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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Will Macpherson at the Ageas Bowl

County cricket: 53 wickets tumble across Division One as Hampshire take charge against Lancashire

Haseeb Hameed
Haseeb Hameed of Lancashire bats as the Hampshire slip cordon watches on. Photograph: Hunt/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock

Will Macpherson's report: edgy Hameed misses chance to impress the selectors

The chairman of England selectors, James Whitaker, dashed south, knowing England have problems to address and hoping that Haseeb Hameed could solve one of them. But this day, across Division One, was one for bowlers to relish; Whitaker watched Hameed bat for an hour, which is more than most, but it brought just six runs, which is surely not enough.

That hour was the best of Lancashire’s first innings of 149 against Hampshire. Hameed looked organised and intelligent, as he had in 2016. He waited 30 minutes and 21 balls to score – Alex Davies had whirred his way to 22 by then – but as Hameed has in 2017, he was lured into a drive and edged Fidel Edwards to second slip. It was needless, and Hameed knew it. His England recall will happen eventually, but it should not be now: he has made only 220 runs in 13 innings at 18.33 , but also the consolation of knowing that a back‑to‑the‑wall effort in the second innings is required if his side are to escape with a draw. His match is far from over.

Lancashire were wasteful. Liam Livingstone was skittish until he played across Kyle Abbott and was lbw, the only victim of a fantastic spell, while Jos Buttler made 17, having been dropped at cover, and Shiv Chanderpaul was run out by brilliant work from Mason Crane at backward-point; Buttler, eventually beaten for pace by Edwards and bowled, seemed to forget Chanderpaul is 43 a week on Wednesday.

Hampshire’s captain, George Bailey, then managed his spin twins well. On a pitch with a smattering of sand, Liam Dawson bowled 17 tidy overs, picking up Davies, before Crane’s leggies were introduced to mop up the tail, which they duly did as he took three for 27.

The Hampshire response zipped along, mainly thanks to a delightful but brief and rather characteristic 40 from James Vince, who fell pulling Kyle Jarvis. They closed just two behind, and five wickets down knowing opportunity knocks on the second morning.

The fall of 15 wickets made the action appear positively placid when looking elsewhere.

At Scarborough, the leaders Essex invited Yorkshire to bat (without a toss) and then reduced them to 25 for five. The efforts of Adam Lyth, in cahoots with Ryan Sidebottom, with whom he cannot often have batted (they shared 39 for the 10th wicket) then hauled Yorkshire to 113. Lyth was last man out for 68, to Mohammad Amir, who took five for 18 from 11.2 overs and found plenty of assistance from the conditions.

Essex made a better fist of batting than the hosts, but still lost eight wickets. However, thanks to an unbeaten 61 from the captain, Ryan ten Doeschate, they closed with a lead of 75.

Madder still, at Lord’s, a venue not known for clattering wickets in recent times, 20 fell. Chris Woakes picked up a scalp, Sam Robson, in his first over back from a side strain, and soon dismissed Nick Gubbins, too. The problem for Woakes and Warwickshire was that by then they had already been bowled out for 126 by Middlesex, for whom Steven Finn took four for 53.

Despite Middlesex slumping to 59 for six in response, a partnership of 93 between James Franklin and Ryan Higgins (who briefly had to retire hurt when hit on the head) dragged them to a first-innings lead of 35; another Ryan Sidebottom, this one a 27-year-old Victorian debutant not a 39-year-old veteran from Yorkshire, took four for 29. Warwickshire’s openers had four overs to survive before stumps, which they did, 12 without loss.

Batting points were rather easier to come by in Division Two, where Durham’s openers dominated Leicestershire at Grace Road. Tom Latham (124), making his Championship debut for Durham, and Cameron Steel (145*) put on 234 for the first wicket, before they closed in a position of immense strength, on 324 for four. Northamptonshire were bowled out for 343 by Gloucestershire, with half-centuries for Ben Duckett (his in just 45 balls), Rob Newton and Richard Levi.

Before bad light brought an early close, the leaders, Nottinghamshire enjoyed a fine day reaching stumps 93 for two after bowling Derbyshire out for 220. Brett Hutton took five for 52 and Jake Ball three for 63 for Notts. Sussex recovered strongly from seven for two at New Road to post 342 for seven against Worcestershire. There was 85 for the opener Luke Wells, then Chris Nash’s 23rd first-class century, before Chris Jordan finished the day unbeaten on 57.

In the tourist match at Canterbury, Kent – captained for the first time by Sam Billings – bowled out West Indies for 265, with Charlie Hartley taking four for 80, and half-centuries for Shai Hope and Jermaine Blackwood. Given four overs to negotiate by stumps, Kent lost Daniel Bell-Drummond fourth ball to Alzarri Joseph, and close on one for one.

That's all folks!

Right, that curtains on an absurd day’s cricket. 15 wickets here, 18 at Scarborough, and 20 at Lord’s! Batting points easier to get hold of in Division Two. Here’s the scores on the doors at stumps:

Division One:

  • Hampshire 147-5 v Lancashire 149
  • Warwickshire 126 & 12-0 v Middlesex 161
  • Essex 188-8 v Yorkshire 113

Division Two:

  • Sussex 342-7 v Worcestershire
  • Northants 343 v Gloucestershire
  • Durham 324-4 v Leicestershire
  • Nottinghamshire 93-2 v Derbyshire 220

Tour match:

  • Kent 1-1 v West Indies 265

I will be back with you bright and early tomorrow morning! Travel safe tonight, and speak then.

Updated

Stumps at the Ageas. A remarkable day. Hampshire trail by two runs, on 147 for five.

That’s the close at Scarbados. Essex are 188 for eight, with Tendo on 61, and their lead worth 75.

Middlesex all out for 161!

Wow. Franklin goes for 55. The New Ryan Sidebottom ends with four wickets. Middlesex lead by 35. Three overs remain tonight. Ludicrous.

Into the final two overs of the day at Scarbados, where Essex are 180 for eight, and Tendo has 57.

Stumps at New Road: Sussex 342 for seven. Ton for Nash, 85 for Wells and an unbeaten 57 for Chris Jordan.

Middlesex nine down!

Five overs remain at Scarborough. Will Yorkshire be batting again?

Stumps at Derby, where Notts are 92 for two in response to Derbyshire’s 220.

There are still eight overs to come at the Ageas. Who knows where this game will be by stumps. 119 for five.

Updated

Middlesex have lost their seventh, Higgins for 38, but Franklin has 50 and their lead is 26.

Wicket! Parkinson’s struck in his first over! He started poorly and had just been walloped for four through square-leg, but he’s got Bailey caught at first slip. 119 for five, 30 behind.

And to think that we thought one was enough, eh.

Stumps at Grace Road! Durham are 324 for four, after tons from Tom Latham and Cameron Steel, the latter’s unbeaten.

Yep - a good comeback for Stuie’s mob, who will be batting first thing tomorrow after Northants were bowled out for 343.

Bad light delays proceedings at Derby, where Notts are 93 for two in response to Derbyshire 220.

Northants are all out for 343 by Gloucestershire! Bit of a collapse, that. They were 269 for four. And that’s stumps there.

Updated

Wicket! Vince has gone for 40, which feels like a very Vince thing to do. Jarvis returned, he tried to pull, got a top edge, and was caught at midwicket. Hampshire are 93 for four, and trail by 56.

Middlesex lead! They are six down.

Essex have lost two in an over! Coad again, Foster gone, their lead is 23 and they are six down.

And a wicket at Scarborough: Coad gets Wheater. Essex 139 for five. Lead is 26.

Wicket! McLaren has nicked off Ervine. Good diving catch from Davies, Ervine pushing forward. 85 for three.

Middlesex have humped their way to 102 for six, with Franklin and Higgins hoicking it about. They are 24 behind Warwickshire.

Here’s a Doug Insole obituary.

Essex lead at Scarborough! They are four down.

So James Vince has raced to 26 off 23. He has six boundaries. Hampshire have raced to 68 for two.

Jealous of anyone at New Road. Nash is so good to watch.

Doesn’t that look lovely.

Notts have lost their first in response to Derbyshire’s 220; Libby gone to Hardus Nails. 41 for one.

Middlesex are 59 for six, and have had Higgins retire hurt. They are still 67 behind.

That’s not what Middlesex needed at 56 for five. They are right in trouble.

Wicket! That’s wicket number 41 in Division One today, then. Jarvis gets McManus caught well low down at first slip by Livingstone. 27 for two. Vince in.

Compton’s gone, and Middlesex have lost their fifth. Choppy waters for the champions at Lord’s: they bowled Warwickshire out for 126, but may not get a first innings lead. Remarkable.

Yorkshire have Essex four down! Ravi B has gone caught at square-leg off Brooks. 81 for four in response to 113.

Middlesex are 46 for four, which isn’t much use after you’ve bowled a team out for 126. Ryan Sidebottom - no, not that one - has got Simpson. Compton, who looked rather culpable in the run out of Eskinazi, is still there, and he’s been joined by his skipper, Franklin.

Wicket! Jimmy Adams is gone and he’s furious with himself! He’s had a wild slash at McLaren and has to go. Really poor shot. 21 for one, as Ervine comes in.

And a 100 for Cameron Steel, his second of the season! Durham are right in charge.

Durham have finally lost a wicket! They are 239 for one as Latham goes to Dexter for 124. Decent debut.

Boundaries flowing early in Hampshire’s innings, and they are 21 for none in the fourth over.

Some tea scores from the two other Division One games:

  • Middlesex 44-3 v Warwickshire 126
  • Essex 71-3 v Yorkshire 113

Notts have bowled Derbyshire out for 220. Hitman Hutton took five for 52.

Middlesex are 44 for three, as Eskinazi has been run out by Barker... Warwickshire made just 126.

Jarvis kicking us off, with Jimmy Adams and Lewis McManus opening for Hampshire.

Nearly time to resume, then.

Tea is being taken here at the Ageas.

Woakes has two at Lord’s! Gubbins gone for 14, Middlesex 31 for two.

Updated

Lancashire all out for 149

And Crane gets Parkinson first ball, caught at slip. He’s mopped up the tail nicely, Crane, and finishes with three for 26.

Wicket! Clark had given Crane a bit of long handle – fours over long-on and on the cut – but he’s try to cut again and been caught behind! Leggie held his nerve. Hants have three bowling points, and Lancs are 149 for nine.

Wicket! Lancashire are 141 for eight, as Parry wafts at Berg and is caught at first slip.

48 for three at Scarbrough! Bressie gets Lawrence.

Essex are two down. Browne goes to Coad, and they are 46 for two in response to 113.

Gareth Berg has managed to hurt himself fielding at midwicket. Physio out. No idea what’s up.

A ton for Tom Latham at Leicester! Durham are 205 without loss. Steel has 89.

Yeah, that’s nicely bowled.

Chris Woakes has a wicket in his first over back! He gets Robson for three, caught at third slip, and Middlesex are 4 for 1 in response to Warwickshire’s 126.

Two wickets in two balls at Derby for Hitman Hutton! Derbyshire are 157 for eight.

Wicket! Crane has one! McLaren has just plopped a full ball straight back to him off the leading edge, and Lancashire are 114 for seven! May well be that the three teams batting first in Division One today don’t manage a single batting point between them.

Warwickshire all out for 126!

Murtagh gets the other Ryan Sidebottom and Middlesex have skittled Warwickshire for 126!

Mason Crane is on! Dawson had bowled 17 very tidy overs, but it’s time for some legspin.

And a wicket at Lord’s, where Warwickshire are nine down.

Wicket! Edwards beat Buttler for pace and he goes for 17! Curious innings, never totally comfy. Lancashire are 106 for six.

Updated

Notts have two bowling points and Derbyshire are in a bit of trouble at 146 for six. Three for Hitman Hutton, two for Ball and one for Footitt.

Yorkshire have a wicket! They needed one. Essex have lost Chopra to Brooks and are 13 for one, 100 behind.

Sad news.

Wicket! That’s careless from Lancashire. Buttler has knocked Dawson into the offside and assumed his partner is as quick as he is. His partner, though, is Shiv, and Shiv is not as quick as him. The fielding from backward point is superb, and the throw is right over the stumps, and McManus does the rest. 88 for five. Crane the fielder apparently.

Lovely to hear.

I’m watching Fidel Edwards bowl to Shiv Chanderpaul. What a time to be alive.

Yorkshire 113 all out!

Straight after the late lunch, Lyth is caught at slip off Amir – who ends with five – and goes for 68. Yorkshire 113 all out.

Finn has a fourth at Lord’s! Barker gone, 98 for eight. Warwickshire in strife.

Always in the runs, is Clarkey.

Woakes is gone at Lord’s and Warwickshire are 81 for seven! Finn has three.

Kyle Abbott is bowling one of those spells.

50 for Tom Latham on Durham dayboo. Steel has one too and they 106 without loss.

Wicket! Abbott gets Livingstone! He’s furious with himself, but he’s plumb. Looked to have nipped back a bit and he was playing across the line and has to go for 16. Looked a bit jumpy, which is odd. Lancs are 67 for four as Joseph Buttler walks in.

Warwickshire are 68 for six. Steven Finn, rather encouragingly, has a second, Tim Ambrose.

As the players go off at Scarborough, they come back at the Ageas! Lancs 65 for three.

Great tweet.

Yorkshire are hanging on in there ... 108 for nine. Lyth has 64.

Adam Lyth has 50, and Yorkshire are 93 for nine. I wonder how many times he’s batted with Sidebottom.

Lunch! Scores on the doors

Here’s where we are at.

Division One:

  • Lancashire 66-3 v Hampshire
  • Warwickshire 64-5 v Middlesex
  • Yorkshire 83-9 v Essex (into extra 15 minutes there)

Division Two:

  • Sussex 106-3 v Worcestershire
  • Northants 153-1 v Gloucestershire
  • Durham 93-0 v Leicestershire
  • Derbyshire 101-3 v Nottinghamshire

Tour match:

  • West Indies 80-4 v Kent

Enjoy your lunch!

That’s lunch here at the Ageas. Hampshire on top, with Lancashire 65 for three. Ball turning already; no Crane yet though.

Wicket! Holland has nicked off Vilas for three. Here’s Shiv. 58 for three, and a very good session for Hampshire. 15 mins until lunch.

Make that Warwickshire 61 for five! Higgins gets Matt Lamb, and in comes Woakes.

Updated

And now Warwickshire four down! Murtagh gets Bell. Woakes is in next. 61 for four.

Updated

Yorkshire are 74 for nine. Amir has returned and got Brooks and Coad in consecutive balls! Lyth is still there, on 39. He’s on a hat-trick!

Wicket! Now Alex Davies is gone. He was dropped at second slip off Dawson, but five runs later he’s been caught at first off the same bowler. Turn and bounce, edge taken. 49 for two, and out comes Vilas, not Buttler.

Updated

Yorkshire seven down!

Hodd gone this time, also to Ravi. 63 for seven.

Here’s the Hameed wicket...

Middlesex have Warwickshire three down! Trott goes to Helm and it’s 42 for three.

I think you should, Jim.

Dom Sibley’s first champo innings for Warwickshire is over. He made 20 and has been caught at second slip off Finn. Warks are 34 for two.

Dropped! Al Davies has been shelled at second slip by Vince off Dawson. He has 31. Turned and flew fast, but should have been taken. He’s with Livingstone. Buttler in next.

Yorkshire are 49 for six! Rashid has gone to Ravi, and they are in trouble. Will Lyth carry his bat?

Hameed out! He batted for an hour for his six, hadn’t played a shot in anger and was looking very methodical and tidy. But he’s driven hard at Fidel and been caught at second slip. Lancs are 39 for one.

Updated

Haha I absolutely love Ben Duckett.

I think Bressie thinks he’s middled this.

An email from Lee Smith!

You may or may not be aware that regular anitipodean commenter on these here boards AiX is visiting these shores in September.

There has already been some discussion of a BTL get-together and for those that are interested, inclined, available or just plain nosey there will be a quickening at Lords on day 3 of Middle Saxons versus Lanky - Thursday 21st September - with potential for drinky poos after the cricket

So anyone interested get you passes stamped, cricket watching attire packed and dancing boots on. There is also a suggestion of mandarin brandy. Details and comments can be found here.

Should be fun...

25 for five!

Bresnan has gone to Porter for a duck!!

Play that.

And now Yorkshire are four down! Leaning gone to Porter and Essex have em 25 for four.

It takes exactly 30 mins for Hameed to get off the mark. There’s been no alarms, and he guided his 21st ball wide of gully for a couple. Davies is looking in lovely touch, and has raced to 22.

Yorkshire are three down! TKC goes to Amir and they are 24 for three...

Essex have picked up two quick wickets! Amir gets Lees, then Porter does for Harry Brook. 19 for two. Liked this stat...

Middlesex have their first! Umeed is caught by Franklin at third slip off Helm. 5 for 1 are Warwickshire.

Mark Footitt is opening the bowling with Jake Ball for Notts. No Pattinson or Broad (or Fletcher for that matter), but still a very handy side.

Worcestershire are on the move! Josh Tongue gets Harry Finch and Sussex are 7 for 2.

A wicket already at New Road! And Gus Robson the man to go. Joe Leach gets him caught behind third ball for a duck on dayboo. 0 for 1.

Play is around about four minutes away here at the Ageas.

Finally! Gus Robson makes his Sussex debut at New Road. Good to see. That looks a pretty decent side to me.

This explains the Voges situation:

Couple of interesting moves:

  • Ajmal Shahzad is in the Leicestershire side to face Durham
  • Simon Kerrigan is in the Northants side to play the Glosters. He’s on loan there for a month

Yorkshire champo debut for Tom Kohler-Cadmore at Scarborough... Ballance still unfit so Bres skips. Leaning back too.

Interesting Middlesex team at Lord’s. I wonder if Voges is unfit? Debut for Sowter, Gubbins back. They field first against Warwickshire, who give a debut to Dom Sibley and (the other) Ryan Sidebottom. Woakes in too.

Middlesex: Robson, Gubbins, Compton, Eskinazi, Simpson (wk), Franklin (c), Higgins, Helm, Sowter, Murtagh, Finn

Warwickshire: Umeed, Sibley, Trott, Bell*, Lamb, Woakes, Ambrose+, Barker, Patel, Wright, Sidebottom

Our teams here at the Ageas are as follows:

Hampshire: Adams, McManus (wk), Vince, Bailey (c), Dawson, Ervine, Holland, Berg, Abbott, Crane, Edwards

Lancashire: A Davies (wk), Hameed, Buttler, Livingstone, Chanderpaul, Vilas, McLaren (c), Clark, Parry, Jarvis, Parkinson

Two spinners for Lancs, who bat first... Fun batting lineup, too!

Your tosses!

Here’s what happened at the toss around the grounds.

Division One:

  • Lancashire win the toss and bat against Hampshire
  • No toss at Scarborough: Essex to bowl first against Yorkshire
  • Warwickshire won the toss and bat against Middlesex

Division Two:

  • Sussex won the toss and bat against Worcestershire
  • No toss at Derby: Notts to bowl first against Derbyshire
  • Northants won the toss and bat against Gloucestershire
  • Durham won the toss and bat against Leicestershire

Tour match:

  • West Indies won the toss and bat against Kent

Lancashire have won the toss and will bat first!

Morning Stuie! The Glosters are off to Northampton!

Some happy news to report: Luke Fletcher is here at the Ageas, shadowing the inimitable Dave Fulton of Sky Sports News. Fletch, of course, is out for the season, but he’s in fine spirits and is putting a brave face on things. He can’t drive for six months and everything is being taken slowly, but he’s a tough lad and looks happy enough.

Morning all it's the morning call!

Hello and welcome to weird and rather random round of County Cricket - live! as the T20 Blast offers the Championship a moment in the midsummer sun. I’m Will Macpherson and I’m at the Ageas Bowl on a beautiful August morning to tell you all about what’s happening in Division One’s second v third clash between Hampshire and Lancashire. It should be a very fine day indeed, and it’s very good to be back.

Of course there’s plenty going on besides, across all manner of competitions. Later, Surrey travel to Somerset in the Blast, and Sam Billings is captaining a Kent side against the Caribbean tourists.

But we don’t really care about that! We care about the seven Championship games. There are two others in Division One. At Lord’s, Middlesex host Warwickshire, who welcome back Chris Woakes (and various newbies, including Dom Sibley), while the leaders Essex are up at Scarborough to face Yorkshire. If you’re there, I’m a touch jealous. Here at the Ageas, there should be a young English leggie in both XIs, and we will watch Haseeb Hameed eagerly. Joe Buttler’s playing, too.

In Division Two, the pick of the games is at New Road, where Worcestershire host Sussex, while the leaders Nottinghamshire travel to Derby. Leicestershire have drafted in Ajmal Shahzad for their game against Durham, and Northants host Gloucestershire. Lovely.

You can contact me! Here’s the three ways in which you can do that:

I will bring you team and toss news as soon as I have it. And all that leaves me to say, as ever, is enjoy the cricket.

Updated

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