Hampshire make hay against Surrey amid washouts
Hampshire, so the story going round the Oval went, refused Pep Guardiola the penthouse suite when Manchester City stayed at Rose Bowl’s Hilton hotel.
The reason? Nobody moves Mohammad Abbas out of his rooms. And Abbas rewarded such due reverence by sliding in like running water from the Vauxhall End, weaving the ball with complete mastery.
The wind that rattled the flags on the pavilion was both tenacious and bloody cold, with Hampshire’s fielders looking pained by their time on the field. Abbas dismissed both Rory Burns and Dom Sibley, with Kyle Abbott, a quad bike of a man, proving equally difficult to play. Ollie Pope, in particular, was lucky to escape multiple lbw shouts, as well as surviving a chance flying between the slips when he had only four. Ryan Patel was athletically swallowed by James Vince, but Pope survived till stumps and with him Surrey’s hopes of parity and beyond.
It was an on-off day at Chelmsford, where two early wickets for a short-sleeved Jimmy Anderson kept Lancashire in good heart. But a third successive 50 from Matthew Critchley alongside some admirable glue by the tail inched Essex to a lead of 12. The pendulum swung when, after the early dismissal of Luke Wells, Keaton Jennings and Josh Bohannon picked their way carefully through till stumps.
Ben Raine and Paul Coughlin collected 101 for the eighth wicket, collecting a third batting point, before Durham declared at The Riverside. Matthew Potts grabbed a couple of wickets in Worcestershire’s reply, including the galloping Ed Pollock.
Elsewhere, rain won the day, with no play at all at Bristol, Grace Road, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge or Northampton. While at Eden Gardens, Harry Brook juggernauted the first century of the 2023 IPL, 100 not out, off 55 balls, for Sunrisers Hyderabad in their victory.
Updated
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 219 v Lancashire 207 and 82-1 rain stopped play
The County Ground: Northants 111-3 v Middlesex 149 play abandoned for the day without a ball bowled
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 256 v Somerset 28-2 play abandoned for the day without a ball bowled
The Oval: Surrey 153-4 v Hampshire 254 bad light stopped play
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 367-3 v Kent play abandoned for the day without a ball bowled
DIVISION TWO
Chester-le-Street: Durham 425-9dec v Worcestershire 96-2 rain stopped play
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Yorkshire – play abandoned for the day without a ball bowled
Grace Road: Leicestershire 243-2 v Derbyshire play abandoned for the day without a ball bowled
Stumps at The Oval, stumps at Chelmsford, and that’s the Championship door bolted for the day. Thanks for sticking with us through the showers, we’ll be back tomorrow., when the forecast is a happier one. Good night!
In the south London gloom, imagine a pea-souper, Jordan Clark lunges forward to one that nips in and the ball thuds into the pads. Surrey 134-4.
They’re back on at The Oval, with 30 overs optimistically pencilled in for the day. They’ve called things off at The County Ground. And Hampshire continue to plug away at Chelmsford, Lancs 44-1, with Harmer yet to bowl.
I’m going to have to think about writing up for the paper now, but any stragglers do keep an eye on The Oval and Chelmsford BTL.
The umpires walk out in perfect step at The Oval, move about 20 metres then turn round and walk off. But off come the covers nevertheless.
And over at Eden Gardens, Harry Brook hits the first IPL hundred of the year. He gave up watching the rain fall at Bristol for that.
Harry Brook, turning out to be the 𝗦𝗮𝘂𝗰𝗲rer's stone 🪄
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) April 14, 2023
The 𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐈𝐏𝐋 💯 we all waited for 😍 | @Harry_Brook_88 pic.twitter.com/BV5Hc2Nm17
Updated
Tea-time scores/rainwatch
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 184-8 v Lancashire 207 and 35-1.
The County Ground: Northants 111-3 v Middlesex 149 no play yet today, restart due 4.45.
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 256 v Somerset 28-2 play abandoned for the day without a ball bowled
The Oval: Surrey 42-0 v Hampshire 254 bad light stopped play
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 367-3 v Kent play abandoned for the day without a ball bowled
DIVISION TWO
Chester-le-Street: Durham 425-9dec v Worcestershire 67-1 rain, inspection at 5pm
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Yorkshire – play abandoned for the day without a ball bowled
Grace Road: Leicestershire 243-2 v Derbyshire play abandoned for the day without a ball bowled
The covers are on at The Oval, and the rain has started. We fear that could be it for the day. And at Chelmsford they go off for tea, Lancs 35-1, lead by 23.
News on Adam Rossington – he is being assessed after being hit behind the stumps when keeping wicket for Essex.
So all eyes on Chelmsford, where Luke Wells improved marginally on his first-innings three before being lbw to Porter. Josh Bohannon takes a painful hit, also from Porter, which temporarily inconveniences him. Lancs 18-1.
Key event
Play abandoned for the day at Trent Bridge too
Writes David Horn. “Sorry for delay - got distracted by work. I know. Anyway, as a lad (and I’m talking about 35ish years ago) I’d get with a friend of mine during French lessons to put our not inconsiderable powers of prediction to use in identifying the ‘England XI in 5 years time’. We disagreed on a few contenders - but the one thing we were absolutely certain about was that the Bicknell Brothers would be opening the batting (Darren) and bowling (Martin) for years to come. Martin did get a crack - just one test I think, obviously - but Darren never did. He was relentless. Nearly 20,000 runs and not a single test cap.”
Ah well, have a lovely weekend.”
So true! Google tells me Darren is now the professional and cricket coach at Oakham School, and Chief Executive of the Belvoir Cricket and Countryside Trust, a charitable organisation which aims to provide cricket and other sporting activities for young people. Martin has a cricket academy for 7-14 year olds.
Under skies tending toward leaden, still lithe as a blade of grass, Mo Abbas floats in. Beats Jordan Clark’s bat. Surrey 129-3 …. and off they go for bad light.
“Hi”, writes John Starbuck. Hello!
“Just catching up to see if there’s any play at all today, with little expected anyway. One item from yesterday’s commentary at Trent Bridge: it seems you can put together an entire team of Toms from the current county championship. Don’t know who they’d play: perhaps a team of Bens and A. N. Others?”
At The Oval, groundsmen in dark anoraks with their hoods up are moving hoses from the pitch and it looks like we will have some play after an early tea break for rain.
Rain watch - nothing, anywhere.
Play has been abandoned without a ball bowled at Edgbaston, to join the days called off at Grace Road and Bristol. Inspections, inspections elsewhere. Even raining at Durham.
Rain at The Oval, rain at Chelmsford, where Essex have inched along to a lead of 12. Just eight balls possible in Lancs’ second innings. Essex have replaced Adam Rossington with Michael Pepper behind the stumps – presumably because of concussion, though I need to confirm that.
Smashing two-handed swoop by Vince in the slips to get rid of Patel. Pope still there, having had one life on four, 31 not out. Surrey 124-3.
Great story about Pep Guardiola and Mohammad Abbas and the penthouse suite at the Rosebowl.
"That's Mo Abbas' suite. Pep, you go down the hallway." 😂
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) April 14, 2023
The latest inductee into the WhatsApp Rumour Mill Hall of Fame, @cameronponsonby details an unlikely crossover involving Mohammad Abbas and Pep Guardiola.
Listen: https://t.co/bd2hnkMqlz
Watch: https://t.co/TOAScw3hgN pic.twitter.com/1isy3sXQDd
Round the grounds, still only play at The Oval, (Surrey 90-2); Chelmsford (Essex 203-8, just four behind Lancs, all power to Matt Critchley’s elbow, 71 not out, along with a very helpful 18 not out from Sam Cook) and The Riverside, where Worcs have lost gallop-a-long Pollock for 41, and the immovable Azhar is removed for 29. Both wickets to Potts. Worcs 96-2 – and actually they’ve gone off for rain.
Am going to have to beat a retreat from the outside press boxes at The Oval as Patel plays and misses at Abbott again. And again. Surrey will do well to survive till tea without collateral damage. I have no idea how Abbot is bowling in short sleeves, or how Hampshire are fielding without thick wool sweaters.
A bowling change at the Pavilion end as big Kyle Abbot winds up and makes three inch footprints into the grass. Three huge lbw appeals, none of which interest the umpire in the slightest. However, next over, Abbas makes the breakthrough, Burns caught behind for 45. Surrey 82-2.
Rain delay at Chelmsford – no play since lunch.
Moving like a mountain bike in need of oiling, Kyle Abbot takes large chunks out of the pitch in a tumbling pickup close to the rope.
Play abandoned for the day at Grace Road
Overnight showers on an already soggy outfield, plus more showers in the morning, ruled out any chance of play.
Really a decent turn-out at The Oval, considering the tenacity and chilliness of the wind. Scattered in clumps round the stands, more closely pressed in the pavilion. As Barker polishes the ball for Abbas, who slides in like running water from the Vauxhall end.
We restart at The Oval, the flags on top of the pavilion flapping like billyo. It doesn’t take long for Mohammad Abbas to weave his magic: Dom Sibley caught at second slip , before reluctantly making his way back up the dressing room steps. Ollie Pope plays and misses.
Updated
Re the Brendan McCullum gambling story – a fascinating read of a world I know nothing of.
You’ll see some 700 gambling adverts, more than six a minute, if you watch an average Premier League game. Each one is a potential hook into a life of addiction. Or for someone in recovery like myself, to be thrust back into that hell.
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) April 14, 2023
By @JamesGrimesGwL https://t.co/GkEGLxYZ9z
If anyone is in south London tomorrow, Scyld Berry will be at The Oval to sign copies of his pertinent new book on county cricket: Disappearing World: Our 18 first-class Cricket Counties.
More nearly men, and women, courtesy of Paul Frame.
Nearly man of test cricket:
Ryan ten Doeschate .
Nearly woman of test cricket:
Suzie Bates.
Updated
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 184-8 v Lancashire 207 all out
The County Ground: Northants 111-3 v Middlesex 149
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 256 v Somerset 28-2
The Oval: Surrey 42-0 v Hampshire 254
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 367-3 v Kent
DIVISION TWO
Chester-le-Street: Durham 425-9dec v Worcestershire 67-1
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Yorkshire – NO PLAY TODAY, WET OUTFIELD
Grace Road: Leicestershire 243-2 v Derbyshire
The rain has put Tim Maitland in pensive mode.
“Am I the only one who gets discombobulated by Sam Northeast’s name cropping up? Nothing against the man, but he really belongs at Durham not Glamorgan. Meanwhile Durham’s Johnny Bishnell should be a caddie and Matthew Potts’ future is in snooker. Ben Duckett is in the perfect spot opening against the harder bouncier ball.
”Further afield. there’s the current Chicago Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman who, obviously, should be with Houston..”
Updated
Gosh, Worcestershire are scoring quickly. Pollock and Libby have already knocked up 42 in just over five overs. To be precise, Pollock is scoring quickly – 33 off 22 balls, while Libby watches, a safe three under his belt. Shades of HH and Duckett yesterday.
A third consecutive fifty for Critchley as Essex continue their slow creep on Lancs – now only 28 behind, 20 minutes till lunch, three wickets in hand.
And in quick succession, from David Horn:
“Good afternoon Tanya. In response to Tom vd Gucht and batters who did not get recognised at test level, I present: JC Hildreth. 17,000+ runs at Somerset, 45 centuries, and perennial ‘nearly man’ of men’s test cricket. Such a shame he never got an opportunity. There must be more ... I will put my thinking cap on over lunch!”
Great shout! Though he did get a stand named after him.
Another email to enliven a wet morning. Hello Gary Naylor!
Hi Tanya.
Here’s an XI of nearly men just from Lancashire
Paul Horton
Alex Davies
Josh Bohannon
Steven Croft
Jonny Abrahams (capt)
Tom Moores (wk)
Jordan Clark
Kyle Hogg
Tom Hartley
Tom Bailey
Gary Keedy
More on the potential Saudi T20 league:
Exclusive - Saudi Arabia talking to IPL owners about setting up the world's richest T20 tournament in the gulf state, after forming commercial partnerships with ICC and BCCI https://t.co/wBiUHZsFei
— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) April 13, 2023
Durham, in their sprightly 2023 incarnation, declare – 425-9, the moment Ben Raine is out for 71. A good morning’s work.
Move over IPL…
Saudi Arabia seeks to set up world’s richest cricket competition: Report #SaudiArabia https://t.co/zzVYiVamTP
— Gulf Today (@gulftoday) April 14, 2023
At The Oval, they’re going to lunch at 12.30 – with a restart at 1.10pm.
Four wickets now for Jimmy, 44 not out for Critchley, as Essex shuffle towards Lancashire’s total .Essex 145-6, 62 behind.
Attention Sussex fans: apparently Ollie Robinson will be playing next week – and that after they bowled out Durham twice last week. Something they only managed once last season.
Updated
“Morning.” Hello Tom vd Gucht!
“I was interested in the talk regarding if Sam Hain will ever get the chance to represent England what with his phenomenal one day record and general all-round impressive stats. I then started thinking about all the other players who’ve never quite had the opportunity despite impressive domestic records and considered trying to put together a team of nearly men such as Keith Barker, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter, Ben Coad, Sam Northeast before running out of steam...
I found I could think of more bowlers than batters- perhaps symptomatic of England’s revolving door top order over the past decade in comparison to the steady reliability of Anderson and Broad bagsying two of the bowling berths automatically.”
Lists like this are a CCLive speciality.
An email from yesterday – apologies that I didn’t find it in time Jake Dodds.
“My son Bodhi’s first cricket experience. Remained asleep despite Broad having a chance spilled behind the stumps. Babies eh?!”
You can’t trust them with anything.
So just two games currently zipping along -at Chelmsford and at Durham, where Raine and Coughlin are proving a terrible irritation to Worcestershire – an eighth wicket partnership of 88.
At Chelmsford, Jimmy strikes early. Strikes twice. Dan Lawrence for 39, Adam Rossington for seven. Essex 116-5. And here at The Oval, down comes the south London rain – Surrey 42-0.
Rain watch
Delayed starts at Northants, Notts, Warwickshire, Leicester and, of course, Bristol – where play has been abandoned for the second day in a row.
It’s chilly but there are is a slither of sunshine over The Oval as Barker and Abbas do their stuff.
Interesting story.
Thanks to Essex for telling me something I didn’t know! Happy Vaisakhi to all those celebrating.
Happy Vaisakhi to everyone celebrating today! pic.twitter.com/lgzPyz4Ffw
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) April 14, 2023
Thursday's round-up
Seventy-eight years of experience stared down the pitch at each other at Chelmsford, where decades of clean and tidy bowling met the ageless knight.
Jimmy Anderson did neck exercises at the top of his mark, rhythm already established after Nick Browne had kindly shepherded the third ball of the innings into the hands of Luke Wells at slip in the deceptive April sunshine. There was time for Alastair Cook to purr his old mate through the covers for four before Anderson tethered his man, Cook exiting stage left for an lbw that technology may not have smiled at. All the cogs in the machinery seemed in good working order for the Ashes.
Earlier, Lancashire had opted to bat after winning the toss, but had to bank on a maiden fifty from their young wicketkeeper George Bell to inch their innings towards respectability. Sam Cook frisked five more wickets to the pleasure of the Essex CEO, John Stephenson, who said: “There’s no way England can ignore [him].” Simon Harmer fielded in a snood pulled up to his nose.
At The Oval, the 2022 champions, Surrey, were visited by likely pretenders Hampshire, who rescued their innings from the doldrums of 114 for six on a pitch where the ball nipped about like a rogue pea on a plate. Ben Brown, who fell five runs short of his hundred, and Keith Barker put on 96 for the seventh wicket, grinding runs and gathering a bonus point. Rory Burns and Dom Sibley saw Surrey through till stumps.
A career-best seven for 84 for Lewis Gregory, on a pitch the colour of a lime jelly, kept Somerset in contention at Trent Bridge. Haseeb Hameed and Ben Duckett– one careful and slow-flowering, sitting 28 balls on 0, the other attacking and lucky, reaching fifty with a reverse-swept six off Jack Leach – cantered to an opening partnership of 125 for Nottinghamshire.
Duckett was lbw to Craig Overton, who had earlier walked off the field after three overs, striking fear into the hearts of Somerset supporters. But it was Hameed’s wicket which precipitated a collapse of five for 22. Stuart Broad opened the bowling for Notts, and immediately had Tom Lammonby dropped behind the stumps.
Middlesex’s top order continued its impression of a dropped trifle, as Northamptonshire’s Ben Sanderson (three for 19) tucked in. Ryan Higgins was, once more, left to pick up the pieces, backed up by John Simpson – their only two players to make double figures.
Durham’s batters yet again started the round in fine fettle, this time against Worcestershire. David Bedingham, who at the start of the season expressed a wish to play for South Africa, made a glorious century.
Updated
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 98-3 v Lancashire 207 all out
The County Ground: Northants 111-3 v Middlesex 149
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 256 v Somerset 28-2
The Oval: Surrey 37-0 v Hampshire 254
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 367-3 v Kent
DIVISION TWO
Chester-le-Street: Durham 363-7 v Worcestershire
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Yorkshire – NO PLAY TODAY, WET OUTFIELD
Grace Road: Leicestershire 243-2 v Derbyshire
Preamble
Good morning! It’s dampish at The Oval, though we are hopeful of play starting on time. Around the grounds, the weather forecast is not overwhelming in its promise.
This afternoon will be largely cloudy in central and southern areas with spells of rain sweeping eastward. Turning sunny in the south-west later. Sunshine and showers elsewhere, these heavy at times.
Lots of action yesterday, except at Bristol where play has already been abandoned.
Updated
