Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tanya Aldred at Old Trafford

County cricket: Somerset and Lancs have edge as wickets fall – as it happened

Somerset celebrate after Craig Overton claims the wicket of Warwickshire’s Liam Banks at Taunton.
Somerset celebrate after Craig Overton claims the wicket of Warwickshire’s Liam Banks at Taunton. Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

County round-up, by Tanya Aldred

Somerset had victory in their nostrils at Taunton, after 19 wickets toppled on the second day. Warwickshire limped off the field in the evening shadows at 103 for six, needing a further 136 to win; Sam Hain’s unbeaten 43 a batting high point. Earlier, Craig Overton had finished with five for 31 after finishing off Warwickshire’s first innings for 135, before Liam Norwell, making his Championship debut for Warwickshire, ignited, pocketing seven for 41. An unbeaten 36 from Overton, and a waggle from the tail, took Somerset to 164 having at one point been 78 for seven.

On the Isle of Wight, Hampshire finished on top after bowling out Nottinghamshire for 239, a first-innings deficit of 71. Captain Steven Mullaney’s 102 helped inch them towards respectability from 72 for five with Tom Moores and the tail. There were three wickets for Kyle Abbott, Fidel Edwards and Keith Barker.

Kent went from parity to paucity, after losing eight for 67, as the shadows grew long at Beckenham. There were three wickets apiece for the old timers, Rikki Clarke and Gareth Batty, who just missed out on a hat-trick, and three for young spaniel Sam Curran in his first Championship match of the season. All this despite a century from Sean Dickson at the top of the order. Surrey were 11 for none at the close, a lead of 156. Earlier Clarke had guided Surrey’s first innings past 400 before being last man out for 88.

In Division Two another 14 wickets fell at Old Trafford as the top-of-the-table clash scurried towards a result. In a topsy-turvy game, Worcestershire finished 149 for nine as Wayne Parnell fell to the last ball of the day, a lead of 120. Earlier Lancashire had limped to 201, despite a 98-run sixth-wicket stand between Dane Vilas and Liam Livingstone. Livingstone, never one to dally, hit Ed Barnard for five successive boundaries, to pass fifty, but when Vilas fell soon afterwards, Lancashire lost five for 15 to be all out on the stroke of sandwiches. Wayne Parnell took five for 47.

Chris Jordan and Ben Brown’s epic partnership of 309 at Northampton eventually came to an end when Brown was lbw to Luke Wood for 156. Jordan (166) followed as Sussex were bowled out for 422, with three wickets apiece for Ben Sanderson and Jamie Overton. Despite a second-wicket partnership of 137 between Ricardo Vasconcelos and Josh Cobb, a mid-innings wobble stymied Northamptonshire’s reply, finishing 242 for six.

It was another dismal day for Durham at the Riverside where Gloucestershire had them on the frayed end of the rope. The visitors’ bowlers sliced through Durham’s batting – a five-duck affair – Josh Shaw the pick with three for 31. Gloucester need 53 more runs to win with nine wickets in hand.

On day three at the County Ground, the Glamorgan lower order wriggled to 346, Ravi Rampaul taking five for 94. Derbyshire struggled to 171 for nine thanks to 47 from Wayne Madsen, a lead of 203.

Updated

Goodbye from Old Trafford, where on the pitch seven men are doing things with hoses. Wickets, wickets at Taunton and OT, and more intrigue everywhere in the morning - till then, good evening!

Close of play

Division One

Taunton: Somerset 209 & 164 (Norwell 7-41), Warwickshire 135 (C Overton 5-31) & 103-6. Warwickshire need 136 runs to win

Beckenham: Kent 294 (Dickson 128), Surrey 439 (Jacks 120) & 11-0. Surrey lead by 156 runs

Newport: Hampshire 310 & 3-1, Nottinghamshire 239 (Mullaney 102). Hampshire lead by 74 runs

Division Two

Northampton: Northants 242-6, Sussex 422 (Jordan 166, Brown 156). Northants trail Sussex by 180 runs

Old Trafford: Lancashire 201 (Parnell 5-47), Worcestershire 172 (Anderson 5-25) & 149-9. Worcs lead by 120 runs

Riverside: Durham 158 & 132, Gloucestershire 174 & 64-1. Gloucs need 53 runs to win

Derby: Derbyshire 378 & 162-9 (Reece 111), Glamorgan 346 (Rampaul 5-94). Derbyshire lead by 194 runs [latest score].

Northants wobbling, as Bavuma and Cobb follow in quick succession. 185/4 and

in a game that may be over tonight - Gloucester chase 117 to win at The Riverside.

I’ll leave you to monitor it BTL, pls excuse me whilst I write up.

A good day for the Overton’s - as Hose goes for 4, Warwicks 55-4.

Dickson passes 100 - he scored 300 plus at this ground two years ago , but Surrey have got this sorted. Gareth Batty 3-40

,
Kentish days: a hundred for Dickson v Surrey Photograph: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Sibley gone! Leach the man, Gregory the catcher, for 24. Warwicks 55/3. Smart catch.

Worcestershire are in trouble. And John Gwynne, the OT ground announcer for this season, thinks he knows why. He watched James Anderson in discussion with Dane Vilas, before Vilas waved at Gleeson and indicated that he should switch ends. Since then, he’s taken three wickets - Worcs 82/6.

TEA-TIME SCORES

DIVISION ONE

Hampshire v Notts: Hampshire 310 (Weatherley 66, Donald 46; Fletcher 4-79); Nottinghamshire 166/8 (Mullaney 43 not out; Abbott 3-41, Barker 3-46).

Kent v Surrey: Surrey 439 (Borthwick 95, Jacks 120, Clarke 88; Mulder 4-118); Kent 203-2 (Dickson 94 not out, Crawley 54)

(not tea)Somerset v Warwickshire: Somerset 209 (Extras 47) and 164 (Norwell 4-24); Hannon-Dalby 5-18) and 164 (Craig OVerton 36 not out; Norwell 7-41); Warwickshire 135 (Sibley 26, Banks 26; C Overton 5-31) and 37/2 (Sibley 17 not out)

DIVISION TWO

(day 3) Derbyshire v Glamorgan: Derby 378 (Reece 111, Hughes 82; Carey 4-61) and 64/1; Glamorgan 346 (Hemphrey 75, Root 68; Rampaul 5-94)

Durham v Gloucesteshire: Durham 158( Burnham 43, Raine 42; Payne 4-40) and 111/6 (Bancroft 40; Shaw 3-31); Gloucestershire 174 (Rushworth 3-39, Carse 3-51, Salisbury 3-30)

Lancashire v Worcestershire: Worcestershire 172 (Parnell 63; Anderson 5-25, Onions 3-52) and 76-4 (Fell 39 not out); Lancashire 201 (Livingstone 69; Parnell 5-47, Morris 4-52)

Northamptonshire v Sussex: Sussex 422 (Brown 156, Jordan 166 not out; Sanderson 3-78; J Overton 3-79); Northants 143/2 (Vasconcelos 83)

And that’s tea! Scores to follow.

For you CB: Notts: Abbott, Barker, Abbott, Abbott, Barker... Edwards....Barker, Edwards. Notts 159/8 after losing 3-8.

Updated

Kent have lost a wicket - Bell-Drummond for 37. 1917/2. The wickets have gone to the old-timers Batty and Clarke. Is this a coincidence on a pitch that screams “be patient?”

Updated

The good news is Sibley’s still there....Warwickshire 26/2.

Oh dear, oh dear, Worcestershire. Wessels, a two ball duck, very much lbw to Gleeson. Can their tail wag again to such jolly effect?

Durham 97 for 6 - Payne is a Shaw thing when playing Gloucestershire.

Ahem. Durham lead by 81 at The Riverside.

Bailey on the button

And now Gleeson! Well caught by Livingstone at second slip- Ferguson trudges off for a duck.

And so it begins as it will surely end...Warwickshire 4/1. Rhodes gone for a duck. A wicket for Lewis Gregory.

Updated

And after much playing and missing, oohing and ahing, Worcestershire lose their second wicket for 50, Rhodes for 26. Tom Bailey removing his middle stump with one that nipped back.

Jim is bored on the train:

Updated

Somerset all out 164. Liam Norwell 7-41. Warwickshire need 239 to win. I’d say their chances are zero. Don’t hate me.

Updated

Durham have recovered from 0/0 to 75-4, Josh Shaw 3-18. And Glamorgan all out 346 - trailing Derbyshire by 32. Rampauls 5-94.

Northants 78-1 following Sussex’s 422. Just realised that Ben Curran, brother of Tom and Sam, has won his chance, but out for just 3 after 12 balls. It could be a long and miserable wait in the dressing-room as his teammates make hay.

Notts 106/5: Abbott, Barker, Abbott, Abbott, Barker.

Zak Crawley out at Beckenham, for 104 ball 63, shame, but Dickson and Bell-Drummond bat on, setting sail for tomorrow lunchtime. Kent 151 for 1.

Somerset, gosh, pass the hundred - 116/8 thanks to Craig Overton, Groenewald, and Davey. Lead now 194; Norwell 6-35.

,
Me please! Liam Norwell Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

How the Caribbean is affected by the climate crisis

Gary Naylor is thinking statistics

Wonderful Matthew Engel on the World Cup, in which he channels King Lear and uses the word “ratshit”

At lunch I stood by the side of the pavilion and watched people shuffle by, digging into their pockets for change for a classic magnum, and then watched the players walk out. And had a thought. Championship Cricket makes cricketers more gentle than they otherwise would be. Cricketers are fine physical specimens; Championship watchers, and I mean this in the kindest possible way, and include myself in the description, verge on the oddball. In what other space would they rub together?

Back from my perambulation. Anderson back on action-repeat, Mitchell caught behind after getting an edge on one that rose a little more rapidly than expected. Worcestershire 8 for 1.

LUNCH-TIME SCORES

DIVISION ONE

Hampshire v Notts: Hampshire 310 (Weatherley 66, Donald 46; Fletcher 4-79); Nottinghamshire 55-2.

Kent v Surrey: Surrey 439 (Borthwick 95, Jacks 120, Clarke 88; Mulder 4-118); Kent 106-0 (Crawley 54)

Somerset v Warwickshire: Somerset 209 (Extras 47) and 75-5 (Norwell 4-24); Hannon-Dalby 5-18); Warwickshire 135 (Sibley 26, Banks 26; C Overton 5-31)

DIVISION TWO

(day 3) Derbyshire v Glamorgan: Derby 378 (Reece 111, Hughes 82; Carey 4-61) Glamorgan 299-6 (Hemphrey 75, Root 68)

Durham v Gloucesteshire: Durham 158( Burnham 43, Raine 42; Payne 4-40) and 39-2; Gloucestershire 174 (Rushworth 3-39, Carse 3-51, Salisbury 3-30)

Lancashire v Worcestershire: Worcestershire 172 (Parnell 63; Anderson 5-25, Onions 3-52); Lancashire 201 (Livingstone 69; Parnell 5-47, Morris 4-52)

Northamptonshire v Sussex: Sussex 422 (Brown 156, Jordan 166 not out; Sanderson 3-78; J Overton 3-79); Northants 15-1

I’d missed this - Mason Crane replaced Liam Dawson at Hampshire because of Dawson’s inclusion in the World Cup squad.

And that’s lunch at OT, with Onions caught for four, just after grabbing a batting point. Lancashire lost 5-15 in a rather hopeless half hour. Their lead? 27. Parnell 5-47, Morris 4-52. Lunch-time scores to follow.

Here is Norwell, a “championship specialist” according to cricinfo.

And that’s the ninth Lancashire wicket, Livingstone bowled neck, crop, ankle, by Parnell for 69 - Lancs 195/9, a lead of 23.

.... Tres out for 23; Norwell 4-24.

Somerset now 68/5....

A lunchtime Lancs-up: 191/8, Bailey c Barnard b Morris 2.

And thanks for the reminder BTL WashingonIrving, I did read yesterday that the Taunton pitch was very green.

Do you remember, back in April when Ed Smith was talking about the decline of the public intellectual? I can’t remember the context now but I’m sure it was something to do with cricket and there was a brief discussion BTL.

Anyway, if you’re interested Ed, or anyone, - this looks great!

(Oh and Lancs lose another wicket, Croft for a duck. 187/7)

Er, head abuzz: Durham 8/1, Somerset 55/4, Notts 40/2.

Sussex all out 422, three for JOverton and Sanderson.

But not much to say about Glamorgan, quietly clawing their way to parity. 260/6.


Abhijato Sensarma writes in:

“Being gutted is the most natural response when what could have potentially been the biggest moments of your career is snatched away from you, but your immediate reaction to it defines your sportsmanship.

“While I hope nothing but the best for both him [Willey] and Rayudu in the future, the latter had quite a different and much talked about response to his dropping from the World Cup squad, which one can both read too much or too less into at the same time.

“ In all honesty, though, I must say that the ‘3D glasses’ joke was a classic on-field sledge from Rayudu. He may have retired from first-class cricket but if he displays such skulls more often, surely we can get him into the Indian Test slip cordon, beside Pant perhaps? ;)“

And then, after a merry partnership of 98 inside 19 overs, Vilas decides to leave a ball that travels happily along to knock out his stumps. Lancs 186-6.

OHH!HH! A furious Barnard drops Livingstone on 63 from the last ball of the over - a sharp caught and bowled by his knee cap. He kicks the air in fury.

And that’s four fours in a row from Livingstone off Ed Barnard - the second brought him fifty, the fourth, a cover drive, gave Lancashire the lead (2). And that’s a fifth! (6)

Gloucestershire all out 174 - a lead of 16, three each for Rushworth, Carse and Salisbury. So a one-innings shoot out on the cards at The Riverside.

Should Liam Livingstone go from 47 to 50, it would be his first half century in first class cricket since September 2017 and there it is!

.
In the runs: Liam Livingstone Photograph: Barry Mitchell/REX/Shutterstock

Updated

David Willey: 100% decent human being

Two ducks in Somerset’s second innings - Hildreth and Azhar. Liam Norwell 2-4. I was assuming it was Warwickshire’s useless batting, but perhaps there is something in the pitch? Or maybe, as mentioned BTL, Hildreth is in a bit of a slump - averaging 32.35 in fc this year, Azhar Ali 24, Tres 7.25.

So, indulge me. My maternal grandparents, Amber and Desmond, met on the Isle of Wight on holiday, and my grandfather proposed to my grandmother in a field with a grass engagement ring when she was about 14. Various generations have holidayed there ever since - and that short crossing over the solent always feels like a bridge to something removed, something other.

We’re missing Paul Edwards in the box today - but you can capture some of the Isle of Wight magic here.

Fifty partnership here at OT between Vilas and Livingstone, 68 balls, 50 mins.

Kent 13 without loss against Surrey’s impressive 439

Oh, and Hampshire all out for 310! After losing 4-15, Fletcher 4-79.

Jordan’s out at last - 166 which isn’t bad as an up your to Ed Smith - except he’s too nice to do that. Sussex 404-8, two wickets for t’other Overton.

Gloucestershire 151-8, trailing Durham by 7.

Afghanistan 77-1 off 14 v Ireland; Sri Lanka 34/0 off 7 v Scotland.

Shhh, tiny writing, Marcus Trescothick has two fours in his 8 not out as Somerset bat again. And then the scorecard flicks to 8/1. And then I click... and Azhar is out. As you were.

Somedays...

Warwickshire’s batting turns in another command performance, 135 all out. Coverton 5-31.

.
The Bears are coming! Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

While I’ve been faffing about with links here and there, plus making use of the press box’s repaired coffee machine - Lancashire are actually doing pretty well, putting on 38 in the first half hour. Six fours in Livingstone’s 32, and four in Vilas’s 21.

This, x100. Terribly poignant tweet from Graham. Without wishing ill on anyone else, hope Willey still has a part to play.

Updated

Surrey all out 439 - Mulder 4-118. Your turn Kent.

Brown’s been out for 156 at Northants, Sussex 377/7 and Gloucester lose Howell (27), 127/6.

A busy couple of overs at Taunton as Warwickshire lose two in two without adding a run - 110-9. Leach now 2-3.

Updated

Give it back you miserable sod!

And Tom Harrison’s pay packet news. (Just looked up Theresa May’s out of interest, £153,907)

Updated

Elsewhere, as expected, David Willey and Joe Denly are axed from England’s World Cup squad, with Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson and James Vince (for Alex Hales) coming in.

Good morning!

Hello from Old Trafford where the sun is out, the roller is being pushed hither and thither and big fluffy white clouds prowl the sky. They’re kinda cute, but whether they are cute enough for Worcestershire’s bowlers to get the sort of help Anderson and Onions got yesterday, we wait to see.

Lancs are in a bit of a tricky situation at 88 for 5, as are Warwickshire, 110-7, and Gloucestershire 120-5. Runs aplenty at Beckenham, Surrey 420-9 and Northants where Jordan and Brown may go on forever, Sussex 370-6.

It’s even stevens at Hampshire, Hants 288-6, and Derbyshire, Glamorgan 214-4.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Why Kelly Osbourne's 'Thin Look' at 2026 BRITs Continues to Worry Fans Despite Her Plea for Compassion
Before the BRIT Awards, Kelly had already addressed the growing commentary around her appearance.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Meet the man trying to democratise fashion week – by turning it into a party
Online fashion commentator Lyas’s catwalk watch parties have gone from hastily assembled get-togethers to large-scale spectacles. But how easy is it to walk the line between outsider and insider?
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
They were dating AI partners when they found real love – with each other
Ayrin and SJ met on a subreddit Ayrin created for people ‘dating’ AI companions. Over time, they started talking to AI less … and falling for each other
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
NYC Transit Just Got Rid of MetroCards for Fares. The Successor Could Put Your Privacy at Risk.
Unlike the MetroCard, the OMNY system requires train and bus riders in New York City to give their name and phone number to the government.
Reason
Reason
The Jim Irsay Collection sale live: David Gilmour's Black Strat sells for record-shattering $14.5 million in the biggest guitar auction in history
We were live on the ground at Christie's auction house in New York as the world's greatest guitar collection went under the hammer
Guitar World
Guitar World
29 Facebook Groups That Are Proof The Internet Is A Weird Place But That’s Why People Love It
The internet, and especially social media, can be a truly bizarre place. The majority of the global population is online, so you’re bound to come across some creative and chaotic communities on social networks. To show you exactly what that means, our team has curated this list of really weird…
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play