So that’s it from Hove. Peter Trego brought up his century with an aggressive pull for four and then everyone shook hands with both sides relatively pleased with the outcome given the pitch and the weather.
And then I started crying as the Somerset players formed a guard of honour for Mike Yardy who walked off the field here at Hove for the last time ever and with his children in his arms.
This was a match for the romantics and a lovely for one for me to finish my season on this blog. Thanks to all of you for your company this year and without wishing to be too gushy, the Guardian below the liners remain some of the nicest most knowledgeable people on the internet.
Winter well comrades.
Graham Hardcastle writes from the Ageas Bowl
This is game right here, folks. And perhaps Hampshire’s season, too. They are drinking in the last chance saloon with Yorkshire at 215-3, needing only 89 runs more to win. James Vince has brought Fidel Edwards back into the attack to try and break the Andrew Gale and Jack Leaning partnership, with both batsmen chasing centuries.
Edwards has been impressive in this match. He has bowled with real vigour, and had Gale hopping around this morning upon his arrival at the crease. Gale has 92 and Leaning 76. They have shared 178 unbroken for the fourth wicket.
We have a bit of a potential situation on our hands here. Somerset are 26 runs away from the 400 they need to get maximum batting points and they are only 4 down. They have clearly asked the umpires if they are allowed to declare at 400 and thus deny Sussex the points.
This is what is known as an extraordinary declaration and the umpires have to consult with the ECB cricket department before making an indicative ruling on whether it is allowed and won’t bring the game into disrepute and all that. We don’t know what the outcome of the ruling is but there have been many discussions between Umpire Alex Wharf and skipper Ed Joyce during the last hour so my guess is it’s deemed allowed.
Interesting – not sure how I feel about it.
This is well worth your time...
Graham Hardcastle writes
Yorkshire are well on their way now. Andrew Gale and Jack Leaning have shared an unbroken 116 for the fourth wicket to advance the score to 153-3. The champions need another 151 to win, and these two have really started to show their intent in the last half an hour. They have both advanced down the track and punted Liam Dawson’s left-arm spin over of the top for four. Gale has 65 and Leaning 43.
To mix my sporting metaphors, we’ve had a couple of wickets against the run of play here. The partnership of 174 between Trescothick and Hidreth was finally broken by Chris Jordan who, with some food in his belly, has bowled very well since lunch. Hildreth didn’t look very impressed to be given out caught behind but the finger of Gould was raised. Allenby, who’s had a tricky season with the bat, was caught by Chris Nash again off Jordan. Allenby guilty again of pushing forward too hard and nicking off.
Trescothick has just passed 150 and both this innings and last week are him at his absolute best. Peter Trego is having to curtail a bit of his natural attacking instinct – Somerset need just 116 for maximum batting points off another 30 overs – very comfortable and no need to do anything daft and they don’t want to gift Sussex the bowling points.
Graham Hardcastle writes from the Ageas Bowl
It’s been a steady start to the afternoon for Yorkshire, who have advanced to 117-3 in their pursuit of 304. Andrew Gale and Jack Leaning have shared an unbroken 80 for the fourth wicket. They have navigated the majority of Fidel Edwards’ lively post lunch burst as Hampshire nerves build.
Graham Hardcastle at the Ageas Bowl
Just been handed a note in the press box with some spooky comparisons between this season and 2008 when Hampshire avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth.
Both campaigns saw Hampshire win one of the first eleven matches before, in 2008, beating Surrey, Durham, Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge as well as drawing with Somerset. This season, following the first eleven matches, they have beaten Warwickshire, Durham and drawn with Somerset. They are obviously playing Yorkshire today and travel to Trent Bridge to face Notts next week.
Yorkshire have reached lunch at 96-3 from 28 overs. Andrew Gale and Jack Leaning have shared an unbroken 59 for the fourth wicket, and they will resume on 34 and 23 respectively. They need another 208 runs to win.
Marcus Trescothick has just scored his second century in a week and it’s been pretty vintage Marcus. No wonder he’s signed another contract, there’s plenty of cricket
That’s his third century his season – his 58th first-class one. It’s hard to overstate what a wonderful servant to county cricket and to Somerset he’s been.
It’s been a good morning for Somerset – they’ve picked up their first batting point without losing a wicket. Hildreth has been the quieter of the partnership but looking solid. It has to be said it’s a good batting wicket and hard work for the bowlers. Susssex may well end up not getting these bowling points.
We’ve all got one eye on what’s going on in Southampton and I know it’s rather divided opinion but I can’t see the problem with trying to get a result.
Graham Hardcastle reports
Yorkshire have lost openers Alex Lees and Adam Lyth, and they are 18-2 in the eighth over. Lees was bowled by a Fidel Edwards delivery which kept low, with a hint of inside edge. Lyth was then run out superbly at the non-striker’s end by Jimmy Adams from mid-wicket. Andrew Gale and Gary Ballance are at the crease now as they pursue 304.
Well well well. Got to admire James Vince’s cajones – that’s a ballsy decision – one which might backfire. It has real implications for the two teams here at Hove although the Sussex team out in the field are focused solely on getting seven more wickets to get the bowling bonus points. If this match doesn’t finish in a draw, I am the queen of sheba on a night out in Soho.
If you get a chance have a read of the Sussex statement about the domestic schedule – they refer to an information vacuum – which it has been. It’s bonkers. Why is everything shrouded in secrecy. It’s cricket, not the nuclear weapons codes.
Graham Hardcastle writes from the Ageas Bowl
Right, here we go. A fabulous day in prospect. Yorkshire, having declared their first innings on 97-4, 303 runs behind, will now chase 304 in a minimum of 96 overs after Hampshire forfeited their second innings. The visitors are 4-0 after one.
Good morning. It’s the last day of cricket here at Hove for 2015 and it’s looking an absolute picture. It’s Michael Yardy’s last ever day at his home ground and it’s going to be a bit emotional if not for him for me at least.
It’s a battle for the bonus points here today and a bit of an eye on what’s happening at Graham Hardcastle’s match in Southampton.
Morning all,
Today we are back with Lizzy Ammon in Hove for Sussex v Somerset and Graham Hardcastle at the Ageas Bowl for Hampshire v Yorkshire. Let’s hope the weather holds up today. Here’s Graham Harcastle’s scenesetter for the day:
Shock horror, it’s dry and bright at the Ageas Bowl, where we are all set for day four between Hampshire and Yorkshire. Inclement weather has been the driving force in this match so far, preventing Hampshire from pushing for an invaluable victory. We only had seven overs and four balls yesterday and decent chunks of play went missing in the first two days as well.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if we see a contrived run chase at some point today. Both camps have far from ruled out the prospect, although Hampshire have to think very carefully. Dale Benkenstein sounded a cautious note yesterday when he said they want to take their fight against relegation into the last week. Defeat here would pretty much be curtains. Yorkshire have nothing to lose, and are led by two attackers in Jason Gillespie and Andrew Gale. As things stand, they are 97-4 in reply to Hampshire’s first-innings 400-9 declared, a deficit of 303.
At Hove, Lizzy Ammon is watching the other match with relegation interest, where Sussex are hosting Somerset, who are 114-2 in reply to 409. It also promises to be an emotional day for Sussex Cricket with Mike Yardy involved in his last day of home cricket for the county before he goes off to complete his studies in Psychology.
According to Notts director of cricket Mick Newell, there won’t be a contrivance at Edgbaston, where his side are 254-5 in their first innings against Warwickshire. Bottom side Worcestershire are chasing a win against Durham at Chester-le-Street. They lead by 115 runs with all ten second-innings wickets in tact.
In Division Two, Surrey will be champions if they bowl second-placed Lancashire out on day four at Old Trafford. Chasing 492, Lancashire are 22-0. A draw would mean an eight-point gap between the two counties going into next week’s final round.
Enjoy the cricket
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