Tanya's roundup
Dom Sibley waved in the direction of Bazball, and, with a shrug, turned the page. His century against Kent was the slowest in Championship history in terms of both balls faced (363) and minutes taken (502), his dogged innings coming to an end only with the winning runs – as Surrey hit 501 to win by five wickets. It was the second-highest successful run chase in County Championship history, behind only Middlesex’s 502 to beat Nottinghamshire in 1925.
Sibley’s doughty anchor allowed for Jamie Smith’s fireworks on Tuesday and for Ben Foakes’ free-flowing century today, in a chase that never looked in any doubt, despite the vastness of its scale. It was Sibley’s first century since he rejoined Surrey at the end of last season – “my first hundred for Surrey since I was at school,” he said. Surrey top the table by 32 points, playing on a higher plain.
In a nerve-jangler at Chesterfield, Yorkshire at last won a Championship match after a drought spanning 14 months, Shan Masood’s 95 and a snappy 41 from Dom Bess took them over the line against Derbyshire.
Dane Vilas rediscovered his touch with a half century to guide Lancashire to their first win of the year at Southport, Hampshire’s attack unable to make a breakthrough until it no longer mattered.
Rehan Ahmed (71) and Colin Ackermann (78) skipped Leicestershire to victory after Callum Parkinson and Chris Wright had induced a Gloucestershire collapse; while Azhar Ali (101) and Jake Libby (97) sped Worcestershire towards the target set by Sussex, 16 needed off two overs, only to stumble with the prize in sight.
There was a minute’ silence at Trent Bridge and Chelmsford to remember the young students, and keen cricketers, Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar, who were amongst those killed in Nottingham early on Tuesday morning. Joe Clarke made his first Championship double century to pull an unlikely draw out of the hat for Nottinghamshire against Warwickshire; while Essex whistled out Somerset before lunch and a Chris Cooke century for Glamorgan kept Durham at bay.
Updated
An epic run chase, the slowest century in Championship history, Yorkshire breaking their parched spell in a thriller, Lancashire’s first win of the season and more. Thanks for sticking around. I’ll be back on Sunday June 25 with the next round of Championship matches. Should you be interested in a little event starting on Friday, the OBO will be waiting for you. Have a lovely evening, good night!
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 462-9dec and 170-7dec BEAT Somerset 167 and 269 Essex win by 196 runs
Canterbury: Kent 301 and 344 LOSE TO Surrey 145 and 501-5, Surrey win by five wickets!
Southport: Lancashire 374 and 142-4 BEAT Hampshire 142 and 371 Lancs win by six wickets
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 155 and 464-6 DRAW WITH Warwickshire 571-9dec Match drawn
DIVISION TWO
Chesterfield: Derbyshire 111 and 453 LOSE TO Yorkshire 353 and 215-7 Yorkshire win by three wickets
Chester-le-Street: Durham 630 DRAW WITH Glamorgan 390 and 426-7 Match drawn
Bristol: Gloucestershire 368 and 202 LOSE TO Leicestershire 350 and 221-5 Leics win by five wickets.
Hove: Sussex 348 and 447-7 DRAW WITH Worcestershire 410 and 381-8 Match drawn
Match drawn!
Hove: Sussex 348 and 447-7 DRAW WITH Worcestershire 410 and 381-8 Match drawn
An excellent effort to chase the runs down, with particular kudos to Jake Libby, Azhar Ali and Sussex’s young bowling attack.
Worcestershire need five off one ball...
Surely not.
Worcestershire need 16 from two overs
Four wickets in hand, fielders like seagulls on the pier.
Leicestershire have done it!
Rehan Ahmed (71) AND COLIN ACKERMANN (78) get there with a single! Five overs to spare
Bristol: Gloucestershire 368 and 202 LOSE TO Leicestershire 350 and 221-5 Leics win by five wickets.
I must depart to write up for the paper – but do stay chatting BTL, keeping cool while the heat drops.
So…. Joe Clarke’s first Championship double century has very nearly done the job for Notts (462-6); Glamorgan’s eighth-wicket pair are still together, 151 runs and two and a half hours of toil. Cooke -133, VDG – 51. handshakes?
Leicestershire’s Rehan Ahmed and Colin Ackermann are having a jolly time chasing Gloucs, 113 needed in just over an hour. Azhar Ahmed and Jack Haynes (just out for 44) also giving Worcs a tilt at victory -120 needed, seven wickets in hand
The second-highest run-chase in Championship history is complete!
Canterbury: Kent 301 and 344 LOSE TO Surrey 145 and 501-5, Surrey win by five wickets!
With 23.5 overs left, Surrey strut to the second highest-run chase in Championship history – from the doldrums of 145 all out to the Elysium of 501-5. Alas Kent, who hit Surrey in Champion-cloak.
Dom Sibley a mammoth 140 not out, off 415 balls in 578 minutes. The antibaz-ball rises from the Ashes. Smith 114 off 77 balls, Foakes 124 off 211.A dash of pepper with your pie.
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A couple of quick wickets at Bristol, both to Zaman Akhter, Leicestershire 65-2, need 151
While at Canterbury, Dom Sibley passes 400 balls.
A super read by Andy Bull – the Ashes, the universe and everything.
Get out Ben Foakes; win Will Jacks. He slams a four through extra cover, to take the runs needed to 40. Oh, then gets out. Still, Five wickets in hand, Surrey should squeeze it.
Updated
Mystic Tanya’s predictions with one session to go:
Surrey to cruise there in an open top bus; Notts bat it out; Glammy to survive, Leicestershire to chase in a high-wire act, Sussex and Worcestershire to draw.
Tea-time scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 462-9dec and 170-7dec BEAT Somerset 167 and 269 Essex win by 196 runs
Canterbury: Kent 301 and 344 v Surrey 145 and 452-4, Surrey need 49 to win
Southport: Lancashire 374 and 142-4 BEAT Hampshire 142 and 371 Lancs win by six wickets
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 155 and 436-6 v Warwickshire 571-9dec Notts lead by 20
DIVISION TWO
Chesterfield: Derbyshire 111 and 453 LOSE TO Yorkshire 353 and 215-7 Yorkshire win by three wickets
Chester-le-Street: Durham 630 v Glamorgan 390 and 372-7 Glamorgan lead by 132
Bristol: Gloucestershire 368 and 202 v Leicestershire 350 and 49-0 Leics need 172 to win
Hove: Sussex 348 and 447-7 v Worcestershire 410 and 195-2 Worcs need 191 to win
A double century for Joe Clarke
Astonishingly, it looks as if – thanks to Clarke - Notts will hold off Warwickshire now – some mammoth second innings totals in this round. Weather related? The BBC commentators just suggested that the approaching/passing thunder storms had made batting tricky in Surrey’s first innings. Or perhaps days of heat has worn out the bowlers. Notts 431-6, lead Notts by 15.
A hundred for Chris Cooke!
A super innings that has almost – almost – taken Glamorgan to safety. The Glammy lead 131, three wickets in hand. Applause too for VDG whose 32 has held up an end.
Ben Foakes toe-ends a long-hop off and must leave the stage for 124. Canterbury stands to applaud him off. The partnership 207, Surrey 437-4. The good ship Sibley remains steady.
A century for Ben Foakes!
A much less statty, but possibly more stylish, 198 balls. Surrey 425-3, need 76 to win.
Updated
The slowest championship century in history
Dom’s stats in full – 511 minutes, 368 balls: the slowest in minutes and balls in history. Respect.
Updated
England announce their Ashes XI for Edgbaston: Broad and Moeen play
1. Ben Duckett
2. Zak Crawley
3. Ollie Pope
4. Joe Root
5. Harry Brook
6. Ben Stokes *
7. Jonathan Bairstow +
8. Moeen Ali
9. Stuart Broad
10. Ollie Robinson
11. James Anderson
Updated
A hundred for Dom Sibley!
Easy as he goes, big (not) bad Dom makes it to three figures. Slow, steady, eight hours plus, 363 balls, his first century since returning to Surrey. His plod has made the impossible, possible. Stand and bow.
Some sparky business up in Division Two too:
Glamorgan only lead Durham by 76 – not enough against the Championship’s walking talking Bazballers – unless the last three wickets can hold out: Cooke (77) and van der Gugten the men in the middle.
Gloucestershire are nine down for 192, which would leave Leicestershire a very chaseable total – currently 214. Chris Wright 4-49.
And Worcestershire, 132-1, are making a good stab of their chase – 254 needed against Sussex. Jake Libby, out for 198 in the first innings, is 79 not out.
A huge effort of concentration from Joe Clarke has taken Notts in sight of Warwickshire’s mammoth 571-9, with 177 in six and a half hours. Three wickets for Rushworth, Warwicks have a session and a half to survive. Notts 366-6 following on, trail by 50.
Surrey born and bred, this can’t be seen as a jinx when I say Surrey are as good as home and dry. Champagne not so much on ice as on the p of the pop. The largest fourth innings totals in County Championship history did you say? OK then
502-6 Middx v Notts 1925
498 Somerset v Derby 2006
493-6 Glamorgan v Worcs 1990
479-6 Somerset Yorkshire 2009
478-9 Surrey v Leicestershire 2001
Surrey, 371-3, need another 130 to chase 501, and the second highest run-chase in Championship history.
Foakes escapes the umpires finger – a caught behind appeal turned down and a telling off for Hamidullah Qadri and Jack Leaning. Surrey need just 145, Kent seven unlikely wickets. Sibley needs just nine for three figures – the essential anti Bazball in action.
Essex beat Somerset by 196 runs
If you haven’t gone for your siesta, and are suitably refreshed, we’re off again.
Five games still standing after Essex bowled out Somerset just before lunch -
Chelmsford: Essex 462-9dec and 170-7dec BEAT Somerset 167 and 269 Essex win by 196 runs
Essex 22 points, Somerset 2. Harmer 8-178 in the match.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 462-9dec and 170-7dec v Somerset 167 and 259-9 Somerset need 207 -playing extra 20 (?) mins
Canterbury: Kent 301 and 344 v Surrey 145 and 355-3, Surrey need 166 to win
Southport: Lancashire 374 and 142-4 BEAT Hampshire 142 and 371 Lancs win by six wickets
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 155 and 341-5 v Warwickshire 571-9dec
DIVISION TWO
Chesterfield: Derbyshire 111 and 453 LOSE TO Yorkshire 353 and 215-7 Yorkshire win by three wickets
Chester-le-Street: Durham 630 v Glamorgan 390 and 250-6
Bristol: Gloucestershire 368 and 136-3 v Leicestershire 350
Hove: Sussex 348 and 447-7 v Worcestershire 410 and 55-0 Worcs need 331 to win
In Division One, a tale of two run chases:
Somerset are 237-8, needing 225 against Essex. A couple for Sam Cook, a couple for Simon Harmer, and a super catch for the ageless knight.
Surrey – they’re going do it, aren’t they? Dom Sibley’s highest score of the season, 84 not out, Ben Foakes a gentle up-yours 59. New ball neutered, “just” 173 needed, ten minutes till lunch.
Division Two dance:
Billy Root and Chris Cooke doing their best to hold off the potent de Leede (4-38), Glamorgan 231-5, trail Durham by nine runs. Apologies to Mike Wiltsher, who emailed in at 11.29 to point out that “Kiran Carlson gone in the first over this morning for 35 without adding to his score, c Miles b de Leede. Glamorgan now 170-5, still 70 runs behind.”
Callum Parkinson, playing his first Championship game of the year, has a Gloucestershire wicket, but Olly Price and Miles Hammond have put on a sparkly partnership of 69. Playing for handshakes at five.
And Worcestershire are chasing – in theory. 343 to win against Sussex, currently 43-0.
ECB has announced the hosting of international matches 2025-2031
Lord’s, The Oval and Trent Bridge get a men’s Ashes Test in 2027 and 2031, Edgbaston, and the Ageas Bowl in 2027, Headingley and Old Trafford in 2031.
Headingley also host a women’s Test during the 2027 Women’s Ashes, the Ageas Bowl in 2031.
Lord’s, The Oval, Edgbaston, Headingley, and Old Trafford host Indian Tests in 2025; Lord’s, The Oval, Edgbaston, Old Trafford and the Ageas Bowl in 2029.
After being absent for so long, England Women will play at Lord’s every year between 2025 and 2031, and all 18 counties will host at least three women’s white ball games.
No Tests for Durham or Cardiff.
Lancshire beat Hampshire by six wickets!
Southport: Lancashire 374 and 142-4 v Hampshire 142 and 371 Lancs win by six wickets
A stroll in the end, with Dane Vilas rediscovering some lost form (64 not out) and easing Lancs over the line for the loss of just two more wickets. To play the if only game – if only Hampshire’s fielders had held onto Salt in the first innings, and Vilas in the second…
Yorkshire win! Beating Derbyshire by three wickets
Chesterfield: Derbyshire 111 and 453 v Yorkshire 353 and 215-7 Yorkshire win by three wickets
Is this where it all starts to turn around? Dom Bess lumps the ball over his front leg across the rope and past the fold up seats. Yorkshire complete their first Championship win since 17 April 2022, 17 long games without success.
Shan Masood 95 not out against his old club, Bess 41 at a run a ball. Derbyshire a valiant fight back – ultimately in vain - after being bowled out for 111 in the first innings.
The first email of the day drops by, from Freddie and Frankie. Hello!
“Good morning Tanya,
”My seven month old son and I are watching Derbyshire vs Yorkshire. I am trying to teach him life lessons about disappointment as early as possible and the Yorkshire batters are really helping.
”There has been lots of speculation about which spinner could replace Leach for England, and no one mention’s poor Dom Bess. Best haircuts on the county circuit and a pretty decent international record.
Have a great day! Come on Yorkies!
All the best from Berlin”
I feel for Dom Bess too. Here he is being presented with his England cap.
Congratulations @DomBess99!!! Another very proud day for Somerset County Cricket Club!!
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) May 24, 2018
Dom is presented his England cap by Somerset legend and fellow off-spin bowler Vic Marks! #WeAreSOMERSET #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/0rfS9KRWf7
Yorkshire nearly there, just nine needed. Derby need three wickets. Bess 29, Masood 95.
This might be of interest for those of you pressed into work on Friday. Thanks to Mes for the tip-off.
“Watching The Ashes at work boosts productivity.” - @CityAM pic.twitter.com/sC43Lvhi4v
— Cricket Business (@CricketBusiness) June 14, 2023
Kent have taken the new ball – Lancs are halfway home – a wicket for de Leede at Durham. At Chesterfield, no more wickets have fallen, Yorkshire need 37 and Dom Bess has 17.
Remember this?
WHAT DRAMA!
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) September 5, 2018
Bess is stumped with the scores level! https://t.co/F4IeJDdKSN pic.twitter.com/AtJKHKjhiq
They learnt it all here you know.
The Test batting rankings have updated before the men’s Ashes series… pic.twitter.com/bRKwYHEqr1
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) June 14, 2023
A swift whip round the grounds:
Southport -Lancs on course, 59-2, 81 needed.
Chesterfield – yikes! Malan in – and out – for 0. Seven down, fifty still needed.
Canterbury – 501? no trouble. Surrey press on.
A minute’s silence at Trent Bridge and Chelmsford before play started:
Shoulder to shoulder with our city and community in a moment’s reflection prior to the start of play. pic.twitter.com/opLgsTwltU
— Notts Outlaws 🏹 (@TrentBridge) June 14, 2023
Ahead of play, both Clubs and officials will come together to pay their respects to Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley Kumar who tragically lost their lives in Nottingham on Tuesday.
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) June 14, 2023
We send our condolences to the family, friends and teammates of Barnaby and Grace during this… pic.twitter.com/NRiUi3yGOE
"Go with the flow" Mo
Surrey’s Jordan Clark on the hare and the tortoise:
“It’s obviously a good pitch to bat on, the boys dug in exceptionally well. Sibley survived 200 odd rocks to see the day out and that fantastic innings by Jamie just shows how good a player he is.
“It was an unbelievable knock, in my opinion probably one of the best I’ve seen. I can only imagine he just thought instead of the pressure being on him he’d pile it back on them. I didn’t see him play too many shots out of anger, it was just the timing of the ball and placement. He’s pure class really.
“Both of them complimented each other really, really well. He allowed Sibley to not be rushed. He played an amazing anchor role and didn’t look troubled.”
Ashes minus two!
So much to read – deep dive into Bazball with Ali, Andy and Andrew Samson.
Tuesday's round-up
The day’s main event started at 5.35pm at Southport, as Lancashire started their chase of 140 against Hampshire for their first win of the season. With Keith Barker kicking up dust at one end, and Mohammad Abbas slipping in on silent cat paws at the other, it was never going to be easy. First innings centurion Phil Salt snicked Abbas’s fourth ball through to James Vince; and George Balderson was snaffled behind off Barker the following over (5-2). But Josh Bohannon and Dane Vilas, reprieved by Vince at first slip just before the close, reduced the target to 92 at stumps.
Earlier Vince, sleeves pulled up a hitch and a bit, shirt unbuttoned, had danced to 87. He is in the form of his life, averaging 70, but the door is surely closed on any further England selection. Out came the peachy straight drive, the peachy off-drive, but no-one was able to stay with him quite long enough to set Lancashire a more pressing target, though Kyle Abbott’s gung-ho 23 was handy. Balderson grabbed three wickets, while George Bell, aiming at Barker’s footholes, grabbed his first, to the evident disgruntlement of Liam Dawson – who later consoled himself with a waffle cone from the ice cream van.
A scintillating century by Jamie Smith, off just 70 balls, gave Surrey a chance of their highest successful run chase against Kent. Dom Sibley, 61 not out off 212, played the role of the wily old pro. Essex set Somerset a hefty 466 to win, and were well on their way to victory, Matthew Critchley adding a half century and two wickets to his first-innings hundred. A century from Joe Clarke kept Nottinghamshire hopes semi-alive following on against Warwickshire.
In Division Two, Yorkshire’s search for their first win of the season stumbled into the dark woods as first Derbyshire cracked 453, spearheaded by a fifth-wicket stand of 277 between Leus du Plooy (170) and Haider Ali (146); and then Yorks lost late wickets, closing with 65 still needed, four wickets left. The match destiny rests with Shan Masood, unbeaten on 68.
It was Bas de Leede day at The Riverside, an unbeaten 85 helping Durham to 630, before he snaffled three for 25, leaving Glamorgan in deep trouble. Sussex take a lead of 297 into the final day at Hove against Worcestershire, and Leicestershire were 350 all out at Gloucestershire, 18 runs behind their hosts.
Score on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 462-9dec and 170-7dec v Somerset 167 and 172-4
Canterbury: Kent 301 and 344 v Surrey 145 and 263-3, Surrey need 238 to win
Southport: Lancashire 374 and 48-2 v Hampshire 142 and 371 Lancs need 92 to win
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 155 and 267-4 v Warwickshire 571-9dec
DIVISION TWO
Chesterfield: Derbyshire 111 and 453 v Yorkshire 353 and 147-6 Yorkshire need 65 to win
Chester-le-Street: Durham 630 v Glamorgan 390 and 159-4
Bristol: Gloucestershire 368 and 9-0 v Leicestershire 350
Hove: Sussex 348 and 359-6 v Worcestershire 410
Preamble
Good morning! It’s day four and all to play for round the grounds. Can Derbyshire pull it out of the hat, or will Shan Masood take Yorkshire to that longed-for win. Can Lancs really Lancs-up a (seemingly) simple chase? Will Surrey complete a record run-chase against plucky Kent, can Somerset?
Notts and Somerset are on the ropes, as are Glamorgan, and a draw looks certain at rain-dappled Bristol.
***
A moment here, to remember the young cricket lovers Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar, who were killed in Nottingham yesterday along with a man in his fifties, as yet unnamed.
These were the words of Barnaby Webber’s parents:
“Complete devastation is not enough to describe our pain and loss at the senseless murder of our son.
“Barnaby Philip John Webber was a beautiful, brilliant, bright young man, with everything in life to look forward to.
“A talented and passionate cricketer, who was over the moon to have made selection to his university cricket team.”
“At 19 he was just at the start of his journey into adulthood and was developing into a wonderful young man.
“As parents we are enormously proud of everything he achieved and all the plans he had made.”
Woodford Wells Cricket club, where Grace Kumar was a junior club captain said, “Grace Kumar was “fun, friendly and brilliant…a fiercely competitive, talented and dedicated cricketer and hockey player.”
Rest in peace.
We are all devastated to hear of the tragic passing of Grace O’Malley Kumar.
— Essex Womens Cricket (@EssexWomen) June 14, 2023
A massive talent while part of our junior programme, a respected captain and awesome teammate.
Our thoughts are with family, friends and all that knew Grace 🦅 pic.twitter.com/Fkgp5ktnAU
CLUB STATEMENT
— Bishops Hull Cricket Club (@BishopsHull_CC) June 13, 2023
Today we learnt of the death of our dear friend and team mate, Barnaby Webber.
Barney was attacked at the early hours of this morning walking home with a friend after a night out on 13/06/2023 and had lost his life.
(1/3) pic.twitter.com/rPKXNnvS8u
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