Here's today's roundup
As the rest of the country sweltered, the sun shone beatifically at Chester-le-Street; with the land left to run wild behind the nets by the head groundsman, Vic Demain, buzzing with bees, butterflies and birds. Perfect weather for batting – or so you would think.
Unfortunately for Durham, after winning the toss and batting against Lancashire, they suffered a catalogue of errors, the most painful a couple of run-outs in the afternoon session – Gareth Harte, just after he had put on 50 with Alex Lees for the fourth wicket, and Lees himself, for a patient 66. There was excellent morning bowling from Tom Bailey and Luke Wood, on his Lancashire debut, and, later, three wickets for Richard Gleeson. Having dismissed Durham for 180, Lancashire closed on 33 for 0.
Twenty-one wickets fell at The County Ground where a dreadful day with the bat for Somerset was followed by an even more dreadful one by Northants. First Somerset clawed their way to 166, thanks only to a pinball 36 from the No 11 Jack Brooks; Ben Sanderson, the third-highest wicket-taker in the County Championship over the past four years, grabbing 5 for 28. Northants then subsided to 67 all out in the evening session, their scorecard a single-figure masterpiece apart from Ben Curran’s 35. Serene at 46 for one, they unfathomably lost nine for 21. Craig Overton, who has just signed a new three-year contract with Somerset, took four for 12; Josh Davey chipped in with three for 23. There was just time for Tom Lammonby to be out for the second time in a day – Somerset lead by 114.
Derbyshire finished the day on top in the battle of the unfancied East Midlanders. Leicestershire’s day started badly when Hassan Azad fell to the daftest of stumpings, forgetting to step back into his crease and stumped from 20 feet back. Harry Dearden (77) was the only player to get past 21 as Leicester fell for 199; Dustin Melton took 4 for 22. Luis Reece and Wayne Madsen then ping-ponged Derbyshire to 101 for 1 by the close.
At Trent Bridge, Yorkshire recovered from a stuttering start thanks to bubbly 98 from Jordan Thompson, who clubbed 11 four and four sixes, with help from Harry Brook. Earlier Jonny Bairstow, released from England duty, had taken 18 painstaking balls to get off the mark before thrashing a boundary and then mis-cutting Zak Chappell to point for five. Chappell then dismissed Dawid Malan six balls later and at 44 for 4 Yorkshire were wobbling. Notts had to face eight overs in the long shadows, losing Chris Nash for eight.
A sprightly half-century from the 19-year old Ben Charlesworth was the mainstay of Gloucestershire’s 191 for 8 in unremitting heat. The Warwickshire captain, Will Rhodes, grabbed three wickets and Oliver Hannon-Dalby four.
Worcestershire’s Jake Libby, who moved from Nottinghamshire last autumn, continued his serene 2020 form, finishing 142 not out, with Brett D’Oliveria unbeaten on 123 alongside him, as they put on 239 for the fourth wicket against Glamorgan.
Flighty Essex batting was steadied by 66 from young Feroze Khushi, who so impressed in the thriller against Kent last round, and 42 from his boyhood hero Alastair Cook. Depleted Surrey, 14 players down, handed debuts to Gus Atkinson, who took a wicket in his fifth over and loan players Laurie Evans of Sussex and Worcestershire’s Adam Finch.
Sam Billings returned from England duty to captain Kent, who spent the day chipping away at the Sussex batting. Ben Brown made an excellent unbeaten 90 and there were three wickets each for Harry Podmore and Marcus O’Riordan.
Ryan Stevenson took four wickets as Middlesex were bowled out for 252 by Hampshire at Radlett; Martin Andersson lbw for a career-best 92.
Updated
What the heck is happening at The County Ground? Northants now 61-5.
I’m going to have to start writing up early tonight because of trains, so only intermittent blog entries for a while. Apologies. And don’t forget to keep your eye on Old Trafford where it is a sure-fire thriller. At tea, England need 110, Pakistan five wickets. Tim de Lisle is on the OBO.
Tardy mentions for Khushi, who was out for another promising score (66) at Chelmsford; Andersson at Radlett, closest to his hundred; and oh dear Alex Lees run out by Dane Vilas after a run-out mix-up for 66. Durham’s second run-out of the day. Hmmm. And a magnificent partnership at New Road where Libby and D’Oliveira have put on 118 against Glamorgan.
Tea-time scores
Not Tea: Chester le Street: Durham 128-5 (Lees 65 not out) v Lancs
Grace Road: Leicestershire 176-8 (Dearden 70; Melton 4-22) v Derbyshire
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire 177-6 (Brook 62)
Bristol: Gloucestershire 127-5(Charlesworth 51; Hannon-Dalby 3-18) v Warwickshire
NOT TEA: The County Ground: Northants 9-0 v Somerset 166 (Sanderson 5-28)
New Road: Worcestershire 188-3 (Libby 85 not out, D’Olivera 63 not out; Hogan 3-24) v Glamorgan
Chelmsford: Essex 188-5 (Khushi 66) v Surrey
Canterbury: Kent v Sussex 221-5 (Clark 65)
Radlett: Middlesex 187-5 (Andersson 84 not out) v Hampshire
Updated
Afternoon recoveries the order of the day round the counties, though this hiccup from Yorkshire just before tea rather spoilt the narrative. Brook out for 62, Yorks 177-6.
REPLAY | Chris Nash's first delivery in First-Class cricket for over two years was fairly handy.
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) August 8, 2020
Yorkshire 177-6 after 63.
Watch #NottsvYorks live 👉 https://t.co/h0bhBmHjQM pic.twitter.com/gYGsHj9LGJ
but an otherwise steady recovery - 177 for six.
Neat as a pin Keaton Jennings drops Lees on 61.
Durham’s batting may be best watched with face-mask pulled higher than usual, but the beautiful coastline of the north-east is a gentle kiss for the soul. After a couple of days with happy children on the beautiful, uncrowded beaches, I felt like I had a new insight into why someone like Steve Harmison might find touring so difficult. But now I’m gibbering like any new fan-girl. Forgive me. Quick does of reality - Somerset all out 166 after some last-minute heave-ho from Jack Brooks. And Leicestershire struggling 155-8. Melton 4-22.
Double wickets - at Old Trafford and Chester-le-Street. Poor luckless Burham, plays about a low ball from Gleeson and is given out lbw. Durham 111-5. Stokes out now to Yasir, England 106-4.
Jonathan Tattersall gone at Trent Bridge for a well-fought 31, but Harry Brook, 48 not out, has succeeded in steadying HMS Yorkshire.
In other news, as a result of terrible picnic planning I’ve resorted to eating a sachet of sugar. At least it is Demerara.
Keaton Jennings as immaculate looking as ever at first slip - cap, neat trousers, all correct creases and Cider With Rosie bonnyness . If England are looking for a good player of spin...
With a tip to fine leg, Alex Lees goes to fifty. After nearly an hour and a half of pure concentration, he raises his bat and is applauded by his teammates on the boundary, as Burnham potters down the pitch to congratulate him. Well played! Gleeson not yet hit his wicket-taking potency of last season.
Ah, just clocked that young Feroz Khushi is batting again at Chelmsford - 42 not out. This was what coach Anthony McGrath said about him after Essex’s last-gasp win against Kent: “He was disappointed he wasn’t there at the end but his big partnership with Alastair Cook took us a long way to getting over the line. It was a great experience for him to bat with Alastair and have him to talk with out on the middle. He’s worked really hard for us so everyone in the dressing room is really pleased for him.”
Five wickets for Ben Sanderson! Somerset’s batsmen - 112 for 8 - have officially had the worst Saturday of any of the other teams.
36.3 | 5⃣ for Ben Sanderson! 🔥
— Northamptonshire CCC (@NorthantsCCC) August 8, 2020
That's his 13th first-class 5 wicket haul. 💪
Somerset 110/8. pic.twitter.com/nPklwcwSSL
And England have lost a second wicket at Old Trafford - keep an eye on it here:
Cricket, eh.
If you ever wanted to know what cricket means to some countries, players, teams and villages - then this Eid Match will show you #ENGvPAK #PAKvENG. In England we find excuses. Others find a way #Passion #Cricket Thanks to @ShakirAbbasi22 for this 🙏 pic.twitter.com/okaQWK2M6t
— Ian Pont (@Ponty100mph) August 8, 2020
Dear me, Durham. The ball after surviving an lbw shout, Lees scampers to the other end on a misfield, and Harte, sprinting the other way, is run out for 18. They’d just celebrated a fifty partnership. Durham now 94 for 4.
Alastair Cook, the Essex shirehorse? Handsome, steady, with a trick or two up his sleeve? Anyway, gone for 42; pushing at Amar Virdi and swallowed by Rikki Clarke at slip. Even Essex struggling today, 98 for 4.
Out of interest, is it unbearably hot down south?
A well deserved fifty for young Harry Dearden at Grace Road. At 97-4, no other Leicester batsman has made it past 12. And now Jake Libby at New Road, who is having a fantastic first Bob with Worcestershire, a fifty to go alongside 77 last week against Gloucestershire.
Somerset’s afternoon has a familiar hue to the morning. James Hildreth nicks a steepler from Sanderson, who now has 3-12.
28.2 | Sharp grab standing up to the stumps by the Skipper! Sanderson has a third! ☝️
— Northamptonshire CCC (@NorthantsCCC) August 8, 2020
Somerset 77/6. pic.twitter.com/t8F8edL0uO
Just been for a stroll about The Riverside - sun the perfect temperature, birds, bees and butterflies fluttering around in the wild bit of land behind the nets. Bits of last year’s World Cup paraphernalia tucked away in convenient alcoves. Just missing a spectator or 2000.
So lovely to be at an international ground and see butterflies and bees and hear birds singing. Well done @DurhamCricket for leaving some land wild behind the nets. pic.twitter.com/sNcvqZn7Um
— TheNextTest (@TheNextTest) August 8, 2020
Lunch scores
Chester le Street: Durham 59-3 v Lancs
Grace Road: Leicestershire 84-4 v Derbyshire
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire 67-4
Bristol: Gloucestershire 83-2 v Warwickshire
The County Ground: Northants v Somerset 74-5
New Road: Worcestershire 77-3 (Hogan 3-15) v Glamorgan
Chelmsford: Essex 65-3 v Surrey
Canterbury: Kent v Sussex 91-3
Radlett: Middlesex 76-3 v Hampshire
Last minute wickets for Kent (Finch for 37)and Glamorgan (Haynes for 21, a third for Michael Hogan) add up to a bumper morning for the bowlers. Lunch scores to follow.
Relevant in absolutely zero way but, for a good belly laugh, click here.
Updated
Leg spin good enough for 2nd XI county cricket at 14? Well played Tazeem Ali!
14 years old and bowling leg spin for a county 2nd XI. V cool https://t.co/0z75x6Tyfk
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) August 7, 2020
Hassan Azad’s bizarre stumping from earlier this morning:
The bowler, Luis Reece, muted celebrations as he contemplates years explaining to people the keeper wasn’t at the stumps for the stumping. “Nah, he was standing back. I was pretty quick” pic.twitter.com/U98gdT7pRa
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) August 8, 2020
Twenty-five wickets have fallen in an hour and a half - not a bad morning’s work there, bowlers. Durham, jibbering, 46-3; Leicestershire, stuttering, 60-3; Yorkies, pig’s-ear, 44-4; Gloucestershire, serene, 64-1; Somerset, recovering 56-4; Worcs, wobbly, 63-3; Essex, alarming 50-3; Sussex, respectable, 78-2; Middx, pants, 63-3.
Updated
The new room where it happens: Kim Thonger’s son Tom’s bathroom. Just a couple of hundred yards away, Somerset’s disastrous morning continues - 44-4 after Tom Banton was bowled by Berg for 18. I seem to remember this happening on frequent occasion last year too, to be rescued by the tail and the bowlers.
Dear @tjaldred
— The Duke of Umbrage ✪ Self Isolating In Style🍸🏸 (@ICETWICE) August 8, 2020
you have a new Northamptonshire cricket correspondent, my son Tom, second in line to the Dukedom, reports activity at the County ground Northampton from his bathroom window pic.twitter.com/Xk3HsB5gxD
Oi Durham! Another catch for Davies, as Bedingham goes for 5. 42-3.
Updated
And now Dawid Malan, a second for Chappell - perhaps this is the turning-point match for Notts? I’m worried for Leicestershire with Hassan Azad out early, stumped for 6. Currently 44-3.
Fiddlesticks Jonny - 18 balls to get off the mark, one boundary before being caught off Zak Chappell for 5. Not what the Dr ordered at a time that England might be reconsidering their wicketkeeping slot.
Here at Chester-le-Street, where there are trees, trees, in every direction on the horizon, Luke Wood has taken his first first-class wicket for Lancs! And delighted he was too, clenching his fist in a jig of delight. The ball nibbled inwards, thumped Cameron Steele on the pad and looked very out.
Updated
More reading, this is Matthew Engel’s take on the Bob and the rest of the season’s cricket.
This is an inopportune moment to post this as county line-ups round the country stumble in the first half hour of the round but ....is this is replicated in the county game. Anyone?
This is something for which there ought to be a rich explanation. Improved bowling depth across the board is one explanation.
— cricketingview (@cricketingview) August 8, 2020
So many home teams have done significantly better batting first than they have batting second in this decade compared to the last. pic.twitter.com/sI9IUoCCTp
If you’re a Somerset fan, look away now. Brandon Glover and Ben Sanderson have reduced them to 11-3: an improvement of sorts from 7-3.
How about some calming pitch news from Chelmsford instead?
Todays pitch for @EssexCricket v @surreycricket very dry, moisture at 18%. Outfield has gone 70s retro and will be brown stripes by the end of this match! 😎🌞 #Chelmsfordoldskool pic.twitter.com/inhLwJ6Ibr
— Stuart Kerrison (@Stueyk67) August 8, 2020
A shout out to anyone in the south Manchester area - Whalley Range CC are short of a scorer - the incumbent has had to withdraw as his rabbit needs treatment after eating poisonous weeds. £20 plus biscuits.
A couple of wickets round the counties already - Lyth lbw to Ball for 4 at Trent Bridge, Yorks 6-1. Daryl Mitchell gone for a four-ball duck - Worcestershire 2-1. And Sam Robson has picked up the second (but not final) duck of the morning b Keith Barker at Radlett. Middx - 10-1.
And, while I was searching for a pictures of a rabbit, the first Durham wicket falls, Dickson for 2, a great catch by Davies. Durham 3-1.
This was the list of live streams from the last round - I had a quick click on a few of them and they still seem to work - do shout if not:
https://kiaoval.com/main-news/live-stream-surrey-v-middlesex-day-2-2/…
https://gloscricket.co.uk/match-centre/
https://edgbaston.com/fixtures/first-xi/warwickshire-v-northamptonshire-saturday-1st-august/…
https://somersetcountycc.co.uk/match-centre/
http://live.trentbridge.co.uk/?result=success
https://durhamcricket.co.uk/match-centre/
https://cricket.lancashirecricket.co.uk/news/2019-news/live-stream-worcestershire-vs-lancashire/
And this bit of news, thank you Chris. Ollie Robinson has been pulled from Sussex’s squad to join the England bubble ahead of the second Test against Pakistan.
@tjaldred hi Tanya. Bit of a fantasy Klaxon if you have time to post it. Ollie Robinson is out of the Sussex squad for this round. England duty
— Chris evans (@captbnut) August 8, 2020
Is it seemly to eat a stilton roll before 11am? Thanks to Kim Thonger who points out that Northants v Somerset is at The County Ground, not Taunton. “My younger son’s back garden overlooks the ground. He reports player activity on the outfield.”
“Morning Tanya, morning all!”
Lovely to hear from you Martin Fairhurst.
”Looking forward to round two and I feel it’s must win for each of the round one losing teams.Well done Lancashire on their decision to open up their livestream to non-members! Let’s hope for another cracking round of action where every minute matters.”
Hear, hear! An ear too on the Test where Pakistan have a sensational chance of continuing England’s appalling first-Test- of-a-series run. Geoff Lemon is already on the OBO here:
Hallo everyone from a gorgeously balmy Chester-le-Street where Durham have won the toss and are going to bat - no problems there to be sure.
Plenty of cricket has been impacted by coronavirus, here is the latest tournament to be moved.
Fixtures
Chester le Street: Durham v Lancs
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Derbyshire
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Warwickshire
The County Ground: Northants v Somerset
New Road: Worcestershire v Glamorgan
Chelmsford: Essex v Surrey
Canterbury: Kent v Sussex
Radlett: Middlesex v Hampshire
Good morning!
And welcome to the second round of the Bob Willis Trophy. I’m on my way to Chester-le-Street, after a couple of days on the beautiful Northumberland coast where the swifts are currently boy-racing down the quiet side-street and sky is baby blue. Fingers crossed it stays that way an hour south, at Chester-le-Street.
And what a round last week was! It ticked any box you’d care to scribble on the back of a dog-eared scorecard: giant-killing, almost-last ball thrillers, classy centuries, five wicket hauls, promising debutants, even intermittent sunshine. Live streams almost made up for the fact that no spectators are allowed in the grounds - so much so that outlier Lancashire, who had restricted their stream to members, have now opened it up to everyone.
So to this round: Lancashire drive to Durham where both teams are searching for their first wins of the season. Lancs are bolstered by Richard Gleeson and Liam Livingstone; Brydon Carse returns for Durham. Derbyshire and Leicestershire, hammer of the big boys last time, face off at Grace Road where the pitch is reportedly fast and dry and the outfield a dream. Fynn Hudson-Prentice, who led Derbyshire’s charge against Notts, is out with a minor injury, while Leicestershire’s Aaron Lilley is rested.
Notts return to whatever the opposite of fortress Trent Bridge is, to work for their first red-ball win since June 2018. They are still without Luke Fletcher, and coach Peter Moores was full of praise for senior bowler Jake Ball. Jonny Bairstow returns from England duty to take the gloves for Yorkshire. Warwickshire travel to Bristol, after being unable to bowl out Northamptonshire last week and some costly drops in the slips. They are hampered by the loss of Olly Stone - out for a month with a side-strain picked up in that game - while Gloucestershire are bolstered by the return of George Scott and Ben Charlesworth to the squad after minor injuries.
Northants, who batted extremely well to hold on against Warwickshire in the last round, entertain Somerset. They are strengthened by the return of Tom Banton from England duty, but George Bartlett hasn’t recovered from the concussion injury he picked up in the previous match. Craig Overton has signed a new-three year deal with the club; while brother Jamie has spoken about his reasons for wanting to leave: “It’s probably taken me six or seven months to finally decide,” he said. “At times I feel like I’m a little bit down the pecking order here. Going out on loan [to Northants] last year didn’t really help. I want to be playing cricket.”
Worcestershire, fresh from victory against Gloucestershire, host Glamorgan at New Road, where Ed Barnard, Josh Tongue and Jack Haynes have all signed contract extensions. Glamorgan, whose batting looked paper thin against Somerset, make one change to their squad - Timm van der Gugten replaces Ruaidhri Smith, who picked up a hamstring injury last week.
Surrey travel to Chelmsford where last week Essex proved just how difficult they are to beat in a thriller against Kent. Surrey, missing a full XI of first-team players, have named two loanees - Sussex batsman Laurie Evans and Worcestershire seams Adam Finch - in their squad. Jordan Clark is out with a side-strain. Surrey were the last team to beat Essex in a red-ball match at Chelmsford - back in September 2018.
There is pastoral face-off at Canterbury where Kent entertain Sussex. Captain Sam Billings returns from the England bubble but Kent will be without Heino Kuhn whose first child is due imminently. A buoyant Sussex, fresh from victory against Hampshire, are spearheaded by 8-wicket Ollie Robinson.
Middlesex host their first fixture at this season’s home ground, Radlett, where coach Stuart Law names an unchanged squad - meaning no space for Steven Finn. Hampshire add Liam Dawson and Ryan Stevenson to their squad, after a sound thrashing by Sussex.
Updated
