Muyeye gives Kent glimmer of hope against Worcestershire
Tawanda Muyeye tailored a maiden double century of sparkling quality to lift Kent from the depths of the doldrums to a lead of 77 and a hair’s breadth of a chance going into the final day. Muyeye, who came to England as a refugee from Zimbabwe, was in sparkling form, threading the innings together with stout support from Harry Finch, and jigging with joy as he reached 200. He was finally caught for 211 off 279 balls in the final over of the day. “Some of the boys have never seen me that happy because I’m usually quite reserved and quite quiet,” he said afterwards. “I struggled a lot [this season] and I just never ever saw any light at the end of the tunnel…for me to play like that over the last two days has made me so happy.”
Nineteen-year-old Daniel Hogg grabbed four wickets on his first-class debut to help Durham stride towards victory at Chester-le-Street. Hogg was given the new ball in the absence of Neil Wagner with a shoulder injury, and chipped away as Notts were asked to follow on. A doughty partnership of 96 between Matthew Montgomery and Jack Haynes frustrated Durham in the afternoon, but an evening wobble left Notts still 90 runs adrift with only four wickets remaining.
Runs a-go-go at Bristol where both Ben Charlesworth and James Bracey made delightful career-best double centuries. The pair enjoyed Leicestershire’s bowling on a pancake pitch during a stand of 290. It was Bracey’s fourth century of a prolific summer.
On-loan spinner Jack Morley gave Derbyshire real hope of a red-ball win at home for the first time since August 2019. Morley grabbed three for 35 to leave Glamorgan seven wickets down and still 25 runs behind. Meanwhile Yorkshire could smell salty victory at Scarborough, though Sussex fought valiantly. They need another 75 to win, eight wickets left.
Alex Davies smashed an unbeaten 109 at a damp Edgbaston to give Warwickshire a lead of 277 going into the final day, though thoughts of a declaration might be muddied by the memory of Somerset chasing down 410 at their previous meeting. Rain continued to thwart Essex’s hopes down in Southampton. Tom Westley declared at 438 for eight but Toby Albert and Nick Gubbins then drew the shutters for Hampshire. Only 10.2 overs were possible at The Oval where leaders Surrey winkled out Luke Wells.
Updated
A day of rain and double centuries, with Derbyshire in sight of a home red-ball win at last. We’ll be back tomorrow, thanks for all your messages – good night!
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
New Road: Worcestershire 447 v Kent 171 and 353-8
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 337 and 179-5 v Somerset 239
The Oval: Surrey 444-9 v Lancashire 204 and 26-1
Southampton: Hampshire 40-1 v Essex 438-8dec
Chester-le-Street: Durham 531-7 dec v Nottinghamshire 229 and 212-6
DIVISION TWO
Merchant Taylor’s School: Middlesex 250-7 v Northamptonshire 207 no play on Saturday.
North Marine Road: Yorkshire 326 and 28-2 v Sussex 189 and 239
County Ground: Derbyshire 429 v Glamorgan 168 and 236-7
Bristol: Gloucestershire 544-4dec v Leicestershire 402 and 41-0
With the umpires looking at the skies at The Oval, time for me to write up for the paper. Do chatter on BTL.
Switch on The Oval stream – Lancs are already a wicket down. Wells bowled by old boy Jordan Clark, for 4. Lancs 15-1.
Yorkshire on the charge – Sussex now seven down as Carson is caught, a third catch for Bairstow. The lead just 52.
And progress at last at the County Ground – Ingram bowled after a doughty 53. Cooke joins an uncharacteristically patient Carlson. Glam 187-4, trail by 78.
A double century for Ben Charlesworth!
A maiden 150 becomes a maiden double century! A smashing innings and the second double century of the round.
Bracey still unbeaten on 163, Glos 476-4.
Oh dear, now Hudson-Prentice is run out for six. Sussex 179-6.
A nifty bit of juggling by YJB with the gloves as Tom Alsop’s 61 is strangled, trying to cut Moriarty at North Marine Road. End of a stout 36 over partnership between himAlsop and Simpson (36 not out). Sussex 178-5, a fragile lead of 40.
Our first wicket this evening 🤹 https://t.co/zrMg2AHWVY pic.twitter.com/el4vqFjTqX
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) August 24, 2024
The covers are coming off at The Oval
22 overs left. Good luck Lancashire babes in the wood.
150 for Muyeye!
Who needs Zak Crawley?! Muyeye has slowed down a little, though not much. Has found a doughty partner in Finch (24 off 82) too. Kent 239-4, trailing Worcs only by 37. The forecast for New Road tomorrow? Game on. Sunny spells to start but cloud arriving in the morning, which could provide isolated light showers. Some brightness emerging into the afternoon. Another blustery day and still feeling rather cool. Maximum temperature 18 °C.
Time for a quick cup of tea – back shortly!
Tea-time-ish scores
DIVISION ONE
New Road: Worcestershire 447 v Kent 171 and 221-4
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 337 and 83-2 v Somerset 239
The Oval: Surrey 444-9 v Lancashire 204 and 4-0 no play yet today
Southampton: Hampshire v Essex 404-8 no play yet today
Chester-le-Street: Durham 531-7 dec v Nottinghamshire 229 and 125-4
DIVISION TWO
Merchant Taylor’s School: Middlesex 250-7 v Northamptonshire 207 no play on Saturday.
North Marine Road: Yorkshire 326 v Sussex 189 and 164-4
County Ground: Derbyshire 429 v Glamorgan 168 and 153-3
Bristol: Gloucestershire 390-3 v Leicestershire 402
50 for Tom Alsop!
Now the highest scorer in both innings. A considerable obstacle to Yorkshire’s victory march. Sussex now 12 runs in front.
In Division One, Warwicks are rebuilding after losing Yates and Rhodes cheaply, 59-2, a lead of 157 over Somerset. And at CLS, Notts are in big trouble (especially with no play yet at The Oval), now four down, still 178 behind.
100 for James Bracey!
His fourth of what has been a cracking season – Gloucestershire having fun on the best pitch of the round, now 380-3, just 22 behind Leicestershire. Young Charlesworth just a sniff away from a double-century as well.
Muyeye bats on, now 130 not out. Here is the run that took him to three figures:
This is what it means 👏
— Kent Cricket (@KentCricket) August 24, 2024
📲 LIVE Match Centre: https://t.co/PZzyCYwbrl https://t.co/mrXYVCaCsj pic.twitter.com/g6BzNTlznZ
Sussex frustrating Yorkshire at North Marine Road, Alsop and Simpson have put on 43 now, the deficit down to ten as they take a little light refreshement.
How are Derbyshire doing in their quest for their first home win for 1802 days? Carlson and Ingram have not read the script and have knucked down. Glam 104-3, 158 behind.
No play today at Merchant Taylor's School
Persistent drizzle rules out any Saturday action for Middlesex or Northants.
A hundred for Tawanda Muyeye!
Definitely not going down quietly. A second hundred of his career for the rather magnificent Tawanda Muyeye – 14 fours, two sixes. He celebrates with a little bow. A much better effort by Kent this time around – 163 for three, but still 112 behind Worcestershire.
In the light of Zimbabwe’s Test next year, I did a quick google. At 15, Muyeye was a reserve for Zimbabwe’s 2018 U19 World Cup squad.
In Division Two, nothing doing at Merchant Taylor’s but Yorkshire continue to press Sussex at Scarborough, James Coles bowled by Jordan Thompson for 13. Sussex 94-4, still 45 away from parity.
Ben Charlesworth and James Bracey continue to make hay against Leicestershire and have put on 149 for the fourth wicket at Bristol, Gloucs now 305-3. Charlesworth 148 and Bracey 80.
And action at the County Ground where Derbyshire are doing their best to soothe the angst of their supporters BTL. Glamorgan have lost Billy Root, Kellaway and Northeast since play restarted. Glam 70-3, still 191 behind.
A trip round the Division One grounds, where there is only action at New Road and Chester-le-Street.
A late start at New Road, but an early wicket for Worcestershire – where Leaning has been lbw to end-of-season signing New Zealand’s James Hartshorn. Muyeye ping-pongs onwards, in sight of a run-a-ball century. Kent 127-3, deficit reduced to 149.
Up at CLS, Freddie McCann has joined HH back in the pavilion after a five-ball duck. Notts 89-2 and still over 200 behind.
Things are looking up after lunch – play everywhere except Edgbaston, The Oval, Southampton and Merchant Taylor’s.
There’s even blue sky out of my Manchester window.
Retirements and transfers Mark 2
With thanks to BTL (keep them coming).
Retirements: Joe Leach (Worcestershire)
Transfers: Northamptonshire’s Emilio Gay to join Durham on three-year deal, Warwickshire’s Will Rhodes to join him at Chester le Street at the end of the season; Mason Crane has signed for Glamorgan for three years after being there on loan; Middlesex’s Ethan Bamber to join Warwickshire on a three-year deal and his teammate Martin Andersson to join Derbyshire on a two-year deal, Durham’s Michael Jones to Lancashire on a three-year deal; Yorkshire’s Dom Leech to Northants on a three year deal; Yorkshire’s Matt Fisher to tbc (probably Surrey).
Coach/director of cricket movements: Ottis Gibson to leave Yorkshire.
Time for a birthday (not mine) fry up for lunch, back soon!
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
New Road: Worcestershire 447 v Kent 171 and 104-2 no play yet today
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 337 and 27-1 v Somerset 239 no play yet today
The Oval: Surrey 444-9 v Lancashire 204 and 4-0 no play yet today
Southampton: Hampshire v Essex 404-8 no play yet today
Chester-le-Street: Durham 531-7 dec v Nottinghamshire 229 and 56-1
DIVISION TWO
Merchant Taylor’s School: Middlesex 250-7 v Northamptonshire 207 no play yet today
North Marine Road: Yorkshire 326 v Sussex 189 and 64-3
County Ground: Derbyshire 429 v Glamorgan 168 and 39-0 no play yet today
Bristol: Gloucestershire 227-3 v Leicestershire 402 no play yet today
Has couldn’t believe what he’d done.
HOGGY with a huge breakthrough before lunch.☝️#ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/yVhAQJjWP1
— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) August 24, 2024
And another Tom bites the dust at North Marine Road, the smell of canteen gravy in his nostrils. Tom Clark snaffled by Bairstow behind the sticks after wafting carelessly at George Hill, who picks up his second wicket. Sussex 62-3, still 75 behind.
And the first ninepin falls at CLS. With lunch in sight HH feathers Hogg legside and into the gloves of Robinson for 34, Notts 56-1.
And the restart due at 1pm at New Road.
Weather watch
Damp.
Play at CLS and Scarborough.
Inspection at 1pm at Derby, play due to start at Edgbaston at 1.50pm (weather permitting). Prospects elsewhere unknown.
Bad news for Somerset Blast fans:
Riley Meredith has been called into the Australian IT20 squad for their upcoming series 👏
— Somerset Cricket 🏆 (@SomersetCCC) August 24, 2024
Riley will now be unavailable for Somerset’s Vitality Blast quarter-final against Northants Steelbacks
If Somerset qualify for Finals Day Riley would be available#WeAreSomerset
With half an hour to lunch, Tom Haines has a flash at George Hill and becomes a second catch for Bean. Sussex will do well to get out of this one, 42-1 and still 95 behind. They now throw in a near run-out to keep things interesting.
A perfect start for George Hill 🙌 https://t.co/T3MWHP0elp pic.twitter.com/HO0GHHgxvX
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) August 24, 2024
Updated
The rain has started in Manchester, just in time for the United kick off.
Play at Scarborough too, where Sussex have lost Daniel Hughes, first innings fifty under his belt, for 12. Coad the wicket taker. Sussex still trail by 95 runs.
Notts are following on
With a first-innings lead of 302, Durham invite Notts to have another go. This is dangerous territory for Notts, sixth in the Division One table, but only 11 points lie between them and Worcs, who currently sit in the second relegation slot.
Four wickets for Wagner, two wickets each for Callum Parkinson and Ben Raine.
My son tells me that one of the Test umpire’s is wearing carbon-plated running shoes – things have moved on a bit since Dickie Bird’s plimsolls.
Play at Chester le Street
They’ve made it on to the field at CLS, but Durham are without their main strike bowler Neil Wagner, who is having an MRI scan after slipping and injuring his shoulder yesterday. Ben Raine has already removed Lyndon James, for 56, after Ollie Robinson (that one) dropped him off Callum Parkinson but caught him the next over. Notts 228-9, still a mountainous 303 behind.
Rain stops play
As rain delays the start of play everywhere apart from Manchester (and for a brief period, Scarborough), an email drops from Tim Maitland. Good morning!
“As someone whose childhood was occasionally brightened by the sight of David Shepherd’s ample figure jiggling unfeasibly as he hopped superstitiously when the scoreboard ticked over to that magic number Nelson, I’ve been saddened to see that peculiarity drifting out of the game.
”But yesterday might have been the greatest day for Nelson since the Battle of Trafalgar: Jamie Smith’s maiden test century brutally cut short with three ones on the board and Surrey losing not one, but two wickets with quadruple Nelson up.
”The mind of Surrey captain Rory Burns must have been addled by the 348 balls he’d faced for his 237 runs, because declaring at 444-9 and denying Tom Hartley the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of a quadruple Nelson hat-trick was an act of rank cowardice that, in better times, would have been deserving of a court martial and a firing squad.”
Updated
Retirements and transfers
With just a month or so of the season to go, please throw names my way for a comprehensive list.
This is my starter for ten:
Retirements: Joe Leach (Worcestershire)
Transfers: Northamptonshire’s Emilio Gay to join Durham on three-year deal, Warwickshire’s Will Rhodes to join him at Chester le Street at the end of the season; Mason Crane has signed for Glamorgan for three years after being there on loan; Middlesex’s Ethan Bamber to join Warwickshire on a three-year deal and his teammate Martin Andersson to join Derbyshire on a two-year deal.
Updated
Essex’s Dean Elgar, a centurion himself, was full of praise for Jordan Cox’s hundred last night:
“Jordan is one of the most special cricketers in England at the moment. We are very grateful to have him playing in this game – I guess it is England’s loss they didn’t play him.
“It is our gain to have Coxy around. He’s been in amazing form for us through the whole season. The selection for the Test squad is something that he’s been working towards.”
And Rory Burns paid tribute to Graham Thorpe after making his highest first-class score, against Lancashire:
“It is nice in a game that is being played in Graham Thorpe’s memory to get my career-best score.
“Thorpey had a big influence on my career, both as a coach here at Surrey and when I played for England, so it is special to do well.
“It was also very enjoyable batting in a long partnership with Ben (Foakes). We always seem to bat well together and hopefully our stand has helped to set us up for a win in this game.
“I declared to give us eight overs to try to get in among them again in their second innings this evening but the bad light forced us off so that is a bit disappointing. But we have to concentrate on taking ten wickets and try to get over the line in the match, whether there is rain on tomorrow’s third day forecast or not.”
“A world-class player for England over a long period of time”
It won’t be a surprise to Surrey fans how easily Jamie Smith has taken to Test cricket.
Injury news: Mark Wood
Bad news for Durham, Mark Wood won’t take the field today at the Old Trafford Test after picking up a thigh injury.
Friday's round-up
While Jamie Smith was making hay at Old Trafford, the country’s other wicketkeepers flexed their wrists in the County Championship.
Jonny Bairstow bristled with intent as he marched out like a soldier in burning boots at North Marine Road. His boundary-heavy 57 delighted supporters sitting on the wooden-slatted benches in the face of a mischievous wind, but he was one of five players to fall to Jack Carson, and his wicket precipitated a middle-order collapse. Still, Yorkshire have a valuable first-innings lead over Sussex.
Jordan Cox, released by England on the eve of the Test, slammed a vivacious 141 off just 124 balls on a slow Southampton pitch, after Essex were inserted by Hampshire’s James Vince. Cox took the tempo, which had been slow and steady in the hands of Dean Elgar and Tom Westley, and wrestled it into a galloping pony. Alongside, Elgar fashioned an elegant third hundred of the summer, finally out for 136. But with the first day lost to rain – and terrible weather predicted for Saturday – Essex will need the game to fast-forward on Sunday to keep leaders Surrey in near sight.
At the Oval, where Surrey ground Lancashire’s attack into flour, Ben Foakes made his highest score of the summer, a classy 82 against a rosy-cheeked attack of ingenues. But the drinks were on home side’s captain, Rory Burns, who hit a fluent and career best score of 227 as Surrey declared on 444. And James Rew made 49 at Edgbaston, bolstering Somerset’s middle order with Kasey Aldridge, but Ed Barnard’s five-fer ensured Warwickshire finished on top.
At the other end of the Division One table, Kent’s second innings started disastrously when Ben Compton was run out for a duck, though his opening partner Tawanda Muyeye finished unbeaten on 80. This after Worcestershire had knocked up a lead of 276, Akeem Jordan finishing with five wickets on his Kent debut.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
New Road: Worcestershire 447 v Kent 171 and 104-2
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 337 and 27-1 v Somerset 239
The Oval: Surrey 444-9 v Lancashire 204 and 4-0
Southampton: Hampshire v Essex 404-8
Chester-le-Street: Durham 531-7 dec v Nottinghamshire 220-8
DIVISION TWO
Merchant Taylor’s School: Middlesex 250-7 v Northamptonshire 207
North Marine Road: Yorkshire 326 v Sussex 189 and 26-0
County Ground: Derbyshire 429 v Glamorgan 168 and 39-0
Bristol: Gloucestershire 227-3 v Leicestershire 402
Preamble
Good Saturday morning to you! Hope your Friday night was worth waiting for. Around the grounds, time to push on as day three dawns.
If you’re rolling along to the Test at Old Trafford, the weather is perky, for now. If you’re heading elsewhere, bring waterproofs. The Met Office’s comforting words: Heavy rain moves across the south through the morning, clearing the southeast by the afternoon. Sunshine and heavy showers follow, with winds increasing in the north to begin with but turning drier in the southwest later. Feeling cooler.
