Roundup: Amla and Geddes power Surrey to commanding score
Two superb centuries, by Surrey old and Surrey young, swept the Division One leaders past 400 and to maximum batting points. Hashim Amla, 39, had been averaging 21 this season but on a good pitch, against a weary and sometime wayward Kent bowling attack, form suddenly hit his veins, ball yomping back over the boundary, easy as you like.
At the other end Ben Geddes, just 20 and in only his third Championship game, made his first Championship century. Both fell for 124, and were ushered off to standing ovations from an excellent crowd sprinkled liberally about The Oval and blissed out by June.
Jamie Smith also raced to fifty, before being bowled in the last over of the day, and with Sam Curran coming on like a super sub, screaming to an unbeaten 26-ball fifty with a six off Jacob Duffy, things had progressed a quite a lick. They too play Baz-ball, who toil in the County Championship. It was a long day for Kent captain Jack Leaning, who had looked at the green-tinged pitch and plumped for a bowl.
Things proceeded nearly as quickly at Northampton, where Emilio Gay and Josh Cobb jogged to rapid half centuries against the county champions; while Rob Keogh blasted 130 in quick-time. A late unbeaten 55 from Lewis McManus rubbed salt in the eye.
At Chelmsford, four late wickets by Simon Harmer on a spin-friendly surface had Hampshire in a fix at 68 for six. Earlier in the day they had been cock-a-hoop to have Essex 105 for seven, until Shane Snater, fresh from an England mauling with the Netherlands, made a free-flowing 71.
Derbyshire’s Shan Masood became the first player to pass a thousand runs in 2022 during his 46 against Sussex, lbw to the returning Steven Finn, while Wayne Madsen finished unbeaten on 171.
Haseeb Hameed picked up his second century of the season for Nottinghamshire, in the top of Division Two table clash against Middlesex, building a firm base for Lyndon James and Steven Mullney to put on 151 for the fourth wicket.
Three wickets for left-armer Jack Morley gave Lancashire the upper hand against Gloucestershire at Bristol, despite a hundred from Chris Dent; and Ed Barnard saved the day for Worcestershire yet again, with a brilliant 131 against Glamorgan, picking up the debris from 63 for five. Joe Leach then took three for 21 to reduce Glamorgan to 32 for three.
Superb batting here at The Oval, topped off by a cameo for the ages by Sam Curran. Hundreds too for Haseeb Hameed, Chris Dent, Rob Keogh, Wayne Madsen and Ed Barnard. And wickets, at last, for Simon Harmer. The summer has properly started. I’ll be back tomorrow, till then, take it easy.
Right, as Surrey surf towards 400, I need to write this up for the paper. Pls keep updating BTL, if you haven’t turned over to the England chase (they’re doing alright).
In Division Two, Lyndon James and Steven Mullaney have put Notts in an excellent position, both 57 not out from 323-4. Hameed bowled for 101.
Madsen on the brink of 160 at Hove, Dal 37 not out; Derbys 309-5.
And that Ed Barnard has skipped to 94 not out; Worcs 224-7.
And SIX! for Geddes who eyes up a fat wide one and heaves into a pull.
Hampshire, we’ll raise you, say Essex. Hant 4-1, Organ Cooked for a duck.
And, with a neat drive, a debut Championship hundred for Geddes at The Oval! He gets a hug from Jamie Smith and applause from round the ground.
England’s chase car has hit the tacks: Crawley has followed Lees, driving to cover. England 56-2.
A lip-smacking straight drive from Jamie Smith to bring up the Surrey 300.
Elsewhere in Division One, Essex have been bowled out for 238, respectability courtesy of Shane Snater, who bashed a run a ball 71. Three wickets for Dawsom, Three for Abbott.
Chris Dent’s unbeaten 68 has put Gloucestershire in a sprightly position against Lancs: 170-3.
And a century for Rob Keogh at Northants, who have express-trained to 339-5 against Warwickshire.
Amla walks slowly off the The Oval, after a whisk to midwicket where a grateful Cox accepts the gift. A standing ovation after a classy knock. The gatekeeper closes the little wicker gate behind him: Sir, you’ve still got it. Is there another player on the circuit who wears No. 1 on his shirt? Surrey 284-3.
And on it goes, a pat of the gut after tea - the 200 partnership in 319 balls between Amla and Geddes.
Northants are out Surrey-ing Surrey, Baz-balling the County Champions to 300-5. 94 off 95 for Rob Keogh, while Gay showed the way with 70 off 79 and Cobb 88 off 103.
Tea-time scores
Division One
Chelmsford: Essex 194-8 v Hampshire
Bristol: Gloucestershire 147-2 v Lancashire
Northampton: Northants 300-5 v Warwicks
The Oval: Surrey 267--2 v Kent
Division Two
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 245-4 v Middlesex
Hove: Sussex v Derbyshire 219-5
New Road: Worcestershire 172-5 v Glamorgan Rain stopped play
A good point from Romeo:
“Sophia Gardens is ‘in CARDIFF’ and you can walk to it from the central station in twenty minutes, and it’s a nice walk along the riverbank and through the park.”
A hundred for Has
Well played that man! Notts 234-4. What a 12 months he’s had. From England recall to The Ashes debacle and back to the Championship. Ride the wave.
And well played Surrey CCC:
A #dementia friendly day at the cricket courtesy of @surreycricket. So important to make top class sport available to all. Met one man who hasn’t felt able to watch the sport he loves for years. #SportUnitedAgainstDementia pic.twitter.com/apli76DotC
— Duncan Jones (@duncanjones64) June 26, 2022
News from Headingley, where it is game on:
Jack Leach has 10 for the match and England are chasing 296 to win the third Test ... got a great match on our hands here
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) June 26, 2022
And The Oval, where Paul has sourced chocolate cake.
Some excellent on-the-spot reporting:
@tjaldred I hope you noticed Joe Denly's magnificent keepy-uppy skills in the field just now that earned a round of applause from a knowledgeable Oval crowd. Darren Stevens is sat near me and shouted "Stop posing" at Denly.
— Richard Dixon (@drdickdixon) June 26, 2022
Unbelievable that Hashim Amla has been averaging 21 this season, he’s hitting the ball like a man with form flowing through his veins.
There’s something about The Oval that, despite its size, it feels more intimate than the other Test grounds on a day of county cricket. Paul Edwards’ reasoning is that it is more embedded in the city than any other Test ground - all the others, eg Headingley, Edgbaston, are in a part of the city. The Oval is just in LONDON.
Updated
A hundred from Hashim Amla
Two fours in a row, and that’s his first Surrey hundred of the season, gorgeously eased away - a hug and a modest raise of the bat. Beautiful.
An inevitable fifty for Ed Barnard at New Road - Worcs 154-5 (from 63-5)
And look at this smash n grab from Sam Robson at Trent Bridge, Notts 199-3. Has just 11 short of his second century of the season.
😱 | ROBBOOOOOOOOOOOOO
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) June 26, 2022
What sublime reactions from Sam Robson at slip to remove Joe Clarke!
Sensational grab 👀#OneMiddlesex pic.twitter.com/zmo8ognsK3
And a lovely man from Surrey walks in and loans us a wine gum each.
Kent fans look away now.
And on his Oval Championship debut, fifty to 20 year old Ben Geddes : 113 balls, 9 fours, and a master at the other end. Right, what’s happening round the grounds?
The day is long and looking longer for Kent. Geddes gets a (half) life as Linde can’t grab on at backward point. Surrey 205-2 an hour after lunch. Anyone who is a frequent Oval visitor - is this a usual Sunday crowd? Very impressive.
Ed Barnard, Ed Barnard - something intelligent and witty, Ed Barnard. Anyway, he’s batting like a petit prince again and it’s a travesty if he moves to Warwickshire - though who can blame him for wanting the big time. He’s zipped along to 41 not out, a partnership of 55 with Roderick. Worcs 128-5.
Squiff through the slips and that’s fifty for Hashim Amla, 71 balls, seven fours. Fifties too for Haseeb Hameed at Trent Bridge (Notts 141-2) and Derbyshire thoroughbred Wayne Madsen. Derbys 138-4.
This good sense, it’s catching.
Challenge set by Nottinghamshire, challenge accepted by Yorkshire... free entry for day five! https://t.co/J2t1HmBhSR
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) June 26, 2022
@tjaldred yet more woe for the Kent bowlers. What a grim season - yet another 500+ total looms. I know it looks a bit green, but what was Leaning thinking?
— Andrew Harrison (@andyhamamatsu) June 26, 2022
Aye. Defensive move I suppose. Perhaps a desperate one - a loss here and a win for Northants (a game in hand) and Kent are down in the doldrums with Somerset and Gloucestershire.
Sorry to be late back to the party, was on a thwarted quest for an ice-cream or a chocolate bar.
With genuinely hordes of people gathering on The Oval turf - to look at the pitch and play some cricket, time for me to grab something to eat. Back soon!
Lunchtime scores
Division One
Chelmsford: Essex 72-5 v Hampshire
Bristol: Gloucestershire 30-0 v Lancashire
Northampton: Northants 124-3 v Warwicks
The Oval: Surrey 137-2 v Kent
Division Two
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 120-2 v Middlesex
Hove: Sussex v Derbyshire 99-4
New Road: Worcestershire 84-5 v Glamorgan
Today at The Oval, there’s a partnership between the Alzheimer’s Society and Surrey CCC. Anyone with dementia living locally, plus their families, can apply for complimentary tickets at The Oval over the next four days. Please email tpeters@surreycricket.com for further details.
Surrey getting some nice juicy pre-lunch snifters here. Six Kent bowlers in action before lunch, 132-2.
Essex in a spot of trouble, two wickets falling in three balls to Ian Holland: Walter for 24 and Pepper on nought. Westley holding on desperately till sandwiches, not out 32. Essex 70-5.
Key event
In Division Two:
Notts have recovered from the early loss of Slater to TRJ, currently 106-2: 37 to Has, 17 to Clarke.
Plucky Sussex have reduced Derbyshire to 85-4: a wicket each for Finn and Haines, two to Hunt. Masood out for 46, shortly after passing the thousand run threshold.
Worcestershire, whose season is sinking into the bog, 67-5 against Glamorgan. What can super-saviour Barnard (10 not out) do?
While at The Oval, Hashim Amla has just passed 19,000 first-class runs.
A thousand runs for Shan Masood!
Derbyshire’s dead cert falls for 46, lbw to Steven Finn, but not before he clocks up four figures for the season - and wins the race. A dream signing, and a great double act with Mickey Arthur.
As a lovely straight drive by Hashim Amla ushers in the afternoon - time to potter round the grounds:
Essex in trouble, 39-3, with Brown, Cook and Lawrence all back in the pavilion. A wicket each for Abbott, Barker and Wheal.
Good to see Emilio Gay doing his thing at Northampton, 40 not out off 56 balls. Vasconcelos and Rickelton gone cheaply. Northants 75-2.
Rain has put a dampner on events at Bristol - 12-0.
And top-of-the-table Surrey 89-2 at The Oval.
And another! Buns caught down the leg side off Pettman - a flying catch by Robinson. Surrey 70-2.
Updated
No sign of Moriarty or Virdi in the Championship at all this season. Moriarty has played a few T20s but nothing at all for Virdi. Time to go on loan? And that’s a wicket! Patel snaffled off Milnes for 40. Surrey 64-1.
It is raining at Bristol, with Gloucestershire resting their boots at 8-0.
Big love in the Surrey press box for Daniel Worrall, rave reviews all round. “ A brisk fast medium with a short ball to shake people up.”
Injuries galore for Kent: Gilchrist, Stevens and Podmore injured and Surrey tucking in, nice and easy, 41-0 after seven overs. A nice crowd, sunning themselves.
Surrey rattling along at a good pace, 28-0 after just 20 minutes. Elsewhere round the grounds, wickets are wobbling: at New Road (Worcs 10-2), Chelmsford (Essex 7-1), Northampton (Northants 13-1), Hove (17-1) and at the big boys top of the table Division 2 clash at Trent Bridge (Notts 9-1).
Division Two Table
Nottinghamshire (7) 131
Middlesex (7) 121
Glamorgan (7) 104
Derbyshire (7) 104
Worcestershire (7) 103
Durham (8) 98
Sussex (7) 58
Leicestershire (8) 53
Division One Table
Surrey (7) 127
Hampshire (7) 124
Lancashire (7) 108
Yorkshire (7) 96
Warwickshire (7) 78
Essex (6) 76
Kent (7) 72
Northants (6) 66
Somerset (7) 61
Gloucestershire (7) 41
Also sending a loving CCLive! shout out to cricket writer John Stern and his gorgeous new wife Suzanne, who had a wonderful wedding yesterday in London.
Here, Kent won the toss and will field.
So much good reading to accompany your Sunday morning coffee.
New era England:
More Bazball:
And Azeem Rafiq’s first return to Headingley since his devastating testimony at the Houses of Parliament:
Fixtures
Division One
Chelmsford: Essex v Hampshire
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Lancashire
Northampton: Northants v Warwicks
The Oval: Surrey v Kent
Division Two
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Middlesex
Hove: Sussex v Derbyshire
New Road: Worcestershire v Glamorgan
Preamble
Good morning from The Oval! It’s a gorgeous day and Kent and Surrey are out in the nets on the right of the ground going through their paces. The hot team news from south London is that Sam Billings has been fast-tracked up to Headingley as a like-for-like replacement for Ben Foakes, who has gone down with Covid.
Eight games in progress in this round of Championship matches, and the first since the midsummer sun started its weary journey towards winter.
