Will Macpherson's full report
Warwickshire, hitherto winless and very often listless, toppled Middlesex inside three days at Lord’s, dragging the champions back into their relegation bunfight. The 19 points Warwickshire claimed with victory leave them 31 behind Middlesex in an increasingly congested bottom end of Division One.
Bolstered by some canny additions – the wicket that sealed the 190-run triumph was the sixth of the match for Ryan Sidebottom (no, not that one; this is an Australian who bowls with his right arm) – and a returning international (Chris Woakes took three for 38 to give England hope he will be fit for the upcoming Test at his home ground), Warwickshire look a steelier side. They recovered from 139 for five to make 361, setting Middlesex 327 for victory.
Keith Barker ended unbeaten on 62 and was soon ripping in to a makeshift Middlesex top order. The opener Nick Gubbins had torn a hamstring while fielding and batted at No8 (a scan on Wednesday is expected to rule him out for weeks, not days), while his regular partner Sam Robson also required a runner and was one of Barker’s three wickets immediately after lunch. Woakes picked up where he left off, reducing Middlesex to 45 for six.
Gubbins, who was last man out, and the lower order (Steven Finn finished unbeaten on 31 from 16 balls) saw them dismissed for 136. They lost 10 wickets in a session and 20 for under 300 runs in the match; retention of their Division One status, rather than the title, is a far greater concern with five games of their defence remaining.
At Taunton, the disappointment of the Somerset captain, Tom Abell, at falling four short of his first century of the summer was offset by his side’s collection of full batting points against Surrey, the first time they had achieved that this year. Abell was removed by the Warwickshire old boy Rikki Clarke, playing his first championship game for Surrey in 10 years, having shared 155 with Steven Davies, who made 142, his first ton for Somerset, against the county he left in the close season.
Davies also put on 90 with Dom Bess, who made his maiden first-class half-century, before a 10th-wicket stand of 48 between Tim Groenewald and Jack Leach took Somerset to 436. The spinners Leach and Bess, along with Hampshire’s Mason Crane, will train with England before the first Test against West Indies.
By stumps, Surrey were 69 for one, having lost Rory Burns. Mark Stoneman, who should open the batting for England against West Indies, was unbeaten on 34, to move within five of 800 runs for the summer.
In Division Two, play was possible only at New Road where Sussex moved into third by beating second-placed Worcestershire by nine wickets. Despite the efforts of Ed Barnard, who finished unbeaten on 65, Worcestershire fell 13 shy of avoiding the follow-on, which Ben Brown duly enforced.
Barnard, batting at No7, was then last man out and top scorer with 46 as Worcestershire were bowled out for 170, with David Wiese and Jofra Archer taking three wickets each.
Angus Robson enjoyed a better day than his brother Sam. His four through point in Sussex’s chase of nine were his first runs for Sussex, took him off a pair, and sealed the 23-point victory too.
Just 36 overs were possible on the final day of the West Indies’ warmup match at Canterbury as Kent reduced the tourists to 132 for four.
That's all folks!
A frustrating day at the Ageas and, I sense, another frustrating one tomorrow. Oh well. There was no play in four games, but we’ve had two results, and a decent day’s action at Taunton too. Wins for Warwickshire and Sussex are seismic in each division. Here’s the scores:
Division One:
- Warwickshire beat Middlesex by 190 runs
- Surrey 69-1 v Somerset 436
- Lancashire 149 &314-5 v Hampshire 224
Division Two:
- Sussex beat Worcestershire by 9 wickets
- Derbyshire 220 & 45-1 v Notts 508-9d
- Leicestershire 124-4 v Durham 525-8d
- Northants 343 & 50-5 v Gloucestershire 265
Tour match:
- Kent drew with West Indies
See you tomorrow morning! Thanks again.
Rory Burns has been run out for 30!
Six overs left at Taunton, where Surrey are 56 without loss.
Sussex take 23, not 24 points from their win at New Road.
Still 10 overs - weather dependent - remaining at Taunton. Surrey are 51 without loss.
Sussex beat Worcestershire by 9 wickets
Naughty Ed Barnard, the victory delayer, got Luke Wells out for five, but Harry Finch and Gus Robson get Sussex home by nine wickets. Robson actually hit the winning runs - his first for Sussex, and they get him off his pair, too.
I reckon Sussex take the full allocation of points, and Worcestershire get four in defeat.
Looks to me like they are back on at Taunton.
Barnard goes for 46 off 45 and Worcestershire are all out for 170! Sussex require nine for victory. I’m backing them but....
Barnard out for 46 but light is bad and it may mean if @WorcsCCC bowl the quicks they will come off for bad light.
— Dave Bradley (@braddersatbbc) August 8, 2017
Sussex will have to bat again! Ed Barnard has 40, and Worcestershire lead by 2.
Sussex need one wicket for victory! Briggs got the Tongue and Worcestershire are 154 for nine.
Off for rain again at Taunton! Surrey 28 without loss.
Hello! I am back.
What a brilliant effort from the Somerset tail to carry them to 436. Surrey are 24 for none in response.
And Worcestershire are knocking on defeat’s door against Sussex. They trail by 21 and have two wickets in hand. Ed Barnard again staving off the loss.
Right, two games still going but I’m just going to do a quick relocation. And as I pop out, Somerset have 400 for the first time this year! They get there nine down, and have full batting points!
Play nicely in my absence, I’ll be back shortly.
Updated
And play has resumed at Taunton, with Somerset 398 for nine, and nearly full batting point-ed up.
So they are back on after tea at New Road, with Worcestershire 77 for five in their second innings. Lotta work to do.
Matt Howell has sent me a funny email.
As you are at the Ageas Bowl with little going on, I wondered if anyone there could shed any light as to why Hampshire have published the highlights from last week’s T20 match with Essex in reverse order (ie. With first ball of the first innings is shown last)?
Warwickshire beat Middlesex by 190 runs!
Gubbins and Finn went on a neat little run, hitting six consecutive boundaries. But now Gubbins, who has a hamstring injury and probably shouldn’t be batting at all, has gone lbw to The Other Ryan Sidebottom, and Warwickshire win by a lot.
That’s their first of the season! Well done them. They take 19 points and are still bottom. But they are not as bottom.
It’s a funny quirk of the game, isn’t it, that a day can be called off in its best weather. But that’s what’s happened here: play has been abandoned for the day.
It is a bit brighter, and the rain has stopped (and not looking likely to continue), but the outfield is sodden and so we won’t get any more play. Oh well. We will try again tomorrow, but the chance of play don’t look great then either.
Worcestershire are 65 for four, and still 97 behind!
The umpires have completed their inspection and we are close to learning if we will see cricket. The suspense is killing me.
Finn has taken 16 from five balls from Jeetan Patel, but Middlesex are still 106 for nine, and have lost nine wickets in the session.
And here come the umpires now. Probably telling us it’s off, I suspect.
Inspection in 15 minutes here and it’s looking really quite unrainy.
And now Jeetan Patel gets Murtagh! Warwickshire are one away from their first win of the season! 88 for nine as the Watford Wall ambles out to join Gubbins.
David Wiese has got Joe Clarke out and the Woosters are 41 for three.
Middlesex are eight down, as Jeetan gets Tom Helm. 88 for eight with Gubbins there on 2.
Tea at 3.10. Inspection at 3.30. It’s just about stopped.
At New Road, Worcestershire have fallen to 19 for two following on. In comes Joe Clarke...
And now Sowter is gone. He made 37 but is gone to The Other Ryan Sidebottom, who he got out earlier. 71 for seven and Helm joins Gubbins. They are big mates, but can’t often have batted together.
Well, Sowter is having some fun on debut. He has 37 from 22 and Middlesex are 71 for six. They need 256 more.
Rain at Taunton with Somerset 349 for nine...
Nathan Sowter has just hit The Other Ryan Sidebottom for six. Middlesex 59 for six.
Franklin gone at Lord’s, and Nick Gubbins, injured, in at No8. Woakes made Franklin his third and Middlesex are 49 for six.
Surrey have full bowling points! Davies goes for a brilliant 142, driving Scurran to cover. 388 for nine.
Woakes gets Higgins: Warwickshire are 34 for five.
Gareth Batty bowls Dom Bess for 57 and Somerset are 380 for eight.
The Lancashire lads are at the driving range, I’m hearing. Call off incoming, surely. Imagine they might wait til 3pm to see if this passes. But it looks set in.
Middlesex are 28 for four! Woakes gets Simpson...
Rain quite set in here now. I think we are done for the day.
Barker has a third and Middlesex are in strife! Compo gone. 28 for three.
Worcestershire all out for 268, 162 behind. Pat Brown goes to Wiese and Barnard is left – cue dramatic music – STRANDED – on 65. Follow on enforced.
We are due a 2pm inspection, but it is currently raining lightly, so doubt that will happen.
Three consecutive boundaries and Dom Bess has his maiden first-class half-century! Somerset 369 for seven.
And now Middlesex are two down: Eskinazi, who made such a brilliant hundred against Warwickshire a few weeks ago, is gone for two, and they are 23 for two. Barker, who is having a quite brilliant day, has his second.
Sam Robson has gone lbw to Keith Barker and Middlesex’s chase of 327 just got harder. They are 21 for one.
The uncovering of the, err, covers, appears to be being aborted because it, of course, is raining again. Not heavy, but rain.
The covers are coming off ahead of the inspection, which is 20 minutes away.
Cute.
Nice presentation today for @tjmurtagh & family. Congrats on 1000 career wickets #Middxlegend #TeamMiddlesex pic.twitter.com/yX2wc8sqkg
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) August 8, 2017
50 for Ed Barnard! He got two wickets with no-balls, so probably owes it to Worcestershire. He’s giving them hope; they are 253 for nine, and 177 behind.
Well bowled.
Luncheon arrives..Somerset 357-7 with a certain Steven Davies 128*..exceptional spread in the Taunton media centre gets standing ovation pic.twitter.com/TvBpq2RZCe
— Mark Church (@backandacross) August 8, 2017
Inspection at 2pm at the Ageas.
Umpires having a look at the Ageas. Groundstaff trying to mop up.
An immediate wicket at New Road! Tongue caught behind off Jordan, and Worcs are 194 behind with just one wicket in hand.
Updated
The changing face of County Cricket: As the Middx Championship team take Lunch, T20 coach Vettori preps his lot for Thursday... #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/UgHGpOSi3x
— Kevin Patrick Hand (@KevinHandBBC) August 8, 2017
Lunch! Scores on the doors
There has been play at Taunton and Lord’s, but none elsewhere. Dom Bess has put on 87 in 18 overs with Steve Davies, and has an equal career best 41 not out for Somerset.
- Middlesex 161 & 20-0 v Warwickshire 126 & 361
- Somerset 357-7 v Surrey
Unchanged games:
- Lancashire 149 & 314-5 v Hampshire 224
- Derbyshire 220 & 45-1 v Notts 508-9d
- Leicestershire 124-4 v Durham 525-8d (abandoned for the day there)
- Northants 343 & 50-5 v Gloucestershire 265 (abandoned for the day there)
- Worcestershire 231-8 v Sussex 430 (play to begin at 1.10!)
And there you have it. Enjoy your lunch!
Updated
Jos Buttler the latest to go over for lunch. Could this mean we have some cricket on the way? #lunchwatch
There is a mop up operation underway at the Ageas!
Lunch at Lord’s, where Middlesex are 20 without loss against Warwickshire, chasing 327.
This week’s Spin. Andy Bull in conversation with Eoin Morgan. Excellent.
As elegant as ever.
Here's the moment when Steve Davies reached his first Somerset century! 👏👏
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) August 8, 2017
Somerset 339/7#SOMvSUR #WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/OQv5PTl5Dt
I was wrong, the rain hasn’t stopped here.
Afternoon Stuie! The Glosters charge has been halted by the rain. Drainage at Wantage Road not as good as many other grounds.
@willis_macp does seem early to call play off
— Stuie Neale (@MrNeale92) August 8, 2017
I think it might have actually stopped raining here.
Now, with the rain looking a bit lighter (but still definitely there), Ryan McLaren is going for some tucker. Wonder what they are having over there. #lunchwatch
So it’s not Gubbins out there. Compton’s with Robson, who has the runner. I’ll say it again: what could possibly go wrong?
Deary me. Gubbins injured in the field and not opening and Robson out there with a runner - this'll be some chase if they do it! #bbccricket
— Kevin Patrick Hand (@KevinHandBBC) August 8, 2017
What could possibly go wrong?
Robson and Gubbins (with a runner) out to open for #TeamMiddlesex. 327 the target and 79 overs remain on Day Three. #gowellLads
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) August 8, 2017
Play abandoned for the day at Wantage Road! Wow, that’s early.
Now Shiv’s popping across for a bite. #lunchwatch
Updated
Warwickshire all out for 361! Middlesex need 327 for win
Nathan Sowter makes The Other Ryan Sidebottom his maiden first-class scalp and Warwickshire are all out for a very fine 361. Middlesex have a mountain to climb. Bad game to lose, that.
Haseeb Hameed knows how his bread’s buttered: with early lunch scheduled at 12.30, he braves the rain to wanders across from his hotel room at 12.29.
A century for Steve Davies! All fans of cricket rejoice; perhaps even those of Surrey. He left the Oval for Taunton in the winter for various reasons, and this is his first ton for Somerset. Well deserved, and Somerset are 306 for seven on day two.
There is a school of thought developing that this match may not see another ball bowled.
Steven Finn has got Chris Wright out! Warwickshire have one wicket remaining, and lead by 324. The Other Ryan Sidebottom is in.
Still no breakthrough for Middlesex, and Warwickshire are now 320 ahead. With more rain due here tomorrow, maybe that’s where I will head...
Hampshire 2s are 15 for six against Somerset 2s. Here’s the card.
There goes Abell, walking. Allenby and Overton have since gone too and Somerset are 247 for seven.
🔥 Clarke with his third wicket, strangling Somerset Captain Abell down leg for 96.
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 8, 2017
Somerset - 266/5 (74 overs) pic.twitter.com/CrFpM4s6g1
Somerset are six down, with Allenby caught behind off Meaker. 270 for eight, with Davies on 87.
Well it looks lovely in Taunton.
View from the commentary box on second morning at Taunton #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/u3CuiU5OEG
— Mark Church (@backandacross) August 8, 2017
Warwickshire are having another good morning, and Middlesex are going to need 300 to win. Warks are 330 for eight, Barker and Wright have stuck on 72.
We have another big dollop of rain here at the Ageas. Absolute earliest we will start is 1.10 but can’t see that being the case, sadly.
Oh dear. Abell was strangled down the legside. No way to go.
You need to see this.
Brilliant scenes on the Essex team bus:
— Vithushan (@Vitu_E) August 8, 2017
🎵 He's Silverwood's man; He's better than Riaz; We've got Mohammad Amir 🎵https://t.co/eE88qCpbQU
Oh no! Tom Abell out for 96! Somerset 253 for five, with Davies on 77.
No play before lunch here at the Ageas.
Little bit of a mop up happening here ... rain has stopped, but there’s more forecast.
Sounding like delayed starts at ... in no particular order:
- Hants v Lancs
- Derbyshire v Notts (no play before lunch)
- Sussex v Worcs
- Leics v Durham
- Northants v Glos
- Kent v Windies
And news from Taunton:
Because of the rain yesterday we will have 3 sessions of 2 hrs and 10 mins..so lunch at 1.10 ..tea at 4.20...stumps 6.30
— Mark Church (@backandacross) August 8, 2017
It’s very much still raining. It might do all day :-(
Looking like delayed starts elsewhere too.
Morning all it's the morning call!
It’s not a great morning here, to be honest. When I got within about 10 miles, driving west towards Southampton, the rain started and quickly began flying sideways, and really rather powerfully at that. It’s calmed a bit, but the piddles I can see are still getting a pounding. If we get play before lunch, I’ll be flabbergasted; if we get any play at all, I’ll be pleasantly surprised. I suspect the picture isn’t dissimilar elsewhere.
Anyway, yesterday was a fine old day, wasn’t it? Haseeb Hameed and Alex Davies played brilliantly contrasting innings to get Lancashire out of a hole here. Hameed, if the weather allows, has the chance to add to his 77 this morning. He batted patiently and intelligently; not quite as fluently as last year but very well indeed. The aim, for Hameed and the selectors, should be to get him on the plane to Australia, but leave him with Lancashire for the remainder of the summer. He’s only getting better, and a premature recall could dampen that.
Elsewhere, Warwickshire have forged a strong position against Middlesex, and Somerset enjoyed a decent first day against Surrey. Nice to see Tom Abell in the runs. At Scarborough, Essex achieved an enormous eight-wicket, two-day win over a Yorkshire side heading south. Essex might just run away with this, you know.
In Division Two, Alex Hales went bang, as he has been of late A run-a-ball 218 is quite something, and it’s put Notts right in charge at Derby. Sussex are in great shape at New Road, while Gloucestershire fought back well against Northants. Durham are in a strong position against Leicestershire. In Canterbury, it’s the final day of Kent’s game against the Windies. Here are the scores.
Division One:
- Essex BEAT Yorkshire by 8 wickets
- Lancashire 149 & 314-5 v Hampshire 224
- Warwickshire 126 & 293-8 v Middlesex 161
- Somerset 234-4 v Surrey
Division Two:
- Derbyshire 220 & 45-1 v Notts 508-9d
- Leicestershire 124-4 v Durham 525-8d
- Northants 343 & 50-5 v Gloucestershire 265
- Worcestershire 231-8 v Sussex 430
Tourist match:
- Kent 331-9d v Windies 265
Yesterday’s roundup is at the top of this. Please click, read, comment and the rest.
I can be contacted! Here’s your three ways of doing that (I look forward to hearing from you):
- Below The Line (play nicely)
- On email: will.macpherson.freelance@theguardian.com
- On twitter: @willis_macp
All that leaves me to say, as ever, is enjoy the cricket. If it happens. And stay dry while it doesn’t.
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