James Franklin is out, bringing an early conclusion to the day’s activity. So Middlesex have wickets have lost wickets to the day’s first and last balls. He batted brilliantly for his 135 – offering just the one chance – but has feathered Shantry to leg slip, where Tom Fell took his third catch. Shantry has four, and deserves them. Middlesex close 289 for seven – I suspect 400 is beyond them now – and I reckon that might just have been Worcestershire’s day, after losing the toss. Just. See you all tomorrow!
Action! A wicket! But there should have been two. Ah! First there was an ooh-err-that’s-not-pretty moment, as Franklin finally played a false shot – his first by my count – with Leach drawing a hook with a short one when he had 120. Morris was waiting on the fence at fine leg but the ball just went straight through the hands for a boundary. Franklin was walking off and everything. Then, the following over, with Morris now bowling, he drew the edge of Simpson’s bat as he prodded forward and captain Mitchell took the catch at second slip. The stand was worth 170, so it’s 272 for six with eight overs left in the day.
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This is one of those classic pedestrian afternoons at county cricket, writes Elizabeth Ammon. Wakely and Keogh are just knocking about with ease here at around 3 an over. It’s all very sedate. The partnership is now worth 67 and Northants are very close to first innings parity. They won’t mind knocking it about for the remaining 20 overs this evening and ending up with a lead of about 60 at stumps.
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James Franklin has gone to a really excellent century. He moved to 99 with a boundary that came courtesy of a horrible misfield at deep square-leg off Shantry, but had his hundred two balls later with a stunning straight drive. He and Simpson have doubled the score and more. It’s now 235 for five, which looks rather good from five for two.
Moeen and Ajmal have been bowling in tandem for a couple of overs and seem to be competing to see who can be less threatening. Neither has been loose, nor expensive, but they’ve just been bowling, not looking like taking wickets. Curious, really. Anyway, I’d say Ajmal is winning that little battle, but it’s close. Franklin has milked the Pakistani with ease and Simpson just got four for a slightly miscued advance against Mo.
The new ball has now been taken. Worcestershire need it to do something.
It’s all very flat out there for Kent, writes Elizabeth Ammon. Even Matt Coles can’t get quite the head of steam he’s been getting regularly this season. This partnership for the third wicket between Alex Wakely and Rob Koegh has moved on to 35 after the unfortunate run out of Ben Duckett with the score on 63. They’re just milking around at the moment and will be looking to have a decent lead of 70/80 by close. The Kent side are very very quiet out there and their heads are down. I feel a bit for them
We’re taking tea here and Middlesex are 184 for five. It would be extremely tranquil if it wasn’t for the main road running alongside the ground. Uxbridge has that nice outground hubbub backed by the zipping whirr of busy traffic, which rather ruins it. Anyway, Middlesex lost just Joe Burns that session and James Franklin has played really well for his 76. He’s looked as breezy and long-limbed as ever, planting a lengthy leg down the track to the spinners and playing late to the seamers in an attempt to negate the pitch’s stickiness. He’s found a doughty partner in John Simpson, and they’ve shared 82.
Moeen has just bowled the last over before the break (his first maiden), just as he did before lunch. He bowled five others this session, and has looked OK, without truly threatening. Ajmal bowled since and has been no better, so I hope Moeen gets more of a run after tea. Feel like I might be saying that every time Worcestershire are in the field over the next few days.
Northants’ reply to Kent’s miserly 140 all out is going steadily, reports Elizabeth Ammon. Rob Newton went early doors for 14 but a 40-run partnership has brewed between Ben Duckettt and captain and new dad Alex Wakely, who are both looking confident. Duckett in particular looks much better against the red ball than he did in the last match against Essex and will have been buoyed by a couple of really impressive innings in the T20 blast.
Things are looking a bit flat for Kent at the moment, Northeast is rotating his bowlers but there is not a great deal happening for them. Not even for Matt Coles steaming in from the Pavilion end.
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So, that Moeen Ali. I said he wouldn’t bowl much, and he came on the next over. But the truth is that he hasn’t looked that threatening, although it’s early days. James Franklin has got into his stride, pushing Mo down the ground for four and a couple more boundaries through the offside, while John Simpson survived an appeal for leg before to slap him through the offside as well. The Middlesex men are running well between the wickets and mmm, that’s nice, Franklin’s just punched Morris down the ground off the back forr to go to 45. Sorry, I got a little bit trail-of-thought-y there. It was a very handsome stroke and it takes Middlesex to 143 for five.
So there was a bit of fun before Kent were all out for 140, reports Elizabeth Ammon. Matt Coles was playing a huge shot every ball although not actually making much contact with any of them. At one point everyone bar a slip was out on the boundary and then everyone was brought in to try and prevent him taking the strike for the next over. Coles, though, played a very canny little cut off the final ball of the over but then promptly got out going for a huge mow and edging behind. So Kent lost their last six for 47 runs in the space of 10 overs and 2 balls.
Northants have already lost a wicket as Coles has had Rob Newton trapped on his crease, striking him on the back pad. He’s gone for 14 and Northants are 14 for 1.
Half past two and we’ve had 11 wickets. Fun fun fun
There’s the big one. Burns is gone to a brilliant catch from Tom Fell at third slip, diving to his right and plucking it low one-handed. Hurricane Shantry was the bowler. Burns made 57 and had played very well indeed. Middlesex are 103 for five and need skipper Franklin to knuckle down. Doubt Moeen’s going to get much of a bowl, which is annoying. Shantry has three and is bowling nicely - amazing how often he makes the batsman play.
On another note, Worcestershire keeper Ben Cox has made some blinding takes down the legside. I’ll confess to not having seen a great deal of him live, but James Foster – a man who knows – reckons he’s the best young keeper around. He showed some bottle with the bat at Old Trafford the other night, too.
Sandwiches for lunch at Uxbridge, not nearly as luxurious as Lizzy’s roast beef.
I can’t really update fast enough, writes Elizabeth Ammon. Claydon went for a drive and missed it and has lost his off stump giving Azharullah a five-fer. Matt Coles is playing a huge shot every ball, he hasn’t actually connected with any of them yet but when he does it will go a long way. He doesn’t have much faith in his No11 Ivan Thomas though and is turning down singles.
Ooo-er, reckons Elizabeth Ammon. Kent are making a right old Horlicks of this. Azhar and Kleinveldt now have four each. Adam Ball just lost his off stump to Azharullah just playing a non descript push, missing it and heading back to the pavilion for 5.
Mitchell Claydon and Matt Coles are at the crease now though – so this could be either fireworks or the innings could be over very quickly.
So it was a disastrous morning for Kent losing six wickets, writes Elizabeth Ammon. They went from 93 for two to 97 for six in three overs. It has to be said it’s really nothing to do with the pitch though. The 69 run partnership between Key and Northeast showed that there are runs to be had with a bit of application and at times it even looked fairly easy.
It’s the two opening bowlers Azharullah and Kleinveldt who have done the damage getting three wickets each. Azharullah has bowled with consistent accuracy and Kleinveldt getting a good bit of bounce and movement.
Tredwell went final ball before lunch losing his middle stump to Azharullah much in the way that Rob Key had. So Kent are in a pickle but it’s one much of their own making. They’ve just lost their seventh wicket as Ryan Davies was hit in front playing all round his pads for 12 off Kleinveldt who now has 4 for 36. Kent 122/7 and this game is shifting on.
We had roast beef and roast potatoes for lunch in case you’re interested.
Joe Burns has 50, and a mighty fine one too, from 84 balls. Middlesex had only scored 37 other runs when he reached the milestone. Burns has been resolute and patient in defence, and thrown in a few lovely flourishes too. He’s cut late to the spinners (who are off now) and played back well to the seamers.
Regarding the pitch, I reckon the ball has held up a couple of times (such as when Gubbins lofted Shantry to mid-on), and upon my official lunchtime inspection, I discovered that there are some footmarks emerging already, outside off and leg. Batting against an attack of Worcestershire’s pace (or lack thereof - no disrespects lads), with the ball holding up even more might be tricky. The outfield is a bit bumpy as well, we’ve had a few threes already and I’d expect a couple more. It’s 92 for four.
That’s lunch. I don’t know about you guys BTL, but ATL that felt like the longest session of the season. No idea why, but it dragged a bit. Anyway, Middlesex are 78 for four at the break. Joe Burns has played really excellently, and dines on 43, while Franklin has dead batted for four.
I’ve been on Saeed Ajmal-watch. He bowled four overs to Moeen Ali’s one – the last before the break. I don’t really get that, to be honest. Ajmal is bowling quickly, definitely quicker than before, and didn’t threaten once (nor did Mo for that matter). Would be great to see the England man get a long bowl after the break as this is his last Champo game before he goes on the England lads holiday to Spain.
It seems, and no one is more surprised about this than me, that my reading of the pitch was fairly accurate, reports Elizabeth Ammon. It’s playing absolutely fine despite its colour. The partnership between the club captain Rob Key and match captain Sam Northeast was worth 69 but the latter has just gone playing a loose shot edging behind. He’ll be really annoyed because he was looking in really good touch particularly clipping anything off his legs.
Darren Stevens has just gone first ball LBW to Kleinveldt, looked to me as though he got a long way forward and it was outside off stump but it may have nipped back in a bit. So Kent in a bit of bother at 93/4, it’s nibbling a bit but nothing brutal.
Remember when I said this morning that this was a road? Oh how silly I was! Stirling – who has been in quite phenomenal form for the 2s, Ireland and in the T20s of late - comes in in Gubbins stead and creams one through the off-side. But the Hurricane Shantry’s at it again! He has him pinned LBW (looked good, although the Middlesex fan I was stood next to didn’t think so) and James Franklin is in before half 12. Shantry doesn’t look dangerous but he sure is. For those of you who don’t know, his nickname is the Hurricane because a Hurricane is officially wind above 74mph. And he is that, just. Whadda bowler. Burns just flicked beautifully to leg for four then followed it up with a lovely late cut. 59 for two.
Oh, Nick. Gubbins had looked really good after a few weeks out of the side. He’d weathered a bit of a storm in tricky conditions, defending astutely and pushing it around for runs when possible. But now he’s just lofted the Hurricane Shantry to mid-on. Beaten by lack of pace, I reckon. It’s pretty soft and he knows it – it’s a head to the sky moment as he walks off for 21. It’s 47 for three and Joe Burns is doing alright at the other end. He has 21 and is batting very patiently for a man whose initial instinct is always to attack. Not a great toss to win, for mine.
The pitch here seems to be playing better than its greenness would suggest although Kent have lost two wickets, writes Elizabeth Ammon. There’s definitely movement and the bat is being beaten regularly.
Daniel Bell-Drummond was forced into playing a shot to a steep rising delivery from Kleinveldt which just got big on him at the last moment getting the shoulder of the bat into the gloves of Adam Rossington.
Azharullah has been right on the money this morning four of his first five overs have been maidens and he’s got a well deserved wicket. Joe Denly lost patience and drove a good length ball into the hands of Newton at point. So Kent are 24/2. The pitch seems to have good pace and carry and a bit of nip in it but nothing too alarming, it’s not seaming or spitting all over the place.
Both sides really could do with the 16 points from a win so neither will really mind that this looks like it might well be a result pitch.
Away from Wantage Road, I see Essex’s Nick Browne has started well again. He’s a lovely looking batsman to watch, I guess that’s a left hander thing, they do tend to look more elegant. Gower-esque if you will.
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So the first half an hour saw another wicket, and a rather contentious one it was too. Joe Leach bowled (sorry Joe) a slowish, leg stump half volley which Compton flicked to Richard Oliver at midwicket. Oliver took a catch low down but Compton didn’t think it had been taken cleanly. Who knows, eh? Worcestershire were convinced and the umps sent him on his way. It was five for two then and it’s 21 for two now. Leach just had an appeal for caught behind against Joe Burns turned down, as it hit his hip, not his bat. Nick Gubbins, who has been unlucky to be out of the side of late, has looked rather good. My take on the pitch (a little bit of green, actually) is that it’ll be a tough morning today but will get easier as it wears on.
Very good morning from Wantage Road, writes Elizabeth Ammon. Those of you who were reading this blog yesterday will know that nothing happened. Nothing at all except the toss which Northamptonshire won and unsurprisingly decided to bowl given the very green colour of the wicket.
Both sides only have one win to their name and Kent are propping up the other 17 sides. Ryan Davies is in for Sam Billlings in just his second first-class match, James Tredwell is in the side and Sam Northeast captains although the club captain Rob Key is playing. Northamptonshire have Adam Rossington back behind the sticks after his injury; Ben Duckett stays in the side but just as a batsman.
We’ve had two overs and even though the pitch is very green it doesn’t seem to have demons in it. Daniel Bell-Drummond, who’s been in lovely touch in the T20, has played a couple of glorious drives off Kleinveldt
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Well, well, well. Before any of you have had a chance to comment, Middlesex are one down! The highly-rated Charlie Morris gets one to nip away from Sam Robson, who was trying to play defensively to leg, and has him caught at third slip by Tom Fell! First ball of the day and perhaps even a touch before 11am. Morris then beats Compton with his first ball and Gubbins pushes the last ball of the over to leg for two. The Uxbridge Road? What road?
Morning all and welcome to another round of Championship action. It, well, sort of started yesterday as Kent and Northamptonshire watched it rain on Wantage Road. Lizzy Ammon was there and, in lieu of any play, spent her time putting together this very useful preview to the round. She’ll be there again hoping to actually see some cricket.
I’ve hotfooted it over to Uxbridge, where Worcestershire are playing Middlesex, who’ve won the toss and will have a bat. I’ve never been here before. Fair to say it’s one of the prosaic outgrounds and the pitch is set to be a bit flat (a bit means very). We’re on Moeen Ali-watch ahead of the Ashes, of course. Saeed Ajmal is here too and so, more importantly, is the “Hurricane” Jack Shantry. Middlesex haven’t won here since 1991, which is a blooming long time.
In Division Two, Surrey and their new overseas player Dean Elgar are at Derby and Gloucestershire are playing Essex at Bristol. Table-toppers Lancashire have a week off, as do the top three sides in Division One, Durham, Warwickshire and Yorkshire. Two sides in need of points, Somerset and Hampshire, are going head-to-head at Southampton.
Enjoy the cricket, Lizzy and I are both looking forward to hearing from you all!
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