Good night!
Not much to report on a wet sponge of a day. Play only at three games.
At Lord’s, Tim Murtagh pocketed two early wickets from the Nursery End, to make it five in his last match at home, before Will Rhodes (95) and Danny Briggs (71) put on 133 for the seventh wicket. Then the rain came down. Warwickshire put their feet up with a lead of 107. Ryan Higgins went off with a side strain, and Middlesex remain in relegation peril.
At The Oval, Karun Nair’s feisty and fun 144 not out kept Surrey at bay, his 114-run partnership with Tom Taylor the cause of much south London frustration. Nair had time to slash Tom Lawes for a joyous one-handed six before the bad light arrived, leaving Surrey looking over their shoulders at Essex.
At Chelmsford, second-placed Essex declared on 447 for 9, with three batting points in the bag – cancelled out by Surrey’s three bowling points at The Oval. Matt Critchley was unlucky to fall for 99; before Simon Harmer and Umesh Yadav played whoopee with big-hitting half centuries. Hampshire were 10-0 when the bad light fell. Essex, 18 points behind Surrey, need a win to be in with a chance of a realistic tilt at the title.
And that’s all from me. We’ll be back at The Oval, hopeful of some action, tomorrow. Till then, have a lovely evening.
Updated
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 447-9 dec v Hampshire 10-0 play abandoned for the day
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Nottinghamshire play abandoned for the day
Lord’s: Middlesex 121 v Warwickshire 228-6 play abandoned for the day
Taunton: Somerset 214-2 v Kent play abandoned for the day
The Oval: Surrey v Northamptonshire 351-9 play abandoned for the day
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Sussex play abandoned for the day
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Yorkshire 155-9 play abandoned for the day
New Road: Worcestershire 104-1 v Durham play abandoned for the day
And pouff, out goes the candle at Chelmsford as well. That’s play abandoned, everywhere, till tomorrow.
And at Lord’s, which leaves just Chelmsford holding up the lantern in the gloom.
Play off for the day at a very soggy Oval.
Latest - and probably terminal - scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 447-9 dec v Hampshire 10-0 rain stopped play
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Nottinghamshire play abandoned for the day
Lord’s: Middlesex 121 v Warwickshire 228-6
Taunton: Somerset 214-2 v Kent play abandoned for the day
The Oval: Surrey v Northamptonshire 351-9
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Sussex play abandoned for the day
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Yorkshire 155-9 play abandoned for the day
New Road: Worcestershire 104-1 v Durham play abandoned for the day
Five games abandoned for the day – at Taunton, Old Trafford, the County Ground, Grace Road and New Road – they haven’t even tossed up yet at Old Trafford or Derby.
Some news round the World Cup traps:
Tim Southee to have surgery on Thursday on his dislocated and fractured right thumb -pins and screws inserted – New Zealand will give him every chance to make the tournament.
South Africa are yet to make a decision on the fitness of quick bowlers Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala. The team are due to fly out to India on Saturday.
Jofra Archer will travel out with the England squad as a reserve, whilst he keeps working on his fitness.
Dark skies, torrential rain, covers laid out like a cube’s net.
So I’ll tell you about Jeremy’s memorial service instead. It was at St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, and was full of family, friends and colleagues. His brother Rod, and the Guardian’s ex-own Matthew Engel, spoke beautifully and the music was soaring and divine: Laudate dominum (Mozart), Es ist ein Ros entsprungen (Praetorius), Kyrie from St Nicholas Mass (Haydn) and Heil sei euch Geweihten (The Magic Flute, Mozart). Rest in peace Jeremy, and thank you.
If you prefer your delays with an international flavour, Rob is over on the OBO waiting for Zac Crawley’s debut as England captain.
Weather stops play... everywhere.
And now all the games are off.
Bad light hits The Oval, with Northants 351-9.
And Nair drives Lawes, uppishly, rakeishly, with one hand, for six.
Huge thanks to Rob S for stepping in. I’m back at The Oval where there is more than a sneeze of a crowd in, despite the dark, despite the floodlights. Northants have somehow found their inner steel and hauled themselves to 339-9 – thanks largely to Nair’s unbeaten 132.
Tanya is back, I am pleased to report, so I’ll leave you with the latest scores from around the grounds the Oval and Lord’s.
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 447-9 dec v Hampshire 10-0 rain stopped play
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Nottinghamshire no play before lunch
Lord’s: Middlesex 121 v Warwickshire 228-6
Taunton: Somerset 214-2 v Kent start delayed
The Oval: Surrey v Northamptonshire 338-9
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Sussex play abandoned
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Yorkshire 155-9 start delayed
New Road: Worcestershire 104-1 v Durham play abandoned
Play has been abandoned at New Road, where Worcestershire are playing Durham. Are? Were?
Northants 323-9 v Surrey
Karun Nair and Jack White are making Surrey wait at the Oval. Nair has piffed a couple of fours to move to 117 not out.
Warks 218-6 v Middx
Will Rhodes is ten away from a century at Lord’s, and Danny Briggs is giving him great support on 66 not out.
Hants 10-0 v Essex 447-9 dec: rain stopped play
After seven overs of Hampshire’s reply, the players are off at Chelmsford.
Two wickets in two balls for Jamie Overton at the Oval. Surrey needed that. He trapped Tom Taylor LBW for a pugnacious 66 and then bowled Ben Sanderson. Jack White survived the hat-trick ball so Northants are 307-9, with Karun Nair still there on 107.
Updated
Lunchtime reading
This is a brilliant interview by Tanya Aldred with Bas de Leede of Durham and the Netherlands.
(Isn’t that going to look strange when somebody stumbles upon this entry in the future, sees Tanya’s byline and thinks she’s been praising herself in the third person.)
Updated
The lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 447-9 dec v Hampshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Nottinghamshire play abandoned
Lord’s: Middlesex 121 v Warwickshire 180-6
Taunton: Somerset 214-2 v Kent start delayed
The Oval: Surrey v Northamptonshire 306-7
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Sussex play abandoned
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Yorkshire 155-9 no play before lunch
New Road: Worcestershire 104-1 v Durham no play before lunch
Lunch
Time for everyone to enjoy some good carbs. Warwickshire have recovered well at Lord’s – Tim Murtagh reduced them to 95-6, still 26 behind Middlesex, but Will Rhodes (75*) and Danny Briggs (44*) have taken them to 180-6.
Northants are frustrating Surrey at the Oval. They were 195-7 when Justin Broad fell to Tom Lawes this morning, but Karun Nair’s thrilling 107* and Tom Taylor’s punchy unbeaten 65 have taken them to 306-7.
Essex declared on 447-9 against Hampshire at Chelmsford, but you already know this because you are reading every word of this live blog, right?
There has been no play in any of the other games, and it has already been abandoned in Manchester and Derby.
Essex have declared on 447-9 against Hampshire at Chelmsford. Matt Critchley hit 99, Simon Harmer 62 and Umesh Yadav a six-laden 51.
Watch Karun Nair reach a memorable hundred at the Oval
What a moment. 🤩
— Northamptonshire CCC (@NorthantsCCC) September 20, 2023
Karun Nair has looked incredible all innings and this shot just tops it off. 💪pic.twitter.com/nniGStJl0G
Updated
The latest scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 434-8 v Hampshire
Matt Critchley felt to Liam Dawson for 99
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Nottinghamshire no play before lunch
Lord’s: Middlesex 121 v Warwickshire 162-6
Tim Murtagh 5-44
Taunton: Somerset 214-2 v Kent start delayed
The Oval: Surrey v Northamptonshire 300-7
Karun Nair (remember him?) 104*
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Sussex play abandoned
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Yorkshire 155-9 no play before lunch
New Road: Worcestershire 104-1 v Durham no play before lunch
Wicket for Surrey! Jamie Overton dives low at second slip and flicks the ball to Ben Foakes … who reacts brilliantly to take the catch! Justin Broad goes for 17 to hand Tom Lawes his fourth wicket. Northamptonshire are 194-7 as Tom Taylor comes to the crease. It’s worth watching that catch, if you can. So good.
"This is a miracle catch!" 🔥
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 20, 2023
Remarkable reactions from Ben Foakes 🧤😍
WATCH LIVE ⏩ https://t.co/fYQ3aOCliY
🤎 | #SurreyCricket https://t.co/ilWNvbg677 pic.twitter.com/5pWPe6SoW7
Apologies, but I am going to disappear for a couple of hours to go to the memorial service of this fine Guardian servant and charming man. The office, or those of them left holding the tiller, will try to update but please do chat on BTL. I’ll be back after lunch.
A wicket! It’s Murtagh of course. Barnard lbw. Age does not weary him. Warwickshire enter major wobble territory, 87-5.
Something here for Glamorgan fans to chew over. Incidentally, I had totally missed the fact that Matthew Maynard was stepping down after five years in charge.
Sun is beaming merrily down at The Oval but delayed starts elsewhere I’m afraid, at Old Trafford, at Taunton, at Derby, at Grace Road and at New Road.
Tuesday's round-up
Rain spilled over the country, like a badly kept secret. But it wasn’t enough to stop games fizzing into life in the Championship’s penultimate round.
Leicestershire, powered by victory in the One-Day Cup, and needing a win to stay in the promotion hunt, reduced Yorkshire to 155 for 9 at Grace Road, with four wickets to Will Davis. Finlay Bean top-scored with 40, passing 1,000 runs for the season in the process.
Worcestershire, their rivals for promotion, made a bright start against Durham, though not as explosive as the unexploded second world war shell discovered in the nearby River Severn. Jake Libby, lucky to survive a run-out appeal, also passed 1,000 runs – for the second time in three seasons.
A thousand runs too for Tom Westley (50), but the Chelmsford plaudits went to Adam Rossington, who at last wrestled off a difficult season with a hundred to put Essex in a good position against Hampshire.
Essex are chasing Division One leaders Surrey, who reduced battling Northamptonshire to 171 for six, with a second consecutive half-century for Karun Nair.
Middlesex, fired out for 121, largely by Olly Hannon-Dalby, were given life by Tim Murtagh, in his last appearance at Lord’s, who worried Warwickshire with three for 17. Tom Lammonby made his first hundred of the season, for Somerset against struggling Kent at Taunton.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 310-6 v Hampshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Nottinghamshire no play Tuesday
Lord’s: Middlesex 121 v Warwickshire 72-4
Taunton: Somerset 214-2 v Kent
The Oval: Surrey v Northamptonshire 171-6
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Sussex no play Tuesday
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Yorkshire 155-9
New Road: Worcestershire 104-1 v Durham
Preamble
Good morning from a blowy old London. Warm air sending leaves and litter spinning in a death spiral. It’s day two of the penultimate round, with the weather sticking the boot in yesterday. No play at all at Old Trafford or Derby, and limited play anywhere that wasn’t in the south-east corner. Things zipping along at Lord’s, where Tim Murtagh is enjoying a last run-out at his home ground, and at Chelmsford, where Essex recovered from a slow start. I’m off to The Oval, to watch Northants see off Surrey’s attack dogs. Play starts at 1030am.
