Two title, while Leicestershire, new magnificent one-day cup Champions, can keep the pressure on Worcestershire if they can turn over Yorkshire at Grace Road.
In Division One, Surrey can win the title this round if they turn over cellar dwellers Northamptonshire and Essex lose against Hampshire; while Northants fate will be sealed if either Middlesex or Kent – divided by just two points in eighth and ninth - win. Relegation, promotion, a chance for the title -what more could you ask for? Play starts at 10.30am. Don’t forget your anorak.
