Roundup: Sibley helps shore up shaky Surrey
An absorbing day at the Oval, where the sun smiled on Dom Sibley, who stabilised the Surrey motorcade with an unbeaten 74 after Essex had reduced them to 29 for two.
Ollie Pope also worked hard for his 69, a third consecutive score of over 50, largely disciplining himself against tight bowling. But just after tea Tom Westley brought Jamie Porter back into the attack and Pope popped him back an easy catch. He sloped off like a man made of jam. Earlier, Dan Lawrence was the surprise assassin, polishing off the Essex ininings with three for 18 against his old club.
Elsewhere, it was a tale of what might have been. Mason Crane became the third Glamorgan player, and one of eight players in the round, to be removed in the nineties, after being left only with the company of the last man, Ryan Hadley. Crane crawled towards three figures until on 99 he swung at Ajaz Patel and was stumped, slumping over his bat like a fed-up gentil knight. Leicestershire’s openers then enjoyed the generous Cardiff pitch, Jake Weatherald going five better than Crane, retiring hurt on 104.
Gloucestershire’s Will Williams was run out for 98 at Derby despite a hurdy-gurdy dive, scampering for a second. He and Henry Brookes (89) had frustrated Derbyshire with a ninth-wicket stand of 191. Shoaib Bashir wheeled through 31 overs and finished with three for 116.
At New Road, Brett D’Oliveira gave catching practice to second slip as Worcestershire tormented Kent, kicking the turf in frustration as he walked off for 90. Matt Milnes, hero of Kent’s first innings, finished with four but 81 Worcs had a lead of 245 at stumps.
With just two overs of the day to go at Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire’s Joe Clarke paddled Michael Booth (three for 59) to deep square leg to perish for 94, which precipitated a flurry of wickets and left Warwickshire on top. Ben Duckett (62) had earlier been lured to his doom by the part-time spin of Rob Yates. Earlier Josh Tongue’s figures had taken a pounding.
Runs galore at Headingley, where John Simpson went on to 136, before holing out to Joe Root, and Sussex passed 500. Yorkshire’s Finlay Bean reached his own hundred as the shadows lengthened.
Lancashire’s Jimmy Anderson ruined any hopes Ben McKinney might have had of an eye-catching innings, sending his off stump tumbling towards the slip cordon after eight balls. Anderson also removed Alex Lees cheaply, but Durham’s tail, shepherded by Matthew Potts (66), ensured the first-innings deficit was only 75. The new cricket substitute rule continued to raise eyebrows as Lancashire were refused their choice of replacement for the second time, on the basis that Tom Hartley was too experienced to replace Arav Shetty. Lancs had to plump for George Bell instead.
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Good night!
That’s it for today on a beautiful still evening. Thanks for your company, until tomorrow.
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 440 v Leicestershire 215-1
Trent Bridge: Notts 264-8 v Warwickshire 459
The Oval: Surrey 192-3 v Essex 409
Headingley: Yorkshire 192-1 v Sussex 502
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 144-3 v Gloucestershire 498
Riverside: Durham 295 v Lancashire 370
New Road: Worcestershire 441-9 v Kent 196
Durham have done well at CLS from 124 for seven. Matty Potts a surely irritating 45 not out. Right time for me to write up, do chat on BTL.
Porter gets his man: Pope gives him a return catch and cannot believe it, throws his head backwards like the peeled lid of a can. Slopes off at minus miles an hour. Surrey 134 for three, Porter gets a polite round of applause as he retreats to field on the boundary edge.
Andy Flintoff, not that one asks: “Surrey currently have eight England Test cricketers in their XI, although they aren’t all current players. It’s easier to name those who haven’t been called up (Jordan Clark and Tom Lawes, with Sean Abbott being an Australian). What’s the highest number of Test players (past and present) that have been in a Championship XI? Has there ever been nine?”
If only Rob Smyth was reading…but in his absence I pass over to the CCLive! hive mind.
And another four, driven gently, but Pope plays and misses at the next.
Jamie Porter comes back to test Pope and Sibley. From the encroaching shadow at the Vauxhall end he accelerates – and Pope swivel pulls him for four.
I forgot about Joe Root, but it turns out he isn’t batting yet. Yorks now 144 for one on what must be a gentle Headingley pitch. Bean 77 not out and Whiteman, 51, have now added nearly 130.
Fifty for Sibley too, clipping Cook off his ankles. Essex need to force a mistake from one of these two. The stands at the Oval are decorated with fans like a well peppered pizza. Surrey 120-2.
Fifty for Ollie Pope
And done with real aplomb, through the covers to affectionate applause for The Oval’s favourite son. That’s his third consecutive score over fifty. Surrey 109-2.
Ben Duckett was out on the stroke of tea, for 62, lured by the mighty spin of Rob Yates. Notts 166-4.
Tea-time-ish scores
DIVISION ONE
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 440 v Leicestershire 72-0
Trent Bridge: Notts 154-3 v Warwickshire 459
The Oval: Surrey 98-2 v Essex 409
Headingley: Yorkshire 96-1v Sussex 502
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 37-1 v Gloucestershire 498
Riverside: Durham 197-8 v Lancashire 370
New Road: Worcestershire 337-5 v Kent 196
Tea at The Oval, well played Ollie Pope and Dom Sibley, well bowled Essex. On come the pigeons, the groundsmen and the crowds. Time for a chocolate muffin.
Over at Sophia Gardens, Rishi Patel (37) and Jake Weatherald (33) are making whoopee. Leicestershire 72-0. While at Headingley, Finlay Bean has fifty, he and Sam Whiteman have added 64. Yorks 91-1.
Essex appeal, almost in unison, lbw, Porter against Sibley. Strong Dom lifts up his hind leg and gives it a good rub. But not out. Sibley’s retort is four down the ground.
A strong wise read here by Taha:
Durham did not need a run out, but a run-out they have after Ben Raine stop-starts and is stranded by a cracking throw from Matty Hurst. Durham, 172 for eight, need another 49 to avoid the follow on.
Fifty for Ben Duckett!
Duckett’s highest red-ball score since last summer. Notts 135-2.
Here at The Oval, Pope and Sibley collect a fifty partnership -Surrey 80-2.
Brett D’Oliveira kicks the grass as he becomes dismissal number seven in the nineties, catching practise for second slip. Worcestershire 296-5.
Williams out for 98
In the footsteps of Kiran Carlson, Will Williams too is run out just short of his hundred – the sixth dismissal in the 90s over the last two days. Scampering for a second, out despite a hurdy-gurdy dive. Glos 498 all out.
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Ben Duckett (31) has inched past his highest score of the season, brick by brick he and Joe Clark have added 64. Notts 100-2.
Derbyshire are not having a fun day. Nor was Bashir, who has been bashed for 64 from today’s 11 overs, but has now has a third wicket, Brookes for 89. Will Will Williams too be stranded in the 90s? GLos 497-9.
Crane out for 99
No, no, no Mason! He swings and is stumped. Slumps over his bat like King Arthur by the lake. A maiden Championship century just out of reach. Glamorgan 440 all out.
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Two in two for Tom Bailey – Gay (41) and Aldridge. Durham in a sticky situation at 121 for six.
Scott Read has said that Lancashire’s first choice of injury sub was rejected, as Tom Bailey was last week. This time the match referee said no to Tom Hartley replacing Arav Shetty because Hartley was too experienced. George Bell is the chosen man. HArtley has played 43 first-class games, Bell 33. Shetty, two.
Crane crawling through the nineties….
And I should have said, a very Happy Birthday to Mike Selvey, Guardian cricket writer extraordinaire. (Pope flourishes a four).
Swiftwatch – we haven’t spotted any in Manchester yet, have any been seen elsewhere?
Sibley and Pope are watchful here, leaving everything they can.
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Substitute at CLS
George Bell replaces Arav Shetty in the Lancashire side, after Shetty hurt his hand in early morning fielding practice. That’s two in two days up at CLS.
Sam Cook is replaced by Shane Snater and third ball gets Smith a-nibbling, taken, with luck, by Pepper behnd the stumps. The imposing figure of Smith disappears up the dressing-room steps. Ollie Pope comes down them. Surrey 29-2.
Key event
England watch – Ben Duckett is 11 not out for Notts (41-2). Jamie Smith 5 not out here at The Oval, I heard Mark Church say how wonderfully he was batting this season, ignoring the short ball (Surrey 23-1). Joe Root yet to bat at Headingley, (Yorks 2-0) after Sussex collected a huge 502. Shoaib Bashir has two wickets in Gloucestershire (Gloucestershire’s!) 418-8. Ben McKinney was out for 3 in Durham’s 95-4 – James Anderson 2-32.
Is Mason Crane going to be the third Glamorgan batter stranded in the 90s? Currently 89 not out, with only the company of last man Ryan Hadley. Glamorgan 423-9.
In the call of CCLive! duty I climbed to the Laker Garden at the top of the SSE stand. The views are amazing – Saint Paul’s Cathedral dwarfed by giant steel and glass Triffids. And so many London trees. Also a bee house on the roof. A helpful tour guide pointed out to his punters that it costs four and a half million for a penthouse flat in the gasometer development. Sorry, “Halo” development
Over in that high-scoring IPL match, Punjab Kings’ Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya have hit ten sixes in 29 balls.
Time for lunch, back soon.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 410-8 v Leicestershire
Trent Bridge: Notts 26-1 v Warwickshire 459
The Oval: Surrey 17-1 v Essex 409
Headingley: Yorkshire v Sussex 488-9
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Gloucestershire 391-8
Riverside: Durham 73-3 v Lancashire 370
New Road: Worcestershire 192-3 v Kent 196
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Apologies all, having a few connection issues, everything has ground to a halt. Cook is bowling beautifully.
A pause at The Oval as Rory Burns’s finger is examined by the physio after being rapped on the finger, and next ball he shimmies an edge behind! Beautiful by Porter. Surrey 12-1.
Into this gentle lunchtime murmur comes news from Delhi Capitals that KL Rahul has smashed 145 off 63 balls, and counting. Should he pass 150, it would be only the third ever in the IPL.
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Dan Lawrence finishes the job, a second catch for Burns, to finish with a more- than-tidy three for fourteen, Essex 409. Now Jamie Porter from the Vauxhall end in bright sunshine, three greedy slips.
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Another wicket at CLS, and the bad news for Durham fans is that it is David Bedingham, the man who might best thwart Anderson. The wicket taker this time is Mitch Stanley. Durham 47 for three.
…nearly but not quite, as Jamie Porter has a wild drive to a juicy one tossed up.
Dan Lawrence’s whirly-gigs to the rescue. Noah Thain’s eyes light up, he drops to his knees and smacks Lawrence straight to square leg. A career best 64. Actually make that two in two, as Rory Burns takes a diving screamer at first slip to send Sam Cook away. Hat-trick ball…
At Cardiff, Mason Crane and Timm van der Gugten are punishing Leicestershire, Ajaz Patel reels through over number 37. Nick Howson reports that the wicket there is very dry, as if designed for Crane on day four. Glamorgan 395-7.
Shane Snater isn’t hanging around, pounding Abbott into the stands for six.
Over an hour in, and Surrey finally get the breakthrough! Simon Harmer sent on his way by Sean Abbott for 41. A relieved round of applause from the duck-egg blue seating.
Alex Lees too falls to Anderson’s wiles, thudding into his pads, as Lees turns his face to avoid seeing the finger of doom. Durham 24 for two.
Simpson and Barnard help Sussex and Warwicks pile on the runs
Sussex and Warwickshire have both passed 400 with little trouble, John Simpson is still resident at Headingley on 115 though George Hill has picked up his third wicket, getting rid of Hudson-Prentice for 36. At Trent Bridge, Ed Barnard now has 162 and Michael Booth 44.
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Noah Thain and Simon Harmer are looking pretty untroubled this morning, but I see that Jimmy Anderson has done for Ben McKinney already, expertly sending his off stump cartwheeling towards the slips. Big Ben stands still and looks at him as if to say that’s not fair. Durham 10-1.
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Nine, ten, jack, Lancs lose their last three wickets for one run and are all out for 370. Over to you, Lees and McKinney.
More on working from The Oval, in case anyone is interested. You just buy a normal ticket and go to whichever area has been set aside for that purpose (the function room etc moves according to events). It is first come, first served, for a laptop and power point.
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A couple of early wickets, leavering out yesterday’s set batsmen – Marcus Harris caught for 146 off Ben Raine up in at CLS; and Jake Libby bowled by Kent’s one-man-band Matt Milnes for 52.
Substitution of the day
The day’s first injury sub comes at Chester le Street where Sam Conners (side strain) has been replaced by young James Minto.
A loud thud and Jordan Clark is outraged that Simon Harmer is not given out lbw. Harmer holds his bat in the air unperturbed. Tom Lawes does up his bootlaces. Essex 332-6.
Enjoy Barney’s April poem and very funny Saturday rant:
Working from the cricket
Good morning Tim Maitland!
“You mentioned yesterday that Surrey had 5,000 plus at the Oval. While you’re there, please can you tell us whether Surrey are best-in-class at promoting their championship matches, or are other counties trying schemes as innovative as the work-from-home desks?”
I know Surrey have a zillion advantages, location, money, wealthy fans, yada yada, but they are fabulous at promoting the Championship and do the basics of making fans feel welcome so well. Working from the cricket is a great idea but I have no idea if any other club has such a scheme – please tell me if you know more. Seems a no brainer for the bigger stadiums.
The outfield is organised like a school circuits class – slip fielding to the right, stretches to the left, bowlers in the corner. Just chatted to Nick Howson from the Cricketer who was at Cardiff yesterday. He says Ian Holland was incredible, at one point bowling eight overs and only conceding one run.
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Friday's round-up
The crowd spread on to the Oval outfield at lunch like a lapping wave, enjoying the picture-book day and entertained by Gus Atkinson’s first proper run out since the Boxing Day Test.
Atkinson opened the bowling against Essex from the pavilion end, that now familiar toes-together, baby-steps approach, an opening spell on the money but he had to wait until after 6pm for his reward - Michael Pepper bowled tifter and boots. The pitch was friendly and Dean Elgar (92) and Paul Walter, with an excellent 101, duly tucked in, adding 183 for the first wicket. Surrey’s bowlers clawed back in the afternoon leaving the match evenly poised.
Joe Root, too, was making his County Championship debut for the summer, Yorkshire cap pulled tight, scooping up a bread and butter edge from James Coles at first slip and trundling through five overs. Yorkshire’s bowlers were thwarted by a merry sixth-wicket partnership between Sussex’s Tom Price (93) and John Simpson - who reached his hundred off the day’s penultimate ball.
Josh Tongue grabbed five wickets at Trent Bridge, for the fourth time in just eight first-class games for Nottinghamshire, but Warwickshire kept their nerve. Tongue fired down some brutish balls, though Beau Webster may regret the whooping drive at a wide one which zipped into his own stumps. Ed Barnard, visibly pained from the non-striker’s end, went on to an impressive 134 not out, Chris Woakes made 64.
Zak Crawley batted prettily for 27 before he was subsumed into Kent’s dismal collapse to 99 for seven, after choosing to bat at New Road. The lower order spruced things up, Matt Milnes last man standing on an undefeated fifty. Beyers Swanepoel, belatedly in Worcestershire colours after his plane flight fiasco, grabbed three wickets.
Marcus Harris, with his second century of the season, once again propped up Lancashire, against Durham; and Kiran Carlson did the same as Glamorgan fought back against Leicestershire, until he set off too eagerly and was run out, scrambling back, for 95, flat on his face for five seconds of disbelief. Sean Dickson was also out just short of a century.
At the County Ground, Anuj Dal slipped in his run up, injuring his ankle, and had to be carried off the pitch on a stretcher – Luis Reece his injury replacement. Shoaib Bashir, playing in his third match of the season for Derbyshire and getting overs under his belt at last, picked up two wickets, but Miles Hammond starred for Gloucestershire with 140 not out.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 334-7 v Leicestershire
Trent Bridge: Notts v Warwickshire 375-8
The Oval: Surrey v Essex 325-6
Headingley: Yorkshire v Sussex 373-6
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Gloucestershire 287-6
Riverside: Durham v Lancashire 356-7
New Road: Worcestershire 94-1 v Kent 196
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Preamble
Good morning! There’s a queue outside the Hobbs Gate already. A huddle of caps and picnic bags in sight of the red-brick Surrey pavilion adorned with giant pictures of Rory Burns and Bryony Smith. It’s a happy sight this sunny morning.
Play starts here at The Oval, and around all the grounds at 11am, do join us for some Saturday cricket.
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