Will Macpherson checks in for the final time today
That’s stumps, and what a day. To end it, James Vince has played a different game to everybody else. He’s got his first Champo 50 of the season, to go with his first wicket of the season and a couple of marvelous catches, too. Nightwatchman Danny Briggs joined him to see Hampshire to 116-4 – 135 in arrears at stumps – after Will Smith was trapped lbw by Ollie Robinson. Vince has been beautiful, especially through the offside, cutting and driving. See you all tomorrow, I hope it’s as good as this has been.
More from Richard Gibson at Leeds
The game is rattling along here, although not quite at the pace it is at Canterbury where Derbyshire are 37-6 (Wes Durston dismissed after contributing 35 of them). Gary Ballance’s misery has continued and Andrew Gale has also gone. Yorkshire are 73-4 with half a dozen overs of the opening day’s allocation remaining.
Will Macpherson has more drama at Hove
This game won’t calm down. As Sussex did, Hampshire are bouncing along at more than four an over. As Sussex did, Hampshire are losing wickets. After Adams’ misfortune, Sean Terry was dropped on 20 at second slip by Mike Yardy, then caught on 30 at third slip by Chris Nash. Michael Carberry stuck a brutal pull onto the balcony next to the scorebox, but Steve Magoffin has just got him to fend at a beauty angled across him and Ben Brown did the rest. That’s nine catches behind the wicket today. James Vince has moved serenely to 29 off 27 and is looking marvelous. Hampshire are 88 for three.
Lizzy Ammon has news of an Essex collapse
Well blooming ‘eck. Essex have lost their last six wickets for just 39 runs and it’s Rob Keogh who is the hero of the day taking a career best three for 35 and entirely changing the complexion of the day. It was a hugely impressive spell in which he wasn’t afraid to give the ball flight and subsequently got dip and turn and bounce getting the wickets of Ten Doeschate, Malik and Napier. Rory Kleinveldt wrapped up the last two wickets in quick succession and that is quite some capitulation from Essex having won the toss on a batsman’s day.
Northants have a tricky 12 overs to face this evening.
Here's the latest from Richard Gibson
Ball continues to dominate at Headingley, where Toby Roland-Jones and Tim Murtagh have a wicket apiece and Yorkshire are 34-2. Two smart slip catches from Ollie Rayner accounted for Adam Lyth and Alex Lees in the space of three deliveries.
Hampshire are in bat, Will Macpherson has the latest
Jimmy Adams is a very unfortunate man. Hampshire had made a steady enough start in their reply to Sussex’s 251, before Sean Terry drove Steve Magoffin down the ground. The big Australian got a palm on it to deflect the ball on to the stumps at the non-strikers – two of which were sent flying – and Adams gave himself out backing up. A very slow trudge from the field followed. It’s 31 for one.
Richard Gibson has a teatime update from Headingley
Tea in Leeds, where Jack Brooks has taken his second five-wicket haul of the County Championship season. Brooks, who snared 68 victims in Yorkshire’s Championship-winning season 12 months ago, finished with 5-44 after James Harris picked out Gary Ballance at long leg to finish off Middlesex’s innings for 212. After winning the toss in good batting conditions, Middlesex will be disappointed with that tally even though there has been a bit of nip off the surface.
Lizzy Ammon has more from Northants v Essex
The runs are accumulating steadily here at Wantage Road with Jesse Ryder playing an atypical innings in which he’s combining real patience, delicate glances and lusty blows. He’s moved on to 82 and Essex have now edged in front with Ten Doeschate looking solid. The partnership is now worth 82 and with the ball being 67 overs old and the pitch flat as you like it’s really hard work for Northants. Fair play to them though, they’re battling away. They don’t have many options in the way of spin – some leg spin from Josh Cobb and some gently off spin from Rob Keogh – but the four man seam attack are sticking to their task in testing circumstances.
These two are looking very settled though. Northants will be hoping that the new ball does something or it’s going to be a tough evening session.
Here's Will Macpherson at Hove
Another shuffle on since we last spoke. It’s tea, and Sussex are all out for 251. Ollie Robinson became Gareth Berg’s fourth victim, caught at slip by Sean Ervine. Ben Brown never settled and had a wild flay at Fidel Edwards – who is bowling genuine heat, even up the hill – and also found Ervine’s mitts. I’m not sure Brown really saw it, to be honest. Then my man Fynn H-P, who’d looked rather like a batsman when nudging a couple to beat fine leg, fell very tamely, trying to carve Jackson Bird to leg, finding the splice and, as a result, Berg at mid-on. Finally, after the last pair took Sussex past 250, Steve Magoffin was caught at second slip by Vince off Bird.
Considering they were 87-4 and the state of the pitch, which has been lively for a first day deck with a bit of variable bounce, Sussex might not be too unhappy. But then again, they lost their last six wickets for 49. And six catches – three each for Ervine and Vince - were taken in the slip and one at gully. I reckon we might have another Hove three-dayer on our hands. This is a massive opportunity for foot-of-the-table Hampshire, to be honest.
Richard Gibson has an update from Headingley
Yorkshire have flexed their muscles after lunch and taken control of the Clash of the Undefeateds at Headingley. Extra bounce from Steven Patterson did for Dawid Malan six balls into the session, then a similar delivery saw Jack Brooks take Neil Dexter’s edge.
And the decision to select the Australian Glenn Maxwell as the frontline spinner in place of the England-bound Adil Rashid was vindicated with a spell of three wickets in as many overs to leave Middlesex, the Division One leaders, 147-7. James Franklin was snapped up off the inside edge to short leg, John Simpson pinned leg before two balls later, and Ollie Rayner’s charmed life (he hit five fours in seven balls, and was dropped and almost bowled from the other two) came to its end when a delivery snaked through his legs. But Middlesex do have Nick Compton at the crease, unbeaten on 60.
Will Macpherson reports from Hove
Wowzers, that changes things. A fine stand of 115 between Chris Nash and Luke Wright has been ended in very unlikely fashion. James Vince was brought into the attack, which tells you plenty about the way things were going for Hampshire. Wright deposited him in front of square on the legside for six, before Nash tried to repeat the dose to a long hop off the last ball of the over. Very careless.
But then, very next ball, Danny Briggs got one to spit at Wright, it took the glove and Sean Ervine pouched it at first slip. Certainly something in the pitch. Anyway, two men on 0, plenty around the bat and Sussex are 202 for six. It was a marvelous counter-punching partnership which came at a decent lick. Those two wickets have rather changed the day’s complexion, mind. Debutant allrounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice in next, which I’m excited about. What a name.
Lizzy Ammon has the latest on a decent day for Northants
Given that they lost the toss and the conditions are not bowling friendly, Northants will be pretty pleased with the way things are going.
Nick Browne, who had played so fluently, this morning fell just after lunch edging behind off Rory Kleinveldt. It was a decent outswinging delivery which just subtly moved away inducing the shot. They have also just lost the wicket of Ravi Bopara who had been playing very much within himself to get himself in but he’s gone to edging to Wakely at second slip off Azharullah
Northamptonshire have stuck well to their task and when they get the right length there’s a little bit of swing which both Steven Crook and Azharulllah are exploiting well.
Bit of a tricky period here for the visitors, in these conditions they’ll be surely expecting 350 plus and be batting all day and beyond.
Will Macpherson is still enjoying himself at Hove
Another highly entertaining half-hour since lunch. Wright and Nash, whose previous high score this season was 24, are not hanging about. They came together at a perilous 87-4 but have counter-attacked brilliantly. They’ve added 50 since the break and 72 in the last 10 overs, with both men dominant through off, and with Bird in particular taking a pasting for anything – there was quite a lot of it – back of a length. Excellent batting but the bowling really has been pretty shoddy.
Richard Gibson reports from Leeds
Division One leaders Middlesex, the last team to beat Yorkshire in the County Championship, have negotiated the first session at Headingley for a score of 83-2. Both wickets were claimed by Jack Brooks, the second in his first over after a switch to the Kirkstall Lane end when he nipped one back through Sam Robson’s defence.
Patience has been the key to Nick Compton’s unbeaten 25 – he went run-less for three quarters of an hour before Will Rhodes gifted him a long hop that was swivelled behind square for four. It has also been the modus operandi of the home attack, although they may feel it has not been rewarded commensurately with their efforts. Tim Bresnan was particularly impressive after switching to the Rugby Stand end but remained wicketless.
Will Macpherson is off for lunch at Hove too
That there is luncheon as the umpires bring an end to quite a session. Sussex have decided to combat the lively track by attacking; they’ve lost four wickets in the process. Berg and Bird bowled impressively in tandem to snare those, but Chris Nash and Luke Wright have steadied the ship before the break. Nash has counter-attacked with some fine back-foot stuff through the offside, while Wright hopped down the track to deposit Danny Briggs over mid-on for four. It’s 125 for four.
Lizzy Ammon's tummy is rumbling
Lunchtime and my stomach is making some very peculiar noises. Tom Westley was run out with the score on 90 by an inspired bit of work from Steven Crook at mid-off. The ball was struck firmly to his right; he swooped in and in one movement threw the ball and hit all three stumps at the non-strikers end leaving Westley a long way from his ground. Nick Browne still going very well on 57 and Ravi Bopara has made a shaky start playing and missing a couple of times. It’s going to be a long day in the field for Northants though you’d expect. A good morning for the visitors in friendly conditions.
It's all happening in Hove, writes Will Macpherson
Yet more movement. 88-2 when we last spoke and in the intervening 15 minutes, that’s become 88-4, with the two set batsmen removed, both by Gareth Berg, who is bowling nicely. Mike Yardy flashed between second slip and gully, then very next ball had another big swing and found Will Smith at gully with unerring accuracy. He didn’t need to move. In Berg’s next over, Joyce had a swing, found an edge and was caught magnificently by Vince, diving to his right at second slip. Nash and Wright in, and searching for form. Won’t be easy.
Lizzy Ammon has more on Essex
Essex going very well here in the sunshine at Wantage Road. The pitch isn’t offering very much to the Northants bowlers. Jake Mickleburgh the only wicket to fall so far this morning. He played not shot to a ball that kept low and it was an easy decision for Umpire Benson to make. He went for 8 and had looked pretty shaky in comparison to his opening partner Nick Browne who has looked superb playing a succession of glorious flowing drives.
Essex have moved pretty easily on to 80 for one but Olly Stone and Steven Crook have now found the right length to bowl and have tested both batsmen. You need to pitch it right up on this pitch because anything back of a length is sitting up nicely to be carved away.
Will Macpherson has the latest from the south coast
More fun at Hove, the game is ticking along. Shortly after my last dispatch, Gareth Berg had Wells caught by James Vince at 2nd slip. Matt Machan played some shots before being trapped on the crease by Bird, who swapped to the Sea End and has bowled much better. Ed Joyce, typically, clipped through the leg side beautifully off his first ball.
There have been two huge LBW shouts, Berg v Yardy and Bird v Joyce, in the last two overs. Both looked good, but the umps were having none of it. Pitch looks a little more placid than it has in recent weeks, although the occasional one is still staying low or getting up. It’s 82-2 and the sun is back. Lovely job.
Richard Gibson reports from Headingley
Morning all. Glad to be back after a month’s absence, due to other business. Here at Headingley, the two remaining unbeaten teams in Division One are on view and it has been a good contest between the two recent England discards Sam Robson and Nick Compton and the home attack.
Leaders Middlesex won the toss and lost their Australian import Joe Burns to Jack Brooks early on but that has been the only casualty in the opening three quarters of an hour. Incidentally, champions Yorkshire were forced into a late switch after Ryan Sidebottom, who was due to return from a calf injury, felt a twinge in the warm-ups. He was replaced in the hosts’ XI by the all-rounder Will Rhodes.
Meanwhile, if you haven’t seen Chris Jordan’s remarkable return catch for Sussex against Nottinghamshire - and more than 800,000 people have according to the ECB’s Vine page - then here it is:
The latest from Will Macpherson at Hove
Decent first 30 at Hove. Sun had its hat on but has drifted away slightly, although we have a fine crowd and it should be an excellent day. Hampshire’s seam attack, without Tomlinson, hasn’t got a single England-qualified seamer in it. Not sure how I feel about that. Bird and Edwards have opened up. Edwards has ben digging it in with a short leg to Luke Wells, who has hooked lots. He’s not going to muck about, which is fun. At the other end, the flamboyant (not always going to say that) Mike Yardy slapped Bird for three boundaries in his last over. Sussex are 47-0 which goes straight into the “flying start” category, on a track that has been famously grim to bat on of late.
Lizzy Ammon reports from Wantage Road
Good morning from a glorious sun basked Wantage Road where Essex who are planted firmly at the bottom of division two are taking on the home side Northamptonshire are fifth. Both sides only have one win this season but Essex have lost three and Northants just the one.
The Essex side does not have Cook in it – other England players have joined up with their counties but the England skipper is having a week off. Northants are without Rossington who’s injured and David Willey who’s joined up with England at Edgbaston.
The Northants skipper Alex Wakely’s wife is due to give birth but he’s playing – it’s unclear if he’ll rush off if she goes into labour. Essex have won the toss and are batting with Nick Browne and Jake Mickleburgh opening up
Will Macpherson sets the scene
Morning all from sunny, sunny Hove. It’s truly glorious down here. Perfect way to start a new round of Championship action which, if forecasts are to be believed, should be somewhat less rain-affected than recent ones. There have been some interesting selections around the grounds.
We’ve got three games covered:. I’m taking in the south-coast derby between Sussex and Hampshire, where James Tomlinson has been left out by the visitors. Overseas player Jackson Bird is in, as is Danny Briggs and opener Sean Terry. Brad Wheal and Liam Dawson make way for them. For Sussex, the marvelously monikered Fynn Hudson-Prentice makes his debut and Ed Joyce is back from his double-tonning exploits with Ireland. Hudson-Prentice is 19, bowls medium-fast and is down to bat 10. Sussex will have a bat first after winning the toss on a track that has earned a reputation for being very dodgy of late.
Lizzy Ammon is at Wantage Road for Northants’ game against Essex, who are in all sorts of trouble, while Richard Gibson is at Headingley for the table-toppers Middlesex’s visit to the Champions Yorkshire. Ballance and Lyth are back, but a few England internationals are away – Finn, Root, Morgan and the like are with the ODI side. For Middlesex, Dawid Malan and Tim Murtagh are back, while Ryan Sidebottom is left out.
Elsewhere, Durham face Somerset, Lancashire are down at Bristol to face Gloucestershire – Glenn Chapple is in and Simon Kerrigan out for the Lankys, Surrey are at Grace Road to play the unbeaten-in-one Foxes, while Derbyshire are paying Kent a visit.
We’re minutes away from getting started and, as ever, can’t wait to hear from you.
