Roundup: Lancashire frustrate Somerset on gripping day
The heavy roller, the sun, five penalty runs and a hue and cry over a contentious not out decision in the final overs all added up to a gripping day at Old Trafford in the crucial promotion-relegation headlock.
After 21 wickets fell on the first day, only seven fell on the second, as Lancashire played with earthy grit to grind a lead of 292 over Somerset, who are chasing Surrey for a tilt at the title. Josh Bohannon’s 60 and an unbeaten 78 from Luke Wells, plus plucky innings from Rocky Flintoff and Harry Singh, frustrated Somerset, and nostrils later flared when George Balderson was adjudged not out after Craig Overton appeared to throw down his stumps from slip.
At the Oval, perennial understudy Ryan Patel hit a merry 134 to give Surrey a vital 153-run first innings lead over Durham. Durham then lost the nightwatcher Callum Parkinson to the first ball of their second innings as the sun dropped and Conor McKerr held a snorter at third slip.
Essex completed an innings victory over Warwickshire, who will want to forget a truly dismal five sessions at Edgbaston. Bundled out for 78 in their first innings, they made only 36 more in their second, once more bamboozled by Jamie Porter (six for 36) and Sam Cook (three for 36). Only Danny Briggs offered any ballast, with 51. In a bizarre morning session, Essex had added 43 more for the last wicket, as Warwickshire set nine fielders on the rope.
It had seemed easy pickings for Hampshire after they first pocketed maximum batting points, thanks to a Nick Gubbins double century, and then had Worcestershire 61 for five after Mohammad Abbas hit a magic patch. But a maiden first-class century from a bold Ethan Brookes and 94 from Gareth Roderick provided some fight – and crucially secured the much-loved Worcestershire’s place in Division One next season. Liam Dawson had time to add a fifth five-wicket haul of the season to his tally, before Hampshire declined to enforce the follow‑on.
It was another tricky day for Kent down in the bowels of the First Division, forced to follow on after Nottinghamshire first made 433, then dismissed them for 225, with four wickets for Farhan Ahmed. Tawanda Muyeye’s unbeaten 55 as the light faded was a lone bright spark.
In Division Two, Sussex shimmied a little closer towards promotion as a seventh-wicket stand of 112 between Jack Carson and John Simpson eased the game away from Gloucestershire, despite six wickets for Zafar Gohar. Chris Dent’s unbeaten 61 proved the early glue in Gloucestershire’s second innings.
A sprightly opening partnership of 115 between Adam Lyth and Finlay Bean sprinkled the sugar on Yorkshire’s day away to Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens, while a century from Mark Stoneman put Yorkshire’s promotion rivals Middlesex in a strong position against Derbyshire. After play, Stoneman revealed he would be leaving Lord’s at the end of the season as he hadn’t been offered another contract.
A career-best 135 from James Sales, the second century of his career, and a twinkle-toed 71 from Saif Zaib helped Northants lay down a chunky first-innings lead of 180 against Leicestershire – who then slipped to 69 for four.
What a belter of a day. Well done Essex, back to the drawing board for Warwickshire. Thanks for your company and see you tomorrow!
Close of play scores
Division One
Rose Bowl Hampshire 462 (NRT Gubbins 201 no; LA Dawson 109) and 3-0; Worcestershire 273 (EA Brookes 132).
Canterbury Nottinghamshire 433 (BT Slater 160); Kent 225 and 85-0.
Old Trafford Lancashire 140 and 298-7; Somerset 146.
The Oval Durham 262 and 1-1; Surrey 415 (RS Patel 134).
Edgbaston Warwickshire 78 and 114; Essex 232.
Essex (19pts) beat Warwickshire (3pts) by an innings and 40 runs.
Division Two
Derby Derbyshire 173 and 74-3; Middlesex 358 (MD Stoneman 115).
Cardiff Yorkshire 361 and 116-1; Glamorgan 239.
Bristol Gloucestershire 109 and 140-3; Sussex 311.
Northampton Leicestershire 203 and 69-4; Northamptonshire 383 (JJG Sales 135).
And with that, time for me to write up for the paper. Do keep an eye on things for me BTL.
Oooof!
Someone tether down Craig Overton. The square leg umpire gives a not out decision after Overton throws down the stumps from slip and Balderson (on 5) looks very out. But no.
In Division Two, Lyth and Bean are making whoopee with Glamorgan’s bowlers, 72-0, the Yorkshire lead nearly 200.
Chris Dent is leading the way at the top of the Gloucestershire order, but he’s lost Miles Hammond for 41. Glos 138-3, 64 behind Sussex. .
A quick whizz around the rest of Division One:
Callum Parkinson has prised out Ryan Patel for 134, but the Surrey lead is 118. Surrey 330-8.
A magnificent 132 from Ethan Brookes has taken Worcs to enough batting points to ensure they will play Division One cricket next year. Oh, and that Liam Dawson has picked up another four wickets to go with his first-innings 109. Worcs 272-9.
And Muyeye still flying at Canterbury, Kent 45-0 following on.
Fifty for Luke Wells
A crucial innings greeted with a-whooping and a-hollering and afoot stamping on the Lancashire balcony. Only the fourth time Wells has passed fifty this season, and quite a time to pull it out of the bag. Reaches fifty in an over where he drives three fours in four balls from a tired looking Rendell. Lancs 269-7, the lead 263.
Worcestershire will play first division cricket next season!
Well done to everyone at New Road.
𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗩𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗗 🔒
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) September 18, 2024
Worcestershire will play Division One cricket in the @CountyChamp in 2025! 🙌
An incredible achievement but the Pears aren't stopping here! 🍐#JB33 💚 pic.twitter.com/6PikbcHCqg
Notts have enforced the follow on
and Kent are fair scurrying along, at nine an over. Easy this batting lark.
While Somerset gnash their teeth in the early autumn Manchester sunshine, Surrey pocket a third batting point. Ryan Patel 122 not out.
A wicket! But too late? Bell ends up on the floor, with his stumps splayed behind him. Bell gone for 23 to Gregory. The end of a tricksy partnership of 83. The lead 245, three wickets left.
Updated
Key event
Surrey have crept to a fifty-run lead here at the Oval. They oughtn’t to have got there, really, given that they were still the best part of a hundred runs behind when the fifth wicket went down, but Durham have put down a series of catches since. There were two off Tom Curran, a third in the deep off Ryan Patel. Curran was eventually bowled by Callum Parkinson, but Patel’s still there, 84 not out at tea, and pressing on towards his century now. Durham’s attack is looking pretty droopy, Bas De Leede’s currently flogging himself through his 23rd over, which is as many as the two teenagers, Dan Hogg and the angry young debutant James Minto, have got through between them. It’s all beginning to feel a bit inevitable at this point, although given the form David Bedingham’s been in this season, Surrey won’t feel too sure of themselves until they’ve got him out second time around.
Five penalty runs added to Lancashire's score at Old Trafford
We’re not quite sure why, nor are the scorers.
Glamorgan, who have avoided the follow on against Yorkshire, must swallow a first-innings deficit of 122 against Yorkshire.
While at Canterbury, Kent are all out, 208 behind. Four wickets to Farhan Ahmed. We wait to see what Notts will do.
Derbyshire trying to hurry the season to an end I see. Currently 0-1. The indomitable TRJ.
New ball taken at Old Trafford
with the lead 216…
“Lanky!” taps Gary Naylor. “I never thought Lancashire had this in them. Innings worth double from Singh and Flintoff, the youngsters setting the tone. Even if Lanky lose tomorrow, they’ve fought hard and played for the shirt.”
And out they go again. Just two slips now – Overton covering first and second slip, Abell bighting his nails at fourth.
Young De Caires has just been out at Derby, for a career best 80. Middx 358 all out. Three for 17 year old Harry Moore, who became Derbys’ youngest debutant last year and was called up by England U19 this summer.
Teatime scores
Division One
The Rose Bowl Hampshire 462 v Worcestershire 179-5
Canterbury Nottinghamshire 433 v Kent 205-7
Old Trafford Lancashire 140 and 214-6 v Somerset 146
The Oval Durham 262 v Surrey 272-6
Edgbaston: Essex 232 BEAT Warwickshire 78 and 114 by an innings and 40 runs
Division Two
Derby Derbyshire 173 v Middlesex 351-9
Cardiff Yorkshire 361 v Glamorgan 231-8
Bristol Gloucestershire 109 and 53-1 v Sussex 311
Northampton Leicestershire 203 and 18-1 v Northamptonshire 383
"There is a lot of hurt in the dressing room"
Warwickshire coach Mark Robinson on Porter, Cook and more after being bowled out for 78 and 114: “That was a bruising one and every now and again you get those. I don’t think much more could have gone wrong than went wrong in this game. The wicket had plenty in it and we lost the toss and then came across two of the best exponents in those conditions in the county game. Cook and Porter were outstanding and relentless and backed up by Snater and we were never good enough or able enough to get through their first spells
“Then we were right in it when they were 50 for five and it was still going round corners but Rushy goes down and we ran out of bowlers really. They got themselves a big lead on that wicket and then today under heavy skies, Porter repeated what he did in the first innings.
“It’s one we have to take on the chin. We can’t hide from it. I don’t think any wicket is ever a 78 all out wicket. It’s not how we wanted to play our last home game of the season in front of our own supporters so there is a lot of hurt in the dressing room and feelings of letting people down so we just have to gather ourselves and dust down and get ready for next week.”
CDC decision on Essex racism case
Essex admitted a charge in breach of Directive 3.3, in relation to the systemic use of racist and/or discriminatory language and/or conduct during the period between 2001 and 2010. The CDC sanctions are:
1 A Caution as to future conduct
2 A Reprimand
3 A total fine of £100,000, of which £50,000 is to be suspended for a period of 2 years
I saw Michael Vaughan slip into OT at lunchtime, but no overs for young Archie yet. Wells bends to pick up some fluff or other from the grass.
At The Oval, Curran T is no more, a first wicket of the innings for Callum Parkinson. Surrey now six down,26 behind.
What’s happening at The Oval? Perennial understudy Ryan Patel has 62 and is pulling Surrey towards Durham’s total in company with Tom Curran. Just 30 behind now.
Leach purrs onwards, his sixth over. Takes his cap and retreats to mid-off. Wells plays and misses at Randell, then pings him to the rope. The sun shines, Folded arms in the slips. The lead creeps up to 180.
Talking of Lancashire, a couple of quick wickets have made their position suddenly more precarious. Flintoff has just walked slowly, very slowly, into the shadows, bowled by Leach for a blameless 27. Hurst was Randell’s second wicket, caught with a sway by Overton at second slip. Lancs 170-6, lead by 164.
Essex BEAT Warwickshire by an innings and 40 runs !
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 78 and 114 v Essex 232
A thrashing in less than five sessions. Porter 6-46, a back-to-the-wall 51 from Briggs. Essex face Surrey next week after back to back victories, Warwickshire will be roaring Somerset on at Old Trafford.
Key event
This is an interesting read. I’m told that Ed Joyce has been a fantastic head coach of the Ireland women’s team.
Here at OT, Lancs are grafting. Singh, becalmed for 17 overs, became Randell’s first Somerset wicket for 31. Flintoff (19 from 67) pushes carefully on, Hurst’s a more up and at ‘em 19. The lead 149.
Warwickshire’s day/match is nearly done. A limping Chris Rushworth, with a runner, and Olly Hannon-Dalby, is all Jamie Porter has between him and a very early bath. 114-9, innings defeat beckons.
Dance around Division Two: Ingram (70) and Crane (25) have inched Glamorgan past the bargain basement to respectability– 153-6, 208 behind Yorkshire.
Five wickets for Zafar Gohar at Bristol, but not before Sussex’s Carson (71) and Simpson (61) have taken the lead over Glos to nearly 200.
James Sales has just been out for a fine 135 against Leicestershire, the Northants lead 145. That’s Sales’ second hundred of the season. A quickfire 71 from Saif Zaib added spice.
And Mark Stoneman has just become Morley’s second wicket at Derby, for 115 – his second hundred of the year too. The Middx lead now 89.
Updated
Bell Drummond falls, but Leaning inserts some backbone into Kent, 89-3. Notts have kindly helped out with 21 extras.
A 59 run partnership between Burgess and Briggs has taken Warwicks to the land of plenty at 97-6. Porter 2-30, Cook 3-25, Snater 1-28.
Muhammad Abbas pockets number four… Worcs 49-4.
Surrey slip to five down….169-5, 93 behind…four for de Leede too.
Updated
Sit in the sun for a few post-lunch overs, lots of winter chatter going on. As one woman says, you’ve got to soak up the rays while you can, because soon when you wake up everything will be shit.
Brutal.
At The Oval, Ben Foakes is out, while at Old Trafford, Flintoff and Singh, with a combined age of 36, keep Gregory and Overton at bay.
They are serving Vimto and Gin eclairs at Old Trafford. Beat that Andy…
Lunchtime scores
Division One
The Rose Bowl Hampshire 462 v Worcestershire 24-3
Canterbury Nottinghamshire 433 v Kent 60-2
Old Trafford Lancashire 140 and 106-3 v Somerset 146
The Oval Durham 262 v Surrey 155-3
Edgbaston Warwickshire 78 and 52-6 v Essex 232
Division Two
Derby Derbyshire 173 v Middlesex 207-5
Cardiff Yorkshire 361 v Glamorgan 98-6
Bristol Gloucestershire 109 v Sussex 259-6
Northampton Leicestershire 203 v Northamptonshire 250-4
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An email drops:
“Greetings Tanya!” Hello Tim Maitland!
”Did you notice that Kamindu Mendis is continuing his ridiculous start to his test career. He’s scored another century on day one of the first test against the Kiwis in Galle. Isn’t that his fourth test ton in just his seventh s”tart?”[Yes, Cricinfo notes four hundreds, four fifties in seven Tests]
Lunch at OT, lunch round the grounds. Scores to follow.
Bohannon has a pre-lunch rush of blood and directs the ball to gully with the toe of the bat. Lancs 106-3. Enter Flintoff.
Lancashire lead by a round hundred. Bohannon has just passed fiftyfor only the fourth time in 22 innings. Three slips squat. A nice scattering of spectators in the stands, light-weight fleece kind of weather in the sun. Some lunatics with crisply crossed arms are choosing to sit in the shade.
A double ton for Nick Gubbins
Mohammad Abbas gets rid of Libby with his fifth ball – actually add him to the list of Most Valuable Bowlers. Worcs 2-1. Hants all out 462 , with Gubbins unbeaten on a magnificent 201. Virdi 5-133.
And we think Craig Overton has just been warned for running on the pitch. Lancs 92-2.
Updated
Morning from the Oval, where it’s another sunny day and Surrey have just brought up their hundred. Rory Burns is on 55 - was on 55, Chemar Holder bowled him the moment I typed that - so here comes Dan Lawrence to join Ryan Patel. There were, I’m told, already two ball changes in the half hour it took me to get here to my seat after the start of play, one of them lasted exactly nine deliveries which makes you wonder exactly how it ended up in the box of replacements to begin with. I can also report that yesterday’s lunch, the infamous ballotine of guinea fowl, was in fact a part of the club’s sustainability drive. It was cooked for the corporate guests attending a function, and would have gone unused otherwise. Let’s hope they’re being served fillet mignon today. Ooof, that’s a glorious cover drive for four by Lawrence. Ooops. I’ve jinxed him too. He’s been caught behind. Sorry, Surrey. They’re three down, and 150 behind.
After much mithering, Somerset have managed to have the ball changed. debutant Singh and Bohannon batting very well here. Lancs 70-2.
Where Yates, Rhodes and Hain go, Shaikh soon follows. Warwicks a now very off colour 3 for four.
And Surrey have had a mini collapse to callow Durham, Burns for 55, Lawrence for 6. Surrey 112-3.
Fifty for Rory Burns at The Oval – more pennies for his purse – he, and Jennings, passed a thousand runs yesterday. Surrey 92-1, Sibley caught at slip off de Leede.
Kent, oh dear, oh dear. 5-1: Fletcher.
Warwickshire, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear: 2-3: Cook, Cook, Porter.
A lovely read by Taha on Worcestershire:
Glamorgan obviously fancy a bit of spice in their pumpkin latte – 37-4 is probably taking it a bit far though. Two each for Fisher and Coad at Sophia Gardens.
Notts made a hash of their dash for a final point – losing four for seven – 433 all out. Suspect that might be a little too challenging for Kent but…
Elsewhere, Notts are gunning for full batting points –and it looks very much as if they’re going to get them. With nine overs left to scramble them, they need just 27.
Rory Burns has slowed down a little, but he and Sibley press on without too much trouble at The Oval. Surrey 62-0.
Liam Dawson has been winkled out at Southampton, for 110, a third for Taylor, but Gubbins presses on 161 not out. Hants 394-5.
Updated
Overton pins Williams, and the crowd sighs. A little press box discussion – purely going on vibes – are there any more valuable Championship bowlers than Craig Overton and Dan Worrall?
Updated
Craig Overton thunders in from the James Anderson end and 20 year old Harry Singh carefully presses back. No pressure son. Lancashire 16-1.
Dont shout at me but I do feel some sympathy for the ECB fixture people – this is some of the nicest weather we’ve had all season, in mid September. I actually quite like early autumn Championship cricket – the day-nighters are a crazy idea though, there were people in the crowd in Cardiff wearing hat, gloves and scarf.
Jason Kerr was to be avoided last nightt:
“I’m certainly not happy at this stage. Twenty-one wickets in the day suggests there’s something happening with the surface but to be 58 for one gave us an opportunity to take the game forward and we’ve missed that opportunity.
“I thought Lancashire bowled well on that surface but you need to find a way to absorb pressure and then put it back on the opposition and we didn’t do that. You could argue there were a couple of soft dismissals in there as well and when have an opportunity, you need to be far more ruthless.
“We weren’t sure how the surface was going to play. It looked better than it played but I thought Lewis was exceptional. He led from the front and bowled the lengths you need to on that surface. We had an opportunity to bat past them and we haven’t taken it.
“Taking Keaton Jennings’ wicket in the second innings was huge. He normally scores heavily against Somerset and I think the surface will get better tomorrow as it dries out. “
Scores on the doors
Division One
The Rose Bowl Hampshire 373-4 (Gubbins 153 no; LA Dawson 102 no; JM Vince 57) v Worcestershire
Canterbury Nottinghamshire 393-6 (BT Slater 160; JA Haynes 62; Haseeb Hameed 56) v Kent
Old Trafford Lancashire 140 (KK Jennings 56) and 16-1; Somerset 146
The Oval Durham 262 (CN Ackermann 78 no); Surrey 52-0
Edgbaston Warwickshire 78 v Essex 189-9
Division Two
Derby Derbyshire 173 (HRC Came 66); Middlesex 125-1 (MD Stoneman 79 no)
Cardiff Yorkshire 361 (GCH Hill 90; JH Wharton 63; DM Bess 50); Glamorgan 12-0
Bristol Gloucestershire 109; Sussex 149-4
Northampton Leicestershire 203 (S Budinger 56); Northamptonshire 134-3
Tuesday's round-up
Twenty-one wickets fell on the first day at Old Trafford in a match crucial to fortunes at the top and bottom of the Division One table. Somerset, starting the penultimate round just eight points short of leaders Surrey, were cock-a-hoop at dismissing Lancashire for 140 by mid-afternoon. There were four wickets each for a steaming Craig Overton and Lewis Gregory on a hybrid pitch that tipped the bowlers a wink. A weary Keaton Jennings was the only man to get above 16, moving past 1,000 runs for the season during his patient 56.
Somerset didn’t look so happy just 40 overs later, bundled out with a lead of just six. George Balderson was the baby-faced destroyer with four wickets, alongside Tom Bailey, whose magical slower ball left Overton cartoonishly bemused. There was just time for Jennings to fall for the second time in the day, as the shadows stretched like backgammon points across the field. It was a high-pressure test for teenagers Rocky Flintoff and Archie Vaughan, who both batted with admirable composure.
At The Oval, a carefree Rory Burns ensured that Surrey rattled along to 52 without loss by stumps after winkling Durham out for 262. Colin Ackermann was criminally stranded on 78 while Emilio Gay’s debut for the visitors started with a 12-ball duck. Liam Dawson and Nick Gubbins both sashayed to centuries for Hampshire against Worcestershire. Essex trio Shane Snater (who took five for 13), Jamie Porter and Sam Cook whistled Warwickshire out for 78 at Edgbaston, while Nottinghamshire took a giant stride towards safety by swatting Kent all around Canterbury, led by Ben Slater’s 160.
In Division Two, leaders Sussex rolled over Gloucestershire for 109 while Toby Roland-Jones helped Middlesex keep the pressure on Yorkshire in the promotion chase with five for 34, before Mark Stoneman led the Derbyshire bowlers a merry dance. In Cardiff, George Hill’s 90 took Yorkshire to a useful 361 all out against Glamorgan.
Preamble
Good morning! It’s another blue, beautiful, bonny day and at Old Trafford both sides are looking busy on the outfield. Huge day today – will Somerset come to regret what Jason Kerr last night called “missed opportunities”
