Right, big wicket. Machan had seemed to be edging wide of the cordon a bit but this time he feathers a quick one from Hastings to keeper Richardson. Ed Joyce in, needing the innings of his life...
97-2, 19 overs in the day.
Yardy was caught behind for 28 off Coughlin but Sussex are steady enough on 77 for one, with 21 overs remaining in the day, and 117 in the match. Lots of big asks kicking about. Yardy is a candidate for so many modes of dismissals these days, what with his Shivesque amble across the crease. Caught behind to the one angled across him is one of those modes and so it was this time. Bit of nibble off the pitch, and edged. That’s two consecutive wickets from the Park End! Only 5 of 31 in the match from there.
It’s tea and Sussex have started rather nicely. Wells and Yardy have moved past 50 – just Sussex’s second half-century opening stand of the season (55 is the highest). They take a cuppa at 51-0 off 11. Wells has offered a pair of chances. On 13, he appeared to have edged to the keeper while trying to get his bat out of the way of Rushworth (Durham certainly thought so, even if the umpire didn’t) and on 19, he edged offie Pringle past Borthwick at second slip. It hasn’t been terribly fluent but they’ve scored quickly. After a horrible half-day in the field, this was just the steadying Sussex required.
After further Hasto brutality, Rushworth got in on the act briefly before heaving to the legside and finding Luke Wells off Linley. From there, Hastings and Onions knocked it about, grinding Sussex into the dirt (no dirt here actually, just very lush green grass). With the field managed quite well by Joyce, it was something of a surprise that Collingwood didn’t get them in, as Hastings wasn’t getting much strike and couldn’t get it away that easily either in search of his ton.
Then Linley switched to the Park End (the hittable one) with Hastings on 87 (unlucky for an Aussie, absurdly because it’s 13 shy of 100) and he greeted him with a mow for four, then two more mows straight to men on the fence, turning down singles. Then fourth ball he was bowled for 91 having a massive yahoo and Durham are all out for 413.
The sun is fully out for the first time today and the place is a picture once more. Durham’s decision to bat 50+ overs (and show that it may have flattened out in the process) has given Sussex a sniff (though hardly) of batting out four and a half sessions. Batting has looked easier today than at any other stage in the match and I reckon Borthwick’s on to something when he says once the ball is old and the batsmen are in, the going is pretty easy. One catch is that Durham have a much better attack and SUSSEX REQUIRE FIVE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN BLOOMING RUNS.
Records are there to be broken and all that - best of luck, lads. Forty-three overs today, I think. Could be done by the close the way Sussex have looked lately.
As I write to you, a couple of Sussex fielders are looking for the ball that John Hastings has just plopped into the long grass on the bank at cow corner in front of the pavilion. Took a couple of minutes, but they’ve found it now. That’s been the story since lunch, basically: Hastings bullying Luke Wells. There’s been a couple of lusty blows over cow and a couple more boundaries on both sides of the wicket. He’s got 46 from 40 and his half-century looks inevitable. He’ll overtake Coughlin – who hasn’t slouched – at some stage too, unless Collingwood declares. Wickets aren’t coming, so we’re literally waiting for Colly’s wave and filling the time by marveling at Hastings’ brutality.
Feels a bit wrong, a bloke with that name butchering Sussex like this.
Oh right, spoke too soon. Coughlin has nicked Magoffin off to Joyce for 64. That’s Magoffin’s five-fer. Poor bloke’s ploughed a bit of a lone furrow this innings, to be honest.
Some news from Taunton, where Somerset pulled off the second-highest County Championship run chase in their history to beat Nottinghamshire.
Somerset climb off bottom of table with win over Nottinghamshire
Peter Trego led the way with 79 as Somerset lifted themselves off the foot of the First Division table with an unlikely two-wicket win over Nottinghamshire at Taunton. The hosts reached their target of 401 just before lunch, despite Matt Carter completing match figures 10 for 195 on his first class debut.
Trego and Jim Allenby (62) extended their sixth-wicket stand to 116 after Somerset had begun the final day on 274 for five, needing a further 127. A cliffhanger developed, with Abdur Rehman finally clinching victory with three boundaries in four balls off Carter after Notts had claimed two more wickets. Somerset took 20 points to Nottinghamshire’s eight.
For the visitors it was defeat in a game they had controlled for the best part of three days, while Somerset could celebrate a remarkable fightback. The first job for Trego and Allenby, unbeaten on 26 and 32 respectively at the start of the day, was to see Somerset past the second new ball, which was due in five overs.
Trego began the morning with two boundaries in an over off Carter, while Allenby, on 33, survived a tough chance to Steven Mullaney at slip off Samit Patel. The new ball was taken at 290 for five and was greeted by Trego with two more fours in an over from Jake Ball before he moved to a 63-ball half-century, featuring 10 boundaries.
Allenby followed to the same landmark off 77 deliveries, with six fours and a six, before the stand was broken with the total on 359. The former Glamorgan player was judged lbw pushing well forward to Patel with 42 still needed. Tim Groenewald played and missed at his first delivery and Notts sensed their chance. Groenewald had scored only two when top-edging a sweep off Carter and being badly dropped by Ben Hilfenhaus, running in from fine leg. With 39 needed, it looked likely to prove an expensive miss.
Trego fell with the total on 365, remaining at the crease crestfallen after edging a drive off Carter to Mullaney at slip before dragging himself off the pitch. He had faced 110 balls and extended his boundary count to 13 with some sweetly timed shots. It was Carter’s 10th wicket of the match after seven for 56 in the first innings.
Still, Somerset required 36 as debutant Michael Bates joined Groenewald, who became the eighth man out when lbw playing across the line to Patel. Bates played sensibly to edge his side nearer the target in a classic game of Championship cricket and after taking a few balls to assess the pitch, Rehman applied the coup de grace. PA
A nice breakdown of Graham Wagg’s 200* for Glamorgan against Surrey:
ANALYSIS Graham Wagg's career-best 200 was punctuated by 11 sixes and 21 fours #CountyCricketLive #SurvGla pic.twitter.com/sUM57ZvOPn
— Glamorgan Cricket (@GlamCricket) June 17, 2015
Our old friend Andy Wilson has been in touch to see if any of you would like to fill out this National Cricket Playing Survey from the ECB:
“The ECB is calling on recreational cricketers to have their say and influence the future of the game at grassroots level in their third annual National Cricket Playing Survey. Last year more than 37,000 current and former players responded to the survey. This year they are keen to hear from an even wider range of views, from Premier League regulars to the occasional social cricketer, including players, spectator and volunteers. There are prizes on offer for completing the survey, including signed merchandise and pairs of tickets to Ashes Series and Royal London ODIs. You can find the survey here: www.ecb.co.uk/survey”
That’s lunch to end a torrid session for Sussex. Durham added 135 for the loss of centurion Muchall. The lead is 403. The new ball was taken a couple of overs before and the Duke gave it some, twice flicking Magoffin to the legside boundary and then nailing Linley handsomely back over his head for six. Those two partnerships – 118 and 116 – both with Muchall at the heart, have taken the game away from Sussex. Coughlin went to a fine 50 from 100 balls before the new ball was taken.
In short, I just can’t see Sussex chasing this and I reckon we probably won’t make it to the final day. It’s declaration watch time now. Durham’s bowlers are just too good and Sussex’s batters are spooked. They’ll have taken heart from Durham’s recovery from 13 for four but they’ll need to survive the new ball first.
And now he’s out. Super knock. He gave it a bit off heave-ho after going to his ton, with a spectacular inside-out drive off Wells, over the man at cover, and dissecting the two men in the deep. Outrageous. By the end of the over, he’s out LBW to Wells, who nabbed the tail from the Castle End in the first innings. That’s 24 wickets in 27 from that end in the match.
Three overs until the new ball, 20 minutes until lunch and the Duke John Hastings is out there to give it a whack. Should be fun.
Highlights from Arundel
WATCH: See highlights from Day Two of Sussex's @LV_Cricket match with @DurhamCricket at Arundel Castle https://t.co/4VWWo0WSqt #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) June 17, 2015
That’s a fantastic, fantastic century for Gordon Muchall, to go with his unbeaten 81 in the first dig. He’s been patient, watchful and severe on anything loose and goes there with a quick legside single off Wells. Came in 215 balls. It’s his first since May 2014 and is celebrated with a huge roar from the Durham lads. There are a fair few fans Durham fans here too. They’ll be delighted – the lead is 358.
Muchall has moved into the 90s and not a chance has been offered this morning. Coughlin is 42 as well. The partnership is worth 90 and the lead is 345. With Shahzad injured, too much is being asked of Magoffin and Linley. Durham will be far more powerful, you’d think. Scott Borthwick just poked his head in here and he reckons now is a great time to bat and that it’s “a new ball pitch”. Certainly a great time to bat against a two-man seam attack and some very apologetic spin. Just started a drinks break at 12.18. How odd.
We’ve had a quiet first 30 at Arundel, which is what Sussex really didn’t need. Muchall has moved serenely to 81, matching his first innings score, and Coughlin looks comfortable enough too. Both have unfurled lovely drives off Magoffin as Luke Wells has plugged away valiantly at the over end with his funky mix of spinners. The lead is more than 300 and Sussex are going to be chasing something horrible (although no demons in the pitch yet today). I imagine Rushworth might fancy a game of golf tomorrow so will be in a hurry to get it done.
In other news, Sussex have a sub fielder on called Jonty Jenner (he plays for Jersey), which is a marvellous name for a fielder. He’s on for Shahzad, who won’t bowl again, but Chris Nash is out there, having been pretty ill over the last few days. He batted seven yesterday before strength and conditioning coach Chris Lee took the field in his stead. It’s Jonty Jenner of Jersey today though.
Good morning and wishing a fine Wednesday to you all.
And there was one. Well, there are three games left, but due to early finishes in Worcester and Manchester, it’s just me left manning the blog as we bid farewell to Mike Selvey and Graham Hardcastle. As you’ll have no doubt heard, there were mighty fine wins for Warwickshire and Lancashire in those two games. Essex also took just three days to dispose of Derbyshire and move off the foot of the table in the process.
At Guildford, Surrey against Glamorgan is the only game that looks likely to make it to Thursday, after a manic day in which 439 wickets fell and 12 wickets were taken on Wednesday. Glamorgan trail by 83 and have two wickets in hand in the first innings. Shaping for a good finish. On the final day at Taunton, there could be a season-turning win in the offing for Somerset who’ve been listless at times this campaign. They’ve rallied brilliantly in the fourth innings and, with Allenby and Trego at the crease, need just 127 to win against Nottinghamshire. If those two go early on a track that’s not quite playing up to the Taunton stereotype, then those hometown hopes could evaporate very quickly.
So to Arundel, the glorious ground where I’m sat once more. Durham are right in the driving seat, 268 ahead, four in hand and on a tricky track that is only becoming trickier. We’ll be done today, you’d think. Durham will be hoping to bat until lunch, securing an unassailable lead, before unleashing Rushworth on Sussex’s spooked top order. There’s a spot on a length when bowling from the Castle End that just stays low. He was hitting it with precision yesterday and causing all manner of problems.
Enjoy that cricket, wherever you are!
Morning all,
Today we have Will Macpherson at Arundel for Sussex v Durham. Here are the reports from yesterday’s play:
Sussex v Durham
Durham take charge against Sussex
In recent years this sublime ground has been accused of producing pitches unconducive to sublime cricket. Arundel had become a square that would help batsmen and turn bowlers to toast. As the nagging, seaming stalwarts Chris Rushworth and Steve Magoffin can attest, that has not been the case this time. It is Rushworth’s six for 49 for Durham – his finest figures of a season in which he has taken 52 wickets – that leaves his side, ahead by 268, close to a sixth win of the season and a further strengthening of their position atop Division One.
Lancashire v Leicestershire
Ashwell Prince and Kyle Jarvis finish off Leicestershire
This time next year, Ashwell Prince could be sat at home in South Africa with his feet up as a retired man. It does not bear thinking about for Lancashire supporters, who have been treated to a particularly prolific two years of run making. On Tuesday he scored his fourth County Championship hundred of 2015 and is now on the verge of becoming the first man in this summer’s competition to pass 1,000 runs.
Enjoy the cricket
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