Women's match has prestige slot for Old Trafford double-header
The Blast games at Old Trafford on 1 June will be the first known double-header to have a women’s match, Thunder v Vipers, in the prestige evening slot and the men’s, Lancashire Lightning v Derbyshire Falcons, in the afternoon.
Lancashire, who this spring were the first county to take the women’s and men’s teams away together on a pre-season training trip, have recently converted the men’s away dressing room to the Thunder home dressing room. The women previously had to change in the cricket centre.
On the field Lancashire suffered a spectacular afternoon collapse against Essex. They were 32 for five when the rain saved them, the rot starting when Keaton Jennings was lbw for four and continuing as Josh Bohannon fell lbw without scoring. Steven Croft was sent on his way for a golden duck, Luke Wells shouldered arms ill advisedly, giving Sam Cook a second wicket, and Dane Vilas played on to Shane Snater’s fourth ball.
Earlier Essex were eventually dismissed for 391, thanks to an attacking 72 from Snater, which delighted an audience of 1,700 cheerful school children making the best of the overcast weather and attempting to pet Lanky the giraffe. Dan Lawrence, who had to call for a runner after tweaking his right hamstring again, went on to make 120.
Rain interrupted play all round the grounds but Kent passed 500, rather than conceding it. Ben Compton was eventually out for 140 and there were fifties for Jack Leaning and a fly-by-night Grant Stewart, who then took one of two quick Northamptonshire wickets to fall before stumps.
At Headingley Adam Lyth, 118 not out, and Harry Brook, passing 50 charmingly for the eighth time in nine innings, gave Yorkshire a lead against Warwickshire with a partnership of 157. Joe Root was out for just eight.
A clearly thrilled Azhar Ali jigged to an unbeaten 202 for Worcestershire at New Road against Leicestershire, joined by Jack Haynes, 21, who made his third hundred in three matches in a third-wicket partnership of 281. Toby Roland-Jones finished with four for 72 as Durham were bowled out for 350 at Lord’s, Ben Stokes dismissing Middlesex’s Mark Stoneman just before bad light stopped play.
Ben Duckett’s 86, supported by runs from down the order, ensured Nottinghamshire a first-innings lead against Derbyshire and at Taunton an inspired Craig Overton took three for 21 from 18 overs to leave Hampshire wobbling at 144 for five against Somerset.
So with rain at New Road and Headingley and no further play today at Old Trafford, I’m going to hop on my bike and zip home to write up for second edition. Middlesex (65-0) are still wicketless at Lord’s, Notts (334-7) being urged on by Liam Patterson-White’s unbeaten 34, Hampshire have lost Ian Holland for 49 (115-2) and Northants (2-0) get to face Darren Stevens in the gloom. That’s it from me for today, have a lovely evening!
