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

County cricket: Essex thrash Yorkshire, Hales nails 218, Hameed in the runs – as it happened

Nottinghamshire’s Alex Hales
Nottinghamshire’s Alex Hales drives through the covers for four. Photograph: PPAUK/Rex/Shutterstock

Will Macpherson's report: Alex Hales runs riot as he bids to attract attention of the selectors

The sense that this was a day of cheer for English cricket was compounded in the shires, with timely, contrasting runs for the Test hopefuls Alex Hales and Haseeb Hameed.

Hales transferred his remarkable white-ball run – which began with his immense 187 in the Royal London One-Day Cup final last month, and continued as top scorer in the T20 Blast – to County Championship cricket, with 218 from 218 balls for Nottinghamshire against Derbyshire in his new position, No5; it is a spot of uncertainty for the national side and Hales now has 472 runs from 328 balls across two formats in the last nine days. He struck 38 fours and a six as Notts declared on 508 for nine; Derbyshire reached stumps 45 for one, still 243 adrift.

Life has been leaner for Hameed. His unbeaten second innings 77 for Lancashire against Hampshire was his first half-century since England’s third Test against India in Mohali in November. By day’s end, with Lancashire leading by 239, he had faced 219 balls across more than five hours.

Kyle Jarvis’s best figures for Lancashire, six for 61, could not prevent Hampshire taking a first-innings lead of 75 thanks to Liam Dawson’s superb 75 – he had 35 when the ninth wicket fell, at which point they had lost four for 32 on the second morning.

Hameed and his partner Alex Davies had different means of troubleshooting. By the time the impish wicketkeeper fell for 97 off 92 balls, Hameed had 17 from 62. Davies would do well to avoid organising winter plans, too: a Lions berth surely awaits.

Liam Livingstone, Dane Vilas, Shiv Chanderpaul and Jos Buttler variously took Davies’s role as Hameed provided backbone. He was not quite as fluent as in 2016 and the watching James Whitaker, the national selector, would be well advised to wait for more than one score before picking up the phone. But this was chanceless, serene progress. Lancashire need more of the same today.

After a remarkable two-day game at Scarborough, the next time Essex meet Yorkshire will be at Chelmsford, for the final game of the season. The way things are going, Essex – whose eight-wicket win means they lead the championship by 46 points, with twice as many wins as any other side – will be crowned champions by then; downwardly mobile Yorkshire must be careful, because they are flying towards a relegation scrap.

A cocktail of the superb batting of Ryan ten Doeschate, who was last man out for 88 as they recorded a first‑innings lead of 118, and the new ball bowling of Mohammad Amir and Jamie Porter drove Essex to victory.

Amir ended with career-best match figures of 10 for 72 and a second five‑wicket haul as Yorkshire stumbled to 37 for six. Jack Leaning’s 70 ensured Essex would have to bat again, but not for long.

The sides occupying the relegation slots enjoyed strong days. At Taunton, the Somerset captain, Tom Abell (88), and Steven Davies (68), both men shy of early summer runs, shared an unbeaten 138 against Surrey. Bad weather prevented play after tea and Somerset head into day two on 234 for four.

With two second innings wickets in hand at Lord’s, Warwickshire lead Middlesex by 258, thanks to 54 from Jonathan Trott and a sixth-wicket stand of 202 between Matt Lamb (71) and Chris Woakes, who made 53 on his return to action after a side strain.

Elsewhere in Division Two, Sussex enjoyed a fine day at Worcestershire. Having both made half-centuries in Sussex’s 430, Jofra Archer and Chris Jordan were soon among the wickets as the hosts closed 231 for eight. Joe Clarke, another international cricketer in waiting, made a fine 77 before falling to Jordan, one of five batsmen caught by Harry Finch in the slips.
There was quite a turnaround at Wantage Road. Northamptonshire, who made 343 on the first day, bowled Gloucestershire out for 265 (with Richard Gleeson taking five for 46), only to fall to 50 for five by stumps. Their lead is a precarious 128.
At Grace Road, Cameron Steel became Durham’s youngest double-centurion as they dominated Leicestershire, making 525 for eight declared. By the close, Leicestershire were 124 for four. Kent are in charge of their game against West Indies. Sean Dickson’s 142 and the 19-year-old debutant Zak Crawley’s 62 provided the backbone of their 331 for nine declared, which gives them a first innings lead of 66 ahead of the final day.

Updated

That's all folks!

Well, that’s been a pretty long old day! Hameed was lovely, I’m pleased to say. More to do tomorrow, though. Here’s the scores on the doors.

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

Thanks very much for your company! It’s been superb. Hales, Hameed, Essex. What a day. Enjoy what’s left of your evening, and I’ll see you all in the morning!

Stumps! Hameed reaches stumps on 77 from 219 balls across 76 overs, and Lancashire are 314 for five, leading by 239. Magnificent effort.

Into the last over of the day, bowled by Crane. Lancashire’s lead is 238, with five wickets in hand.

Buttler out! He’s been given lbw to Fidel, but I reckon that was sliding down. 302 for five. Lead 227. Hameed has 73.

Buttler is teeing off. He’s just nailed his second six off Dawson and has 21. Lead is 227.

Still 6 overs remaining here! Lancashire lead by 215.

In the 69th over, Hameed has 69 runs.... Lancs 278 for four.

Stumps at Grace Road, where Leicestershire are 124 for four in response to Durham’s 525 for eight declared.

And that’s that at Wantage Road, where there’s been an about-face. Northants are 50 for five, leading Gloucestershire by 128.

Wicket! Dawson gets Chanderpaul, caught at short leg. Lancashire are 267 for four, leading by 192. Hameed has 59.

Stumps at Lord’s, where Warwickshire lead Middlesex by 258 with two second innings wickets in hand. Cracking finish in store there.

Off for bad light at Lord’s, and I reckon we will be here too before long. That said, the lights are just firing up, and not a moment too soon.

They are back on at New Road and The Duke John Hastings is promptly out. Sussex looking like making Worcestershire follow on. 215 for eight in response to 430.

It’s really rather dark here suddenly and, stupidly, the lights aren’t on as they were earlier.

50 for Hameed!

That’s his first of the season, and first since Mohali - that’s 21 innings. It took 154 balls across 58 overs, but he’s there. Superb stuff. He’s with Shiv now, and Lancashire’s lead is 170 with 18 overs left on the second day.

Right now, Essex lead Division One by 46 points.

Middlesex are two wickets away from having a bat. Warwickshire lead by 243. Great third day in prospect there, you’d think.

Don’t think they’ll be worried about this: they picked up one in a game when none looked likely.

Lots going on at Wantage Road! Northants bowled Gloucestershire out for 265, but are now 16 for three!

Northants lead by 94 with seven wickets in hand.

Off for the weather at New Road, where Worcestershire are in some trouble. 215 for seven after Sussex made 430.

And news from Taunton:

Essex beat Yorkshire by 8 wickets!

Chopra was run out from square leg, Browne drove Brooks to mid-off, but Lawrence and Ravi get the business done. Of course they do.

Essex take 20 points from their sixth win and extend their lead at the top of the table!

Updated

Wicket! Mason Crane does the business. Full ball, slid past the outside edge and bowled Vilas. 219 for three, and the lead is 144. Hameed has 47, his equal highest of the season, after 49 overs.

Alex Hales is out!

He’s gone for 218 from 218 balls. Derbyshire made 220. Hales alone hit 38 fours and a six.

Notts are 443 for seven.

Woakes gone! Higgins gets his fourth and Warwickshire are 242 for six, leading by 207. Woakes made 53 and Lamb is still there on 63.

Essex’s chase of 33 is underway.

Joe Clarke is gone for 77! Booo! Worcestershire 165 for six and in some trouble.

Wicket! Livingstone was just really starting to tick, but he’s been pinned in front by Abbott for the second time in the match. Stand was worth 61 with Hameed, who has 38.

Lancs are 190 for two and lead by 115. Vilas in, and this is no time to lose a couple.

Double ton for Alex Hales! From 201 balls: 36 fours, 1 six.

Livingstone has overtaken Hameed.

Hameed into the 30s with a very lovely straight drive off Dawson. He has now faced 109 balls across 40 overs. It’s 164 for one.

50 for Woakes in a stand of 94 with Lamb against Middlesex! They are five down and lead by 194, and a very tricky chase is on the cards.

Hales ploughs on. He has 180, and Notts are four runs from full batting points.

Northants have been chipping away: Gleeson has four, and Gloucestershire are 226 for seven, 117 behind.

Rain at Taunton: Somerset 234 for four. Abell 88, Davies 68.

Yorkshire all out for 150!

Essex need 33 to win. I’m backing them.

They will now take tea. At least Yorkshire made it that far.

Leaning the last to go, for a fine 70. Sidebottom not out again.

Yorkshire are nine down, and Amir has 10! They lead by 21, with one in hand.

Back on after tea here at the Ageas, with Dawson bowling to Livi.

Tea at the Ageas! Lancashire 149 for one, leading by 74.

41 overs remain in the day. Hameed has 24, Livingstone 13.

Essex will have to bat again!

Although probably not for long. Yorkshire 119 for eight, lead by 1.

Livi skips down and smacks Dawson for six ... to move to seven. 139 for one.

Here’s the Samit dismissal from earlier, by the way.

Alex Hales has 154 from 164....

Meanwhile Joe Clarke has 63 from 55.

All timely runs from Division Two with an eye on that No5 slot.

The Yorkists are taking the small victories!

Oh yes. Somerset going very nicely on 193 for four. Davies and Abell have shared 97 since just after lunch...

Warwickshire are building a handy lead over Middlesex ... 154, with five wickets in hand. Lamb and Woakes have shared 50.

Yorkshire eight down! Brooks gone. Grievous has his first wicket of the match. 87 for eight, still 31 behind.

Updated

Wicket! James Vince, that is very handy! Davies is gone, for 97 from 92 balls. He went to defend Dawson, got a bit of pad and a bit of bat, it looped up and Vince, who is keeping in McManus’s absence, dived forward one-handed to take the catch. Livingstone in, Hameed has 17, and the lead is 54.

Alex Davies, into the 90s. He cuts Berg for four, his 15th, to go with a six. 92 from 83 at the moment. 119 for none.

So Ian Holland is on now. He bowls military medium, and Davies has just walked across his stumps and slog-swept him over midwicket for six. He has 87.

I love Joe Clarke.

Davies on to 81, and trying to get stuck into Crane. Good contest. Has has 16 and it’s 107 for none.

Spin from both ends for Hampshire. Crane nearly bowled Hameed with a pearoller just now, but only after he’d been beautifully straight driven fro four. 94 for none, with Davies on 71.

Kent have lost their second wicket against the Windies: Alzarri Joseph gets Zak Crawley, for a dayboo 62.

Durham declared on 525 for eight, by the way. Coughlin capping things with a swift 31. Leics 1 for none in the first over of their response.

Lancashire lead! Davies playing an outstanding knock. 77 for none. He has 59.

Crane on, with Lancashire 73 for none after 15. Hampshire lead by 2.

50 for Tom Abell! Somerset 130 for four.

50 for Alex Davies, and a very good one! Taken 47 balls, and included nine fours. Next ball he nails Edwards through mid-on for his 10th four.

72 for none, and the deficit just three.

Hameed into double figures, and with his first boundary. A beautiful back-foot punch for four off Dawson. 62 for none.

Seven down, with Hodd gone to Porter!

They’re dancing on the streets of Brentwood!

So Lancashire’s 50 is up, and they trail by just 19. Hameed has four, and Davies has 44. He’s a belting player to watch.

Middlesex are halfway through Warwickshire, who have a lead of 112.

Yorkshire 37 for six, Rashid gone to Amir for 0. A drubbing. A shellacking. Done by tea on the second day, surely.

100 for Alex Hales! 114 balls, 20 fours. 245 for five. Inevitable.

Durham are having a funny little collapse, but it doesn’t really matter. They are 494 for eight against Leicestershire.

Alex Hales has 96... Notts lead by 19 with five wickets in hand.

Yorkshire are five down. Bresnan joins Lees with a pair... They still trail by 85.

Hameed is off the mark! He took a single to fine-leg from his 20th ball. Davies has 32.

Lewis McManus, the Hampshire keeper, is having significant trouble with his fingers, it seems. Has kept every game this season and perhaps it’s showing. We are having our second break, and it looks like it’s James Vince taking over.

Fidel’s about to come on. Hameed has 0 from 17. Davies has 32 from 31.

Davies has 28; Hameed is yet to score. He’s survived a big lbw shout.

Yorkshire are four down. Harry Brook gone! Porter with another, caught at first slip.

Kent are having a great day against the Windies. They are 120 for one; Dickson’s good form is continuing, while Zak Crawley - the one everyone in the south-east is talking about - has 47. He’s only 19.

Cameron Steel is finally out! He made 224 from 408. Durham are 467 for five.

Bet this went down well in Taunton.

So we are back on after our early lunch here. Hameed has played out a Berg maiden, and Alex Davies is dealing with Abbott. It’s 7 for none.

Some lunchtime reading for you: Gary Naylor’s weekly talking points.

Updated

Lunch! Scores on the doors

Here’s what’s happened this morning. No sign of the extra half-hour at Scarborough!

Division One:

  • Hampshire 224 v Lancashire 149
  • Warwickshire 126 & 109-4 v Middlesex 161
  • Yorkshire 113 & 22-3 v Essex 231
  • Somerset 92-3 v Surrey

Division Two:

  • Notts 214-4 v Derbyshire 220
  • Worcestershire 15-0 v Sussex 430
  • Gloucestershire 85-3 v Northants 343
  • Durham 456-4 v Leicestershire

Tour match:

  • Kent 106-1 v West Indies 265

Enjoy your sarnies!

Eddie Byrom bats for Somerset against Surrey at Taunton.
Eddie Byrom bats for Somerset against Surrey at Taunton. Photograph: Harry Trump/Getty Images

Updated

Higgins has a third big wicket in no time at all for Middlesex! Trott gone now, for 54, and the lead is 74.

Hampshire all out for 224

And next ball, Dawson is bowled by Parkinson. But that’s a superb 75. He had 35 when the ninth wicket went down with the score on 179, a lead of just 30.

Their first innings lead is 75.

That’ll be lunch.

This is class from Dawson, who has moved to 75. Finding the gaps. 224 for nine, lead is also 75.

But Bell has gone second ball! Higgins gets his man. 100 for three, and the lead is still 65.

Warwickshire have lost their second! Higgins gets Umeed, and Bell joins Trott. Lead is 65.

Yorkshire are 14 for three. TKC lbw to Amir.

Alex Hales has moved to 74 off 71...

200 for Cameron Steel! Durham 427 for four.

Sussex are all out for 430. Jofra Archer made 59, and you wouldn’t bet against him taking a few wickets, either... Uncomfy 10 mins before lunch for Woosters openers coming up.

Hampshire have a batting point, and the lead passes 50. Great work from Dawson.

50 for Liam Dawson! The first of the match. He’s played really nicely. It’s 198 for nine, and the lead is 49.

Dawson’s helped himself to 14 from an over, but can’t pitch the strike at the end of it. He has 49, and it’s 195 for nine.

Here goes Hales...

Durham have cruised along to 400 for four. Steel has 189.

Wicket! Crane has been caught behind for nought off Jarvis trying to leave it! Got big on him, and Jarvis has six now. Four this morning. 179 for nine, the lead still only 30. Dawson has 35 and looks frustrated. Only Fidel to come.

Very wise. Imagine you won’t be alone...

Oh no! Yorkshire are 0 for 2! Lees, like Lyth, goes for a second ball duck. Caught behind off Amir. They are still 118 behind. The Scarborough Festival could well be over by tea.

Mullaney went at Derby for exactly 50. Notts are 161 for four, and Hales has 41.

Here goes Lyth.

And Yorkshire are one down already: Lyth lbw, not offering a shot to Porter. 0 for 1.

The players are on their way back out at the Ageas.

Essex all out for 231!

Tendo goes for 88, to Bressie. Essex’s lead is 118, which is more than Yorkshire made in their first innings...

Mopping up process going on here at the Ageas. Some overs coming off, rain done.

Abell survives that hat-trick ball.

And Rikki Clarke gets Hildreth first ball! He’s gone lbw and Clarke is on a hat-trick. In comes Abell...

Actual covers coming on at the Ageas. Would think we might lose overs.

And they are back on at Scarborough.

Rikki Clarke has a wicket for Surrey! Rouse feathers through to Foakes and Somerset are 46 for two.

They are off for rain at Scarborough too, with Essex leading by 114 and Tendo on 82.

And one ball after Abbott fell, off we go. Pretty witless dismisall, all told.

Oh dear, that is a howler from Kyle Abbott. With rain coming down, Jarvis has fired one down the legside, he’s tried to pull it and only feathered through to the keeper. Five for Jarvis! His first this season.

Dawson, who has 33, won’t be happy with that. He needs Mason Crane to stick with him. The lead is just 28, and it’s 177 for eight. Hampshire will want a batting point.

It is raining at the Ageas. Mizzly stuff. Staying on for now.

The first wicket has fallen at Taunton: Tres edges Meaker to second slip, where Borthwick doesn’t drop ‘em, and goes for 26. Somerset are 43 for one.

Be still my beating heart.

Wicket! Berg is gone. He had been uncharacteristically defensive, but then had a big drive at Jarvis and has been caught at third slip. 169 for seven. Lead is 20. Abbott in, with Dawson on 31 and requiring partners.

Back on in a couple of minutes after a shower at Wantage Road.

Hales has 18 off 18...

Updated

Sussex are 362 for eight after Tongue bowled Jordan for 58.

Essex have a batting point, but Yorkshire also have three bowling points. Sidebottom gets Amir, and Essex are 216 for nine.

A wicket at Lord’s! Sibley gone to Murtagh. Warks 27 for one.

Essex’s lead is 100!

Rain at Wantage Road: they are off with Gloucestershire 16 for one.

And oh dear! Samit has been run out backing up at Derby! Out goes Hales to join Mullaney at 103 for three, Notts 117 behind.

An early wicket for Northants! Gleeson gets Roderick and Gloucestershire are 3 for 1.

Good news!

This sounds no good at all.

Oh. News from Scarborough.

We’ve had a drop already! I think it’s Jos Buttler at second slip, diving one-handed to his right. Would have been a belter: Jarvis got one to really rear at Holland and it took the shoulder and looped a touch. Scores are level.

But now Holland is out! He’s plumb lbw to Jarvis. 149 for six.

We don’t appear to have a delayed start anywhere, which is good.

Morning Stuie! Good comeback from them yesterday, but they need to go big!

Off we go then. McLaren bowling to Dawson.

The covers are coming off and looks like we will start on time! Won’t be much fun batting again, would be my guess... Hampshire resume two behind with five first innings wickets in hand.

At Taunton, Gareth Batty has foregone the toss and stuck Somerset in. Here are the teams.

Somerset: Trescothick, Byrom, Rouse, Hildreth, Abell (c), Davies (wk), Allenby, Coverton, Groenewald, Bess, Leach

Surrey: Stoneman, Burns, Borthwick, Roy, Finch, Foakes (wk), Scurran, Clarke, CurranT, Meaker, Batty (c)

Just 1.5 spinners for Surrey, then. Meaker and Clarke preferred to Virdi.

Well it’s very dreich here at the Ageas; the players are warming up, but the strip is covered and we may have a slight delay to the start. Who knows.

Morning all it's the morning call!

Happy Monday, and welcome to another day of county cricket - live! I’m Will Macpherson and I’m at the Ageas Bowl to guide you through the action between Hampshire and Lancashire and beyond.

Yesterday was all a bit frantic, wasn’t it? We had 53 wickets in Division One; 15 at the Ageas, 18 at Scarborough, and 20 at Lord’s. Those last three words are not three words I ever expected to type in a county-cricket-tumbling-wickets context. Anyway, all three games are pretty well advanced, and fourth days may not be a thing, to be honest. That said, there’s a bit of weather about from tomorrow so who knows. Hopefully everything calms down a touch!

We welcome a fourth Division One game today at another venue known for clattering wickets in recent years: Taunton. Somerset play Surrey there. Mark Stoneman watch is on, but Somerset are without the estimable Lewis Gregory; he has a stress fracture apparently, and is likely to miss the rest of the Champo season. Grrr. One of my favourites. Aaron Finch and Rikki Clarke are in Surrey’s squad.

‘Twas a fine day in Division Two, too. Few more runs down there. Ben Duckett flew out the blocks for Northants, who made 343 against the Glosters. Durham’s openers dominated Leicestershire, while Sussex are in a good spot at Worcester. Notts are in charge at Derby, too. Kent are playing the Windies, too. Anyway, here are the scores on the doors:

Division One:

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

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

Here’s yesterday’s report and roundup, which found its way to the top of the liveblog – read it, comment on it, the rest.

There are, as ever, three ways you can contact me. I greatly look forward to hearing from you all. Here are those three methods:

All that leaves me to say, as ever, is enjoy the cricket. Speak shortly.

Updated

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