Roundup: Jones century in vain as Lancashire fall short against Essex
In a late afternoon and early evening of high-wire jitters in the Championship, three games tottered and flailed.
At Blackpool, where all results were possible until the 10th wicket fell, Essex finally prised out Rob Jones with only 10 balls remaining, snatching victory by 46 runs. Jones, magnificent in his first century for a year, had kept Lancashire in the hunt for what would have been a record run chase until he was snaffled by Wednesday’s wrecker of dreams, Dan Lawrence, off Doug Bracewell for 111.
He had been well supported by a restrained 41 from Phil Salt and half-centuries by Luke Wells and Josh Bohannon who, in a partnership of muscular hitting – one six from Bohannon cannoning into the hospitality tent – had kept the crowd on their toes.
But the efficient Essex attack kept chipping away, with three wickets each for Bracewell and Matt Critchley – though a muted Simon Harmer finished with uncharacteristic figures of none for 103. When Jones, a fan of sea-swimming and bird-watching, was finally out, to leaping Essex delight, he was applauded off by all.
At another outground, Merchant Taylors’, another thriller. With three needed for victory off the last ball of the match, Sam Robson could scramble only two to level the scores, finishing 126 not out and Middlesex’s only centurion of the year. Northants had set Middlesex 323 to chase after losing their last three wickets in the first 11 balls of the morning, but scoring proved tricky, the ball keeping low unpredictably. Robson was supported by 75 from John Simpson and a rollicking 34 from Toby Roland-Jones.
Derbyshire’s captain, Leus du Plooy, having the summer of his life, chivvied 128 as his side attempted to chase down 380 at Hove. But with 54 needed from 41 balls, and Du Plooy 21 short of 1,000 runs, he was caught; and after a flurry of wickets, Derbyshire held tight for a draw. Sussex’s James Coles had been finally out for a career-best 180 – in a what has been a cracking round for 19 year olds.
Elsewhere, a four-hour block-and-prod from Nick Gubbins, brilliantly supported by Liam Dawson, saved the day for Hampshire against Somerset; the game at the Oval drifted to a draw despite five wickets for Nottinghamshire’s Brett Hutton against Surrey.
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Tanya’s report from today will be along shortly.
Updated
