Richard Gibson reports
The partnership between teenager Sam Hain and Tim Ambrose was worth 98 when a stupendously good catch by Keaton Jennings at an unconventionally deep short leg accounted for the former for an impressive 57. Four balls later and Ambrose had gone too, adjudged lbw to Paul Collingwood. The ball struck Ambrose on the thigh but he is a short man and was on the stoop, so umpire David Millns agreed with Colly that it would have hit the stumps. Then, in gloomy light, Rikki Clarke had the top of his pad clipped by a jagger from Chris Rushworth. It was the sixth lbw of the innings. Warwickshire are 163-7.
And there you have it. Play has been abandoned for the day. I think there’s some rush-hour beating happening. Seriously, though, think it’s the light as much as the rain (well it’s not raining so it must be), that has screwed us here. I also suspect any chance of a result has been killed by this, too. What a shame.
Right, I think cricket is being a bit silly now. Rain has stopped, umpires are in the middle and the players are wearing whites. It’s spitting, very lightly. I understand Middlesex (understandably) are especially keen to get out there. Word is, if things don’t improve by 5, the day will be knocked on the head. I’m really frustrated. Still, it’s better than Uxbridge.
Richard Gibson reports from Durham v Warwickshire
Counter-attacking is what Tim Ambrose was built for, and Warwickshire’s middle-order nugget has been at it again here, inspiring a spell of 65 runs in a dozen overs after walking to the crease at 40-4. Ian Westwood was the fourth batsman to fall, immediately before a rain break, leg before to Australian John Hastings.
As an aside, I am trying to recall the last set of brothers to share the new ball in a County Championship match as Tom and Sam Curran have at the Oval today. Before anyone pipes up, the Overtons have not done this down at Somerset.
Stand down. Players warmed up, mizzle back in. Covers back on. Love it.
Gary Naylor has been busy this morning...
Optimism! Rain stopped, tea at 3.10, inspection 3.20, with a view to play 3.40. Slight catch is that Robson, Rayner, Burns and Compton currently aren’t here (saw them nip off in the car half an hour ago) but no doubt they’ll be rushing back. Cross your fingers! Touch some wood!
Richard Gibson reports
Seems we have had what you might call a reverse forecast here at Chester-le-Street. It was supposed to rain this morning, stop and dry out this pm. However, it didn’t rain as much as anticipated, leading to a noon start. Now, after losing 18 overs, there is more wet stuff. Warwickshire are 40-3 after negotiating a further 7.4 overs.
That inspection? Yeah, never happened. Rain’s back, so no cricket for now. However, rather brilliantly, Nick Compton, Peter Trego and Marcus Trescothick are now playing golf out the back by the car park. It’s a rather nice school, so they have some practice chipping greens. Must be a real possibility of no cricket at all now. Sorry.
A bit of news for you, although it’s not that exciting, yet. Rain has stopped, covers are slowly being peeled off, and we’ll have an inspection at 1.40, perhaps with a view to a 2pm start. Although there’s another band of rain set to come at some stage….
In other news, the press have been brilliantly looked after here, which is nice. Another cracking lunch just then.
Richard Gibson reports from Durham v Warwickshire
There’s a serious Rush on up here. Only 26 deliveries were possible until the rain returned and in that time Warwickshire have been reduced to 20-3. Chris Rushworth’s first lbw looked contentious on height, in contrast to the dead-eye dismissals of Jonathan Webb and Laurie Evans. Rushworth was only denied a hat-trick of leg befores, in fact, when Sam Hain got his bat down on another delivery that jagged back and glanced the ball for four.
Richard Gibson sends another report
Chris Rushworth has just struck with his second ball after we began here at noon, having Varun Chopra lbw offering no shot. Chopra trudged off disconsolate, replicating the aggrieved reaction on dismissal of his counterpart Paul Collingwood yesterday. New timings here due to the heavy morning rain. Lunch will be taken at 1.15pm with only eight overs lost. No addition to overnight total.
Here’s our weekly county cricket roundup, courtesy of Gary Naylor
So no luck on that inspection, covers came off but mizzle meant still no dice. And now it’s started to actually rain, so an early lunch has been declared for 12.30. Very frustrating for Middlesex, who would really have fancied their chances of forcing a win. News when I have it…
Well good morning everyone. It’s very murky here at Merchant Taylor’s and we’ve got a delayed start. Covers on and inspection at 11.15. It’s doing that wouldn’t-start-in-it-but-would-stay-on-it thing and I suspect we’ll do well to be on before around 11.45. Apparently there’s a band of rain on its way, which would put paid to hopes of this morning.
Steven Finn bowled really well yesterday, like really well. Having seen a replay, I don’t think I did justice to the delivery that dismissed James Hildreth. It’s at about 1.25 in this highlights package. Feast yer eyes on that.
Richard Gibson sets up the day
This week represents opportunities for those closest to runaway County Championship leaders Yorkshire to close the gap at the top of Division One and Middlesex and Durham - who began the round in second and third positions respectively - will be heartened by their work so far.
Last week Middlesex captain James Franklin confessed that although the task would be stiff - his team opened their match against Somerset 24 points in arrears at the top having played an extra match - a bounty of 120 points at the back end of the season by any title rival would alter the complexion of the table. At the midpoint at Northwood, Middlesex are in a position to push for 21 of those. Somerset resume 98 runs behind with only two first-innings wickets standing. Will Macpherson will bring us news of their efforts.
I will be slower out of the blocks (no change there then). Although at least I have the excuse that it is bucketing down up in the north-east which will delay the resumption of injury-hit Warwickshire’s second innings. They are 10 without loss in response to Durham’s 314. However, this morning’s bad weather - it is set to clear this afternoon - is the only lot forecast in the early part of the week, and matches at Chester-le-Street rarely last four days, so it should not overly hamper efforts for a positive result by either side. Durham are a side with a capacity to win matches too - remember they won 10 of 16 to pip Yorkshire to the title two years ago.
Meanwhile, off the field, Yorkshire are awaiting news of the latest injury blow to their Australian import Aaron Finch. The 28-year-old has a suspected stress fracture of the foot which if confirmed would have the potential to rule him out for the rest of their campaign. New Zealander Kane Williamson, who spends summers here as his partner is English, is scheduled to replace Finch next month when the one-day series between England and Australia begins and could potentially join up earlier if required, dependent on New Zealand Cricket’s blessing.
Remember, there are also Division Two matches with relevance to the promotion race with second-placed Surrey starting against Kent at the Kia Oval. Glamorgan’s fine form also has them in the shake-up. They headed to Chelmsford unbeaten. Essex, who barnstormed the end of the 2014 season, hold the upper hand though with the Welsh county 40-3 in response to 279.
Morning all,
Today we have Will Macpherson at Northwood for Middlesex v Somerset and Richard Gibson at Chester-le-Street for Durham v Warwickshire. Here are the reports from yesterday:
Middlesex v Somerset
Somerset suffer from Steven Finn’s perfect timing for Middlesex
Championship cricket may be new to these parts but Steven Finn is not and, as he took 4-41 to leave Somerset 185 for eight on a day deprived of 25.3 overs by a combination of murk and mizzle, it showed.
Rikki Clarke pegs back Durham with five-wicket haul
The gauge of a player’s worth is arguably how they perform when the chips are down and Rikki Clarke’s display under the shadow of Lumley Castle highlighted his credentials as one of county cricket’s premier all-rounders.
Enjoy the cricket
