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.
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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.
Surrey beat Northants by an innings and five runs
The Oval: Surrey 401 all out v Northants 194 and 202. Surrey win by an innings and five runs.
A Lancs-up for the days....Lancs have just lost four for nine, with only a lead of 22 over Warwicks. McAndrew suddenly four wickets. And with that, I must write up. Keep an eye on things for me.
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ANOTHER fifty for Harry Brook. This summer, the boy can’t fail - he’s passed fifty in every innings. This one from 48 balls,
Leicester have lost another wicket, but Azad is still there, 85-3. At Hove, Pujara and Alsop building from a dodgy 6-2, Sussex 64-2 and, as Dickson is caught for 105, his second century of the match, Durham have declared for a bombastic 170. Worcestershire must survive nearly four sessions, with 441 runs on their back.
Has Simon Harmer lost his magic? Discuss.
Brook close to yet another fifty, batting with the swag of an England player to be. Yorks 293-5, 111 behind Essex. Lancs 331-6, a lead of 16 over Warwics: both white and red rose games heading towards draws.
Northants down and nearly out, in south London, seven down at tea; Gloucester 42-0, chasing another 326 to win. Where’s there’s Harris, there’s hope.
There’s a little bit of Ben Stokes in the water at New Road! Durham an incredible 149 in 19 overs. Dickson 94 off 64 balls, Lees, 50, at a run a ball.
Teatime-ish scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 403 v Yorkshire 265-5
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 342 and 204 v Gloucestershire 179 and 35-0 Gloucs need 333 to win.
Old Trafford: Lancashire 324-5 v Warwickshire 315
The Oval: Surrey 401 all out v Northants 194 and 131-7
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 437 v Leicestershire 320 and 75-2
Hove: Sussex 392 and 23-2 v Middlesex 358
New Road: Worcestershire 309 v Durham 580-6dec (STOKES 161, 88 balls, 8 fours, 17 sixes) and 102-0
At The Oval, CCLive! favourite Rob Keogh falls, not long now for Surrey. Northants 118-6. Two hundred miles north, in a game proceeding at a more leisurely pace, Lancs have just taken the lead against Warwickshire, with Vilas and Balderson at the crease.
That Glamorgan scorecard is the epitome of respectability, bookended by single figures but otherwise double figures all the way through, with three fifties, including an eighty and a ninety. Handy of Leicestershire to bowl 64 extras as well. Leicester are 50-2 in their second innings, still 67 behind. Azad, importantly, still in situ.
An unplayable Joverton yorker fells Saif Zaib and with only five Nothants wickets left and 92 runs behind, the Division One leaders should get this wrapped up today.
The Hove live stream is trying to sell me tickets to Michael Buble. Really hoping this isn’t targeted advertising. The Afridi v Pujara show was unrolling by the sea, but rain is now falling. Sussex 15-2.
Shaheen Afridi 🆚 Cheteshwar Pujara
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 7, 2022
A battle you don't want to miss.
Watch it LIVE 👉 https://t.co/UVQbX7r83y#LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/GBHE5CdZzH
Mixed fortunes for Yorkshire. Joe Root bowled for 75, Harry Brook gets off the mark by powing Simon Harmer for six, before following up with a four next ball. Quite kissably just so.
Durham have declined to enforce the follow-on.
What is it about that Yorkshire v Essex match that it keeps slipping my mind? Anyway, Joe Root now has 70.. and just this moment has sent his partner Revis back from a crazy run: Revis run out for 47. A fourth wicket partnership of 124, Yorks 205-4. Enter Dawid Malan, one of a Yorkshire four, five and six that could quite easily start the Test series.
Love this picture of Shafali Verma looking like something out of a Marvel film.
Shafali on her way to become captain of Velocity 😉 pic.twitter.com/xj19FBSSRc
— Women's T20 Challenge (@wiplt20_) May 6, 2022
A third batting point for Worcestershire, where Finch and Gibbon are holding on for dear life at New Road, 308-9. Ben Stokes has left his wicket-taking cloak at home.
The Manchester skies are threatening, with the sun squeaking through at odd places and illuminating leaves on a particular tree, like a biblical painting. At OT, Bohannon has fallen for 23, but Jennings continues.
Incidentally, Liam Livingstone has hit the biggest hit of this year’s IPL - though not quite as far as the monster that cleared the Rugby Stand at Headingley against Pakistan last year.
'If it’s in my half, I do try to hit sixes and transfer the pressure back onto the bowling unit' - Liam Livingstone. #IPL2022 #PBKSvsRR #LiamLivingstone https://t.co/3lsxSvpNAt
— India Today Sports (@ITGDsports) May 7, 2022
I somehow missed the fact that Ollie Robinson had picked up a fine five for Sussex on his first roll-out. This was the view of James Kirtley, the Sussex coach, after play yesterday:
“We just need to get Ollie up to speed. He’ll be better tomorrow, and he’ll be better on the fourth day and again next week. You saw the high-class skill he has today and having him back lifts the dressing room. The ECB haven’t given us any limitations on Ollie but we’re conscious that we don’t want to flog him.”
Sussex’s reply hasn’t gone exactly to plan, with Ali Orr, 99 in the first innings, Shaheened for a two-ball duck. Sussex 6-1.
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Why aren’t Hampshire all out yet? Ah! That’s why Hampshire aren’t all out yet. A brazen 70 not out from Aneurin Donald, whose last first-class match, if cricinfo is right, was against Kent in September 2019, before he hit horrible injury.
You might remember that Jennings scored rather highly in Tim de Lisles win/loss ratio index for Wisden 2022.
#KeatonJennings has just reached a hundred in his first innings of the season. Over the past four years, no other England player has better results in Tests https://t.co/TuzXdWnW2H
— Tim de Lisle (@TimdeLisle) May 7, 2022
Hello again! I have had to pop home from OT and the dog has snuggled next to me, her ear now inside out and draped across my keyboard.
There has been a development since lunch, which is Keaton Jennings’ sixth first-class century for Lancashire, and his first since July 2021 v Yorkshire.
Afternoon from a relatively placid Old Trafford @tjaldred, where Lancs are well ahead but not exactly flying with centurion Jennings and new hope Bohannon nurdling before the new ball. England past and present perhaps? A lovely day to watch cricket, and a decent crowd too. pic.twitter.com/rUoDmEWFCd
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) May 7, 2022
Since
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 403 v Yorkshire 115-3
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 342 and 117-9 v Gloucestershire 179
Old Trafford: Lancashire 222-1 v Warwickshire 315
The Oval: Surrey 401 all out v Northants 194 and 14-2
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 389-7 v Leicestershire 320
Hove: Sussex 392 v Middlesex 335-8
New Road: Worcestershire 280-8 v Durham 580-6dec (STOKES 161, 88 balls, 8 fours, 17 sixes)
Northants following on are 14-2...and that’s lunch at The Oval and everywhere but Old Trafford, where they’re playing catch-up on yesterday’s rain delay.
A great little story in the Times by Lizzy Ammon comparing this year’s Dukes balls to Kookaburras because of their smaller seam and suggesting that is one of the reasons why we’ve had something of a glut of runs this spring.
Jennings and Bohannon meet mid-pitch to chat and prod. Jennings a head taller and altogether smarter, top two poppers on his shirt neatly done up, slender, all elbows and knees like a marionette. Bohannon a scrapper who runs up the pitch with his knees at quarter to three.
In Division Two: Chris Cooke (47) and Michael Neser have nudged Glamorgan into a 51 run lead over Leicestershire; at Hove, the Andersson and Hollman partnership has been dislodged, at last, by Ollie Robinson, of course, who now has 4-49. Middx 319-7. And Ben Stokes is still wicketless at New Road, where Worcestershire have crept up to 266-8, Joe Leach 56 not out.
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Apologies to Gary Naylor - I’m tardy to post this excellent summing up of round four.
Anyway, yesterday’s northern rain has chugged south and they’re off at The Oval and Chelmsford, where Joe Root has clocked up three fours in his 21 - which is tickety-boo and all things nice. Yorks 115-3. Surrey bowled Northants out for 194, de Grandhomme picking up the last couple this morning, to give him 4-39
I have learnt a new word, petrichor, courtesy of Paul and will be chiselling it into CCLive! later this season - apologies in advance.
Oooh, that decision does look a bit dodgy on the slow-mo.
Matty Potts! More wickets, this time six in his back pocket, with three still to fall. An ex England U-19, he is now the leading wicket-taker in Division Two, with 24 at 18.87.
And a wicket here at OT, where Luke Wells is a very reluctant walking wicket ,with 80 to his name. The umpires consulted before pointing him on his way back to the pavilion, Wells seemed certain he hit the ball into the ground. Lancs, 166-1.
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Hampshire’s Saturday morning going similarly to their Friday evening, currently 54-6. Vince and Gubbins have followed last night’s two nightwatchmen back to the pavilion, both to Higgins.
Well Hassan Ali was fantastic, and had excellent English. He is aiming for 30-32 wickets in his six matches with Lancs - so another 9 in the next two and a bit games. Easy
In other news, Keaton Jennings has inched onto fifty with a streaky four through the slips. He told BBC Radio Lancashire’s Scott Read last night that he felt very uneasy yesterday in his first innings since last August. Feet not moving, everything unfamiliar.
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Excuse me for a few minutes, Hassan Ali has just come up to the press box for a chat.
After the exploits of the new England captain yesterday, Joe Root will be walking out onto the Chelmsford pitch at 11 o’clock, with Yorkshire 81-3.
And Ali’s report on Ben Stokes’s boom-time:
Friday's round-up
While Ben Stokes was causing carnage at New Road, rain brought proceedings to an early close at Old Trafford, but there was time enough for Keaton Jennings, with a tattooist’s eye, and Luke Wells, with a whitewasher’s, to put on an unbeaten 127 for Lancashire. Earlier Hasan Ali had picked up two wickets – without his punch down, fists-up celebration – and Matt Parkinson one, to bowl Warwickshire out for 315. Dom Sibley carried his bat for 142.
Essex’s long-drawn out 403 on a moribund Chelmsford pitch burst into life when Simon Harmer appeared, biffing 54 in haste. Paul Walter made his maiden first-class century, despite a spell in the nervous nineties, eventually falling for 141.
Yorkshire wobbled to 81 for three in reply, a nightwatchman sparing Joe Root from facing the tricky final overs in his first county appearance since he resigned the England captaincy.
A last-wicket stand of 55 saved face for Gloucestershire’s batters, Ajeet Singh-Dale and Jared Warner seeing opportunity where others saw only devil. Otherwise, it was the Mohammad Abbas show: line and length perfect, six for 45 in his purse. Hampshire’s second innings then hit the rocks, 28 for four at stumps, as Mohammad Amir (three for 22) and Ryan Higgins (one for six, after top-scoring for Gloucestershire with 46) swarmed.
Northamptonshire were in similar strife at the Oval, though the steady hand of Luke Procter (61 not out) squeezed them past 150 – they closed on 154 for eight. Surrey had earlier limbered past 400 thanks to the pummelling efforts of Jamie Overton (59) and Gus Atkinson (an unbeaten 66).
In Division Two, Ollie Robinson got back into the groove in his first run-out for Sussex since he returned from West Indies with a back spasm and a flea in his ear from the England management. He bowled Sam Robson for a duck before plucking the leg stump of Middlesex captain Peter Handscomb, whose County Championship life continues to be tricky, and then removed John Simpson’s middle stump after a well-made 71. Luke Hollman (52) and Martin Andersson (41) then frustrated Sussex with a fruitful seventh-wicket stand.
At Sophia Gardens, Kiran Carlson (91) and Sam Northeast (84) sailed Glamorgan to near parity with Leicestershire from the doldrums of 63 for three, with Marnus Labuschagne hooking fatefully for 17 just before lunch.
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Day three scoreboard
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 403 v Yorkshire 81-3
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 342 and 28-4 v Gloucestershire 179
Old Trafford: Lancashire 127-0 v Warwickshire 315
The Oval: Surrey 401 all out v Northants 154-8
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 305-5 v Leicestershire 320
Hove: Sussex 392 v Middlesex 284-6
New Road: Worcestershire 169-6 v Durham 580-6dec (STOKES 161, 88 balls, 8 fours, 17 sixes)
Preamble
Good morning! If there are any perfumers out there who can bottle the smell of a May morning, come this way.
All looking good weather-wise round the grounds, with eyes turning immediately to Southampton, where Hampshire crumbled to Mohammad Amir yesterday evening. A lead of 191 in their pocket should be enough but what further chaos can Gloucester cause this morning? Elsewhere, Northants and Worcestershire are in trouble, Yorks and Lancs batters have big days ahead, and Leicestershire need quick Glamorgan wickets.
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