That’s your lot today folks. In Division One, New Zealander Neil Wagner has ripped through the Nottinghamshire lower order with 5-45, and match figures of 11-111 (where’s David Shepherd?), to end the innings at 175 all out. It leaves Lancashire with just 86 runs to knock off at Old Trafford on Wednesday morning.
Glamorgan are also having a second-innings struggle with only young Aneurin Donald providing any real resistance in a dogged 57 against Leicestershire. They end the day at Cardiff just 93 runs in front with two wickets remaining after falling to 172-8.
It’s an absolute run-fest at Bristol where Gloucestershire have racked up 563 all out against Derbyshire, 119 runs ahead going into the last day. Quick-fire cameos from Kieran Noema-Barnett (58) and Benny Howell (41) added to Chris Dent’s 180 earlier.
Essex’s opening bowlers Jamie Porter and Graham Napier took nine wickets and got through 48 overs between them of the 68 Sussex took to reach 282-9, 322 runs ahead, largely thanks to Chris Nash who just missed out on his century. Last pairing Ajmal Shahzad and Steve Magoffin have put on what could prove to be a vital 40-run partnership so far.
Grant Yardley
Jimmy Anderson has his second wicket as Nottinghamshire continue to plod along at 141-5, 51 ahead. Rikki Wessels is the latest victim at Old Trafford. Chris Dent’s vigil has finally come to an end after being bowled by Chesney Hughes, who has three wickets to his name. Hamish Marshall also contributed a brisk 72 as Gloucestershire bring up the 500 with seven wickets down. Jamie Porter is continuing his fine form for Essex with more wickets at Hove. Chris Nash is nearing his hundred in response as Sussex reach 222-5. In the other game, Leicestershire are doing their best to force a result and have Glamorgan four wickets down with the Welshmen just 24 ahead.
Lord’s is playing up to its reputation. Damp on the first day, as evidenced by the footmarks, the pitch is bleached now, the scars almost indistinguishable from the rest of the pitch. And it has played accordingly easier, which shows that the Warwickshire decision to field first was the intelligent one no matter what the first day score suggested.
Warwickshire’s recovery from 173 for six to 468 all out was further indication, with Jonathan Trott finishing unbeaten on 219, 7 runs shy of his career best and stands of 143 for 7th wicket, 65 for 8th and 67 for 10th. Trott’s double hundred is the fourth in the championship this season, the most ever scored in April according to the BCC’s statistical phenomenon Andrew Samson.
Tea at Headingley after a session that brought no further joy for Yorkshire but one in which Hampshire ground their way in the direction of some relative safety through left-hander Sean Ervine, who sits one short of his century, and David Wheater, who is 52 not out. The new ball did not have the desired effect after lunch and little more than the odd stifled appeal has followed. We even saw Gary Ballance send down his leg-breaks for an over before the interval, with the result being two looping looping no balls, the second of which was pumped over leg for six by Ervine. Rashid to take over from his, err, spin twin after tea. Hampshire trailing by 260, at 333 for six.
Grant Yardley
Time for a spot of tea. In Division One, Nottinghamshire are 107-4 - just 17 runs ahead of Lancashire - after 55 painful overs. Opener Greg Smith is the top scorer there with 41 before being dismissed by Simon Kerrigan. Another opening bat Chris Dent continues to plough on for Gloucestershire, scoring 163 so far, but Derbyshire have chipped away by removing Ian Cockbain and the in-form Gareth Roderick cheaply - and are still 76 runs ahead. Glamorgan have had a shaky start to their second innings, losing three wickets still trailing by 35 runs. Clint McKay has carried on from his useful innings with the bat by taking two of the wickets. Graham Napier has also picked up two victims as Chris Nash’s unbeaten 70 has helped Sussex to 168-3.
Grant Yardley
Liam Norwell’s remarkable innings finally comes to an end – but not before the Gloucestershire nightwatchman reaches his three figures! The left-arm spin of Chesney Hughes eventually does for the pace bowler, the lbw decision ending a 168-run partnership with Chris Dent, who has moved on to 134 not out. Another bowler impressing with the bat has also been dismissed as Clint McKay has been caught off Glamorgan’s Graham Wagg for 65. Leicestershire reached 427 all out, a lead of 79 runs. At Old Trafford, Jimmy Anderson has his first wicket, removing Steven Mullaney’s off stump for 21 with a corker. Sussex are 71-1, a lead of 111 runs in their match with Essex. With all the talk about helmets at the moment, it must be mentioned that Chris Nash has taken one on the bonce from a Jamie Porter delivery but is able to carry on after taking a few minutes to get his composure back.
Grant Yardley
That’s lunch around the grounds. In Division One, Nottinghamshire have dropped anchor at Old Trafford, scoring just 32 runs in 25 overs against an attack including Jimmy Anderson - still 58 runs behind. At Hove, Sussex have a 40-run first-innings lead to play with after taking Essex’s final two wickets in successive overs - Graham Napier falling for 45 in their 320. Wayne White’s 58 and a bruising 37 not out from Clint McKay have helped Leicestershire build a handy lead of 32 in Cardiff at 320-8, while Chris Dent’s unbeaten century and a career-best 88 not out from nightwatchman Liam Norwell has driven Gloucestershire to 254-1 in reply to Derbyshire’s 444 all out on a seemingly flat Bristol wicket.
Lunch at Headingley and while just the one wicket has fallen, Yorkshire will relatively content with their work with an old ball on a pitch that has flattened out. Hampshire 237 for six, and still trailing by 356 runs.
Visiting captain James Vince was the man out, ending a fine innings of 119 when he padded up to an inswinger from the nagging Steve Patterson and had to trudge off. Outside the line but no shot made it a simple decision. But don’t just take my word for it, replay here:
The first wicket of the day, and its a big one, Vince lbw to Patterson for 119. https://t.co/kuukqUF5Rh
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) April 19, 2016
Sean Ervine survived an early hostile barrage from Liam Plunkett, around the wicket, and sits 49 not out with David Wheater, 11, for company. Lets see how the new ball, taken by Ryan Sidebottom at 80 overs and two before the interval, shapes up this afternoon.
Grant Yardley
The Lancashire innings has been wrapped up quickly this morning for 242, earning them a lead of 90 runs. Samit Patel had Kyle Jarvis caught for 37 to end proceedings. Meanwhile, Leicestershire are approaching Glamorgan’s first innings total of 324-7, all-rounder Wayne White reaching a 90-ball fifty before being trapped by the reliable Michael Hogan.
At Hove, Sussex failed to use the new ball to their advantage as Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate brought up his half-century in a crucial partnership with Graham Napier to edge closer to the home side’s first innings total of 360.
Jonathan Trott continues to show his class for Warwickshire as he brings up a fine century off 158 balls with a customary flick off his pads.
Updated
An hour gone at Headingley, with James Vince and Sean Ervine resisting Yorkshire’s attack thus far. Vince has moved onto his 18th first-class century and sits 109 not out, the right-hander gracefully slotting the first ball of the day from Jack Brooks through extra cover for four and looking untroubled since. Ervine at the other end has shown some bravery and a enjoyed a bit of good fortune too. Liam Plunkett, replacing Brooks from the Kirstall Lane End, gave the left-hander some serious heat and forced a lengthy delay after pinning his bottom hand. Plunkett has been relentless since, with Andrew Gale at short-leg interested as Ervine fends off a barrage, not always fully in control either. He is 22 not out, with Hampshire 187-5 after 67 overs.
In case you missed it yesterday, here’s Gary Naylor on the opening week of the season...
Grant Yardley reports from Lord’s
The first wicket of the day arrives and it’s disappointment for Lancashire. Jake Ball picks up his fourth victim as he pins Liam Livingstone in front for 70, ending his hopes of marking his Lancashire Championship debut with a century. At Lord’s, with Jonathan Trott looking imperious, cover-driving with ease, Middlesex look to make inroads at the other end - and they do with a peach of a delivery. Toby Roland-Jones gets one to nip away from Tim Ambrose enough to clean-bowl the wicketkeeper for six runs. Warwickshire are still 290 runs behind with five wickets left and have a lot of work to do if they are to avoid the follow-on.
Updated
Morning all from Headingley, where there is a smattering of cloud but is generally pleasant. If a little chilly. And as I type this, James Vince has just driven his first ball of the day through extra cover for four. The Hampshire captain has been a rock and it’s no surprise that the national selector, James Whitaker, is talking about his talents about him at the back of the press box currently. Hampshire resumed 141 for five trailing by 452 runs. Ryan Sidebottom, who will follow this over from Jack Brooks, sits on 999 professional wickets (fc, list a, t20) which begs the question, which other English bowlers, apart from Lancashire’s Glen Chapple and James Anderson, sit above that mark among current players? Have a great day all.
If you have any old sticker books or match tickets lying around, you might enjoy this...
Morning all
Today we have Ali Martin at Yorkshire v Hampshire, Mike Selvey at Middlesex v Warwickshire and Grant Yardley covering the news from around the grounds.
Here’s Ali Martin’s report from yesterday and the PA round-up:
Yorkshire v Hampshire
Yorkshire’s grip on their County Championship opener tightened on the second day at Headingley through career-best scores from Jonny Bairstow and Liam Plunkett that vaporised a depleted Hampshire attack in a brutal morning assault.
With the floodlights on and the scoreboard spinning like a fruit machine, only the red ball and white clothing distinguished the pair’s 227-run stand from a Twenty20, with 246 for Bairstow, his third first-class double hundred, and 126 from the No8 Plunkett, an 82-ball century and his first in championship cricket. Continue reading
Monday’s round-up
The England pacemen Stuart Broad and Steven Finn were both among the wickets, for Nottinghamshire and Middlesex respectively, in their County Championship matches.
Broad snared three Lancashire batsmen, including his England colleague James Anderson for six, but could not prevent the hosts closing on 311 for eight at Old Trafford and securing a 69-run lead following half-centuries from Alex Davies and the debutant Liam Livingstone.
The fit-again Finn removed Ian Westwood with his first ball at Lord’s and returned to bowl Sam Hain as Warwickshire, boosted by half-centuries from Varun Chopra and Jonathan Trott – after Ian Bell managed only 14 – reached 146 for four when bad light stopped play.
That was still 306 behind Middlesex after the former England opener Sam Robson contributed a career-best 231 to the hosts’ 452 all out.
In Division Two Essex struggled in reply to Sussex’s 360 at Hove. Tom Westley fell 14 runs short of a third first-class century of the season and Jesse Ryder struck 51, but two wickets apiece from Steve Magoffin and George Garton reduced Essex to 252 for seven.
Wayne Madsen amassed 150 as Derbyshire posted 444 against Gloucestershire, who replied with 110 for one on the back of Chris Dent’s half-century, at Bristol.
The Ireland international Niall O’Brien hit 93 and Paul Horton made 67 to helpLeicestershire respond to Glamorgan’s 348 with 297 for six at Cardiff.
Enjoy the cricket
