Harmer helps Essex gain edge against Yorkshire
Last May, on the first day between Essex and Yorkshire, 22 wickets fell and the visitors were bowled out for 50 – but a side including Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow recovered to win.
This year, wickets still fell but not at that rate, and it is Essex who hold the advantage thanks largely to another five wickets for the South African off‑spinner Simon Harmer on a spin- and seam-friendly pitch. Make no mistake: Harmer was not at his best in returning five for 76 as Yorkshire were bowled out for 208 midway through the day.
Last week, in defeating Nottinghamshire, he returned four for 35 from 40 second‑innings overs. Here he conceded three leg-side sixes but did enough on the way to a sixth haul of five wickets or more this summer. Essex, second with Yorkshire in third, ended the day on 122 for three.
Division One Leaders Somerset were challenged by the bottom side, Nottinghamshire, at Taunton although they finished strongly at 326 all out. Reduced to 145 for six after lunch, their recovery was led by Steve Davies and Dom Bess, who hit 74 and 51, and shared 128.
The champions, Surrey, whose title defence is no more after defeat against Yorkshire last week, played out an even first day against Kent at the Oval, with rain and bad light disrupting play. Dean Elgar (63) and Ben Foakes (57 not out) played the feature innings in 244 for six. The Ashes hopeful Dom Sibley was out for 16 as Warwickshire replied to Hampshire’s 539 with 198 for three on day two at the Ageas Bowl.
In Division Two, unbeaten Lancashire were put under early pressure by Northamptonshire at Wantage Road. Lancashire started this round three points behind Glamorgan, who do not play this week, with a game in hand. Temba Bavuma’s 103 marked his first Championship century and underpinned 334 for five. Ricardo Vasconcelos (77) and the captain, Adam Rossington (76 not out) provided valuable support.
It was a helter-skelter opening day at Kidderminster between Worcestershire and Derbyshire, with 20 wickets falling. Derbyshire were bowled out for 108 before Worcestershire replied with 113. Derbyshire closed on 19 without loss in their second innings.
Crikey. It’s all happening at Kidderminster, where Worcestershire are 70 for 5 in reply to Derbyshire’s 108 all out. Daryl Mitchell, Callum Ferguson and Riki Wessels all fell for 13, while Ed Barnard has 17. Nobody has yet made it beyond 31 in the match. Here, Duanne Olivier has just entered the Yorkshire attack to bowl the 27th over, coming on fourth change with Essex 74 for 2. It is a sign that he hasn’t yet hit his straps in a Yorkshire shirt. I can only think that they gave Matthew Fisher the new ball in the hope that a pitch-up bowler would be far more effective on this track, which hasn’t been Olivier’s style so far for the White Rose.
I have an apology to make to the Glamorgan fans who have pointed out to me on email that Lancashire are indeed not the leaders of Division Two. However, given they don’t play this week and Lancashire, who have a game in hand, are only two points behind, that will almost certainly change pretty sharpish no matter the result of their clash with Northants at Wantage Road. Here at Chelmsford, Essex have lost a second. Sir Alastair has gone, caught behind off Steve Patterson with one that nipped away a touch. They are now 66 for 2.
Northants are in extremely good order against the Division Two leaders Lancashire at Wantage Road. They have reached tea at 215 for 4, including Ricardo Vasconcelos’s 77 and Temba Bavuma’s unbeaten 52. Lancashire are under pressure, which hasn’t happened to them too often this season. Here at Chelmsford, Essex have reached tea at 42 for 1 and are in rude health. Things can change quickly, however, on this pitch.
Essex may have lost Nick Browne to a superb one-handed catch from Matthew Fisher in his follow through, but Tom Westley has just hit four fours in the ninth over off Ben Coad to give Essex a useful start to their reply to 208. They are 36 for 1 as we approach tea.
Now Durham have been bowled out for 117, with Leicestershire’s Chris Wright taking five for 30.
Yorkshire are all out for 208, with Simon Harmer claiming his fifth wicket as Matthew Fisher is lbw sweeping. The South African finishes with five for 76. I don’t think that’s a bad score on a pitch which will only get worse, and it hasn’t started great. Derbyshire are also all out at Kidderminster for 108 against Worcestershire, while Durham are 115 for 9 against Leicestershire at Grace Road. Back up into Division One, the law of sod is being applied at Taunton. Notts have had a dreadful campaign, yet they are giving leaders Somerset something to think about. Somerset are 157 for 6.
Simon Harmer may have taken four wickets, but he hasn’t been at his best. He’s conceded more than four an over, including being hit for three leg-side sixes – the latest from Ben Coad. Yorkshire are in a handy position at 201 for 8.
Interesting dismissal at Taunton as Tom Banton is dismissed hit wicket against R Ashwin as he attempts to prevent a ball dribbling back onto his stumps. Somerset 132 for 5.
Joe Leach has struck three times since lunch at Kidderminster, with Derbyshire reduced to 63 for 6. Leach removed Luis Reece, Harvey Hosein and Matt Critchley. Here at Chelmsford, Keshav Maharaj has just launched Simon Harmer over deep mid-wicket for six, and Yorkshire are 151 for 6.
Early afternoon success for Simon Harmer, who has Jonny Tattersall caught behind for 23 with his first ball after lunch, leaving him on a hat-trick having bowled Harry Brook just beforehand. Hat-trick ball, against fellow South African spinner Keshav Maharaj, produced a half-hearted lbw appeal. Yorkshire are 133 for 6 with Matthew Fisher and Maharaj together.
Lunch around the majority of grounds...
Division One
Hampshire 539 v Warwickshire 15-1, Ageas Bowl - Hampshire consolidated their position of strength with the wicket of Will Rhodes, caught behind off Kyle Abbott, in the final over of the morning.
Essex v Yorkshire 128-5, Chelmsford – two wickets apiece for Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer, including a 50th wicket of the season for the latter. He bowled Harry Brook in the last over before lunch after a recovery from 69-4. Brook made 46.
Somerset 111-3 v Nottinghamshire, Taunton – wickets for Luke Wood, R Ashwin and Jake Ball in a competitive start to top versus bottom.
Surrey 31-1 v Kent, Oval – delayed start to 12pm due to a wet outfield. Surrey lost Mark Stoneman for a duck. Rory Burns has reached 8,000 first-class runs for Surrey.
Division Two
Leicestershire v Durham 76-5, Grace Road – Cameron Bancroft has 36 not out and is trying to patch things together after a sticky start for the visitors.
Middlesex 70-2 v Gloucestershire, Merchant Taylors’ School – new ball wickets for Josh Shaw and Aussie Chad Sayers. Nick Gubbins and Dawid Malan at the crease.
Northamptonshire 104-1 v Lancashire, Wantage Road – a challenging morning for the leaders, who are without Jimmy Anderson (calf). Graham Onions struck, but Ricardo Vasconcelos has 59 not out.
Worcestershire v Derbyshire 63-3, Kidderminster – a decent start for the Pears through morning wickets for Dillon Pennington, Ed Barnard and Charlie Morris, including key duo Billy Godleman and Wayne Madsen.
Updated
Rory Burns, upon reaching three, brought up 8,000 career first-class runs for Surrey, who are 10 for 1 in the early stages against Kent at the Oval. Mark Stoneman was trapped lbw for a duck by Harry Podmore. Burns has five and Dean Elgar three.
A 50th Championship wicket of the season for Simon Harmer, who traps Tom Kohler-Cadmore lbw with one that turned and seemed to keep low. Yorkshire are 69 for 4.
Wickets all around the grounds, and they’re just getting underway between Surrey and Kent at the Oval following a delayed start due to a wet outfield. Kent have opted to bowl first. There’s also an injury update on Jimmy Anderson’s fitness from the ECB. Here’s the full statement:
“England seam bowler Jimmy Anderson, who left the field during Lancashire’s Specsavers County Championship match against Durham at Sedbegh School on Tuesday July 2 due to tightness to his right calf, underwent an MRI scan on Friday. The MRI confirmed that Anderson has suffered a low grade calf muscle tear. As a result of the injury, he will commence a rehabilitation programme with the England and Lancashire CCC medical teams.
“Anderson will miss Lancashire’s next two Championship matches against Northants and Sussex.
“He will be reassessed on an ongoing basis regarding his availability for the Specsavers Test match versus Ireland at Lord’s on July 24 and the Specsavers Ashes Series against Australia starting on August 1.”
Here’s our full story:
Yorkshire are three down, 45 for 3. Since my last post they have lost Gary Ballance, bowled around his legs for eight by Peter Siddle, who uprooted leg-stump, and Will Fraine, caught behind off a Jamie Porter away nipper for 29.
A quartet of wickets to report, the first here at Chelmsford. Adam Lyth has been caught at point by Nick Browne having skewed a drive at Jamie Porter for five, the ball after surviving a huge caught behind appeal. Yorkshire are 18 for 1. At the Ageas Bowl, Hampshire have lost Gareth Berg, bowled by Oliver Hannon-Dalby (they’re now 473-7). In Division Two, Leicestershire’s Muhammad Abbas has trapped Alex Lees lbw at Grace Road. Durham are 11 for 1. Derbyshire have also lost Billy Godleman to Dillon Pennington at Kidderminster and are 13-1.
There’s been plenty of oohs and arghs so far from the Essex bowlers and slip cordon, including an lbw shout from Jamie Porter against Adam Lyth with the first ball of the match. But Yorkshire have moved to 18 for 0 in the fifth over through Lyth and Will Fraine. There seems to be a bit of variable bounce in this pitch.
Notts have made three changes to their team for the clash with leaders Somerset at Taunton as they look to spark their season into life. They have handed a debut to the Sunderland-born Liam Patterson-White, a 20-year-old who bats left-handed and bowls left-arm spin. Luke Wood and Jake Libby also come into the side, with Samit Patel left out, Stuart Broad unavailable and Joe Clarke suffering from a hamstring injury. Somerset have won the toss and will bat.
First stat of the week. Yorkshire have won an 11th successive toss (discounting uncontested tosses) and have chosen to bat first here at Chelmsford. Last week’s toss victory against Surrey at Scarborough made it a post-war record. Insert any jokes regarding Steve Patterson here.
Preamble
Good morning from a warm and muggy Chelmsford, where we are set for the feature fixture of the round between Essex and Yorkshire, two sides chasing Somerset at the top of Division One.
After eight games, Essex are second and 15 points adrift, while Yorkshire are third, a further 21 points back. The hosts have won their last three, including against Somerset here, while Yorkshire beat champions Surrey at Scarborough last week. Their next two fixtures are here this week and against Somerset at Headingley from Saturday. A good fortnight for them and it really could be game on.
It is one of three Division One fixtures starting today; the others top v bottom – Somerset v Nottinghamshire at Taunton - and Surrey hosting Kent at the Oval. Yesterday saw the start of Hampshire and Warwickshire at the Ageas Bowl, with Hampshire dominating that in blistering fashion with 450 for 6 at close. The stand-in opener Ian Holland (143) and Aneurin Donald (173) shared 262 for the fourth wicket, advancing from 168-4, to underpin a mammoth score. It was great to see Olly Stone take three wickets on his return from injury. This is his first competitive game since England’s one-day leg of their Sri Lanka tour in October.
There are four fixtures in Division Two, with leaders Glamorgan sitting this round out. That opens the door for second-placed Lancashire to replace them at the summit. They travel to Wantage Road to face a Northamptonshire side they beat by 10 wickets at home earlier in the campaign. Lancashire are only three points behind with a game in hand. They are without Jimmy Anderson, however, this week du to a calf injury.
Elsewhere, Leicestershire host Durham at Grace Road, Middlesex face Gloucestershire at Merchant Taylors’ School and Worcestershire meet Derbyshire at Kidderminster.
There is no World Cup cricket today ahead of this week’s semi-finals, but for an international it’s the women’s Ashes ODI at Canterbury. England desperately need a win there after back-to-back defeats.
Just returning to this fixture at Chelmsford. Rewind 13 or 14 months and it proved to be an incredible contest which saw Yorkshire, including Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, bowled out for 50 in the first innings and still win. It was an incredible game of cricket which I’d be surprised to see a repeat of for a very long time. I’ve seen some amazing cricket on this ground. In 2013, I saw Essex bowled out for 20 in the second innings of a defeat to Lancashire. If this week’s clash is half as entertaining, we’ll be in for a treat.
