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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Will Macpherson at Chelmsford

County cricket: Essex beat Somerset to top table by 36 points - as it happened!

Jamie Porter celebrates bowling Marcus Trescothick.
Jamie Porter celebrates bowling Marcus Trescothick. Photograph: TGSPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

Will Macpherson's day report

Essex increasingly have the look of champions, and lead heading by 36 points heading into September. They bowled Somerset out for 109 – with Jamie Porter taking career-best innings and match figures of seven for 55 and 12 for 95 – to win by 179 runs. They have won their last five matches and lead Division One by 36 points with four games remaining. Next week they travel to their nearest rivals, Lancashire, who beat Warwickshire by eight wickets.

Essex’s batting ambled through the morning session, with 88 from Adam Wheater and a punchy 67 from Ryan ten Doeschate helping set Somerset a target of 289 in 59 overs. Ten Doeschate may have declared had Mohammad Amir, who has a back issue, been available to him.

But it mattered not, because Porter was immediately ripping through Somerset’s tame top order. Marcus Trescothick played on second ball, then Tim Rouse and Eddie Byrom were caught behind. An awfully loose drive from James Hildreth, after Tom Abell had shouldered arms to Simon Harmer, left Somerset 42 for five.

Porter returned after tea, and Nick Browne took a brilliant low catch at third slip to get rid of Steven Davies, who was Porter’s fifth of the innings, 10th victim of the match and 50th in the Championship this summer. He also bowled Jack Leach and Tim Groenwald, while Harmer (who is the only bowler with more Division One wickets than Porter with 53), had Dom Bess and Craig Overton, the only resistor with 36, lbw to finish the job. Somerset are seventh, 17 points off sixth-placed Yorkshire.

Somerset’s game with Warwickshire, who are 12 points below in eighth, at Edgbaston next week looms as a huge fixture. Warwickshire lost for the sixth time in 10 games, despite Tim Ambrose’s century at Old Trafford. They were bowled out for 344 in their second innings, leaving Lancashire just 42 to knock off for victory. They did that for the loss of Alex Davies and Haseeb Hameed, who hit a rare six in his 21.

Despite the extraordinary circumstances in which the result was confirmed, Middlesex’s John Simpson had to work hard for the draw against Surrey. He made an unbeaten 88 to rescue Middlesex from 94 for six – a lead of just 61 – after Sam Curran took three early wickets. Nick Compton, who had earlier retired hurt, returned to make 28 not out, while Ollie Rayner hit 30.

Division Two is taking shape, too. Following third-placed Sussex’s win on Wednesday, leaders Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire, in second, recorded big home wins. Poor old Kent lost ground and were left frustrated by the rain and Leicestershire, who did not play ball on a contrivance. Nottinghamshire swept up the five Northamptonshire wickets they required (Adam Rossington was absent injured) for a 163-run win. Northants were all out for 253, with Samit Patel finishing with three for 18.

A five-wicket haul from Ravichandran Ashwin in his first Championship match guided Worcestershire to victory over Gloucestershire, by 189 runs. Ashwin took figures of 34-8-68-5 as Gloucestershire were bowled out for 211. Worcestershire are 32 points behind Nottinghamshire having played the same number of games (11). Sussex, who have played just 10, are 19 behind Worcestershire on 153, while Kent are on 143 having played 10 matches. Durham clinically dispatched Derbyshire, cleaning up the tail then knocking off the 39 required for the loss of just Keaton Jennings, sealing a nine-wicket win.

Updated

That's all folks!

Right, in very strange circumstances, it’s time to wrap up for the week. Amazing performance again from Essex, who can officially start believing. Somerset and Warwickshire are in deep danger. Here’s the extraordinary news from the Oval.

And here are the results:

Division One:

  • Essex beat Somerset by 179 runs
  • Lancashire beat Warwickshire by 8 wickets
  • Surrey drew with Middlesex

Division Two:

  • Kent drew with Leicestershire
  • Durham beat Derbyshire by 9 wickets
  • Notts beat Northants by 163 runs
  • Worcestershire beat Gloucestershire by 189 runs

Speak on Saturday at Finals Day, or on Tuesday, for the next round of action. Bye for now.

Match drawn at the Oval, not that it matters...

Here’s what we know:

Somerset all out for 109 in a session and a half. Coverton last to go.

Wicket! Harmer gets the last and Essex win by 179 runs. They are obviously still top, and take 20 points.

So armed police have now arrived at the Oval.

More as I get it from the Oval. The venue is currently in lockdown.

Meanwhile, it’s match drawn at Canterbury, and Essex are one wicket away from victory here. Jamie Porter has seven wickets.

Here’s what we know from the Oval: play has been suspended because a metal arrow has landed on the outfield, not far from players and umpires. That doesn’t happen by accident, I’d say. Match has been suspended and, you’d think, called off as a draw. More as I get it.

99 for eight, Leach gone, end nigh.

Wicket! Another for Porter. He has six. Career best match and innings figures now.

Err... All going off at the Oval.

Wicket! Bess gone, for a duck, and like Abell earlier, he’s not played a shot to Harmer. Very silly indeed. The end is nigh. Three wickets left. I reckon I’ve seen Harmer take 10 wickets this season with lbws where the batsman hasn’t offered a stroke. Madness.

Wicket! Porter has done it! Five in the innings, 10 in the match, 50 for the season! Davies has to go, caught at third slip, well to his left, Browne. 81 for six. That’s Porter’s first ever 10-fer.

Rain again at Canterbury. What a frustrating day for the men of Kent.

Porter to have another bowl. He has four in the innings, nine in the match, and 49 this season. We all like round numbers, don’t we?

Right, final session of the week coming up. Essex fielders coming out, covers coming off. They need five wickets to win.

Tea! Scores on the doors

Here’s where we are in the three remaining games.

  • Middlesex 247 & 195-7 v Surrey 280
  • Somerset 164 & 77-5 v Essex 159 & 293
  • Leicestershire 350 & 135-6 v Kent 333

Results:

  • Lancashire beat Warwickshire by 8 wickets
  • Nottinghamshire beat Northants by 163 runs
  • Durham beat Derbyshire by 9 wickets
  • Worcestershire beat Gloucestershire by 189 runs

Covers just on at Chelmsford at tea, with some rain falling...

Well, it’s 3.40 and that’s tea at the Cloudfm County Ground. Somerset 77 for five. Good effort from Davies and Coverton, who have dug in.

Can play.

Ravi’s just bowled a belting first over. Beaten Coverton four time! 74 for five.

Compo hits Meaker for successive fours and Middlesex lead by 150!

Middlesex’s lead trickling up to 142, with three wickets in hand. Compo digging in. 41 overs left in the match so they will want plenty more yet!

With 38 overs left in the game, Leicestershire are six down, 133 in front. Kent need them all out swiftly,

Rain falling at Chelmsford...

Lancashire win by 8 wickets!

They take maximum bonus points. Pressure on Essex...

Eesh.

Now Hameed is out! Lancs 35 for two, needing six.

Coverton has just hit Harmer into the River! 63 for five. New balls please!

Doesn’t sound that safe to me.

Haseeb Hameed just hit a six

This is not a drill. He has 21 from 19. Lancs need seven.

So, Division Two looks a bit like this:

Notts are top on 204, having played 11. Worcestershire are on 172, also having played 11. Sussex have played 10 and are on 153.

Lancs have lost a wicket: Davies for 11. 18 more required.

Compton back in at the Oval... Eskinazi running for him.

Wicket at the Oval... Rayner lbw to Meaker, and Middlesex are effectively 125 for seven.

Worcestershire beat Gloucestershire by 189 runs!

Leach bowls Norwell and that, as they say, is that.

Wicket! Five down. That is an awful shot from James Hildreth. Big, fat, loose drive and caught behind. Porter has his fourth, ninth of the match, and 49th of the Championship season.

Ashwin has five! Gloucestershire nine down...

Well, Alex Davies isn’t mucking about. 10 from Barker’s first over and Lancashire need 31 to win.

Batsmen all season have been padding up to Harmer, and they keep getting out, and not learning.

50 for John Simpson at the Oval. 148 for six. Lead by 115.

Wicket! Grievous Bodily Harmer strikes in his first over. Abell lbw, leaving it. Somerset are 32 for four.

Warwickshire all out for 344! Jarvis bowls The Other Ryan Sidebottom. Eight in the match for him.

Lancashire need 41 to win. They have a cool 51 overs to do it.

Here comes Harmer. The only man with more Division One wickets than Porter this season...

Jamie Porter is bowling beautifully. That’s 48 wickets for the season. Book him in for the Lions tour to Australia.

Wicket! Porter has three! That lifted slightly and took the edge of Lord Byrom’s bat. Foster did the rest. 31 for three.

Parkinson gets Ambrose! I love Matt Parkinson. Warwickshire effectively 35 for nine.

Great tweet. Worcestershire getting there....

Wicket! Somerset two down! Porter has 47 wickets for the season. Moved away from Rouse a touch and he’s a goner! Caught behind. 10 for two.

Lord Byrom has already been dropped, by Chopra at slip off Walter on 0... 9 for 1.

Confirmed.

Wicket! Trescothick’s been bowled second ball!

Now Wright gone at Old Trafford, to Jarvis. Warwickshire’s lead is 22, and they have two wickets in hand.

Essex all out! Bess gets another and Somerset will need 289 to win. They will have 59 overs to do it, I reckon.

Wicket at Old Trafford! McLaren gets Patel. Warks lead Lancs by 15 with three wickets in hand.

Jon Short emails:

While John Simpson continues his innings for the Middle Saxons, a horse named Jonnysimpson has just finished 3rd in the 1:40 at Bath @14/1

The horse might have bolted at the Oval.

Middlesex six down! Rojo caught and bowled by Clarke for a duck! Who is going to dig in with Simpson? The lead is only 61...

Wicket! Bess gets Harmer, sweeping. 293 for seven. Porter will come in now. Be odd if Amir bats.

Ah, that’s a shame.

No declaration from Essex yet ... which is a bit of a surprise. Results looks very unlikely now. Suspect it’s because Amir is hobbling about. Harmer and Walter to have a slog, then.

No official word yet on whether Essex have declared...

Cor, I pop out for lunch and Tim Ambrose has been getting on with it, hasn’t he?!

Franklin has been caught down the legside on the stroke of lunch! 86 for five, Middlesex, and leading by just 53. Will Compo bat?

Lunch! Scores on the doors

Here’s where we are, then...

Division One:

  • Essex 159 & 284-7d v Somerset 164
  • Middlesex 247 & 86-5 v Surrey 280
  • Warwickshire 200 & 275-6 v Lancashire 504-8d

Division Two:

  • Nottinghamshire beat Northamptonshire by 169 runs
  • Durham beat Derbyshire by 9 wickets
  • Leicestershire 350 & 97-4 v Kent 333
  • Gloucestershire 258 & 161-6 v Worcestershire 363 & 295-6d

Enjoy your sarnies!

Lunch here as Leach gets Tendo with the first ball of that over. Caught at slip. 284 for seven, and surely the declaration...

Poor Jack Leach has to bowl the last over here.

Foster gone, declaration surely coming at lunch...

Durham beat Derbyshire by 9 wickets!

Wahoo! Latham hits the winning runs...

I think they will still be quietly confident. Eight required.

Well I suspect it will be a lunchtime declaration from Essex, then. Not teeing off. 257 ahead.

50 for Tendo! 250 up as well. Lead is 247... Declaration not far off.

Updated

But Coles has got Cosgrove with the sixth ball of the over! Three down, lead by 79.

Leicestershire are teeing off! Are they trying to set up a declaration? Two down, lead by 79. Cosgrove has just taken 24 from five Coles balls.

Middlesex are right in the muck! R-Pats makes Stirling his maiden first-class wicket! Lead by 27, and four down. Compo retired hurt.

Proper nut.

So Notts have won, Durham aren’t far off. Worcestershire need four more...

Wicket! Our first of the day. Coverton has bowled Wheater is gone for 88. It’s a good length, angling in then left him. Caught behind. Essex’s lead is 229.

Notts beat Northants by 163 runs!

This has actually happened now. Notts take 20 points...

Updated

Starting at 1.10 at Old Trafford!

Durham need 39 to beat Derbyshire!

False alarm - I’ve been sold a dummy! Sanderson is batting and Notts need one more wicket. They’ve not won yet...

Leicestershire have lost their first! Dearden unwisely shoulders arms to Stevo – don’t do that, mate – and he’s gone! They lead by 31.

Nottinghamshire beat Northants by 192 runs!

That makes promotion look very unlikely for Northants, then. They had two men injured - Rossington and Sanderson. Samit gets the last wicket and Notts taken 20 points, extending their lead at the top. Over to you, Worcestershire...

Somerset have taken the new ball with Essex 209 for four, leading by 204. Declaration by lunch?

Middlesex are three (four, effectively) down! Eskinazi lbw to Scurran. Surrey are going to win!

Gloucestershire are 78 for five. Ashwin has three, and Barnard has one.

Hearing Compo has a back spasm...

Middlesex have lost two quick ones and are suddenly in some trouble. Have I picked the wrong game?

Scurran has got Robson and Voges in an over, and they are 33 for two. Effectively 0 for 3 (with Compo retired hurt), and Stirling in on a king pair...

And now Derbyshire are nine down! Onions gets Harvey Hosein!

It’s all happening in a hurry at Trent Bridge... Northants 196 for seven. Ball gets Cobb.

Durham are getting there...

Northants six down! Hitman again, big Rory gone! 225 required.

Kent 333 all out. Leics lead by 17 on first innings.

Well Notts are on the move. Wakely went to Hitman Hutton and Northants are 192 for five. 225 away.

Dropped! Timmy G puts a sharp caught and bowled chance off Tendo down on 11. 175 for four...

Derbyshire lead! Durham will have to bat again.

The Essex stream! Watch.

Interesting...

That didn’t take long!

Word is that Mohammad Amir is injured and may not bowl today...

We are underway at Chelmsford. Timmy G bowling to Wheater. 158 for four.

Oh, for pete’s sake...

For those of you who go to Championship cricket, a reminder that next week brings the return of 10.30am starts (whoopee!). Don’t show up late...

Grievous Bodily Harmer has 50 wickets already this season. The pitch is dusty, and he’s the key man today. No question about that.

So I gather that Kent quite fancy a contrivance down at Canterbury, but Leicestershire aren’t playing ball. That’s Leicestershire who are winless and bottom, after Durham started on -48. Mmmmmm.

How many results do we reckon we will get today? I’m saying four... With draws at Canterbury, Chelmsford and the Oval. Three results in Division Two...

Any word of any weather about, folks?

Well the weather’s delightful here in Chelmsford, but there’s a couple of rumours about regarding some rain later on. Let’s hope not, because that would surely kill any hope of a result. The pitch is very, very dry, and Grievous Bodily Harmer might just be licking his lips.

Morning all it's the morning call!

Well, well, well. The last day of August. Would you believe it? Time flies, eh. I’m Will Macpherson and I’ve hotfooted it Chelmsford, home of Essex, who improbably lead Division One as we head into September, and the final four rounds. Staggering stuff.

Anyway, as you’ll know I was at the Oval yesterday, but it rained all day. The good news is that the weather is better across the south today. I haven’t even brought a jacket with me!

I felt a result was more likely here so here I am! Essex have six second innings wickets in hand and lead by 153. Draw is probably the favourite, but all four results possible. Back at the Oval, Middlesex need to be a touch careful – they really wouldn’t want to be bowled out in a session and a half. They start with 10 wickets in hand but 18 behind. The most likely Division One result comes at Old Trafford, where Warwickshire are six down, and still 29 behind. Bears hopes rest with Tim Ambrose, and rain. Hopefully the latter stays away.

Division Two is bubbling away. Sussex won yesterday, while Notts and Worcestershire – armed with Ashwin – should win today against Northants and Gloucestershire. Would be nice if Durham could win again. And can Kent contrive a result against Leicestershire? Here’s the scores on the doors:

Division One:

  • Middlesex 247 & 15-0 v Surrey 280
  • Essex 159 & 158-4 v Somerset 164
  • Warwickshire 200 & 275-6 v Lancashire 504-8d

Division Two:

  • Sussex beat Glamorgan by 1 wicket
  • Gloucestershire 258 & 55-3 v Worcestershire 363 & 295-8d
  • Derbyshire 164 & 305-d v Durham 480-9d
  • Kent 313-9 v Leicestershire 350
  • Northants 141 & 167-4 v Notts 344-9d

And here’s yesterday’s roundup. Give it your love. Click, comment, you know the score.

You can contact me. Please do, in fact. Here are the three ways of doing that:

All that leaves me to say, for the last time this month, is ... enjoy the cricket! It should be a belter.

Updated

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