Roundup
A late-afternoon fightback from Somerset made the evening team bath a more enticing prospect at Taunton. Surrey had eased back into red-ball cricket with nary an over‑the-shoulder glance for most of the day, with hundreds for Rory Burns and Dean Elgar. But as the sun finally began to lose some of its heat, Surrey lost four wickets for 30 runs to finish the day on 330 for six, with Lewis Gregory taking three for 44.
At Edgbaston, a steady unbeaten 131 from Tom Alsop and a mini gem of a 75 (60 of them in boundaries) by ex-Glamorgan hopes ’n’ dreams boy Aneurin Donald, on County Championship debut for his new club, took Hampshire to 291 for six. Oliver Hannon-Dalby’s four for 58 was the best return for a depleted Warwickshire side.
Wickets galore at Canterbury, where six Yorkshire batsmen made it into the 20s but none made it out, as they were dismissed for 210, thanks to three wickets for Matthew Milnes, two to Harry Podmore and a pair of run-outs. Dom Bess, on loan to Yorkshire for a month, made a lusty 25 on debut. In reply, Kent finished on 130 for four, Zak Crawley 73 not out.
Essex’s bowlers skittled Nottinghamshire for 187 at Chelmsford, with Jamie Porter taking his best figures of the season (four for 75). Joe Clarke top-scored with 48. Alastair Cook and Nick Browne guided Essex to 68 without loss at the close.
In Division Two, Durham recovered from a dismal 14 for three against Worcestershire, thanks to 70s from their two ex-rogues, Cameron Bancroft and Jack Burnham. Charlie Morris took six for 53 and Joe Leach three for 59 in the Worcestershire captain’s first game for 11 months after suffering a stress fracture. His side lost Daryl Mitchell early in reply.
Despite losing Sam Robson to the first ball of the match, Middlesex reached 325 for eight against Leicestershire. Nick Gubbins made 75 and Tom Lace, plucked back from a loan spell at Derbyshire, 51 on his Middlesex debut. Mohammad Abbas grabbed four for 57.
Haseeb Hameed was out for seven just before the close, as Lancashire got a chance to bat in glorious post-tea weather at Old Trafford. Northamptonshire were dismissed for 230, recovering from 119 for six thanks to late-order sticking plaster from Lukes Wood and Procter. Richard Gleeson took his first five-fer for Lancashire and Graham Onions mopped up the tail with four for 45.
County Cricket returned to Newport for the first time since 1965, and Gloucestershire’s James Bracey celebrated against Glamorgan with 152 and shared a partnership of 199 with Gareth Roderick as the visitors ended the day on 360 for six.
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Hello again, the covers are on at OT and less than half the ground is covered in shadow. I love this time of year. Anyway - an intriguing day - with hundreds for Burns, Elgar and James Bracey and lip-smacking seventies from Aneurin Donald, Zak Crawley and Jack Burnham amongst others. Good to see Joe Leach back and well bowled Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Jamie Porter, Charlie Morris, Matt Milnes, Richard Gleeson, Graham Onions and Mohammad Abbas (of course.) That’s it from me - thanks for your fabulous company, have a lovely evening.
Close of play scores
Division One
Warwickshire v Hampshire 291-6
Somerset v Surrey 330-6
Kent 130-4; Yorkshire 210 all out
Essex 68-0; Nottinghamshire 187 all out
Division Two
Worcestershire 1-1 v Durham 273 all out
Middlesex 325-8 v Leicestershire
Lancashire 29-1 v Northants 230 all out
Glamorgan v Gloucestershire 360-6
Better write up now, so apologies for absence. Please carry on chatting BTL - though before I go a shout out for Porter/Cook/Siddle/Harmer - Notts all out 187, lowest first-innings score of the round.
And Aneurin Donald (sorry Mes) on the brink of a sweet fifty for Hampshire -229 for five, with Alsop holding them together with an unbeaten century.
Northants mini-collapsing - two wickets in four balls for Graham Onions, Jamie Overton lbw for 6 and Nathan Buck b Onions for a duck. 210/9.
In 2018 when no-one could get runs, Matty Renshaw had the golden touch, this season at Kent all that glistens is not etc - out for 16, Kent 48/2.
Not sure quite what this means for CC batsmen this season, but Joe Root was pretty forthright last week on the 2019 batch of balls and what the England selectors should be looking for in terms of batsmen for the Ashes.
“[the selectors] have got to be really quite astute in the way they look at things – they have a big responsibility to look out for, not just weight of runs, but how batsmen are scoring them, who they are scoring them against and the surfaces.”
And congratulations (again) to Rory Burns -102 not out - his ability to keep churning the runs out, after a curate’s egg of a start to his England career, must be is a good sign.
Olivier on target:
🎥 Middle-peg-gone!
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) May 14, 2019
SR Dickson - b Olivier#OneRose pic.twitter.com/aCeJoz3ODu
I love a game where, after tea, the spectators wander off after staring aimlessly at the pitch for ten minutes and the groundstaff stroll back to their hut with a broom as the umpires amble back pitchside and the the players potter down the steps. We need to start a #slowsport movement.
Tea-time scores:
DIVISION ONE
Warwickshire v Hampshire: Hampshire 165/4 (Tom Alsop 87 not out)
Somerset v Surrey: Surrey 217/2 (Stoneman 50, Burns 95 not out, Elgar 60 not out)
(not tea) :Kent v Yorkshire: Yorkshire 210 (Harry Podmore 2-33, Matthew Milnes 3-63); Kent 9/1
Essex v Nottinghamshire: Notts 157/7 (Slater 45, Clarke 48; Porter 4-65)
DIVISION TWO
Worcestershire v Durham: Durham 194/6 (Bancroft 70, Jack Burnham 76; Leach 3-44)
Middlesex v Leicestershire: Middx 227/4 (Gubbins 75, Lace 51 not out)
Lancashire v Northamptonshire: Northants 190/7 (Procter 48 ; Gleeson 5-47)
Glamorgan v Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire 236/3 (James Bracey 127 not out, Roderick 74 not out)
Right, a breakthrough! Procter c Jennings b Gleeson 48 - and some tea-time scores to follow. Gleeson’s first five-wicket haul for Lancashire in his first game of the season.
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Well done Gareth Roderick , but have I missed something? Since when were individual players sponsored by mortgage companies? Does the money go to them or the club I wonder
HALF-CENTURY!!
— Gloucestershire Cricket🏏 (@Gloscricket) May 14, 2019
Gareth Roderick, sponsored by the @CentreMortgage, backs up James Bracey's century with a half-century of his own!
Well batted @Roders369 👏🏻#GoGlos 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/8Glk2fhTRO
A fifty partnership here between Lukes Wood and Procter, as Dean Elgar passes 1000 runs for Surrey and Dwayne Olivier has a heave-ho at Canterbury - Yorks 206/9.
Pressure is a sweaty-overbearing frenemy:
A worrying first over for England's reserve World Cup spinner - three of Joe Denly's first six deliveries were full tosses. #ENGvPAK pic.twitter.com/4I9map07Zn
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) May 14, 2019
Bancroft out for 70 - but Burnham still there 74 not out, Durham 163/4. At Lord’s Eskinazi just out for 33 - but Lace still there 17 not out. Middx 180/4 - 2 each for Abbass and Ackerman.
Vilas thinks “spin” and throws the ball to Livingstone at Old Trafford - clever partnership of 37 between Wood and Procter, Northants 157/6. And finally... at Newport, James Bracey is being well supported by Gareth Roderick (46) in a partnership of 140 and counting.
Rossouw out for a duck at Edgbaston - he never gets a duck - but Alsop still there on 81 - Hants 149/4. Burns and Elgar coming along nicely at Taunton - Surrey 169/2.
Yorkies’ wickets column ticks over in front of my eyes - Coad for 7 - just Olivier left to stand with the stoic Patterson. Yorks 181/9. And Notts have lost 3-18, Patel the latest for 3, 137/5.
A third wicket for Jamie Porter at Chelmsford - Joe Clark for 48. And huge congratulations to James Bracey - first century of the day, 145 balls, 17 fours and his second century in consecutive games. Here he is, the young blade (22).
There is something wonderfully endearing about this photograph.
Welcome back skipper! pic.twitter.com/O9Rtpu2Awf
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) May 14, 2019
Bravo (and fifties) for Burnham and Bancroft - partnership of 116 at New Road - Durham 132/3; Gubbins falls 25 short of a century at Lord’s - Middx 151 for 3. Lace on Middx Cship debut 7 not out.
And JAMES BRACEY! 94 not out for Gloucestershire against Glamorgan. Gloucs 158/3.
Tom Alsop has made the second Div 1 fifty of the day - 63 not out at Edgbaston. Northeast out for 22. Hants 122/3. Scott Borthwick not able to make the most of his chances at Taunton - caught by Craig Overton off Gregory for 1. Rory Burns still there 51 not out - Surrey 130/2.
Steven Patterson and Jon Tattersall edging Yorkshire towards northern respectability with a partnership of 28. Yorks 154/7. Notts now 118/3 after Ben Slater became Porter’s second prize for 45. Joe Clarke 37 not out.
And another one down, little Bavuma lbw Onions 39. A touch unlucky perhaps - looked to be heading down legside. Northants in the stink at 119/6.
Some post-prandial Richard Gleeson
WICKET WATCH Best figures for Lancashire of 4-30 so far by @RicGleeson who has made a sensational start to his first senior game of the summer! Keogh lbw for 3 with @Northants 101/4 #LANvNOR pic.twitter.com/V76hszbU2E
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) May 14, 2019
At Canterbury Dom Bess has done a Dom Bess: four fours before losing his off stump. See here, I hope
And here at OT a great catch by Jones to snaffle Cobb second ball off Bailey. Northants 102/5.
Updated
What was I saying ..? Career-best Lancashire figures now for Gleeson - 4/28 as Keogh is lbw for 3. Northants 101/4.
A stroll round the ground via the Macchiato, Chocolate frappe and muffin stand - who said CC hasn’t moved with the times - Newton plus runner out as I completed my circuit. It’s gorgeouws out there - ten red rose caps on ten red rose heads (plus bowler).
Jonathan Marsland is out there too:
I sit here in baking sunshine in front of the Red Hotel - after watching that first session it seems to me that Jones’ leggies and Liam’s liquorice allsorts are no replacement for the brilliance of young Parky - surely he should be in instead of Onions - AND WE SHOULD BE BATTING - I may be being premature here but Vilas’s decision at the toss seems ‘Crawleyesque’ in its stupidity!
Also Bavuma looks class as always.”
There was a little, er, consternation, in the press box about Vilas’ choice... but the theory was that the pitch gets better to bat on on day 2.
Updated
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Warwickshire v Hampshire: Hampshire 92/2 (Tom Alsop 40 not out)
Somerset v Surrey: Surrey 97/1 (Stoneman 50, Burns 36 not out)
Kent v Yorkshire: Yorkshire 96/6 (Harry Podmore 2-13, Matthew Milnes 2-31)
Essex v Nottinghamshire: Notts 76/2 (Slater 20 not out)
DIVISION TWO
Worcestershire v Durham: Durham 77/3 (Jack Burnham 42 not out; Leach 2-17)
Middlesex v Leicestershire: Middx 95/1 (Gubbins 51)
Lancashire v Northamptonshire: Northants 80/2 (Newton 28 not out; Gleeson 2-19)
Glamorgan v Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire 101/3 (James Bracey 65 not out)
And that’s lunch here at OT - Northants 80/2. Lunchtime scores to follow.
Yorkshire throwing in the morning towel - 96/6 Dom Bess makes his debut just after sandwiches.
England muddling up their order at Bristol:
Interesting listed batting order - England obviously want Stokes and Moeen to get a hit https://t.co/BLKmjPiV5U
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) May 14, 2019
Div one: Tom Alsop 40 not out in Hampshire’s 92/2; Stoneman 50 in Surrey’s 96/0 - MAKE THAT 96/1, Stoneman c Davies b Brooks 50; Yorkshire somehow 96/5 after Leaning was run out and Kohler-Cadmore caught of Milnes for 28; and Ben Slater an 83-ball-and-counting 20 in Notts’ 69/2.
A huge lbw appeal by Saqib Mahmood against Bavuma, “no” says the ump. Somehow this has the feel of day 3, not day 1. As elsewhere, the pre-lunch rebuilding is almost robust - Jack Burnham 36 not out in Durham’s 71/3; Gubbins 45 not out in Middx 88/1; Newton 28 not out here; James Bracey 63 not out in Gloucs 97/3.
And in more in-house news, Simon Burnton and Rob Smyth are OBO-ing England’s latest World Cup warm-up game against Pakistan, this time at Bristol. Otherwise known as Joe Denly’s big chance.
If anyone is waiting for today’s Spin newsletter, some news. It has been delayed by a day but will be winging into your inbox sometime tomorrow. If anyone wants to subscribe to 900 words of this and that cricket thoughts/news/stories/features , the link is below:
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Imran Tahir to Surrey news:
Welcome, @ImranTahirSA! 👋
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) May 14, 2019
The @IPL's leading wicket taker in 2019 will play for Surrey in this year's @VitalityBlast.
MORE ➡️ https://t.co/ZtH6nXva44 pic.twitter.com/SeET9FGfTV
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In Div 2: Cameron Bancroft and Jack Burnham have put on 30 at beauteous New Road (Durham 44/3); Max Holden and Nick Gubbins both on 27 (Middx 62/1); James Bracey staking up the Gloucestershire batting at Newport(37 not out, Gloucs 63/3) and Vasconcelos quietly performing his lonely duties as a runner for Northants (55/2) in the sleepy sun at OT.
In Div 1: Hants two down against Warwicks (53-2 - Joe Weatherley and Oliver Soames back doing their crossword); Surrey merrily tripping to 63/0; Yorkies stabilised to 67/3 (Kohler-Cadmore 17 not out), Notts 49/2 -Nash out for a five-boundary 26.
And that’s another scalp! A second wicket for Gleeson - Wakely caught Vilas for 2. Northants 44/2.
The ice-cream van has just sold a Mr Whippy to a lady in a blue anorak as Onions tumbles in from the James Anderson end. Just checked his international record - a crying shame he didn’t play more for England. I’d forgotten about the horror of his injury, in his cricinfo profile he describes his back as “a polo mint starting to crack.”
Burns and Stoneman gliding along effortlessly at Taunton - (49/0) Surrey the only county not to lose a wicket in this first hour or so. My stomach is saying lunchtime but it’s not even 12. How can that be? And the coffee machine is broken.
By the way, anyone ever made vegetarian noodle soup enticing for children? And if so, how?
Huge appeal, umpire says no, Vasconcelos asks Vilas, who says it was all above board, so he walks! And is applauded for it. Northants 38/1.
Make that Yorkshire 47/3 -Brook b Podmore 29.
Wee Yorkies lose another - Gary Ballance for 11 (Yorks 46/2) and Calypso-collapso at Durham, farewell Cameron Steele and Gareth Harte (17/3). At OT, a pause as Rob Newton pulls up injured and calls for a runner.
And another one down, this time at Chelmsford - Ben Duckett for 7 - a wicket for Porter. It must be something in the water as the ECB haven’t dumped the high-scoring CC balls, though of course they will be using a batch of replica 2018 ones for the Tests.
Mohammad Abbass watch:
WICKET | He's back!@Mohmmadabbas111 with his first ball in the @CountyChamp this season and Robson is trapped in front 🏏
— Leicestershire CCC (@leicsccc) May 14, 2019
What a start! Middlesex 0 for 1
🦊 #foxesfamily pic.twitter.com/qw8sElxuqP
Updated
Click here for the World Cup song, and on the pitch Adam Lyth (0 - Yorks 12/1), Alex Lees (0 - Durham 10/1),Sam Robson (0 - Middx 1/1) and Miles Hammond (0 - Gloucestershire 4/1) all make a terrible start to the day.
If you missed the new Final Word episode:
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) May 14, 2019
✅ Greg James launches the World Cup song
✅ Dan Brettig on Bradman and Packer's secret meeting
✅ New round of Nerd Pledgehttps://t.co/fq4sNkfjwL
Lancashire won the toss and are bowling here at OT and I have my first email of the day, from Joe Guntrip:
“Morning all,
“After what has been a torrid start to the season for Surrey, I’m hoping for an upturn in form today. The draw against Essex showed a worrying ineffectiveness with the ball that plagued our 2017 season, so I’m hoping that we can return to our 2018 form against a Somerset side who look like the best in the country so far this season. Will probably pop along to Edgbaston at some point - as a University of Birmingham student it’s not far!”
Enjoy Joe - I think a few fellow BTLers lurk at Edgbaston from time to time.
A rather hasty preview:
DIVISION ONE
Warwickshire v Hampshire: The Royal London finalists take on a Warwickshire side that were pipped to the post by Kent in their last Championship game. Warwicks have a long injury list which is good news for Rob Yates who is set to make his first-class debut.
Somerset v Surrey: The blue-riband clash sees a weakened Surrey turn up at Taunton. No Sam Curran (ECB orders), Jade Dernbach (calf) Amar Virdi (side) nor Tom Curran, Liam Plunkett or Jason Roy (England).
Kent v Yorkshire: Depleted Kent (missing Joe Denly and Sam Billings) take on Yorkshire who have been boosted by Dom Bess on a one-month loan.
Essex v Nottinghamshire: Essex’s first home match of the season, a chance for Peter Siddle to jump into the Australian selectors’ Ashes thoughts.
DIVISION TWO
Worcestershire v Durham: Worcestershire Captain Joe Leach returns after a stress fracture 11 months ago and batsman Josh Dell makes his Championship debut.
Middlesex v Leicestershire: Tom Lace has been recalled from Derbyshire to make his debut for Middlesex with Eoin Morgan, Paul Stirling and Dawid Malan all out of contention.
Lancashire v Northamptonshire: Injury-hit Northants are boosted by Jamie Overton, on loan until 13 June, and Nottinghamshire’s Luke Wood.
Glamorgan v Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire’s Australian fast bowler Dan Worrall will not play again this season because of a stress fracture of the back
Updated
Some tawdry gossip (don’t pretend you’re not interested):
Put the smartphone down Aggers old chap. This spat really isn’t cricket | @barneyronay https://t.co/UNoa5a5eeu
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) May 13, 2019
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Preamble
Welcome back one and all! It’s a gorgeous morning here at Old Trafford, shorts and caps for the players, and no jacket required for Paul Allott - who is playing bowls with Glenn Chapple, Chris Benbow and Stephen Parry on the outfield.
It might not be the clash of the round but there is plenty to see here. Joe Burns makes his Lancashire debut (their third Australian of the year) and Jamie Overton his Northants debut, on a month’s loan from Somerset, alongside Temba Bavuma of South Africa. Liam Livingstone plays his first Championship game of the year after his spell at the IPL and we can relax, a bit, when Hass walks to the crease.
Lots has happened in the last month from Jofra Archer to Aggers v Liew, Alex Hales to horrible injuries for poor Sam Billings and Ollie Pope. But the swifts have made it up to the north west, screaming above the roofs yesterday evening, and Paul Edwards has just given me a copy of The Old Ways which he picked up at Birkdale station’s book exchange. It’s good to be back!
*my preview file corrupted for some reason so preview follows shortly - apologies.
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