Tanya’s county roundup
Luke Wells slammed a century off just 65 balls as Lancashire aimed for a declaration today at Old Trafford. Yorkshire looked all at sea as Wells took to his task with gusto, picking up and clattering two of six sixes into the empty party stand, on his way to the second-fastest authentic Roses hundred.
His opening partner Keaton Jennings was denied a fifth successive Roses century when captain Jonny Tattersall unexpectedly pulled off his wicket-keeping regalia and turned his arm over. Jennings tucked into his fifth ball in first-class cricket, only to be well caught by Ben Coad at backward point – whose trousers promptly fell down.
Second-placed Hampshire lit the blue touchpaper taking 12 wickets in a day at the Rose Bowl, as Northamptonshire were forced to follow on. Barring an unlikely rear-guard, they will leapfrog Surrey at the top of the table. Hampshire’s indefatigable opening duo did the damage, with Kyle Abbott and Keith Barker grabbing four wickets each.
At Canterbury, Sam Cook took six for 33, nine wickets in the match, to reduce Kent to 137 for eight following on; Gloucestershire plodded to a lead of 341 at Taunton, leaving Somerset an uneasy final day ahead.
In Division Two, Nottinghamshire duly beat Leicestershire, by 241 runs, despite a stoic 10th-wicket partnership of 83 between Callum Parkinson and Michael Finan – who made 58 on his first-class debut.
Shubman Gill cultured a glittering 92 on his Glamorgan debut on a soggy day at Sophia Gardens to set up an intriguing final day against Worcestershire; while three wickets for Durham’s Ben Raine thwarted Derbyshire.
Well done the Kentish rearguard, especially Jordan Cox, that might be that for the game with terrible weather forecast for Canterbury tomorrow – despite the best efforts of nine-for-the-match Sam Cook. Congratulations also to Michael Finan – who made 58 on his first-class debut in a losing cause for Leicestershire - Keith Barker and Kyle Abbot at the Rose Bowl and Luke Wells for the second fastest authentic Roses century in history!
Thanks to Ralf for all his help – best of luck for the A levels - and to you all BTL. Time to wade home through the puddles. Til tomorrow – good night!
Updated
Time for me to write a quick round-up as rain belches over Old Trafford – but do keep busy BTL.
That’ll be it for the day then! pic.twitter.com/lI9ewNbkJf
— Kevin Howells (@KevinHowells16) September 7, 2022
Updated
And for a last word from Old Trafford where the covers are on and the apocalypse imminent, over to Ralf:
A fascinating day of Championship cricket with Lancashire attempting to set the game up with some quick runs. Just before the close, and in an act of blatant disgust with his troops, wicketkeeper and captain, Jonny Tattersall, binned off the pads and decided to have a go at getting Keaton Jennings out. Considering he has never bowled in a first XI game, it appeared a bold move. However, his fourth ball invited the Jennings trademark reverse sweep and the ball was gobbled up by a tumbling Ben Coad at backward point.
Lancashire had just brought up their 200 off 195, and Steven Croft had just joined KJ at the crease replacing Josh Bohannon. Bohannon rather struggled for timing in his five off 19 vigil, perhaps it was not really his situation, before he tried to mow a Bess delivery into the media centre and was stumped by the replacement wicket-keeper Tom Kohler-Cadmore.
The umpires decided the light was too poor with 16 overs un-bowled. The decision did not please Lancashire captain Dane Vilas, but he reluctantly trudged off with his team 224 ahead looking to bat fast tomorrow then attempt to bowl Yorkshire out.
Around the other grounds: Northants are making a better fist of their second innings, Young and Gay putting on 102 before Young fell to Holland. Gloucester have plodded along to 203 – fifty for Ollie Price and not out 43 for Miles Hammond – a lead of 298 in their must-win game against Somerset.
In Division Two: rain has halted Nottinghamshire’s victory dash with Leicestershire 251-9, an unbeaten 10th wicket stand of 77. Shubman Gil has been dismissed for 92 on his Glamorgan debut, only for bad light to stop play two balls later, 230-7. And Derbyshire have rather limped to 180-7, a lead of 263 over Durham. Three wickets each for Raine and Trevaskis.
Updated
A ticking off arrives from Nat Gooden.
“Hi Tanya
”Rather lovely (despite the scandalous lack of county cricket in peak season) to see Essex making mincemeat of yet more opponents.
Not that Sam Cook’s amazing bowling feats are getting much of a look-in on the live blog. 5 for 20 when I looked at Kent’s apology for a second innings just now. I do remember emailing you last summer about the Grauniad’s remarkable persistence in overlooking Essex’s frequent brilliance.
Is it too late to hope for something better? Grrrrr – Luke Wells is not the only young star in the cricketing firmament…”
Duly scolded (apologies), over to Canterbury post haste – where Sam Cook has indeed taken all six Kent wickets to fall (as well as three in the first innings). The BBC averages give him 30 wickets this season at 19 – though I’m not quite sure when that was updated. Kent 74 for six, 335 behind and praying for rain.
Whither Zimbabwe?
A hundred for Luke Wells!
Over to Ralf: An absolutely magnificent innings from Luke Wells, potentially we think the second fastest Lancashire hundred of all time (excluding hundreds made against declaration bowling – sorry Chapple). Great hitting from a man not known for it, nine fours and five huge sixes, and this has really given Lancashire a chance to set up a declaration. The second century opening partnership of the match for this pair, can’t have happened too often, and they’ve really been at the heartbeat of every big Lancashire innings this season in the CC. Really surprised Tattersall hasn’t turned to George Hill, remember he picked up six for 26 in the first innings. Lancashire pass 150 and the lead is up to 180. Could we see a declaration tonight? Probably not.
Boundary hitting has looked decidedly harder as the ball has got older, as at one stage Wells was looking odds on to get the fastest Lancashire century ever (Ian Austin vs Yorkshire 1991).
Updated
Budge over Andrew Strauss:
Jesus was the first person to ever play cricket https://t.co/2MxI79NFPZ
— The Independent (@Independent) September 7, 2022
Updated
Luke Wells eyeing up the fastest Roses century – meanwhile lovely news from Taunton where Somerset are renaming the River Stand, The James Hildreth Stand. Old Trafford is a bit of an oddity here – stands A and B but nothing like the Trueman enclosure or Grace Gates.
The River Stand ➡️ The James Hildreth Stand ❤️#WeAreSomerset #ThankYouHildy pic.twitter.com/QmWNAPPPSh
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) September 7, 2022
Ali chews over the Alex Hales recall at The Oval.
Updated
Delicious squidgy chocolatey things have arrived in the OT box.
Tea-time scores
Division One
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 400-9dec v Northants 175 and 37-0
Canterbury: Kent 164 and 30-4 v Essex 573
Old Trafford: Lancashire 276 and 80-0 v Yorkshire 255
Taunton: Somerset 248 v Gloucestershire 343 and 143-2
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire 306 and 153-5 v Durham 223
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 172-5 v Worcestershire 454-9 dec. Rain stopped play, play due to restart at 4pm.
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 201 and 390-7 v Leicestershire 93 and 221-9.
Updated
Sam Cook making jam with the men of Kent, four for eight. Kent 36 for four, trail by three hundred and, well it doesn’t matter.
And up comes Luke Wells’ fifty in just 29 balls.
Over to Ralf for the latest from OT: Lancashire are having an afternoon dart here. Luke Wells in particular has moved on to 49 off just 28 balls including four sixes, something not often seen in the first seven overs of a red-ball innings. Perhaps Luke Wells should have been picked up in a lucrative Hundred deal. Jordan Thompson has come in for some serious punishment with his three overs disappearing round the ground for 25. One huge leg-side heave from Wells ended halfway up the Party Stand.
Fifty up here in no time, a stark contrast to what we saw from Coad and Patterson earlier this afternoon. Coad is searching for his 200th first-class victim today, but has been replaced with England spinner Dom Bess coming on from the James Anderson End. Yorkshire will hope he can contain this fast start from Wells and Jennings.
While Lancs go gung-ho, Northants are following on, Leicester hang on with bitten finger nails, and they’ve taken an early tea at Sophia Gardens.
Stat dead.
Statstastic: if Ben Coad takes another wicket for less than four runs, he becomes the first bowler in English cricket to take 200 first-class wickets at under 20 since Alan Ward in 1971.
Thank you Graham Hardcastle.
An OT update from Ralf:A stubborn last-wicket stand between Ben Coad and Steve Patterson has helped Yorkshire to a second batting point. This achievement had looked rather unlikely at 219 for nine when Dom Bess fell, but these two have stitched together the second longest partnership in terms of minutes and balls chewed up, seriously knocking the stuffing out of the Red Rose’s victory charge.
Lancashire opted for two spinners after lunch and bowled well without taking a wicket. Oh and there it is, Coad goes for a useful 26 from 78 deliveries, hacking across the line to Parkinson offering Croft at backward point one of the easiest catches of his magnificent career. Yorkshire 255 all out in 105.3 overs, conceding a slender lead of 21. With a potential of around 50 overs of play still available tonight it is now over to Lancashire to set up a declaration as they hope to put Yorkshire under pressure tomorrow afternoon.
In Division Two, rain has dampened Glamorgan’s ardour – with an inspection due at 2.45pm. At the County Ground, Madsen and Godleman build Derby’s lead to 203 over Durham while Leicestershire shrivel quietly in the corner: 146 for six, Mullaney and Paterson the bowlers in the wickets. Shout out to Ed Barnes, top scorer at No.7, 32 not out.
Updated
Yorkshire’s last pair irritating convincingly at Old Trafford, now only 27 behind. Elsewhere, rain has temporarily saved Kent, who are 20 for one following on, and remain 389 behind Essex.
Northants have lost one wicket since lunch, James Sales for 10, 149-6 with a follow-on in the air. I fancy they might make Hampshire sing for their supper.
The Gloucesters have quickly built their lead up to 200 over Somerset, 33 to Charlesworth, 40 to Ollie Price. A declaration with an hour before stumps?
Updated
Over to Ralf to keep you up to date as they take lunch in the Roses game: We have just reached the end of a 40- (yes you read that right)over session here at Old Trafford. Yorkshire have reached 233 for nine with Ben Coad 18 not out and the veteran Steve Patterson just 96 away from what would be a maiden first-class hundred.
Lancashire have bowled tidily, in particular the frugal Tom Hartley who has bowled his 15 wicketless overs for just 18. Will Williams and Tom Bailey have impressed, sharing seven wickets with some high-class seam and swing bowling. Lancashire’s hopes rest on wrapping up this innings swiftly and then quick afternoon runs.
Yorkshire battled very hard in that session and have done well to bat out that full session, which at certain times looked very unlikely. Plucky innings down the order from Dom Bess and Ben Coad kept Yorkshire in the game, but some of the Tykes batsmen will be disappointed with their dismissals -Thompson, Bess and TKC in particular all fell to poor shots. With rain around, Lancashire will probably be looking for quick runs and a declaration, leaving the door ajar for Yorkshire to steal a late, fourth afternoon victory. An exciting afternoon ahead if the weather holds (fingers crossed).
Bat update – Nick Maddinson’s bat did fail its after-play check so has been duly dispatched to Lord’s.
This picture has always stuck with me from childhood... pic.twitter.com/ZD9m0hWM2K
— Jamie Bowman (@JamieBowman77) September 7, 2022
What will become of it, who knows, but Durham face a possible (but surely unlikely) 16-point deduction.
Some delicious ricotta pasta parcels at Old Trafford, while Coad and Patterson obstinate away.
Trouble at the Northants, Kent (oh Kent), Glamorgan and Leicestershire t’mill.
Lunchtime scores
Division One
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 400-9dec v Northants 124-5
Canterbury: Kent 145-9 v Essex 573
Old Trafford: Lancashire 276 v Yorkshire 221-9 (playing an extra half hour)
Taunton: Somerset 248 v Gloucestershire 343 and 49-1
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire 306 and 62-2 v Durham 223
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 172-5 v Worcestershire 454-9 dec
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 201 and 390-7 v Leicestershire 93 and 97-4
Updated
The extra-half hour in play here at OT, as Balderson at square leg grabs Bess’s pull on the run. Yorks 219-9, trail by 57.
Over to Ralf, who has been keeping a close eye on proceedings here: As we enter the final half an hour of play on this third morning, Dom Bess and Tom Kohler-Cadmore have done an excellent job, slowly edging their team towards the 276 Lancashire posted. For the first time in this 77 over innings we have seen spin at both ends§ with Tom Hartley and Matt Parkinson bowling in tandem. Hartley in particular has bowled well - only conceding 10 in his seven overs this morning. Parkinson has also caused problems, including a massive shout for LBW that Dom Bess will have been relieved to see given not out.
Oh and as I am writing this Tom Kohler-Cadmore has been dismissed , a shot in anger leads to him being magnificently caught by Tom Hartley running round from deep backward square leg. A wicket for Matt Parkinson, which he has deserved as he has bowled much better this morning. An uncharacteristically slow innings from the usually fluent TKC but that leaves Yorkshire 201-7 with Jordan Thompson striding out to the crease to join the steadfast Dom Bess . Only three runs off the bat in seven overs at one stage prior to that dismissal, and real pressure created by by these two spinners.
,
It’s not very pretty at Canterbury where (new England pick) Jordan Cox is fighting a lone battle, 26 not out, Kent 130 for seven, just the 443 runs behind. A third wicket at the Rose Bowl, two this morning to Barker, Northants 95-3. Procter and Keogh the men with spades, digging in. And at Taunton, Gloucestershire are 25 without loss.
In Div 2, Durham added only one run this morning (by the way has anyone read an update on the bat business?) and Derby have made a plodding start with 36 off 15 overs – the lead now 119.
Not good news for fans at Sophia Gardens where Glamorgan are making something of a hash of their chance to jump over the other promotion candidates and hold onto Nottinghamshire’s coat tails. Currently 159 for five (295 behind), with Shubman Gill still there on a pretty, so pretty, 53. Timm van der Gugten, Sam Northeast and Kiran Carlson all gone without adding much to proceedings.
@tjaldred A Glorious Cricketer. https://t.co/RdyBWeAtfv
— Romeo Romeo Tango Ψιτιζεν οφ Νοςηερε (@RomeoCCLive) September 6, 2022
Leicestershire reaching towards lunch 81-1.
In case you haven’t seen it – an extract from Michael Vaughan’s column in today’s Telegraph. He does love a bit of stick-stirring.
“The review is a very thoughtful piece of work but it is not radical. I personally would have made it more radical and not have 18 teams playing first-class cricket. I would have gone for 12. I also think whatever happens with this review, that debate will happen again in five to 10 years’ time.
“I don’t see why people are so angry. County members are crying out for 14 or 16 games but commercially it does not make sense and it also does not make cricket sense - it just does not leave enough time to prepare properly, and produces poor cricket in April and September on juicy pitches. The members are still guaranteed five home games per year with an added two or three for friendlies as well.”
I have great concern for Cricket if you are not backing the changes Andrew Strauss wants to make … https://t.co/hzM7rEpZNj @TelegraphSport
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) September 6, 2022
Updated
With a sigh, I must tell you that Somerset are all out for 248 – with a five-fer for Tom Price – a deficit of 103. But at Trent Bridge, Leicester are holding on grimly, losing just Evans for 18 in the first hour or so. 60-1, and a long road massive vertical cliff face ahead.
Over to Ralf for an update on the first half hour at OT: Lancashire have just picked up their first wicket of the day here. The breakthrough came at a good time for the home side as Yorkshire had started aggressively scoring 24 from the first five overs. A third wicket for the impressive Will Williams and this one was a delightful piece of bowling, teasing the Yorkshire captain forward and gaining a touch of away movement to kiss the outside of the bat - the ball was caught easily by Lavelle. Matthew Waite, who is off to Worcestershire at the end of the season, has just got off the mark with a three and he will be looking for a big contribution to leave White Rose fans rueing letting him go. Yorkshire 159 for 5, still 117 behind, and most definitely in danger of conceding a first-innings lead.
Championship tables
Div one
Surrey (11) 209
Hants (11) 193
Lancashire (11) 175
Essex (10) 136
Northants (10) 130
Yorks (10) 116
Kent (11) 114
Warwicks (11) 104
Somerset (10) 99
Gloucs (11) 62
Div two
Notts (11) 195
Middx (11) 165
Glamorgan (11) 160
Derby (11) 155
Worcs (11) 130
Durham (11) 125
Sussex (11) 105
Leicestershire (11) 72
South London hoping for bragging rights over North London
The Oval hoping to beat Lord’s to World Test Championship final hosting rights. By @Cricket_Ali https://t.co/fSH8fXUcEm
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) September 7, 2022
Start delayed also at the Rose Bowl to thwart Hampshire’s tilt at the title. Whatever happens there – and please check this by doing the maths yourself – we don’t think Surrey can clinch the pennant in the next round – which takes us to The Oval against Yorkshire in the penultimate round. Also rain at Canterbury, which won’t help Kent’s mood.
Play here at Old Trafford – where the umpires are already changing the ball four deliveries in – and rain at Taunton.
Alex Hales added to England World Cup squad
As widely predicted, Alex Hales has been called up to England’s T20 World Cup squad to replace Jonny Bairstow, who had to withdraw after breaking his leg in a freak golfing accident. It will mark the first time Hales had played for England since being effectively black-balled before the 2019 World Cup after failing a drugs test.
Updated
Scores on the doors
Division One
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 400-9dec v Northants 77-1
Canterbury: Kent 74-4 v Essex 573
Old Trafford: Lancashire 276 v Yorkshire 130-4
Taunton: Somerset 209-8 v Gloucestershire 343
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire 306 all out v Durham 222-9
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 111-2 v Worcestershire 454-9 dec
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 201 and 390-7 v Leicestershire 93 and 20-0
Tuesday's round-up
Durham face a possible points deduction after their overseas player Nic Maddinson came to the crease carrying a bat that was too big. The umpire Hassan Adnan tried, and failed, to squeeze the bat through his measurement guage, and it was duly confiscated by the match referee. If the bat fails a second test after play, it will be packed off and sent to the ECB. It topped a disappointing day for Durham, who lost five wickets for 26 in the final session to give the promotion hopefuls Derbyshire a spring in their step.
In the Roses match, 20-year old Fin Bean, who lit up Yorkshire’s second XI in June with a record 441 against Nottinghamshire, made an assured 42 on first-class debut at Old Trafford. A studious player, he took 19 balls to get off the mark, but found his feet, driving smartly and quick-stepping between the wickets with George Hill. With 50 beckoning he was trapped like a toddling faun by a Tom Bailey yorker. It has been a second coming for Bean, who in 2020 turned down an academy contract to work as a mechanic.
Feroze Khushi’s maiden first-class century lit up a grizzly Canterbury and slotted Essex into a dominant position. Khushi kissed the ground after reaching his century and later lifted Denly over his head for six to tot up 500. Kent’s reply began with Ben Compton’s stumps spreadeagled by Jamie Porter, and did not get much better.
Hampshire dashed to maximum batting points as they eyed up the title, thanks to a swashbuckling 94 from Aneurin Donald and a frisky cameo from Kyle Abbott. Sensibly-shod Northamptonshire reached 77 for one at the close.
At the top of Division Two, Nottinghamshire set Leicestershire an implausible 499 to win, after knocking up 390, thanks to half centuries from Haseeb Hameed, Lyndon James and Joe Clarke.
A career-best 172 by Gareth Roderick put Worcestershire in a strong position on a soggy day at Sophia Gardens, while Imam-ul-Haq’s 90 on Championship debut helped Somerset avoid the follow-on against Gloucestershire.
Preamble
Good morning! A delicious autumn crunch to day three, all sunshine and smoky sandwiches. At Old Trafford both teams are going through their skips and stretches in t-shirts, shorts and leggings (Keaton Jennings) while the groundsman pulls along the roller. Play starts at 10.30am, weather round the country is slightly better than yesterday – with scattered showers floating about.
