Roundup: Conway and De Grandhomme deliver
As the County Championship resumed for two July rounds, setting the scene for the autumnal divisional split, Devon Conway debuted like only he can.
The New Zealander tucked into 88 runs in his first Championship innings for Somerset before being bowled by Leicestershire’s Callum Parkinson as the hosts luxuriated in a first-innings partnership of 143 at Taunton, with Steven Davies scoring 65. Things fell away after Conway’s dismissal and by stumps Somerset had slipped to 242-7.
The players were on and off amid showers at the Rose Bowl, where an unbeaten 48 from another New Zealander, Colin de Grandhomme, and 58 from Ian Holland guided Hampshire to 229-7. Jordan Clark finished with 4-59 as he and Rikki Clarke bowled gallantly through the day for Surrey. Kiwi giant Kyle Jamieson left the field with an injury after just six overs.
Derbyshire struggled at Trent Bridge on a frog-green pitch and another on-off day. Currently winless in the Championship, they didn’t burnish their batting ambitions, finishing the day 91-5. Stand-in captain Matt Critchley was the top scorer with 23. Luke Fletcher’s two wickets for Notts make him the joint leading wicket-taker this season.
The acting Northants captain, Ricardo Vasconcelos, received his county cap before the start of the game against Yorkshire, was unbeaten on 32 at the close and collected three catches in between. Yorkshire wobbled, bowled out for just 158, and that buffered by a wonderful 71 from 20-year-old George Hill, promoted to open the innings for the first time. Sam Northeast, signed from Hampshire on a short-term loan, made just three.
Dan Ibrahim, the 16-year-old who made 55 on his Sussex debut against Yorkshire, again proved difficult to winkle out at Hove. Unbeaten on 41, he and Will Beer took the hosts from 96-6 to 161-7 against Glamorgan before Beer got out to the last ball of the day.
There was no play at all at Old Trafford, where Jimmy Anderson will battle to take his 1000th first-class wicket, or Edgbaston, where Ben Stokes is due to play for Durham in a Championship match for the first time since July 2018.
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They’ve called time at Trent Bridge, with Derbyshire 91-5; at Wantage Road, with Northants 61-2 and 97 runs behind Yorkshire; at Southampton, where Hampshire are 229-7
Still life at Hove and Taunton.
Time for me to concentrate on the round-up for a while, back in a bit.
Scores on the doors:
Northants were racing along on home turf: 40-0 off nine overs in reply to Yorkshire’s 158 before rain stopped play.
Somerset 203-4 - Hildreth and Lammonby the men in the middle.
Sussex 103-6, Ibrahim still there, 7 not out.
Derbyshire 76-5, oh dear.
Hampshire 226-7, de Grandhomme on the verge of 50.
Hampshire have lost McManus for 24, 217-6, a fourth wicket for Jordan Clark; and Travis Head walks at Hove, lbw for 47. Sussex 96-6.
Glamorgan on top at Hove then -and, in case you missed it, in the month between Championship matches, Marnus Labuschagne has returned to Australia to spend time with his family, and has been replaced by Hamish Rutherford.
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Yorkshire have somehow bowled six extras in Northant’s total of 15-0...
The runes were wrong. Conway is out! Bowled by Parkinson for 88. Somerset 176-3.
☝️ | Somerset's third falls, and it's a huge wicket!
— Leicestershire CCC 🏏 (@leicsccc) July 4, 2021
Conway (88) is bowled superbly by @cal_parky, as he gets one to turn back in and goes through the gate to clatter the debutant's stumps 👏
SOM 171 for three
🦊 #runningfoxes | #HungryForMore pic.twitter.com/r8OuNhjbEY
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At Hove, Sussex are struggling: 90-5. Travis Head remains, 44 not out, accompanied now by 16 year old Dan Ibrahim, who played so beautifully against Yorkshire at Headingley only six weeks or so ago.
Northants are about to start their reply, with Ricardo Vasconcelos the proud owner of a new county cap.
Play abandoned for the day at Edgbaston
When they do get out on the field, hopefully tomorrow, Ben Stokes will be playing his first Championship match for Durham of the summer.
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And Yorkshire are 158 all out after choosing to bat. George Hill the top scorer with 71.
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Home, after cycling through the balmiest weather of the day. Hey-ho. There is action at Taunton, and at Northants. It is tea at the Rosebowl, where Hampshire are 200-5, de Grandhomme 33 not out.
At Taunton, a couple of wickets have fallen, Davies for 65 and Goldsworth for 3, both to Will Davis. Devon Conway is going to do the inevitable, currently 76. not out.
I’m going to cycle home quickly now: will update in 20 mins from the kitchen.
Rain talk: The 4.05 inspection at Trent Bridge has been postponed. But they’ll resume at Taunton at 4.20 with 39.5 0vers left in the day, weather permitting.
At the Rosebowl, de Grandhomme is making hay: 25 of your best quality New Zealand runs. Hants 186-5.
Exquisite from Colin De Grandhomme😍
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) July 4, 2021
178/5 (58 overs)
📲Keep up to date with all the action on the Hampshire Cricket App and at https://t.co/vVlxv4bMSu pic.twitter.com/fR1Qj8MFAp
Tea-time (ish) scores
GROUP ONE
Trent Bridge: Notts v Derby 74-3 rain stopped play.
Edgbaston: Warwicks v Durham Start delayed (rain). Inspection at 4.30.
GROUP TWO
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 168-5 v Surrey.
Taunton: Somerset 134-0 v Leicestershire. Rain stopped play. Due to restart at 4.20pm
GROUP THREE
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Kent No play today (rain).
The County Ground: Northants v Yorkshire 132-6
Hove: Sussex 44-4 v Glamorgan
De Grandhomme, he of the glorious mullet, is nine not out in Hampshire’s 158-5. Ian Holland was out for 58, a third wicket for Jordan Clark.
Harry Duke was out for five. It’s now Jordan Thompson’s turn. Yorkshire 128-6. Hill 71 not out.
While some slump off the raindrops, George Hill is having the best fun . Currently 70 not out including a huge six off Simon Kerrigan. Sadly he hasn’t found a sticking partner, Yorks 126-5. His new partner is Harry Duke, who impressed so much earlier in the season. Let’s see what he can do.
The rain stopped for long enough that Sussex and Glamorgan made it back out. Then it started again. They’re back in. Sussex 23-2.
Play abandoned for the day at Old Trafford
Put the kettle on everyone.
Rain. Thirteen balls happened at Hove, including the wicket of Aaron Thomason, before rain stopped play (6-1). At The Rosebowl, Colin de Grandhomme is in - Hampshire are 135-4. Ian Holland has stroked his way to 53 not out.
In the ODI, Sri Lanka have been bowled out for a song. Follow England’s reply here with the OBO:
Fascinating piece here by Andrew Fidel Fernando on what has gone wrong in Sri Lankan cricket.
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If there is no more rain, there will be an inspection at Old Trafford at 345.
Two games are currently in progress: Yorkshire v Northants and Hants v Surrey. Yorkshire are currently 91-4; with an unbeaten maiden fifty for 20 year old George Hill! Two wickets for Simon Kerrigan, Dom Bess is 7 not out.
Hampshire are 104-3, with new signing Nick Gubbins just out, caught behind off Jamie Overton. Ian Holland (39) and James Vince (0).
Alas:
How Dhoni How Morgan sees
— Naman Shah (@NamanShah2607) July 1, 2021
Sees Moeen Ali Moeen Ali#ENGvsSL pic.twitter.com/6fJx6wJEP6
For those of you with time on your hands, some fantastic reading here. I happened to read the piece on Murali by Andrew Fidel Fernando last week and it is wonderful.
Hokey-Cokey time: Rain has stopped play at Taunton (Somerset 134-0), and they announce an inspection at 3.30 at Old Trafford, only for the dribble-drabble of July precipitation to restart.
Matt Critchley has clipped two fours in his 17; Leus du Plooy has 16. Derbyshire 65-3.
George Hill (22) and Gary Ballance (32) are plodding away at Northampton, where Simon Kerrigan is bowling.
The OT groundstaff are standing near a puddle and chatting to the two umpires. Hoods are down.
At Taunton, they took an early lunch and since then Somerset have swept along to 131-0 with Steven Davies 59 not out and Devon Conway 62 not out. That man sure knows how to debut.
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At Hove, Covid-hit Sussex are batting first - and Oli Carter will make his first-class debut at 19.
I’ve just trudged round Old Trafford to buy a coffee and can tell you that it is damp and miserable. Some cold children are squatting in the covered alleyway eating their picnic in cagouls. Although, hang on, as I type, momentarily, the sun has appeared. Let’s look round the grounds...
I’ve just clicked that there is another Championship game this round - Gloucestershire v Middlesex, which starts tomorrow as part of the Cheltenham festival. Mike Atherton’s son Josh de Caires is named in Middlesex’s squad for the first time. New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell is also available for selection as Middlesex try to improve on their one Championship win this season.
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Lunchtime scores
GROUP ONE
Trent Bridge: Notts v Derby 44-3.
Edgbaston: Warwicks v Durham No play before lunch (rain).
GROUP TWO
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 62-1 v Surrey.
Taunton: Somerset 83-0 v Leicestershire.
GROUP THREE
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Kent No play before lunch (rain).
The County Ground: Northants v Yorkshire 38-2.
Hove: Sussex v Glamorgan No play before lunch (rain), play due to start at 2.15pm.
Derbyshire have lost a third wicket, Brooke Guest for 7, lbw to Lyndon James, a second catch for Ben Duckett.
Good news from Wantage Road... for now.
Play to resume at 1.30pm following an early lunch. Sun is out again at Wantage Road. As good a weather as we’ve had so far.
— Graham Hardcastle (@tykestravels) July 4, 2021
Four groundsmen have just carried a huge drainage pipe out to the middle...
Andrew Benton asks, “Wondering if you know if there had been any decision regarding continuing to stream the county games on Youtube next season. It has been so great to watch matches even with sometimes wobbly cameras and sloping angles, and they’re all set up now so there’d be few if any extra costs keeping it all going next year.”
We don’t think any decisions have been made yet, though it has been such a huge success they’ll surely keep it. Suggestions that clubs might try and get a bit of cash from it - a bit of branding or something?
Derbyshire’s run-rate is currently 1.41.
An Old Trafford groundsman is wet-footing it into the middle, anorak buckled in every possible way. When they do get on , Jimmy Anderson will be trying to pick up the five wickets he needs to reach 1,000 in first-class cricket. He will be the first Lancashire bowler since Jack Simmons in 1989 to join the thousand club, and the 14th Lancs man in all.
Thanks to Ken Grime for the following stats: “Of the 995 wickets James has taken, most have been at Emirates Old Trafford (160) followed by Lord’s (113), Trent Bridge (77), Edgbaston (57) and The Oval (50). His biggest wicket haul abroad is at Adelaide (27) while Chelmsford (25) is his most on a non-Test match ground. As far as opponents are concerned, James has taken more wickets against India (118) than any other team, which hopefully is good news ahead of this summer’s Test series! After India, Australia are second on the list of opponents’ wickets taken (104) followed by South Africa (93). Against domestic opposition, Worcestershire top the list.”
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Around the rain-soaked grounds: Hampshire have lost Joe Weatherly for 13 (37-1) where Kyle Jamieson has bowled six giant-sized wicketless overs for ten. At Taunton, Devon Conway is leading Somerset into a most unusual unbroken first-innings stand of 60. Shades of Jimmy Cook. Rain has stopped play at Northants where Yorkshire are 38-2 and Derbyshire are 20-2, with Reece and Wood the men out.
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Covid has been pointing her sticky fingers at the counties again. Sussex have eight players self-isolating: Jamie Atkins, James Coles, Henry Crocombe, Tom Haines, Sean Hunt, Delray Rawlins and Ollie Robinson and Tom Clark. Leicestershire have seven: Hassan Azad, Sam Evans, Alex Evans, Louis Kimber, Dieter Klein, George Rhodes and Chris Wright
And a stat for you if this game ever starts at OT: Lancashire haven’t lost to Kent at home since 2001, and haven’t lost at Old Trafford since 1997. And a big shout out to the plucky gathering of people sitting underneath the Point and watching fat raindrops repeatedly plop onto the covers.
July eh?
☔️☔️
— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) July 4, 2021
pic.twitter.com/EtnaYR1mDa
Just clocked that Devon Conway is making his Championship debut for Somerset where he has made nine runs in 31 balls in partnership with Steve Davies. Somerset 27-0.
Oh dear, Sam Northeast has just been caught behind for three at Wantage Road. Yorkshire 21-2.
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If you’re looking at the Yorkshire scorecard (14-1) and wondering why Sam Northeast is playing for Yorkshire - it is because he has left Hampshire, by mutual consent. He’s signed a short-term deal with Yorkshire and will be available to talk to other counties after the loan deal is up. And Hampshire have signed Nick Gubbins another one of the “golden generation” of players , to replace him.
At The Rosebowl, Hampshire are 9-0; at Taunton, Somerset are 12-0, and at Trent Bridge Derby are 7-0. And at Old Trafford, the covers are threatening to float away.
Kyle Jamieson has the new ball at Surrey and an email pops up!
“So glad to have the Championship back, taps Ettiene Terblanche. “Have enjoyed the international cricket from my lockdown desk in Jo’burg, but the world seems a little rosier when I can check in on Messrs Jennings, Bedingham, Vilas, Olivier, Madsen, (umpire) Saggers and all the delightful people who populate the FC game in the UK.”
Thanks Ettiene! I hope the pesky rain doesn’t spoil things too much...
Filthy skies at Old Trafford and full covers, rain now at Edgbaston too so a delayed start there. But there is play at The Oval, Trent Bridge and Taunton.
Elsewhere the news is better: Surrey have won the toss and will field, Durham have won the toss and will field, so will Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. Yorkshire and Hampshire are batting.
Toss delayed at Bristol too, and there will be no play before lunch at Hove.
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I’m at Old Trafford and...it is raining. Spitting. Dripping. They’ve delayed the toss for a while.
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Group Tables
GROUP ONE
Warwicks (played 8) 120
Essex (played 9) 118
Notts (played 8) 115
Durham (played 8) 111
Worcestershire (played 9) 97
Derbyshire (played 8) 60
GROUP TWO
Somerset (played 8) 119
Gloucestershire (played 8) 109
Hampshire (played 8) 108
Surrey (played 8) 101
Leicestershire (played 8) 93
Middlesex (played 8) 60
GROUP THREE
Lancashire (played 8) 126
Yorkshire (played 8) 122
Northants (played 8) 110
Glamorgan (played 8) 99
Kent (played 8) 75
Sussex (played 8) 71
Fixtures
GROUP ONE
Trent Bridge: Notts v Derby
Edgbaston: Warwicks v Durham
GROUP TWO
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire v Surrey
Taunton: Somerset v Leicestershire
GROUP THREE
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Kent
The County Ground: Northants v Yorkshire
Hove: Sussex v Glamorgan
Good morning!
It is the season of England winning, gloriously, in Rome; but it is also the season of clover and buttercups, of swifts and swallows, of bat and ball. Welcome back to CCLIve - today we hit the two mid-season rounds which will decide who fights for the County Championship and who spends late August and September grubbing around for points.
Just to recap: at the end of the next two rounds of games, the Championship will split in a different way. The top two counties from each group will move into Division One, the third and fourth placed teams, Division Two, and the bottom two into Division Three. Only Division One teams will now be able to contest the Championship and fight to take part in the Bob Willis Trophy final in September.
Once in these new groups, teams will not play against the other team from their initial group, but will carry through half the number of points it scored in the two matches played against that team in the group stage. So these matches could end up being crucial.
Group One is the tastiest, with just nine points between Warwickshire in first and Durham in fourth. Essex, the 2019 County Champions and 2020 Bob Willis Trophy winner, must sit this round out nervously chewing on their umbrella handles. It is out of their hands now. Worcestershire and Derbyshire just play for pride.
Group Two is dominated by Somerset, but even they can be caught with just a ten point lead over second placed Gloucestershire. Dear Middlesex are the only club out of the running, though they have had their moments this season.
Lancashire and Yorkshire look most likely to go through in Division Three, but must play each other in the final round rearranged from Scarborough to Headingley because of Covid complexities. Sussex and Kent are out of the running.
Finally, the weather. The forecast for this morning was dreadful in Manchester, but I’ve woken up to something more sprightly. The BBC round the country up as: “Today, many areas will see sunny spells and showers, which will be heavy and thundery in places.”
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