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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Will Macpherson at Old Trafford

Haseeb Hameed shows resilient best but Jamie Porter’s haul puts Essex in charge

Easy does it: Lancashire’s Haseeb Hameed has scored 19 off 128 balls so far at Old Trafford.
Easy does it: Lancashire’s Haseeb Hameed has scored 19 off 128 balls so far at Old Trafford. Photograph: TGSPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

Will Macpherson's report: Haseeb Hameed shows resilient best but Jamie Porter’s haul puts Essex in charge

The timing could barely have been more apposite for Haseeb Hameed to play his most substantial and most impressive innings of the summer for Lancashire.

With the pitch left to stew under covers in Tuesday’s downpour and further rain seeing a delayed start on the second morning, the decision for Essex to bowl first without a toss could barely have been simpler. Jamie Porter was again superb – he struck in the day’s first and last overs to finish with four for 54, and has 56 for the season (12 more than any other seamer) – and batting was tough.

There were some poor shots but it was little surprise Lancashire found themselves in a deep funk. Porter’s third ball was driven hard by Alex Davies to second slip, while Dane Vilas was trapped in front; between times the championship debutant Sam Cook bowled Liam Livingstone with one that nipped back. Shiv Chanderpaul went hooking and Jos Buttler and Ryan McLaren driving. Lancashire were 92 for six and Hameed had shyly and unobtrusively move to 15 from 122 balls.

He was unfussed. He was dropped on one off Porter but Dan Lawrence barely got a hand to it when at full stretch and he did not offer another chance. He had only five at lunch and had to wait 53 balls for the first of his 10 fours (a lovely straight drive), at which point he corrected himself by going 54 balls without scoring. While the wickets tumbled, his strike rate was funereal but he was far more fluent later.

At times Hameed’s strike rate looked like a comical throwback but, as it continued to rise through the day, the value of his efforts was shown. Without him Lancashire would surely have been bowled out; even with more rain forecast, that could have been ruinous. This 315-minute effort was another step up from the unbeaten 77 he scored at the Ageas Bowl last month, and another step in the right direction.

Hameed shared 53 with Jordan Clark and 77 with Stephen Parry, who played nicely before edging Porter behind. His cover drive returned and he late-cut and whipped neatly through midwicket too. Soon after bringing up a 188-ball fifty, he even drove Simon Harmer down the ground for a handsome six. He earned Lancashire a batting point that at one stage seemed laughably unlikely, and will have his eye on being the ninth man to carry his bat for Lancashire since the second world war. He resumes on Thursday on 85.

Essex’s position of strength was hardened by third-placed Hampshire wasting a strong position against Surrey. Essex fans, noses bleeding atop the table, have begun to wonder if it is cowardly to pray for September rain. But they need not and have so much to be proud of. Porter and Cook, like their other seamer Paul Walter, were born in Essex and forged in its leagues. They all bowled impressively and will not be the last to be blunted by Hameed.

Hampshire did well to bowl out Surrey for 200 (19-year-old Ryan Patel made 81), then slumped to 31 for five at the hands of Jade Dernbach and Tom Curran. George Bailey and Ian Holland fought back, only for the former to fall for 51 to Gareth Batty in the penultimate over of the day. After a first day washout at Headingley, Yorkshire reached 317 for seven against Middlesex, with Jack Leaning making 85.

Somerset are right in charge of the relegation bunfight with Warwickshire at Edgbaston after 18 wickets fell on day two. Captain Tom Abell was last man out for 82 in Somerset’s 282 (Sunny Singh took five for 72 and Jeetan Patel four for 90), then Warwickshire fell to 40 for five. Keith Barker led the fightback to 146 all out, with Jack Leach taking five for 50 and Craig Overton four for 33. By Stumps, Somerset were two down with a lead of 211.

With five second-innings wickets in hand, the Division Two leaders Nottinghamshire lead second-placed Worcestershire by 88 runs. Lower order ballast saw Worcestershire to a 50-run first innings lead, and they soon reduced Notts to 43 for four. But Jake Libby and Riki Wessels put on 92 until the latter was dismissed by Josh Tongue late in the day. A thrilling finish awaits.

It was a fine day for Durham and their England seamers against Kent. Mark Wood’s highest first-class score (72*) took them from 77 for seven to 217 all out, thanks to a stand of 103 with James Weighell. The Graham Onions, who is out of contract at the end of the season and interesting Kent and Derbyshire, moved to within two of passing Simon Brown’s record of 518 first-class wickets for the county with six for 62 in Kent’s 206. Sam Northeast made a brilliant 19th century in first-class cricket, with 17 fours and a six. By stumps, Durham’s lead had been extended to 68, but for the loss of Keaton Jennings – who looks increasingly likely to join Nottinghamshire – and Cameron Steel.

Northamptonshire had a magnificent day at Wantage Road, and put the skids on Sussex’s promotion hopes. Northants posted 426, then Rory Kleinveldt took five for 50 as Sussex were bowled out for 172. Alex Wakely enforced the follow-on and Kleinveldt promptly dismissed Luke Wells to leave Sussex 34 for one at stumps.

Updated

That's all folks!

Thanks for joining me on an enjoyable day’s cricket, both here at Old Trafford and elsewhere. Cross those fingers and toes for good conditions tomorrow. Here’s where we are:

Division One:

  • Lancashire 222-8 v Essex
  • Hampshire 129-7 v Surrey 200
  • Yorkshire 317-7 v Middlesex
  • Somerset 282 & 75-2 v Warwickshire 146

Division Two:

  • Nottinghamshire 193 & 138-5 v Worcestershire 243
  • Sussex 172 & 34-1 (f/o) v Northants 426
  • Durham 217 & 57-2 v Kent 2016
  • Gloucestershire 218-3 v Leicestershire 222
  • No play yet between Derbyshire and Glamorgan

Speak in the morning - greatly looking forward to it.

Updated

And stumps at Edgbaston, where Somerset are 75 for two, leading by 211.

Bad light at Headingley too. Yorkshire 317 for seven.

Off for bad light here at Old Trafford. After one over of the new ball, Lancashire are 222 for eight, with Hameed 85 not out. Well played that man.

Bad light at Grace Road, where Gloucestershire are three down and four behind Leicestershire’s 222.

And it does the trick first ball! Parry nicks off to Porter, who has four. Left him - beauty. 222 for eight. Parry made a very fine 35.

Essex have taken the new ball. Lancs 222 for seven.

Haseeb Hameed to his highest score of the season...

Sussex in deep strife! Following on against Northants, they are 12 for one.

Hameed is playing very nicely now, but Parry is playing his shots too. Just drove Walter beautifully through cover.

Hampshire are 70 for six.

Sussex all out for 172! Big Rory takes five and Northants lead by 254 on first innings. Follow on enforced.

Kent all out for 206! Northeast goes to Weighell for a brilliant 110, and as a result the first innings deficit of 11.

Ooph Yorkshire now 270 for seven as Rash goes first ball!

Kent have a batting point and are 17 behind Durham. Northeast on 104.

Leaning gone for 85 at Headingley. Still, Yorkshire 270 for six as Rash joins Bressielad.

Somerset 17 for two! Bartlett gone first ball after Sidebottom got Byrom. Their lead is 154.

And Northeast has a 102-ball century, with 17 fours and a six! What an effort. Kent are 196 for nine...

Northeast has 99... Kent are 195 for nine.

Hampshire are 50 for five and have avoided the follow on.

Hameed just hit a six down the ground. This is not a drill.

Notts are in the lead, but they are four down.

50 for Hameed! 188 balls, seven fours, and Lancs are 188 for seven.

Sussex dug themselves into a right old hole at 146 for eight.

Northeast goes 4, •, 6 to move to 91...

Onions has six! Kent are 175 for nine, with Northeast on 81. They are 42 behind and you imagine he might tee off.

Notts 43 for four! Hales gone. Leach with his third. They are still seven behind.

Hampshire 31 for five! Ervine goes to Tom Curran with Foakes taking a brilliant diving catch. 20 required to avoid the follow-on...

Tom Curran gets Vince for 10! Hampshire 31 for four.

Wicket! Clark put on 50 for Hameed but has become Cook’s second. Cook has dropped his pace right down and brought Foster up to the stumps. He’s nicked it onto Foster’s pad, it’s looped up, and the catch has been taken by Lawrence at gully. 145 for seven, with Hameed on 48 off 175. Back comes Porter.

Warwickshire 146 all out! That’s 146 behind Somerset. Leach ends with five, Overton four.

Hameed to 48 with a lovely cover drive off Harmer... Lancs 141 for six.

Hampshire are 20 for three as CurranT gets Adams...

Billings gone first ball! Onions has five! Kent 147 for eight and he’s on a hat-trick!

Billings, avec migraine, is in at No9 at Durham. He joins Northeast with Kent 147 for seven. Onions has four-fer.

Hodd reached 50 but is gone now. Franklin gets him, and Bresnan is in to join Leaning. It’s 230 for five at Headingley.

Notts are in deep strife. Three down, still 23 behind. Hales in.

Dernbach has got Alsop now...

Warwickshire have avoided the follow on!

Sam Billings has a migraine. Hope he’s ok.

Serious nut.

Still not Billings! Haggett. Something must be up with Billings. Anyone know where he is?

Hampshire have lost their first. Weatherley goes to Dernbach, and they are 7 for 1.

Notts are 12 for one and still 38 behind. Mullaney gone to Leach.

Stevens didn’t last long! He’s gone and Kent are 134 for five. Caught behind off Wood – second in the over for him – and now Billings comes in...

Mmm it’s Stevens not Billings in at No6. Bit odd.

Wood in the wickets again! He gets Crawley and Kent are 134 for four. Wood’s mate Billings in now...

Tea! Your scores

Here you go. Lancs are 115 for six as Hameed, in the company of Clark, resist Essex, who have been superb.

Division One:

  • Lancashire 115-6 v Essex
  • Surrey 200 all out v Hampshire
  • Warwickshire 123-7 v Somerset 282
  • Yorkshire 202-4 v Middlesex

Division Two:

  • Worcestershire 243 v Nottinghamshire 193
  • Kent 134-3 v Durham 207
  • Sussex 116-3 v Northants 426
  • Gloucestershire 108-1 v Leicestershire 222
  • No play at Derbyshire v Glamorgan yet.

Sit down, have a cuppa.

Couple of minutes until tea here. Hameed has started to put the bad ball away and is 29 off 142 in a total of 114 for six. Has faced more than 100 balls more than anyone else and is now the top scorer.

Tea at Edgbaston. 13 wickets so far there today, and Warks still haven’t avoided the follow on. They are 159 behind with three wickets in hand. Barker and Wright’s stand is worth 27.

Tea at Durham, where Kent are 134 for three, 83 behind.

Leaning and Hodd have put on 86 at Headingley. Very handy, and Yorkshire have a first batting point four down.

Worcestershire 243 all out! That’s a lead of 50, and tea on day two. Good game, good game. Mullaney got Shantry for the last.

Shantry is teeing off! He has 20 off 17. Strap in.

Kent look on a mission, and are just 87 behind. Crawley has 20 off 21...

Surrey 200 all out! Tea there now. Dawson got four on a good day for Hampshire.

Worcestershire are nine down, leading by 30 as Leach goes.

Wicket! McLaren drives loosely at Harmer and is gone for 22, playing on. Lancashire are 92 for six. Big lolz at Hameed’s score (15 off 122), and he’s on to carry his bat for about 20, but without him Lancs may already be all out.

I am hard to tame.

Kent three down. Wood gets DBD! Kent 78 for three...

So Surrey are 188 for eight. Bit of a collapse that. Can Hampshire keep the pressure up on Essex?

Worcestershire lead at Trent Bridge! Ed Barnard - what a cricketer he is becoming - goes to 50 and they are 208 for seven AND Shantry hasn’t even batted yet.

Bess gets in on the act - he’s got his fellow offie Jeetan. Warks 98 for seven and needing 35 to avoid the follow on. It’s a beauty.

Jack Leach has four at Edgbaston - Warwickshire are 93 for six and still 40 from avoiding the follow-on.

Yorkshire are 144 for four. I wonder how Yorks and Middlesex will make it a belter this time...

Hameed moved to 10 from his 54th ball. He’s now faced 98, and has 11... Lancs 74 for five and need it.

Proper nut.

Hitman Hutton has a third at Trent Bridge, Cox for a quick 47. Worcs are 171 for seven.

Ryan Patel gone for 81! Fidel bowled him and Surrey are 171 for six.

Some suggestion in the press box that Lancs should declare...

Surrey 163 for five as Pope goes to Dawson. Patel has 80/

Wicket! Jos Buttler’s not convinced, but he’s got to go! Porter has another. He’s driven, got an edge and it’s been brilliantly take low at gully. Porter has three, Lancs are 65 for five. Buttler made 13. Hameed has 11.

Now Onions gets Denly! 14 for two are Kent.

Yorkshire 116 for four. Lees goes to Franklin...

Sussex have lost their first, Gussy Robson to Big Rory. 47 for one.

And so have Kent! What a day Onions is having. 10 for one as he gets Dickson.

Swish.

Warwickshire are now 40 for five. Already 11 wickets at Edgbaston today. They need 93 more to avoid the follow on.

Hameed’s just doubled his score in two balls. Lovely four, his first of the day off his 53rd ball, straight down the ground off Porter brings up the Lancs 50, and then a tip and run into the offside brings one.

Leach bowling better again.

Warwickshire are 36 for four. Bell gone to Leach. Could be following on at this rate.

Yorkshire 100 for three! Ballance gone to Finn.

Wicket! Chanderpaul is gone! Walter, in his first over, digs it in down the legside and Chanderpaul had a swish and is caught behind! lancs 46 for four.

Porter starting the afternoon session by swapping ends.

Red ball criggiters are on their way out to play some red ball criggit at Old Trafford. Lancs 45 for three.

Ashwin gone to Ball! Worcs 89 for six. Not long til Shantry bats.

Right, Warwickshire. What are you made of? 21 for three, Trotty gone to Leach...

Harris gets Lyth: Yorkshire are 79 for two.

Worcestershire are 85 for five, as Ball gets Rhodes. Ashwin still there. Good game.

Craigo is properly good now.

Well a few games are back underway, which is nice. No rain in the lunchbreak (yet) here either.

Mark Wood STRANDED on 72 as Durham all out for 217. Claydon took five.

Well that was a great session for Essex. A point, and Lancashire reach lunch on 45 for three. Hameed has five of them.

Lunch! Scores on the doors!

Late lunch here so thought I’d wait til the break to give the full lowdown.

Division One:

  • Lancashire 45-3 v Essex
  • Surrey 123-4 v Hampshire
  • Yorkshire 77-1 v Middlesex
  • Warwickshire 17-1 v Somerset 282

Division Two:

  • Worcestershire 84-4 v Nottinghamshire 193
  • Northants 426 v Sussex
  • Leicestershire 203-8 v Gloucestershire
  • Durham 217 v Kent
  • No play again at Derbyshire v Glamorgan

Enjoy your sarnies.

Harmer having a bowl here.

Meanwhile Durham are nine down (with a bonus point on the board and Wood on 68) so they are taking the extra half-hour.

Warwickshire 17 for one at lunch at Edgbaston...

Yorkshire 77 for one at lunch at Headingley. They’d take that having been stuck in.

It’s lunch at Grace Road too, where Leicestershire are 203 for eight against the Glosters.

Northants all our for 426. And it’s lunch at Wantage Road.

Surrey are 113 for four and I’m very pleased to say that Ryan Patel has his maiden first-class 50. He’s at the crease with another 19-year-old, Ollie Pope. Just two of them this time.

Wickets! For Coverton and Finn.

Warks are 12 for one as Coverton gets Umeed.

Wicket! Typical, isn’t it? The rain is falling but they stay on. Porter and Cook have bowled beautifully today and Porter has just got one to nip back at Vilas, and up goes the finger. 22 for three, and the rain has stopped in the time it’s taken Chanderpaul to wander out. Porter is top of the wicket-taking charts now, with 54.

Wicket at the Ageas, and Surrey are 109 for four. Foakes pulls Dawson to Vince at midwicket.

Northants are 407 for eight.

Here’s your first look at Cook. He’s got quicker as the spell’s gone on...

Sam Cook has his maiden first-class wicket! And it’s a good one! Liam Livingstone, and the stumps sent flying! Lancs nine for two off 7.2.

Joe Clarke gone for a first-baller to Mullaney! Woosters 55 for three.

Durham’s eighth wicket is now worth 83!

Worcestershire are two down as Fell goes to Mullaney.

Somerset 282 all out!

Abell goes to Sunny Singh for 82. Singh has five! Well bowled that man.

Hameed’s been dropped, at gully off Porter. Lawrence dived low to his left and it was so sharp it was more of a stop.

Ambitious.

An all-run four in the opening over of the match for Livi! 4 for 1.

Sam Cook on at the other end, on first-class debut.

Wicket! Third ball of the match, Al Davies throws the hands at Porter and nicks off to Harmer at second. Porter has 53 for the season, and Lancs are 0 for 1.

I think we are very close to some cricket here.

Bess didn’t last long. Somerset 256 for eight.

Sunny Singh has a third wicket at Edgbaston. Craig Overton the man to go. Dom Bess in. Somerset 250 for seven.

And they are off for rain at Old Trafford.

Start at 11.45, with 84 overs in the day. Start now!!!

Mark Wood is 37 not out. Stick him in at No3 for England?

Covers coming off at Old Trafford!

Updated

Jeetan gets Trego and Somerset are 242 for six. I’m sort of wondering why I’m not still there.

Oh dear.

It’s raining again. I have a bad feeling about this.

There’s an inspection happening, but I don’t quite understand why we’re not starting.

And now Surrey are 40 for three! Roy gone for a duck to Abbott and Foakes joins Ryan Patel.

50 for Tom Abell! Somerset are 227 for five.

Surrey are 34 for two, as Fidel gets Borthwick for a globe...

It’s bright and light, don’t wait 10 minutes - get ‘em on!

Due to start at 10 past here, but there really are no guarantees.

Graham Clark bowled by Stevens and Durham are 77 for seven...

Steve Davies is gone at Edgbaston, caught at short leg off Jeetan. 216 for five. He made 46.

Morning Stuie! Still 14 days of the season after this...

Rory Burns’ brilliant run against Hampshire ends as Abbott gets him caught in the cordon. Surrey 25 for one.

Durham are 69 for six... Pringle shoulders arms and somehow plays on to Milne.

Some news!

Kraigg Brathwaite is joining Yorkshire for the last couple of Champo games. They need an opener.

Raining again, and the covers are coming on... What a shame.

Notts all out for 193!

So Worcestershire close the gap by three points in the first innings of the match. Ball goes to Leach.

Kent have a wicket with the fourth ball of the day! Richardson gone, to Milne. Durham 61 for five.

Eurgh. Hover cover just slipped back on...

We are actually starting at 10.45 with a minimum of 100 overs today.

Lancashire: Davies, Hameed, Livingstone, Vilas, Chanderpaul, Buttler (w), McLaren (c), Clark, Jarvis, Parry, Bailey

Essex: Browne, Chopra (c), Lawrence, Bopara, Wheater, Zaidi, Foster (w), Walter, Harmer, Cook, Porter

Cook in for Amir, then, and Zaidi for Tendo. There’s a school of thought kicking about that Amir was never actually here, and that he was just included in the squad as a bit of bluster. There was that bak spasm last week and apparently his wife is due, too.

It’s just occurred to me that Boom Boom Zaidi is likely to end the season as a Championsjop winner. What a world.

Uncontested toss here at Old Trafford. Starting on time.

Lancashire batting first. Interestingly, Buttler is keeping instead of Al Davies, who picked up a wee injury last week. Tom Bailey in for Matt Parkinson.

For Essex, there’s a Champo debut for Sam Cook. Tendo is back in South Africa for family reasons, so Varun Chopra is the skipper.

There’s a toss – or maybe not – about to happen here at Old Trafford.

Here are the teams from Headingely, where Middlesex are bowling first...

Yorkshire: Lyth, Marsh, Ballance*, Leaning, Bresnan, Rashid, Hodd+, Plunkett, Coad, Sidebottom

Middlesex: Compton, Robson, Eskinazi, Voges, Stirling, Simpson+, Franklin*, Harris, Rayner, Finn, Murtagh

Uncontested toss at Headingley! Middlesex will bowl first.

Umpires out having a look at Old Trafford.

That room in the picture ATL is the one that I’m sat in. It’s brightened a touch - wouldn’t think the covers’ll be on for that much longer.

Good news from Headingley!

Looking at the radar, the rain here seems very localised, which is just typical. A bit in Leeds, possibly, but we should start on time everywhere else.

It’s properly lashing it down now, which is very frustrating.

Morning all it's the morning call!

Good morning, from Old Trafford! I’ve come here to watch the top two teams do battle. I wasn’t here yesterday because of rain. When I woke up a couple of hours ago, the sun was shining brightly. Now I’m at Old Trafford and ... it’s raining! For pete’s sake. The covers are being dragged on. Only a shower, but with play due to start in 40 minutes or so, it’s very frustrating. We probably won’t toss on time. How’s the weather where you are?

I was at Edgbaston yesterday, watching the bottom sides. Decent day, with Tom Abell and Steve Davies batting nicely on a deck that’s already turning. The only other Div One action was five overs worth at the Ageas. Surrey are batting. The forecast for Yorkshire v Middlesex is better today so hopefully there’ll be a full day there.

Division Two saw more action. It was a great day for Ben Duckett, Northants and the number 193, but a bad one for Sussex. Worcestershire are in charge at Nottinghamshire, while there was one session possible at Durham, and Kent made full use of it. Here’s where we are:

Division One:

  • Somerset 203-4 v Warwickshire
  • Surrey 16-0 v Hampshire
  • No play between Lancashire and Essex
  • No play between Yorkshire and Middlesex

Division Two:

  • Notts 188-9 v Worcestershire
  • Northants 329-5 v Sussex
  • Durham 61-4 v Kent
  • Leicestershire 90-4 v Gloucestershire
  • No play between Derbyshire and Glamorgan

Here’s the report and roundup from yesterday. Please read and comment.

You can contact me, and I’d like you to do so. I am contactable in three ways. These are they:

All that leaves me to say, as ever, is enjoy the cricket. And keep an eye on the forecast.

Updated

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