Jeopardy leaned over the final Bob Willis Trophy group games of the summer, with only the two group winners with the most points going through to the final at Lord’s – one must fall.
In a top of the Central table clash at New Road, Somerset captain Tom Abell ushered his notoriously fragile top order to 120 for two before falling for 59 as Somerset lost four for 14. The usual big-hitting by the bowlers bolstered the total enough to collect two batting points. Worcestershire’s Ed Barnard and Dillon Pennington picked up three wickets each.
Fifteen wickets fell at Chelmsford where the South Group leaders Essex bowled out Middlesex cheaply before themselves stumbling to 108 for five. Middlesex withered in the face of accurate bowling from Sam Cook (four for 27), Jamie Porter (three for 55) and Simon Harmer (three for 34); but Alastair Cook’s mid-afternoon dismissal precipitated the loss of four Essex wickets for a song – the hunt for batting points continues in the morning.
At Aigburth, Lancashire’s Josh Bohannon flung his bat in the way of Derbyshire’s hopes for Lord’s. He held together an inexperienced side, playing beautifully on an autumnal day punctuated by beech leaves dropping slowly from the trees, until becoming marooned in the 90s and eventually clipping to midwicket. A late clatter of wickets left Derbyshire, top of the North group, in the hunt.
Ian Bell, the last member of England’s 2005 Ashes team still playing and who announced his retirement on Saturday, scored 50 in his penultimate first class match for Warwickshire, that trademark cover drive as dreamy as ever.
Jamie Overton went wicketless on the first day of his Surrey debut, though he did worry the Sussex batsman with a spell of hostile bowling after lunch. Tom Haines finished the day unbeaten on 105. Sussex were without Mitch Claydon, suspended on suspicion of illegally using hand sanitiser on the ball in August.
A century partnership between Gareth Harte and Stuart Poynter bolstered Durham at Trent Bridge, while Yorkshire, in with a chance of overtaking Derbyshire in the North, bowled out Leicestershire for 124, Ben Coad taking five for 18, before being thwarted by the rain.
Apologies all, distracted by the Covid story at Bristol. At Aigburgh it has been slow going but Josh Bohannon was very unlucky to fall just six short of hundred after a smashing display of batting. Lancs 191-6.
All in all, a bizarre end to umpire Jeremy Lloyds’ career - applauded onto the pitch through a player guard of honour, one session officiating, then, after an hour’s delay post lunch, he pulled a stump from the ground to signify the end of the match. The first English cricket game to be abandoned to Covid.
Not yet clear how this will affect the remaining T20 blast matches - Northants and Gloucestershire, the top two teams in the Central Group, were due to meet on Friday at Wantage Road. The ECB say this will be worked out in the next 24 hours.
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Positive Covid test confirmed in Northants' squad.
A member of the Northants playing squad, not in Bristol, has tested positive for Covid 19 after feeling unwell. Statement from Gloucestershire CCC:
In the interests of player welfare, it has been agreed between Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) that the Bob Willis Trophy match, currently being played at the Bristol County Ground, has been abandoned.
Just before lunch of the first session of play, it came to light that a member of the Northamptonshire playing squad has tested positive for COVID-19. Although the player was not part of the group that travelled with the squad to Bristol (and has been self-isolating at home), further members of the Northamptonshire squad have been in contact with the player within 48 hours of the player developing COVID-19 symptoms.
Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire and the ECB are unified in the belief that player welfare is paramount and that no risks should be taken with the health and safety of the players, officials and administrators involved in this match. The match has now been abandoned and the Northamptonshire squad will return home to Northamptonshire today.
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Still waiting for an official statement from the ECB, but the match between Gloucestershire and Northants has been officially drawn. The Guardian understands that a non-playing member of one of the squads has tested positive.
The abandonment at Bristol is covid related.
More to follow....
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Essex have given young Feroze Khushi a contract extension until the end of 2021. Horray!
Yorkshire celebrate bowling Leicestershire out for 124 by slumping to 4 for 2, Kohler- Cadmore and Lyth both gone. Tea round some of the counties, scores to follow. ECB statement on affairs at Bristol expected shortly.
Sorry, I somehow missed this, Ian Bell stranded on 50 not out as the rain falls at Sophia Gardens, Warwickshire 127 for five. Bell, who had notched up 425 for once out in his last three innings against Glamorgan, offered a tricky chance on 16.
Not sure what’s going on at Bristol - nothing on social media yet, but they’ve called stumps for the day. Will keep you updated.
An elated Melton punches the air after grabbing George Lavelle, caught in the crease. Lavelle starts the slow walk up the green bannistered pavilion steps, along the landing and in through the dressing-room door. Well played, a 13 to savour.
A white butterfly journeys back and across the length of the press tent as the twelfth man replenishes the boundary fielders. Poor chap is in a mask even though none of the players are. Middlesex all out 138. Somerset now 131-5 with no Jamie Overton to bolster the tail - though Lewis Gregory is back.
Essex already have their finger tips on the return ticket to Lord’s - Middlesex having no answer to Cook, Harmer and Porter. Somerset have fallen briefly in the briar patch, losing both Abell and Bartlett on 120. 130-4 v Worcestershire. And Derbyshire will rue twice dropping Bohannon, now 57 not out.
For coverage of David Warner being out for 0 and using up a review, join Tim de Lisle here.
I’ve canvassed opinion round the press box after questions below the line about the season: the unanimous but unscientific consensus is that it is autumn. It just smells and looks and tastes like it. Bohannon playing beautifully, is 48 not out. Lavelle moves steadily along, he reminds me somehow of a young Mike Atherton in his body language. Incidentally, did you see that Athers’ son has signed a three year contract with Middlesex?
Did anyone genuinely think that DI Stevens would give up the chance of a Lord’s final without a fight? He’s just snaffled Northeast after earlier removing Alsop and Organ in the same over. Hampshire 127-5.
Worcestershire have a great young bowling attack but it doesn’t seem to be able to cut through the notoriously flaky Somerset top order. Though as I double check, Bartlett has gone for 18 - Somerset 120-3.
No matter how many times I refresh my scorecard, Ian Bell is still 49 not out...
Dane Vilas falls in the first over after lunch, comfortably taken by Hosein off Reece, and in comes George Lavelle for his first-class debut. Some comments about his diminutive size but a browse through the Cricketers Who’s Who reveals he’s five foot 8. Taller than many a bottom-weighted mid-fielder. Off the mark with a quick single. and, by heck, Derbyshire: Bohannon is dropped by Wayne Madsen at first slip - his second life and the third slip catch Derbyshire have dropped in just over a session.
How about this for a stat?
Highest Test averages at No.6 (min. 1000 runs)
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 5, 2020
Shivnarine Chanderpaul: 64.82
Ian Bell: 60.11
Saleem Malik: 56.82
MS Dhoni: 55.36
Rohit Sharma: 54.57
Garry Sobers: 53.34
Allan Border: 52.16
AB de Villiers: 52.04
Michael Hussey: 51.75
Steve Waugh: 51.04
VVS Laxman: 50.18 pic.twitter.com/SZEdH3NQCs
Just ate a creamy curry sitting on a rickety green bench in the Aigburth early autumn sun. Wish you were all here, it’s perfect. Lancashire resuming after lunch on 71-3.
Aigburth 2020. pic.twitter.com/n6UG313Ryj
— tanya aldred (@tjaldred) September 6, 2020
A beautiful photograph. RIP David Capel, gone far too soon.
In loving memory of David Capel.
— Leicestershire Foxes 🦊 (@leicsccc) September 6, 2020
Rest in peace, Capes. ❤️
🦊 #runningfoxes pic.twitter.com/egfzzOtUtz
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Lunch has arrived and there’s talk it is chips...lots of rustling with silver foil....Lancs 69-3 with one over to go.
Lunchtime scores
NORTH GROUP
11am start: Aigburth: Lancashire 71-3 v Derbyshire.
Trent Bridge: Notts v Durham 68-4 (Chappell 3-26)
Headingley: Yorkshire v Leicestershire 52-4
CENTRAL GROUP
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Warwickshire 89-3 (Bell 37 not out)
Bristol: Gloucester 66-6 v Northants
Worcester: Worcester v Somerset 83-1
SOUTH GROUP
Noon start: The Oval: Surrey v Sussex 50-0
Chelmsford: Essex v Middlesex 68-6 (Porter 3-33)
Canterbury: Kent v Hampshire 89-2
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Warwickshire lunching with Bell 38 not out, while Jamie Overton took the new ball for Surrey, where his four overs went for 20.
A shout out for the Aigburth portaloos, complete with a vase of fake flowers. I missed Bohannon being dropped at third slip on 29 though out in time to see a very cross Rob Jones caught behind off Melton for 23 before kicking up the dust in fury. Lancashire 58-3.
Yay! A wicket for Simon Kerrigan at Bristol! Gloucs 66-6. Lunch around some of the counties - scores to follow.
A third over from the green Aigburth pavilion end for Flynn Hudson Prentice, whose hair inspiration must be the Kevin Pietersen skunk circa 2005. Some lovely fours from Rob Jones in this mini-morning fightback - 48-2, as the brown and curled autumn leaves honestly drift down in front of the press tent.
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Gloucestershire, ooops, 52-5, v Northants. Lammonby and Abell keeping Somerset out of trouble in the must-win v Worcs (58-1).
Porter, Cook and Harmer are taking Middlesex apart (53-5); a quick-fire 42 from Ian Holland has given Hampshire a good start against Kent (69-1) and play has just started at The Oval where Sussex are batting.
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Lancashire have limped to 30 for 2 off 13 overs, while Zac Chappell has taken 3 for 20 as Durham’s decision to bat first v Notts proves interesting - 50-3. Lees unbeaten on 23. Leicestershire 40-4 v the Yorkies, while ye mighty Ian Bell now 34 not out, seven fours, each one a bon mot, has urged Warwicks to 79-3.
The teams have marquees at opposite ends of the ground, which has, incidentally, put on its evening dress and jewels. Lush, lush grass, the boundary trees just beginning to turn, a gentle autumnal warmth - photographers in shorts, cricketers in short-sleeved jerkins.
And down at Sophia Gardens, Ian Bell has stroked five fours in his 25 not out.
The sun is in my eyes, just saying...
And a deserved England ODI call up for Sussex’s Phil Salt ahead of the series v Australia at Old Trafford. That means he’s been pulled from the Bob side, that will start against Surrey at The Oval at noon.
Salt will join Joe Denly and Saqib Mahmood in the bio-bubble as reserves ahead of Friday’s first game. Should he play, it would be his England debut, though he made 100 not out for England Lions against Ireland at the Ageas Bowl in July.
A stat from Ken Grime: Lancashire have given debuts to seven players this season, the most since 1990, which may explain their lowly position in the North Group. To put Derbyshire’s awesome start in context - Leicester are 21-3 inYorkshire’s must-win game; while Essex have reduced Middlesex to 38-3 and relative riches for Somerset, 42-1, against Worcestershire,
Aigburth, at last! To find that I missed a wicket off the very first ball of the game - Keaton Jennings, whose Bob season has not been fruitful. And there’s the second wicket - Davies lbw to Reece. Lancashire are 2 for 2.
Lancs have handed first-class debuts to George Lavelle and Jack Morley, and will bat first after winning the toss. The outfield at Aigburth is a little slippery this morning, so we may not start at 11am sharp.
Elsewhere, Essex have started in rip-roaring fashion at Chelmsford, taking two Middlesex wickets in the first half-hour. Max Holden went for a duck, Nick Gubbins for just two.
Apologies, running late due to train with dodgy brakes. Hope to be at Aigburth in time for play to start at 11, in the meantime do fill in the gaps BTL!
The Fixtures
NORTH GROUP
Aigburth: Lancashire v Derbyshire.
Derbyshire are the surprise package of this tournament, top of the North group and unbeaten in the Bob, and have a good chance of making Lord’s on September 23 if they can beat Lancashire - who are out of the running.
Trent Bridge: Notts v Durham
Nothing but pride to play for at Trent Bridge, with both sides looking for their first Bob win of the tournament.
Headingley: Yorkshire v Leicestershire
Oh Yorkshire. In with a chance of qualifying if they beat Leicestershire, but now mired in accusations of institutional racism from Azeem Rafiq, whose tales from the Headingley dressing room were shocking. Some big names should be worried indeed.
CENTRAL GROUP
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Warwickshire
Ian Bell, Ian Bell, Ian Bell, Ian Bell. That’s it.
Bristol: Gloucester v Northants
Neither club can qualify for the final, but a chance for the youngsters on both teams to ensure they are kept on into next year.
Worcester: Worcester v Somerset
The top of the table clash, with only 6 points dividing the two teams. Winner takes all. Somerset are without Jamie Overton, who has joined Surrey, where he will play from 2021, on loan for the rest of the season.
SOUTH GROUP
The Oval: Surrey v Sussex
Fresh from a T20 win in the London derby, which means the match will start at noon, Surrey go into the last BOB of the season still looking for their first win. Their ridiculous injury list continues - missing Jade Dernbach (groin), Jordan Clark (foot and ankle), Rikki Clarke (hip), Nick Kimber (knee), Liam Plunkett (hamstring) - and the Curran brothers and Jason Roy remain with England. Jamie Overton is expected to play. Sussex are searching for their second win and are boosted by the return of David Wiese from South Africa, plus 16-year-old James Coles and 19-year-old Ali Orr. Mitch Claydon is suspended after allegations he used hand sanitiser on the ball in the match against Middlesex.
Chelmsford: Essex v Middlesex
Can anyone stop Essex? You wouldn’t bet against it, though they start the final round with the fewest points of any of the three group leaders.
Canterbury: Kent v Hampshire
In case you missed it, Darren Stevens has signed a one year extension to his contract - just the 20 wickets at 19 this season. Kent are without Sam Billings and Joe Denly but Zak Crawley returns from England duty. Kent have an outside chance of making the final if the results fall their way.
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Preamble
Alas, so soon, the Bob’s last group-stage has arrived. Back to the land of 10.30am starts, a broken down train at Warrington Central and two pairs of socks for the Aigburth tent. Lots to look forward to over the next few days in the battle for the final, but first…
Farewell glorious cover drive, farewell ginger crunch behind square, farewell three Ashes hundreds against the 2013 Australians, farewell springer spaniel grab at short leg, farewell sledgehammer of eternal justice, one man pocket rocket, and oh! the style, the dash. Ian Bell, last man standing from the victorious 2005 England team, is calling it a day – this his last first-class match. And there is no-one there to watch. Sob. I’m old enough to remember CMJ pressing for England to include this bright young talent coming through the ranks – how right he was. Only Cook, Root and Pietersen have more runs for England. Here’s wishing him one last wondrous hurrah.
Ian Bell cover drive compilation, on repeat.pic.twitter.com/VH5TxJ99vx
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 5, 2020
And that’s not all. Au revoir too to Graham Onions, whose body has forced him to hang up his boots after scooping up buckets of wickets for Durham and Lancashire and 32 during his nine Tests for England – still think he deserved a few more. How Lancashire will miss him – 45 wickets at 19 last season to help lift them into the top division. And he goes without even a quiet farewell, injury has kept him away all season.
On the field, there are some tasty matches waiting - if only the autumnal rain stays away. Somerset, Derby and Essex are the frontrunners to make the Lord’s final, with Kent, Yorks and Worcestershire all waiting in wings if anyone slips up. The tables are here. Remember only the two group winners with the most points will contest the final - one must fall.
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