It’s been a good reply by Somerset, who are 90 without loss after 22 overs, with Trescothick on 34, while Tom Abell has just reached his fifty with successive boundaries off McLaren. Trescothick hit four fours in the first couple of overs from Fidel Edwards. It was Hampshire’s morning but Somerset have bossed the last two sessions on a gorgeous day at the County Ground.
Yorkshire (198 for six) lead Middlesex (106) by 92 runs
Oh no, oh no. Andrew Gale is out for 98. He’s played brilliantly, but has been caught at second slip trying to play a controlled cut or dab or something behind square on the offside. He can’t believe it, we can’t believe it, no one can quite believe it. He turns and walks back to the Pavilion, holding his bat behind his head. On so many levels that would have been so fitting. Alas, there’s always the second innings. Although the way his bowlers went this morning, there may not be a second innings, of course.
Yorkshire (163 for four) lead Middlesex by 57
Leaning goes LBW to Dexter for nine and Bresnan comes in. But at the other end, Gale is looking utterly dreamy. He’s been exceptional through the off side (although he was dropped at gully on 44). How fitting would it be if he were to score a ton today.
For those who didn’t see in my snap report, the trophy will be presented at the end of this game. Will be a wonderful moment for him to lift it after that shambles last year.
Some more reaction:
Congratulations to the #Yorkshire team - we are all proud of you. From the office staff at #Headingley @YCCCDizzy pic.twitter.com/jJdBpNpWmZ
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 9, 2015
Most County Championship wins (incl. shares): 33 Yorkshire 19 Surrey 12 Middlesex 9 Lancashire 7 Kent & Warwickshire 6 Esseex & Notts
— Andrew Samson (@AWSStats) September 9, 2015
#CHAMPIONS!: #Yorkshire are @LV_Cricket County Champions 2015! Back-to-back #Championships 1st time since 1968. pic.twitter.com/to4Byli1VU
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 9, 2015
Commemorate the big day by buying some stuff...
#CHAMPIONS: Celebrate the Club's title success with the 2015 Champions collection: http://t.co/NDoDKKPRao pic.twitter.com/nYnocDEtDh
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 9, 2015
Yorkshire have retained the County Championship title for first time since 1968
Yorkshire (129 for three) lead Middlesex 106 by 23 runs
Yorkshire’s players leave the field to hearty applause, but for the second time today, a wicket falls to spin the ball before the break. Paul Stirling gets the breakthrough when Alex Lees missed an arm ball and was trapped in front for 39. But Gale has looked in imperious form and reached 50 from 59 balls with a lovely straight drive, his ninth four. Middlesex’s bowling attack looks a little bit samey and he’s cashed in handsomely, driving, pulling, cutting, the lot. Great to see. Ask anyone around Yorkshire and they’ll tell you that that brouhaha at the end of last season has driven the Yorkshire squad to go back to back for Gale. And how they have.
Somerset wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi, making his home championship debut for Somerset, has equaled Rob Turner’s county record of seven dismissals in an innings – Rob’s effort came against Northants in 2001.
Hampshire lost their seventh wicket at 203 when Ryan McLaren was caught down the leg-side off Craig Overton. And Gareth Berg went the same way, this time off the bowling of Jamie Overton, to make it 227 for eight.
Ronchi took his seventh catch when Mason Crane was caught swishing outside the off stump, second ball, for a duck; 227 for nine. But Ronchi was denied his record because Dawson chopped on a delivery from Jamie Overton for a good looking 48. That made it 240 all out.
It was a good turnaround for Somerset but Hampshire should have garnered at least a second batting point after being 132 for two at lunch. They lost their last eight wickets for 108 runs, with Jamie Overton picking up three wickets in nine balls. So Hampshire have been bowled out in just in 62.4 overs.
Somerset wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi, making his home championship debut, has equaled Rob Turner’s county record of seven dismissals in an innings – Turner’s effort came against Northants in 2001.
Hampshire lost their seventh wicket at 203 when Ryan McLaren was caught down the leg-side off Craig Overton. And Gareth Berg went the same way, this time off the bowling of Jamie Overton, to make it 227 for eight.
Ronchi took his seventh catch when Mason Crane was caught swishing outside the off stump, second ball, for a duck; 227 for nine. But Ronchi was denied his record because Dawson chopped on a delivery from Jamie Overton for a good looking 48. That made it 240 all out.
It was a good turnaround for Somerset but Hampshire should have garnered at least a second batting point after being 132 for two at lunch. They lost their last eight wickets for 108 runs, with Jamie Overton picking up three wickets in nine balls. So Hampshire have been bowled out in just in 62.4 overs.
Here’s Will Macpherson’s full take on Yorkshire’s championship success:
Yorkshire’s record under coach Jason Gillespie is quite staggering. Since he took over ahead of the 2012 season, they have lost just three of his 61 games in charge (ahead of this game), are unbeaten this season, and have not lost since April 2014, when Middlesex chased 472 to win.
They are currently missing Jonny Bairstow, Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett to England, Joe Root is rested, and they are without an overseas player due to international commitments, too. England’s David Willey will join from Northamptonshire ahead of next season. A sustained period of dominance of the county game looks likely.
Some reaction to Yorkshire’s success:
#Yorkshire! What a year from all the lads and everyone involved at this great club! Especially chuffed for @GaleyLad #enjoyskip #champions 🏆
— Joe Root (@joeroot05) September 9, 2015
So happy for the boys to win the league at lords well done Hero's, 2015 champions Vikings . #yorkshireyorkshireyorkshire
— Liam plunkett (@Liam628) September 9, 2015
YORKSHIRE WIN THE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Not because anything has happened here, but because Nottinghamshire are all out for 204, 146 short of what was required for them to get the necessary number of the bonus points to catch Yorkshire. Anyway: Yorkshire 82 for 2 v Middlesex 106 Ballance is gone LBW to TRJ. It looked really good in real time, but Steve O’Shaughnessy took an absolute age – maybe eight seconds? - to raise the finger. The appeal had ended, Ballance was wandering to square leg and Roland-Jones back to his mark. Odd. Gale has very quickly found his way to 33 with some lovely cuts and pulls.
Yorkshire are the champions of England again!
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) September 9, 2015
Jim Allenby has swung this match towards Somerset with a slip catch and then three wickets in six balls – some effort when you think that until then he had taken just 13 wickets in 13 matches all season, at the modest average of 39.3.
In the third over after lunch Vince, driving, was caught by Allenby at first slip off the bowling of ewis Gregory; 146 for three. Then Allenby the bowler broke Hampshire’s middle order.
It was 172 for four when Will Smith, on the front foot, was caught behind. And in his next over, with the score on 176, Allenby had two in two. Sean Ervine was surprised by one that left him and was caught behind, as was Adam Wheater who, on the front foot, gave wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi his fourth catch.
Yorkshire 47 for one v Middlesex 106
Lyth is gone. It’s just a momentary blip in one hell of a procession, although Nottinghamshire are doing their best to delay it slightly, although their eighth wicket partnership worth 88 has just ended. Lyth played across the line to Roland-Jones and was trapped LBW, which brings Gary Ballance to the crease. It’s all just a matter of time until Yorkshire seal this.
Worth mentioning at this stage: going into this, Yorkshire have lost three of their 61 Championship games under Dizzy, and none since they lost here in April 2014. The other two defeats were in 2013, against Durham in August and Sussex in April. A quite simply staggering record.
Yorkshire 34 for none v Middlesex 106
There’s something rather poetic about the change in conditions that the two sets of openers have encountered today. After Andrew Gale won the toss, Sam Robson and Paul Stirling came out with low, gloomy clouds overhead and it was blooming cold. With Middlesex all out, the clouds have parted and the sun is out, and Lyth and Lees entered to make hay. Lyth battered two beauties through the covers off Murtagh in the first over, and then a couple more, in front and behind point a few overs later, while Lees punched Roland-Jones beautifully down the ground. It all looks rather easy.
Middlesex 106 all out v Yorkshire
Fittingly, it’s Sidebottom who completes the job, bowling Murtagh with one that just moves in a fraction, and Middlesex are 106 all out. He bowled brilliantly all day and finishes with five for 18 from his 12 overs. Huge applause from a rammed Pavilion as he leaves the field ahead of his team-mates (except, the openers, who sprinted off ready for business), after Andrew Gale called his boys in for a huddle on the outfield. Their game faces are very much on.
Middlesex 95 for 9 v Yorkshire
Another couple of wickets, and just a single run added since lunch. Franklin this time, pushing his hands hard at a ball he could have left along from Bresnan. Slightly odd shot, it has to be said. Next to go was big Toby Roland-Jones, who played across the line to a full one three balls later and was trapped plumb in front. That’s the end of the over, so SiddyLad has the chance to get his five-fer before BressyLad.
The morning session has generally reflected the form of the two sides, with Hampshire going for their third straight win, while Somerset haven’t won in five.
But Hampshire have just given Somerset their second wicket of the match. Carberry played a loose square-drive against Jamie Overton and was caught behind. That made it 117 for two in the 29th. He hit 11 fours in his 87-ball 59.
James Vince is still there, though. Just before lunch he reached his half-century from 66 deliveries, with nine fours. At the break Hampshire are 132 for two from 32 overs. The pitch looks very green and it’s still cloudy but the bowlers have struggled so far.
That, then, is lunch, and Middlesex are seven down. Simpson launched a rather effective counterpunch but is gone on the stroke of lunch for 28, in terrible fashion. Brooks and Sidebottom returned for a little burst before the break and he sent the former for two pulled and one driven four in an over. At the other end, Franklin left extremely well to Sidebottom.
So Gale brought on Middlebrook for the customary Alastair-Cook-school-of-captaincy over of spin before the break, and Simpson has gone and got himself out. He danced down the track to Middlebrook only to pull out of his planned attacking stroke and feather through to the keeper. Really poor cricket that, and utterly inexcusable in the circumstances.
So Middlesex dine on 92 for seven. It looked an important toss to win, but Sidebottom’s early burst have left the hosts in disarray. It’s done plenty in the air and a bit off the pitch. As a result, Yorkshire are within touching distance of being crowned Champions. Again.
Bresnan has another, and it’s the big one. Sam Robson gone for 26. He was squared up by a good one from Bresnan, and nicked to Alex Lees at first slip. He’d played really well, had Robson. As ridiculous as it might sound, surviving 90-odd minutes against this relentless attack, in these rabidly favourable conditions is no mean feat.
The upshot is that, given the situation at Trent Bridge, where Notts are in big trouble too, Yorkshire should have the Championship wrapped up today. By my count, if Middlesex get under 300 (when, not if, really), and if Nottinghamshire get under 350 (again, when, not if), Yorkshire will be confirmed as title winners.
It’s 63 for six. Simpson and Franklin at the crease, both on six.
Hampshire, fresh from their seven-wicket win over Durham in the last round, seemed to be enjoying the conditions and with the sun starting to come out it was beginning to look a bit ominous for Somerset. And then something bizarre happened.
Adams pushed the ball out towards the extra-cover boundary, where it was fielded by Jamie Overton. Overton then ran out Adams with a direct throw as the batsman attempted a third run. Adams didn’t even bother to attempt to run his bat in. That made it 49 for one in the 13th. It’s still looking good for Hampshire, who are going at about a run-a-minute and are 78 for one. Carberry has just completed a very fluent fifty, off 63 balls with ten fours.
Updated
Dexter joined Robson for 35 minutes of counter-punching and they were looking rather good. Dexter consecutively laced Brooks through point for four but had an unnecessary waft in Bresnan’s first over and was caught low to his right by Andrew Hodd. Good take.
Bresnan replaced Sidebottom, who had figures of 6-2-11-4 in his opening spell, while Steve “Trundling Death” Patterson is on at the Nursery End. Captain James Franklin is now at the crease with Sammy Robson, who has looked quite good amid the carnage. It’s 44 for five.
Welcome to Taunton, and what could be a relegation decider between Somerset and Hampshire. Worcestershire are beginning to look like dead men walking, bottom of the table and having played a game more than these two. And Sussex are climbing out of trouble with their recent win. So this is vital.
Somerset have won the toss and put Hampshire into bat. It was a sunny drive for most of the way along the south coast for me this morning but it’s overcast here.
Apart from winning the toss, Somerset started the day with the happy news that their captain Marcus Trescothick, who will be 40 on Christmas Day, has signed a new one-year deal for 2016, which will be his 24th season with the club. Hampshire have made a good start through Michael Carberry and Jimmy Adams and are 26 without loss after just 20 minutes.
Sidebottom has four. And it’s 13 for four. Eskinazi had looked good, but just couldn’t resist a nibble at one angled across him and edged to second slip, where Adam Lyth took a sharp, low catch. I bet Neil Dexter didn’t think he’d be in at 11am on the dot.
That, quite simply, was an unbelievable first over of the match. It’s really rather gloomy here, and it felt a good toss to win, but Ryan Sidebottom – cruising in from the Pavilion End – has picked up three wickets in the first over. Stirling played across the line to the day’s third ball, and was LBW to become Sidebottom’s 700th first class wicket. Then Compton nibbled behind to a delivery definitively in the Corridor of Uncertainty. Very next ball – the over’s last – Malan’s off stump was uprooted in dramatic fashion and someone in the press box – I’m not sure who – screamed very loudly. 0-3. Triple. Wicket. Maiden.
Anyway, Sam Robson watched all of that from the non-strikers, then milked five from Jack Brooks’ first over – including a loudly cheered dab to fine leg. At the other end is Stevie Eskinazi – on debut. Penny for the poor lad’s thoughts. The pair of them combine to survive Sidebottom’s next over.
Yorkshire immediately have a breakthrough - Sidebottom traps Stirling leg before with the day’s second ball. Stirling was playing across the line, which isn’t very clever. None for one.
The scene from Lord’s
The gloomy scene at Lord's. The umpires have decreed the light is good enough for Ryan Sidebottom to do his thing pic.twitter.com/Xnou4uvTyn
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) September 9, 2015
Morning one, morning all, I hope you are as well below the line as we are above it. Will Macpherson here, at the Home of Cricket ©, where Yorkshire, their fans and their press have arrived in expectation. This, surely, will be the match that seals them another well-deserved title. They need just five points, so can lose and still do it.
As per usual on such mornings, all the chatter on the escalators at St John’s Wood station was cricket-y. Yet today that wasn’t in the plummy accent of the egg-and-bacon brigade, it was in the silky – and rather optimistic sounding – Northern tones of Yorkshire fans. Well they’ll be even more optimistic now, because Yorkshire have won the toss and Andrew Gale has chosen to unleash that bowling attack. Middlesex have drafted in Stevie Eskinazi for his Championship debut in place of Ollie Rayner – who has a groin strain. Eskinaszi made a massive score for the 2s in the ongoing second xi final, and has been called up as a result. For Yorkshire, Jack Leaning’s back in the side, as in Andrew Hodd, for Aaron Finch and Jonny Bairstow respectively.
But there’s loads of other cricket going on. Paul Weaver is at Taunton for Somerset and Hampshire – third and second bottom in Division One respectively – do battle. Elsewhere in Division One, Nottinghamshire play Durham at Trent Bridge, while in Division Two, where promotion has been decided, Derbyshire host coachless Essex and Kent travel to face Glamorgan.
At Lord’s it’s really very gloomy - you’d hate to be opening the batting - and the umpires have decreed that the start must be just slightly delayed. Ryan Sidebottom and Jack Brooks look very disappointed.
Enjoy the cricket, there’s much at stake.
Morning all,
Today we have Will Macpheron at Lord’s for Middlesex v Yorkshire and Paul Weaver at Taunton for Somerset v Hampshire. While waiting for their first updates, why not read Gary Naylor’s final over of the week:
