Somerset's Championship dream alive as Surrey sneak thriller
Somerset’s dreams of a first Championship pennant continue to bubble and squeak, for now sitting pretty at the top of the table with just three rounds to go. The innings victory over Glamorgan, while Nottinghamshire were hamstrung by the weather and a stoical Leicestershire, put the spring in a west country step.
There were three wickets each for the on-song Jack Leach, Craig Overton and Lewis Gregory, the main resistance coming from Asa Tribe and Sean Dickson, who both made forties, but it was all over before tea.
But Warwickshire were close on their tails after mopping up at Southampton. A match that had started grubbily for Hampshire with the signing and unsigning of Scott Kuggeleijn finished with them dismissed for 115 and 154 to lose by an innings, flailing below the pack at the bottom of Division One. Chris Woakes whipped out both openers cheaply in Hampshire’s second innings and Manav Suthar pocketed four.
There was a high-wire finish at the Oval as Surrey snookered Yorkshire by one wicket and with it the spoils of 19 points to leapfrog them and out of the relegation zone. Surrey’s pursuit of 185 was stop-start-stop and when Ollie Pope went for a 12 that contained only two scoring shots and Ben Foakes was done by a Ben Coad chestnut before lunch, Surrey looked shot. But while Josh Blake’s stoical 43 off 183 balls blocked one end, the tail played shots at the other. With Surrey eight wickets down, and eight runs needed, Auqib Nabi trumpeted Coad out of the ground but was out next ball. Ten scoreless deliveries followed until Dan Worrall finally hoiked a boundary to win.
The wretched season at Old Trafford rolled on, as Tom Helm (four for 36) and co bowled Middlesex to victory. After a promising start in pursuit of 297, Lancashire crumpled, losing seven for 39. George Balderson had earlier grabbed five for 54 as Middlesex spiralled in a similar manner, buoyed up by a sing-song 37 from Toby Roland-Jones.
Nottinghamshire’s campaign was held up by the unlikely figure of the Leicestershire fast bowler Josh Hull, who came in as nightwatcher at Trent Bridge on Thursday night, and had only reached double figures three times in 34 innings. He was finally out after more than five hours at the crease for 97.
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Pills, thrills and bellyaches at The Oval, Southampton, Merchant Taylors’ and Taunton. Plenty to mull over this Friday night. Have a good one and see you tomorrow!
Close of play scores
Division One
Chelmsford: Essex 177 and 197-7 v Sussex 275 and 230 Essex need 132 to win
Southampton: Warwickshire 398 BEAT Hampshire 115 and 154 by an innings and 129 runs
Trent Bridge: Notts 451-8dec v Leicestershire 250-7
Taunton: Somerset 441 BEAT Glamorgan 194 and 183 by an innings and 64 runs
The Oval: Surrey 83 and 187-9 BEAT Yorkshire 185 and 82 by one wicket
Division Two
Bristol: Gloucestershire 237 and 149-3 v Derbyshire 278
Canterbury: Kent 238 and 358 v Worcestershire 217 and 84-3 Worcs need 296 to win
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex 247 and 200 BEAT Lancashire 151 and 136 by 160 runs
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 263 v Durham 205 and 246-7
Brutal: Surrey 19pts, Yorkshire 3pts.
Time for me to write up for second edition now. There’s still five games to keep an eye on and BTL is open till late.
Middlesex BEAT Lancashire by 160 runs
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex 247 and 200 BEAT Lancashire 151 and 136 by 160 runs
A wretched season at Old Trafford rolls on. Four more wickets for Tom Helm as Lancs collapsed from 97 for three. At least there is an extra game to regroup. And then the basement battle next week against Gloucestershire.
Surrey beat Yorkshire by one wicket!
Worrall wafts four in Coad’s 26th over and that’s that. Handshakes all round. What a game. Surrey leapfrog Yorkshire in the table.
I thought that was it, Blake plumps for a lusty swing and just misses. The Surrey players n their comfy chairs cover their eyes. A maiden from Hill. Over to you Worrall.
Twenty thousand are watching Surrey’s Youtube channel as Blake pushes Hill’s first ball to point and lets the other pass.
Worrall shimmies inside the line.
Worrall plays and misses.
Worrall leaves well alone.
Dan Worrall has three balls to face. Jonny is grinning.
A wicket! My lord. Augqib blobs a catch to mid-on next ball. Two still needed for the Surrey win.
Huge roars as Auqib Nabi trumpets Ben Coad out of the ground for six. Two needed.
Warwickshire beat Hampshire an innings and 129 runs
Southampton: Warwickshire 398 BEAT Hampshire 115 and 154 by an innings and 129 runs
A match that started grubbily finished in a hurry.
Talk about slow-burn thriller. twelve still needed at The Oval. Fisher out driving George Hill to third slip.
Tea-time-ish scores
Division One
Chelmsford: Essex 177 and 94-3 v Sussex 275 and 230
Southampton: Hampshire 115 and 123-4 v Warwickshire 398
Trent Bridge: Notts 451-8 v Leicestershire 159-3
Taunton: Somerset 441 BEAT Glamorgan 194 and 183 by an innings and 64 runs
The Oval: Surrey 83 and 152-7 v Yorkshire 185 and 82 Surrey need 33 to win
Division Two
Bristol: Gloucestershire 237 and 58-1 v Derbyshire 278
Canterbury: Kent 238 and 358 v Worcestershire 217 and 1-0
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex 247 and 200 v Lancashire 151 and 87-3 Lancs need 210 to win
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 263 v Durham 205 and 141-4
They’re taking tea around the grounds, apart from The Oval and Bristol, and I need to write up for first edition. Say the last rites for me.
Ben Coad pistons in once more. 24 needed. Arms are folded in the crowd.
Well played Leicestershire! They’ve gone to tea against the Champs 159 for three, after starting the day 23-2. Giant Josh Hull 59 not out, a maiden first-class fifty, Hamza Shaikh, who recently joined from Warwickshire, 19 not out.
Ben Coad leans into over 21 at The Oval. 26 needed.
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Hey diddle diddle, Lancs have lost three for seven. KJ for 38 then young Sharma grabbed two in two, leaving him on a hattrick at the start of his next over. A duck for Harris. Lancs 70-3.
A lovely flick through covers by Blake off Hill, Surrey gathering these runs at a canter now, just 31 needed.
Overton: 'The schedule is a bit manic at the moment'
Craig Overton after Somerset’s win over Glamorgan:
We knew going into the game that we wanted a big performance to get some sort of payback for what happened to us in the away match with Glamorgan this season.
It was massive to take wickets early today. It could have been a long day for us if they had got off to a good start on what we considered a pretty decent surface.
Now we have three days instead of two to prepare for our next game, which is important because the schedule is a bit manic at the moment.
The plan is for me to play in all three remaining matches. It’s not often you get into a position to win a Championship and I am excited to be involved.
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A big booted blow to Essex as Elgar falls, and now Westley, as Crocombe and Carson get into their work. Essex 79-3.
And suddenly batting is looking easy at The Oval. Fisher and Blake have reduced the target to 47.
Essex need 329 to beat Sussex
It would be the highest score of the match by some distance. Paul Walter was caught in the fourth over off James Coles for 1, but Elgar and Westley have nailed in their boots. Essex 69-1.
Lancs are sailing along at MTS, a brief squall as Matty Hurst hit the ball to third slip but Geddes couldn’t get his paws around it. Lancs 55-0.
A concussion check at The Oval as Fisher gets pinged on the helmet and felled by a bouncer from Hill. He seems ok and there is a friendly exchange of back pats and smiles.
Yorkshire continue to press and the big-hitting Tom Lawes has gone for 17, a third wicket for man-of-the-moment George Hill. Fisher, who can whack it a bit, joins Blake. Surrey still need 69, three wickets left.
Somerset beat Glamorgan by an innings and 64 runs
Done and dusted in 59 overs. Don’t look over your shoulder Notts.
Taunton: Somerset 441 BEAT v Glamorgan 194 and 183 by an innings and 64 runs
Somerset 23pts, Glamorgan 3pts
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Overton, Gregory and Leach have hastened things along at Taunton, Glamorgan 177-9. Just Dickson (47) and Tribe (49) made it past 20.
A third, and huge, wicket for Dillon Pennington at Trent Bridge, Rehan Ahmed caught at head-high at second slip for a boundary-laden 54. Leics 118-3. Nightwatch Josh Hull still tapping away for a two-and-a-half hour 34.
In Division Two: Jennings and Hurst have safely negotiated the first eight overs, Lancs 22-0; Ollie Price (6-45) has kept Gloucestershire in the match after keeping Derby’s first-innings advantage to 41; Alex Lees has collected fifty in Durham’s 77-1 and Kent have lost 4-23, including Northeast for 132. But the lead over Worcs is already 313.
George Hill pulls off a dive grab and hold in his follow through, Thomas gone!! Hill grins modestly. Surrey 95-6.
That was a long morning session. Time for a sandwich and a leg stretch, back soon. Incidentally, a lovely chat between Dan Norcross and John Major at lunch on Surrey TV. Major described the 1950s Oval crowd like spectators in the Coloseum when they saw the groundsman brush the pitch and clouds of dust rise, licking their lips for Laker and Lock.
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Lunchtime scores
Division One
Chelmsford: Essex 177 v Sussex 275 and 190-8
Southampton: Hampshire 115 and 40-2 v Warwickshire 398
Trent Bridge: Notts 451-8 v Leicestershire 73-2
Taunton: Somerset 441 v Glamorgan 194 and 111-5
The Oval: Surrey 83 and 81-5 v Yorkshire 185 and 82 Surrey need 104 to win
Division Two
Bristol: Gloucestershire 237 v Derbyshire 253-5
Canterbury: Kent 238 and 271-4 v Worcestershire 217
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex 247 and 200 v Lancashire 151 and 7-0 Lancs need 290 to win
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 263 v Durham 205 and 54-1
A big one, the big one? Ben Foakes loses his off stump as Coad send down the sweetest chestnut. Surrey lunch at 81-5, needing another 104.
Northants managed a not-to-be-sniffed-at lead of 58 against Durham, but Lees and McKinney have almost wiped it out already. Durham 36-0. Another four wickets for the immaculate Potts.
It’s lunch almost everywhere except The Oval, Wantage Road and maybe Northwood.
Lancashire need 297 to beat Middlesex
After a slap-happy 37, Toby Roland-Jones edges behind. Gold-dust those runs.
“I’ve just watched the replay of Woakes bowling Orr,” writes Mike Danies, “and it would have cleaned up anyone. It was fantastic.”
See it here.
Pope slopes off for that two-shot 12, a nipbacker arrowing into his pads, Surrey 75-4.
A hundred and counting for Sam Northeast
Very very useful. Kent’s lead is up to 283, Northeast 130, meaning that Worcestershire will have to score the biggest total of the match to win. The forecast looks dry but windy for the next couple of days
At The Oval, another six for Pope, who has 12 from two scoring shots. This feels as if it is slipping Surreyside. They need 110, seven wickets left.
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Lancashire’s best session of the year? Five wickets for Balderson, three for Jimmy, Middx 173-9, the lead 269.
Hampshire’s slump towards stumps and Division Two begins. Ali Orr crouches into his stumps as Woakes tonks them, then Gubbins edges Woakes to slip in his next over. Hants 12-2.
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Pope off the mark with six whisked like a stiff meringue.
Apologies if you’ve emailed me this morning, Gary Naylor has just pointed out that the address was wrong. Should be ok now. Gary’s email travelled round the houses but eventually dropped:
“Batting is fiendishly tricky at The Oval, but it would be trickier still if Jonny Bairstow ventured up to the stumps. The ball has cannoned into the pads as often as it has beaten the outside edge, but the batters are well outside the crease and get the protection that guard affords, enhanced by no DRS being available.”
And with that Rory Burns nibbles to first slip where Dom Bess scoops off the ground. Surrey 52-3. It looks dark out there.
After just under two hours of stonewalling, Asa Tribe is devoured by Craig Overton, looming like Big Ben at first slip between Abell (?) and Rew. Tribe gone for 49, Leach the wicket taker.And now Ingram edges behind off Overton. Glamorgan 87 for five and
Hampshire all out 115
Not sure how they’re going to get out of this one unless it rains, hard. Three wickets each for Hannon-Dalby, Bamber and Suthar. The follow-on awaits.
Middlesex have lost three rapid wickets, Balderson-Andersoned. Middx 145-5, the lead 241.
Time for some George Hill at The Oval.
Simon Harmer, shirt, always a bit on the short side, billowing in a brisk Chelmsford wind, has taken two in two, Simpson and Leaning, Sussex 119-6. Carson is having a big heave-ho though – 20 of 24 in boundaries.
Stumps a-splattered as Charar totally misses a ball from White which tonks out his middle stump. A double-wicket maiden for White. Surrey 42-2 as Blake comes in.
Jack White gets his man, as Sibley thrusts his big left pad forward and gets thumped upon it. Oh! Surrey have sent in Chahar. Surrey 42-1.
Lewis Gregory gulps down Somerset’s first slip catch of the morning, Ben Kellaway for six. Overton the thunderous bowler. Glamorgan 67-3.
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Paul Edwards sends a picture of a delicious looking pain au chocolat from the Oriole at Canterbury, where they are due to start at 11.45. I think there’s just enough time to pop down for a second. Sam Northeast’s hundred hangs in touching distance.
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Sibley squirts White into the offside, then potters about, adjusts his box and returns. Filthy clouds overhead at The Oval.
The covers are coming off around the grounds
Play due at 11.30 at Chelmsford and Wantage Road and they’ve just started at The Oval and Trent Bridge.
They’re playing at Southampton, and Andrew Neal’s innings has already come to an end, a third wicket for Olly Hannon-Dalby. Hampshire have at least surpassed Surrey and Yorkshire’s efforts yesterday, 85-7.
Good to see Peter Trego commentating as Somerset inch closer to the line, he was part of the one-that-got-away generation.
The Quantocks are just visible below a duvet of clouds. Three slips wait, after swallowing seven in Glamorgan’s first innings.
They’re on at Bristol too, where Montgomery has reached fifty. Derby 176-2.
Kiran Carlson trudges away, the first wicket of the morning. A glorious ball from Migael Pretorius passes, and just brushes, the outside edge of the bat. Glamorgan 42-2.
There were warm words for hat-trick hero Henry Crocombe last night from one who should know, Jamie Porter.
“I think he is very exciting.” said Porter. “He bowled with serious pace. The element that I felt was potentially missing from his game to take him to that level of being on the cusp of international cricket he seems to have added.”
“He has now become pretty relentless at hitting a good length at high pace. Personally, I think – and I’ve been saying it for a few months now – you’re looking at a future international cricketer.”
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Tribe edges four here, four there. Gregory tempting, tempting.
No wickets yet at Taunton. This is the time for Tribe.
Rain
Delays everywhere apart from Taunton.
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Yellow for the 200th birthday of John Wisden
Love this idea from Sussex who next week are going to be celebrating John Wisdens 200th birthday at the match against Surrey at Hove. Spectators will be encouraged to wear yellow and anyone who gets there early will get a special umbrella. You’ll also get a chance to take a look at Wisden’s patented ‘Catapulta’ bowling machine.
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A lovely poignant read on Test cricket from Emma John.
Yesterday's round-up: Fisher and Crocombe make hay on good day for bowlers
Matt Fisher, left out of England’s squad for the third Test, scrawled his name in neon crayons with a career-best six for 25 as Yorkshire were bowled out for 82 in their second innings at the Oval. But that came only hours after Surrey had been bowled out for 83 in their first innings as 23 wickets fell in front of a startled crowd. It was the first time since 1950 that a day of first‑class cricket at the Oval contained elements of all four innings. Surrey, set 185 to win, creaked unhurt to reach 27 without loss at stumps.
Henry Crocombe bagged his second hat-trick in two games, as Essex collapsed like a teacup tower, losing seven wickets for six runs in 26 balls. With Simon Harmer, Zaman Akhter and Shane Snater in his pocket, Crocombe charged about Chelmsford, teammates in pursuit, and finished with five wickets – happy news indeed for his new masters at the Oval where he moves at the end of the season. Sussex then stuttered to 90 for four in their second innings, but the lead is already 188. Sam Cook was withdrawn from the game midway through by England.
The Derby-born debutant Mohammed Bin Naeem’s 71 left Derbyshire the happier side after they finished 162 for two at stumps, but James Bracey’s 113 had earlier propped up a Gloucestershire fightback at Bristol.
Jack Haynes’ career-best 159 and Liam Patterson-White’s 111 sailed Nottinghamshire past five batting points, whereupon they declared and Dillon Pennington removed both Leicestershire’s openers.
Somerset just missed a fifth batting point at Taunton, but a hefty first innings lead of 247 over Glamorgan left little room for disappointment. Tom Lammonby, after being twice reprieved in the 90s from no balls of various flavours, dollied a caught and bowled for 95, and there were half-centuries for Josh Thomas, James Rew and Archie Vaughan. Mason Crane collected four wickets before, opening the batting for Glamorgan, he was caught off the last ball of the day.
Half-centuries by James Sales and Saif Zaib turned the tables on Durham who had started the day in a dominant position but tumbled down the escalator, losing seven for 48, despite 81 from David Bedingham. The leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal twirled out four for 36. Northamptonshire finished with a lead of 20.
A first century of the season for Rob Yates put Warwickshire in a dominant position against Hampshire, Kyle Abbott became the first Division One bowler to tick off 50 wickets, and then Hampshire collapsed to 70 for six. There was four wickets for Middlesex’s Tom Helm as Lancashire were inched out for 150 at Merchant Taylors’ school; while Sam Northeast’s unbeaten 96 put a spring in Kent’s step against Worcestershire.
Somerset’s women pulled off a sensational win against Yorkshire in the one-day cup. Yorkshire needed just 10 to win off 25 overs with five wickets in hand, but proceeded to lose them all for four runs and come up five short.
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Scores on the doors
Division One
Chelmsford: Essex 177 v Sussex 275 and 90-4
Southampton: Hampshire 74-6 v Warwickshire 398
Trent Bridge: Notts 451-8 v Leicestershire 23-2
Taunton: Somerset 441 v Glamorgan 194 and 30-1
The Oval: Surrey 83 and 27-0 v Yorkshire 185 and 82 Surrey need 158 to win
Division Two
Bristol: Gloucestershire 237 v Derbyshire 162-2
Canterbury: Kent 238 and 197-3 v Worcestershire 217
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex 247 and 116-2 v Lancashire 151
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 225-7 v Durham 205
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Weather watch
Met Office (bring a brolly): Early cloud and rain clears the southeast through the morning. Otherwise, sunny spells and scattered showers, with heavier, longer-lasting showers in Scotland. Strong winds across the northern half of the UK and high ground. Cooler and fresher than previous days.
Preamble
Good morning from a sodden Manchester. We roll into day three, though some game are fast-forwarding into the final straight. All eyes first to The Oval, where 23 wickets yesterday have left Surrey chasing 158 to win. Grab a brew, and join us.
