Roundup: Ali's century thwarts Robinson and Sussex
An eye-poppingly dramatic last day in the Championship, as four games went down to the wire, was soured by the sight of Ollie Robinson limping off the pitch, and Olly Stone limping on to it.
Robinson’s hobble at New Road turned out to be a false alarm, when he confirmed after the game that he had cramp after a mammoth bowling effort for Sussex, reeling off 45.4 overs in the match and collecting best first-class figures of 14 for 117. It was Azhar Ali of Worcestershire who stood in Robinson’s and Sussex’s way, with an unbeaten 103.
With four balls to go at Trent Bridge the Nottinghamshire No 11 Stone, waiting for a scan on a hamstring injury, shuffled to the crease, with nine men round the bat, seven in helmets. He saw out the over, receiving a congratulatory hug from Lancashire’s Jimmy Anderson and teammate Stuart Broad at the other end.
There was another last‑over finish at Headingley, where Glamorgan filleted through the Yorkshire tail in the evening session, after a magnificent 174 from Adam Lyth had seemed to take Yorkshire to safety, with even thoughts of a win mid‑afternoon. Yorkshire lost seven wickets after tea, and it was only an unbeaten fifty from Jordan Thompson which saved them. Glamorgan were left to rue what might have been, after a delayed declaration and dropping Lyth twice.
A brilliant 130 from the Australian Sam Whiteman batted Northamptonshire to safety against Somerset, where Jack Leach finished with six wickets in the match; an unbeaten 39 from Jamie Smith saved the game for Surrey against Essex at Chelmsford; while Leicestershire, bowled out for 122 on day one; were grateful to grab a draw against Derbyshire.
Chris Rushworth ripped through Hampshire, pocketing seven for 38 as Hampshire’s second innings collapsed, all out for 97. Warwickshire join Surrey at the top of Division One with 60 points.
Six draws does NOT illustrate how dramatic that was! Huge cheers here at Leeds when Jordan Thompson saw off the final ball, and a sensational effort from Olly Stone to hobble out at Trent Bridge. Thanks for sticking with us over the Coronation weekend. Time to head homeward as an ice-cream van’s tune drifts over Headingley. We’ll see you on Thursday – good night!
Division Two table (all teams have played four games)
1 Durham 63
2 Sussex 52
3 Leicestershire 52
4 Worcestershire 44
5 Glamorgan 39
6 Yorkshire 29
7 Derbyshire 28
8 Gloucestershire 27
Division One table (all teams have played four games
1 Surrey 60
2 Warwicks 60
3 Essex 50
4 Hants 46
5 Middx 45
6 Notts 37
7 Lancs 37
8 Somerset 34
9 Northants 32
10 Kent 31
Final scores
Chelmsford: Essex 314 and 198 v Surrey 240 and 153-7. MATCH DRAWN
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 229 and 97 v Warwicks 410-8dec WARWICKS WIN BY AN INNINGS AND 84 RUNS
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 249 and 138-9 v Lancashire 214 and 329-8dec MATCH DRAWN
Taunton: Somerset 412 v Northampton 255 and 311-8 MATCH DRAWN
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 350-7dec and 0-0 v Leicestershire 122 and 281 MATCH DRAWN
New Road: Worcestershire 264 and 251-8 v Sussex 373 MATCH DRAWN
Headingley: Yorkshire 106 and 412-9 v Glamorgan 245 and 352-4dec MATCH DRAWN
Breathless!
Four overs left for Notts to play out…
Make that Glammie needing two more wickets. A fed-up Fisher drags himself off the pitch – a second wicket for Harris in the over. A pair for Fisher to join the pair for Bess. Yorkies have lost six wickets since tea.
With four games still live, I’m going to have to write up for the paper. Yorkies have just lost Shakeel, caught by Labuschagne at slip. Glamorgan, tails up, need just three more wickets.
Somerset draw with Northants
Somerset 412 v Northants 255 and 311-8
A magnificent 130 not out by captain Whiteman saves the day for Northants. Somerset 12 points; Northants 9.
Worcestershire draw with Sussex
A fabulous rear-guard 103 not out from Azhar Ali takes Worcestershire to safety.
Worcestershire 264 and 251-8dec v Sussex 373. MATCH DRAWN
Anderson gets Clarke...
…and breaks the 34-over partnership with Hutton. The next man in, Stuart Broad. Notts 122-7, 173 neeeded.
Ollie Robinson limps off at New Road
Worrying news for England, as Robinson limps off mid-over. Bad news following Olly Stone limping off yesterday. On the radio, they suggest it might be cramp.
Updated
Lyth lbw for 174! Bess lbw for 0!
Lyth drags himself off to huge applause, Bess slowly comes out, only to slowly come off a ball later. Yorkshire have lost two in two, now 325-6.
Three consecutive fours from Shakeel off Harris – through backward point, then the covers, then a stylish back foot flurry. Yorks 321-4
In Division Two:
Leicestershire have stuck their claws in, and now have a lead, albeit 26. HAndscomb 59 not out;Wright 37 not out, Leics 255-7.
Here at Headingley Yorks are 306-4, 186 more needed. Lyth still here, 167 not out. Shakeel for company. Graham points out that the new ball is due soon.
And Worcestershire seem to be almost safe at New Road, Azhar four short of his century, Tongue a 12-ball 1 not out. The Worcs lead 134.
These pesky cricketers have no feeling for an early Sunday getaway, with not a handshake to be had.
Division One:
Surrey, needing 170 more, are six down. Smith and Foakes Jacks to urgently tighten the bolts. Harmer, in his first three balls has two wickets.
Clarke and Hutton look to be saving the game for Notts, 109-6, 186 theoretical runs needed. Lancs could do with Jimmy finding some magic.
Northants have just lost Taylor for 53. Whiteman still there, 124 off 240 balls. The lead over Somerset a tantalising 142.
Updated
This 157 not out (and counting) a great way for Lyth to sign off his period of caretaker captaincy. Shan Masood due to arrive on Wednesday ahead of Yorkshire’s game against Durham.
14 wickets for Ollie Robinson
Time is leaking away but Ollie Robinson keeps on rolling. Picks up Leach for 16 (7-56). Tongue joins Azhar (84 not out). The Worcestershire lead 119, two wickets in hand.
Ollie Robinson has seven for the second time in the match!
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 7, 2023
His 14th is an absolute beauty as Sussex push for victory#LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/OcFTaAwt06
Updated
With eight an over needed, the sun out, Lyth on 156, we wait to see if Yorkshire will shake hands on this game.
Ollie Pope falls, will Surrey fall through the trapdoor? Surrey 73-3, need 200 more.
Adam Lyth raises his bat bashfully to energetic bashing from the dressing-room balcony and applause all round. A thudding drive from Malan through the covers. Yorks 268-3, 224 to win, should they fancy a bash, in in just less than 30 overs.
In Division Two: Things drifting here at Headingley, as Lyth moves inevitably towards his 150.
Azhar and Leach still holding off Sussex, a lead of 96, three wickets till in hand.
And Leicestershire, despite losing Rehan Ahmed for one and Tom Scriven for 0, hanging on. 216-7, trailing by just 12 now. Peter Handscomb 42 not out.
Round the grounds, resistance is the watchword in Div one:
Surrey, 69-2, Pope and Smith shuffling uncharacteristically along, need 204 more to win.
Notts 89-6, Clarke and Hutton 16 overs into their resistance. 206 , theoretically, needed.
A superb 115 not out from Whiteman and 39 from Tom Taylor keeping Somerset at bay at The County Ground. Northants lead 116.
Robinson picks up his fifth - and 12th in the match
Robinson adds another to his pocket, but Azhar Ali is 75 not out and Worcs have inched to a lead of 91.
“Not good enough. We’re not proud of this performance.”
An honest reflection from Adi Birrell.
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) May 7, 2023
📰 Report & reaction available 👇
A very disappointed George Hill throws his bat in the air, bangs his bat on the ground, and rips off his gloves after being caught for 60. Yorkies 243-3.
Enter Dawid Malan, who takes a long, long, look around. Will he go for it?
A hearty round of applause for Adam Lyth as he leads the players off with an unbeaten 135 under his belt, with George Hill 59 not out – 252 more needed in 38 overs with plenty of firepower still in the dressing room if they fancy a dart. Time for a quick loop of the ground, back shortly.
Tea time scores
Chelmsford: Essex 314 and 198 v Surrey 240 and 39-2 Surrey need 234 more to win
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 229 and 97 v Warwicks 410-8dec WARWICKS WIN BY AN INNINGS AND 84 RUNS
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 249 and 74-6 v Lancashire 214 and 329-8dec Notts need 221 more to win
Taunton: Somerset 412 v Northampton 255 and 254-7
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 350-7dec v Leicestershire 122 and 181-7
New Road: Worcestershire 264 and 187-5 v Sussex 373
Headingley: Yorkshire 106 and 240-2 v Glamorgan 245 and 352-4dec rain Yorkshire need 252 more to win
Updated
With tea in sight, Leicestershire lose Mulder, chopping onto his stumps. 170-5. Handscomb still there on 15, Rehan Ahmed walks out. Still 58 behind, with a session and a bit to see out.
Dog of the day:
@tjaldred #DogsAtCricket https://t.co/UBF3zP1oyw
— AndyinBrum gratefull im not PayPalPatine (@AndyinBrum) May 7, 2023
Yorkies, quietly, turning unlikely into possibility. Lyth, seeing the ball like a watermelon slams Salter over midwicket for six. Yorks 214-2; Lyth 132; Hill 37.
Fireworks randomly going off everywhere:
Notts 60-6 – Balderson (3-6) the giant killer. Notts have lost four for three and still need 235 to win.
Northants 228 for seven: Two quick wickets for Gregory and it is all looking sunny for Somerset at Taunton. The lead just 71.
And Sibley out for a two ball duck at Chelmsford, Surrey22-1 need another 252. Sam Cook the wicket taker, Simon Harmer the gobbler at slip.
Warwickshire beat Hampshire by an innings and 84 runs
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 229 and 97 v Warwicks 410-8dec. Warwicks win by an innings and 84 runs.
Points: Warwicks 22; Hampshire 1.
Vince stranded on 52 as Hants are bowled out for a miserable 97. Fully Rushworthed (7-38) with a bit of Woakes (2-23) and a final wicket for Briggs as Abbas is stumped. Warwicks, temporarily, go top.
Updated
Fifty for James Vince
The most peachy cover drive you can imagine.
Yorkshire, SHMG, finding this easy. 186-2
On a scorecard containing nine single-figure scores, the good ship James Vince sails serenely onwards, 48 not out; a valiant 43-ball nine not out from Mohammad Abbas.
Joe Root makes IPL debut as Adam Lyth makes century
And with another brazen boundary – this one guided through the gully - Adam Lyth reaches his hundred. A standing ovation from the Yorkshire faithful, he takes his helmet off and raises his bat. Incidentally, he also made a second innings century to save the match in 2021 at the snow-interrupted game at Headingle.
Meanwhile in Jaipur, a game at last.
Good luck, Joe Root.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 7, 2023
The long wait is over - he's playing his first ever IPL match! pic.twitter.com/3XxHlwZVDI
Surrey chase 273 to win
My money is on the south Londoners-green belters. Clark 4-58. Essex lost eight for 76 in a dogs dinner of a few hours.
Tighter than expected in a couple of games: Worcestershire 150-4, just lost Adam Hose for 41 – Ollie Robinson (4-41) of course. Worcs lead Sussex by 41.
And Leicestershire, though they’ve just lost Rishi Patel and Lewis Hill for half centuries in eight balls, holding on at 148-4.
Robinson breaks the partnership, Hose departs lbw for 41. ☝ pic.twitter.com/ibP3KQiNgL
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) May 7, 2023
Notts chasing 245 to win at Trent Bridge, are…wobby. Anderson breaks his match duck with the wicket of HH (4), Duckett bowled by Bailey for 8. Montgomery fizzing along at a run a ball, 28 not out. Notts 48-2 as Lancs chase their first win of the year.
Craig Overton removes Saif Zaib, Leach falling backwards in the deep but holding on with his right hand. Northants 195-4, 38 ahead. Australia’s Sam Whiteman 86 not out.
Hampshire’s ninth-wicket pair of Vince and Abbas have put on a valiant 26, trailing by the just the 120. Vince, shirt un-tucked, sigh-weary, plays back at Hannon-Dalby.
Rushworth 7-38.
Essex throwing themselves at the mercy of the Surrey juggernaut doesn’t seem a good idea, but what do I know. Three wickets down since lunch, 169-7 and the lead just 243. Two wickets each for Clark Atkinson and Abbott.
A cute gesture and a big hand clap for Fiona Foakes.
Fiona Foakes (mother of Ben) rang the 5 minute bell before the start of play at Chelmsford today 🫶
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) May 7, 2023
Fiona spent over 10 years as a mentor within the @EssexCricket Academy.
A lovely gesture 👏
📷 Nick Wood, Unshaken Photography
🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/oJ4b1vnPvN
Updated
Cracking, as they say, the flags at Headingley, where Marnus has just made an inexplicable hash of a slip catch with Adam Lyth on 69.
Apologies Tim Sanders, an email sent much earlier today.
“Good morning Tanya and I hope you’ve breakfasted well. I waved my wife and son off to the cricket this morning, maintaining the hopeful frame of mind that they wouldn’t be back before I head out to see Alan Bennett “In Conversation” at Leeds Playhouse this afternoon.
”I think the Headingley ground staff have produced a good cricket pitch, with skill and application rewarded for batters and bowlers alike. There was still a greenish tinge to it yesterday, and the Glamorgan attack has the ability to hit the seam whilst bowling challenging lines and lengths. Really they should have declared an hour earlier yesterday, given the weather forecast, but nevertheless I think 96 overs will be enough. Hopefully there will be a bit more top-order resistance than Yorkshire managed in the first innings and that might reward them with friendlier conditions as the day goes on.”
YJB out for 0
Promoted to three, strides out, plays a few correct defensive shots, swishes and misses, marches down the pitch to garden and play the short again, repeats it next ball and is caught at slip. There really was a breathless excitement in the cheap seats too. Yorks 109-2.
Going to stretch my legs in the sun, back shortly.
Lunchtime scores
Chelmsford: Essex 314 and 129-4 v Surrey 240
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 229 and 34-7 v Warwicks 410-8dec
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 249 v Lancashire 214 and 329-8
Taunton: Somerset 412 v Northampton 255 and 147-3
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 350-7dec v Leicestershire 122 and 112-1
New Road: Worcestershire 264 and 109-3 v Sussex 373 scores level
Headingley: Yorkshire 106 and 99-1 v Glamorgan 245 and 352-4dec rain Yorkshire need 393 to win
On the dot of lunch, Finlay Bean is lbw for 21 to VDG, gets a reassuring pat on the bottom with a bat as he and Lyth walk off. Well played Yorkies, game on YJB.
Lunchtime scores round the ground to follow.
Make that six!
GRRRRRushworth. Hants in disarray, 33-7. James Vince not out 0 off 19 balls.
@tjaldred Warwks have taken 6 for 7
— AndyinBrum gratefull im not PayPalPatine (@AndyinBrum) May 7, 2023
Updated
Full Rushworth - Hants 33-6
Make that five as Hampshire’s clothes fall off. Prest caught for one, Brown for a five-ball duck and Dawson bowled for four. Hants 33-6.
https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/1655179710886707206
Updated
Previous entry instantly out of date as Hassan Azad is caught and bowled by Jack Leach – his third wicket! Northants 126-3.
Rushworth harking back to Durham-days past with a third wicket at the Rose Bowl as Prest is caught for one. Hants in deep trouble at 29-4.
And Essex lose Dan Lawerence for 28 – a wicket for first-innings card-wrecker Aitkinson. Essex 119-3, the lead creeps towards 200.
A low-flying aeroplane’s shadow briefly passes over Headingley as TVDG runs in, Yorkshire totally at ease.
Olly Stone injury scare for Ashes.
In the top division, the promising game between Surrey and Essex seems to be heading draw-wards, unless Surrey can shuffle out more of Essex’s batters rapidly. I can’t see Essex wanting to set this Surrey side a gettable chase. Pull me up on this prediction later. Essex 106-2, a lead of 180.
Hampshire, doing their best to stymie their Champions prediction, are now 26-3, Rushworth 2-17 and a wicket for Woakes. James Vince, again, left holding the fort.
Lancs are 284-6, a lead of 249, Bell and de Grandhomme out cheaply, but Hartley and Croft have put on 58 for the seventh wicket.
And Somerset making surprisingly little progress against Northants, 124-2. Hassan Azad, who retired hurt yesterday, is back at the crease. Northants still trail by 33 runs.
Fifty for Adam Lyth!
An easy-on-the-eye on drive off Harris takes Lyth past fifty, and a top-edge brings four more. A 66th first-class fifty, 70 balls. Yorkshire could do with him still being there at tea.
Lyth bullies Michael Neser for ten off two balls – an over-pitched delivery, driven for four, and then a whirled hook for six. He’s then dropped on 48, as Harris can’t hold on in his follow-through.
Yorks 73-0.
Ollie Robinson wound up and ready to go
Sorry about that. Right with an hour gone, let’s take hope by the hand and wander round the grounds.
Here at Headingley, the sun is bright and Michael Neser is bowling his second over of the day. We don’t know why he didn’t take the new ball, but he was spotted doing some physical jerks in the field so perhaps a morning niggle. Glamorgan have six close fielders crowding Finlay Bean but so far no real issues for the Yorkies, 47 for 0.
In the other Division Two games: Henry Brookes is bowling at The County Ground, he of six first-innings wickets. Leicestershire have lost just the one wicket, Budingher for four, Leics 43-1.
And at New Road Ollie Robinson is doing what Ollie Robinson does best, munching county batters. Worcs now 64-3, 45 behind Sussex. OR 3-32 to add to his first-innings 7-59.
Updated
Apologies all, comments now open. I’ve just got to write a quick 300 words for the paper but will be back as soon as I can.
Praise be, all games starting on time round the grounds. Ed Barnard has crept up to 93 at the Rose Bowl.
I take that back, it is now warm and sunny as Yorkshrie walk out to bat.
Saturday's round-up
Marnus Labuschagne hitting top form isn’t news to thrill Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, but it was rich reward for those who swapped wall-to-wall coverage of ermine and crowns to plonk their bottoms on blue bucket seats in Leeds.
Sam Northeast, who made 66, had the perfect view from 22 yards away for a large part of the day, and called Labuschagne’s innings of 170 not out for Glamorgan against Yorkshire “almost ridiculous at times”. And it was. A slow start – he was dropped on 11 – became an innings of invention and precision, as he flicked his wrists, danced and dallied, swept and reverse swept, unerringly finding the gaps in Yorkshire’s increasingly desperate fields. Dom Bess took a particular tonking, his 10 overs going for 76, with one ball panned for six high into the stands below the pavilion.
Even Labuschagne was prepared to admit that things were starting to sing: “I have been a bit sort of all over,” he said, with his woolly hat pulled low, after play. “It hasn’t felt like it has come together until that innings. I hit a few nice straight drives, a couple of nice cover drives and a nice flick through midwicket. That’s probably the most I’ve felt balanced at the crease, I felt like my head position was in a nice spot, my bat path was coming down nicely.
“For me it is taking it game by game and trying to build up that momentum that leads into the World Test championship and the Ashes.”
Glamorgan declared just before tea, as Billy Root reached 50, setting Yorkshire a lofty 492 to chase. The rain saved any premature blushes, while Labuschagne, the World’s No 1 Test batsman, with consecutive scores of 64, 65 and 170, confirmed that he would probably get an evening call from Sussex’s Steve Smith, the world No 3, for a debrief.
Cricket proved a unifier for long-suffering Yorkshire fans who’d ditched their television sets. “I’ve got my flags and my tape is on and I’ll be watching tonight,” said Jennifer Massheder. “But cricket comes first, we’d have been at the Bradford League if not here.”
“If it poured down all day I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than watch the coronation,” said her good friend Shelia Waterworth as they prepared to spend the day together.
At Taunton, Tom Kohler-Cadmore reached his hundred with a buoyant six off his first ball of the day, and completed a fluent 130 for Somerset; while James Rew, whose season has got off to a purring start, reached 89. There were five wickets for Jack White as Somerset, heady with runs, built a first innings lead of 157. Northamptonshire’s fightback was hindered by a costly hand injury to Hassan Azad, which forced him to retire hurt.
The weather gave Nottinghamshire a friendly helping hand at Trent Bridge, but ruined the dreams of Lancashire’s Josh Bohannon and George Balderson. After scoring freely in the morning, the rain forced them off in sight of their centuries. After a four and a half hour break, they returned and were both promptly out in the nineties, before the umbrellas were raised again. England’s Olly Stone, whose career has been hounded by injury, was unable to finish his 15th over and left the field.
Rain washed out the games at New Road and Southampton, where Warwickshire’s Ed Barnard was stranded on 91, and there was time for only 28 balls at Chelmsford – more frustration for Essex who have lost 458 overs to rain this season. Derbyshire had time to pick up a batting bonus point and declare before the rain fell, mopping up efforts hampered by the temporary breakdown of the groundsman’s blotter.
A nice interview with Ollie Pope to accompany your cornflakes:
Scores on the doors
Chelmsford: Essex 314 and 24-0 v Surrey 240
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 229 all out v Warwicks 364-5 play abandoned for the day without a ball bowled
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 249 v Lancashire 214 and 219-4
Taunton: Somerset 412 v Northampton 255 and 66-1
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 350-7dec v Leicestershire 122
New Road: Worcestershire 264 and 34-1 v Sussex 373 play abandoned for the day without a bal bowled
Headingley: Yorkshire 106 v Glamorgan 245 and 352-4dec rain Yorkshire need 492 to win
Preamble
Good morning! It’s the final day of this rain-ragged round. The skies are, hmmm, cloudy above Headigley but the forecast is better all round – this the Met Office’s summing up: Remaining rain or drizzle in the east clearing to scattered heavy showers by afternoon. Many other areas dry with sunny spells.
Yorkshire have a huge job on their hands to bat out the day after Marnus Labuschagne’s magnificent 170, as do Leicestershire at The County Ground. There could be fireworks at Trent Bridge, Somerset are on top at Taunton, and Sussex at New Road – especially if Ollie Robinson is wound up and ready to run. Elsewhere, at Chelmsford and the Rose Bowl, the weather looks to have pre-meditated a draw.
I’m off to find some breakfast, back shortly.
Updated
