The biscuit I was given with my coffee this morning in a lovely Hyde Park cafe was a bourbon. Is the Lotus finger now dead?
Friday's round-up
Jonny Bairstow gave the crowd who clicked through the chilly Headingley turnstiles a treat, with his first century as Yorkshire captain.
There was a buzz of anticipation at the first chance to watch Joe Root, Harry Brook and Bairstow bat together this year. Applause as warm as a cinnamon bun greeted Root after Matt Revis elaborately left a ball that arrowed into his stumps. Root was just warming up with back-to-back boundaries when he was lbw for 44 to Matthew Fisher, now in Surrey colours but bowling well at his old stomping ground.
Fisher also sent back Brook, who twinkle toed down the pitch and flurried a cheap catch behind. A Headingley tut hung in the air. But Bairstow didn’t disappoint, with an old-time six into the Western Terrace, adding an unbeaten 241 with fellow centurion Adam Lyth.
James Rew, fresh from England selection, was back in the middle order for Somerset, and back to form with 86 against Sussex, accompanied by 70s from Toms Lammonby and Abell; while Ben Kellaway, a surprise omission from the Lions squad, lodged a languid 139 for Glamorgan, rescuing them from nought for two against Warwickshire.
Nineteen-year-old Ben Dawkins shimmied to 181 not out against Durham, a maiden first-class century, as, together with Sam Northeast (141) Kent made the most of a generous Beckenham pitch.
At Southampton, Nottinghamshire’s Josh Tongue purred towards the first Test, always threatening, once knocking Nick Gubbins to the dirt. But it was Fergus O’Neill who had Hampshire in deep trouble, removing the top four.
Northamptonshire’s Ben Sanderson (five for 47) didn’t help Gloucestershire’s struggles; Daniel Lategan and Matthew Waite rebuilt after a Worcestershire middle-order collapse at Southport and Derbyshire’s Ben Aitchison pocketed a five-fer against fragile Middlesex. Leicestershire’s Jake Weatherald and Sol Budinger ate Essex for brunch before the bowlers fought back.
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