Joe Root returns to the crease and to form for Yorkshire
If he couldn’t quite manage the Catherine Wheels and bangers of Ben Stokes, Joe Root looked in beautiful touch in his first innings for Yorkshire since stepping down from the England captaincy, wheeling out all the old favourites, from back foot punch to sweetly-time cut.
However, he was overshadowed by the young pretender, 23-year-old Harry Brook, whose golden touch with the bat this season continued with an unbeaten 110 - taking his average for the season so far to over 200. Brook got off the mark by belting a six off Simon Harmer over square leg, before sending him screaming for four; and met his century in the same way, a watch-me wallop soaring over mid-wicket. He and Dawid Malan (87), also in sublime touch, had put on more than 200 before the Essex bowlers could head off to soak their weary feet.
Surrey plundered their way to a three-day victory at The Oval, bowling out Northants cheaply for the second time in two days as they followed-on. The wickets were shared between Gus Atkinson, Jordan Clark and Dan Worrall. Emilio Gay top-scored with a valiant 51, his elbows peppered with balls that spat up from the turf. The remnants of Northants’ first-innings had lasted just ten and a bit overs in the morning, time though for Luke Procter (83 not out) to ping Jamie Overton for six out of the ground and into the Harleyford Road.
Young Aneurin Donald, whose last two years have been made miserable by two separate ACL injuries, sung a pitch-perfect 89 to keep in the game alive at the Ageas Bowl. He marched in for Hampshire with them in an unlikely fix at 65-7, and immediately let fly, carting three sixes and eight fours, finding companionship in No 11 James Fuller. Gloucestershire were set 368 to win, and after a sedate opening stand was broken, Marcus Harris bowled by Mohammad Abbas, and James Bracey fell cheaply, George Scott and Miles Hammond hung on till the close.
Keaton Jennings crafted a painstaking century for Lancashire, in his first red-ball match since he made a hundred against Yorkshire in July 2021 and injuries then sidelined him. He cuts a tall, neat, slender figures, the two poppers on his shirt smartly done up, all elbows and knees like a marionette. By comparison, Josh Bohannon, who made 23, looks as if he’s run off the page of Just William, a scrapper who canters up the pitch with his knees at quarter to three. From a promising position, the Lancs middle order and tail subsided to the new ball, losing five wickets for 35. Nathan McAndrew, Warwickshire’s Australian seamer took 4-85. There was time for three overs of Warwickshire’s innings, and Alex Davies to avoid a pair at his old haunt, before rain stopped play.
In Division Two, the Spirit of Ben Stokes seemed to have seeped into the bones of Durham’s openers as they made merry with Worcestershire’s bowlers in search of quick runs after declining to enforce the follow on. Sean Dickson biffed eight sixes in pursuit of his third consecutive hundred for Durham, and his opening partner Alex Lees wasn’t too shabby either, making fifty at less than a run a ball. There was no respite until Dickson finally fell to Adam Finch and Durham declared. Chris Rushworth then struck twice as Worcestershire started their arduous quest for safety. Earlier, Ben Stokes had gone wicketless as Worcestershire crawled along at a snail’s pace with one motivation — staying in. Josh Baker, whose over was dismantled for 34 by Stokes on Friday, made a painstaking 27.
Yet another century from Cheteshwar Pujara put Sussex in the driving seat against Middlesex at Hove, after Ollie Robinson had picked up five wickets on his return from injury.
Glamorgan can taste victory at Sophia Gardens, after some useful batting by the lower order was followed by analytical bowling which left Leicestershire with a lead of 41, but only three wickets in hand.
Updated
A very busy last session that, with Surrey drumming Northants into a three day win and Harry Brook showing why he definitely, has a chance of being on Ben Stokes first team sheet when he goes out to toss for England in about a month’s time. Yet more big runs, this time a sublime 110 not out and in quick time.
Leicester are in big trouble, Sussex, Leicester and Gloucestershire can at least look hopefully towards tomorrow night. Draws in store at Old Trafford and Chelmsford. That’s it from me, have a lovely evening.
