Ali Martin with news of a century at Lord’s
Afternoon delight here for Nottinghamshire captain Chris Read, who has smoked a century from just 76 balls, the second 50 of needed 19 deliveries, including 22 off one Paul Stirling over - 14 fours and two sixes in total. He was 48 not out at tea, with his first 50 from 57 balls. And Notts have DECLARED on 401-8, setting Middlesex an eye-watering 519 to win.
Ali Martin reports from Lord’s
The evening session is about to start here at Lord’s where Nottinghamshire are 329 for seven, the lead now 446. Are they looking to get past the 472 mark after seeing what Middlesex did to Yorkshire last year? With the home side a batsman light due to Dawid Malan’s broken hand, I’m not sure what Notts are thinking here. What I can tell you is that since lunch they have lost Samit Patel to the golden arm of Adam Voges, caught at backward square-leg playing a lazy sweep on 33, James Taylor lbw to Paul Stirling’s off-breaks on 61 and Riki Wessels, lbw to Tim Murtagh for 38. Chris Read resumes on 48 alongside Vernon Philander (who decided he didn’t want to speak to me at the end of the play last night and promptly cleared off) on four.
Richard Gibson has news of a victory
Yorkshire have wrapped up an emphatic first victory of the season before tea on the third day at New Road, the gulf in class between themselves and Worcestershire widening with every passing over.
To their credit, Daryl Mitchell’s team went toe-to-toe with the champions over the first two days but were blown away by an attack that bagged more bonus points than any other in the top flight in 2014. Then, their bowling was pummelled by Yorkshire’s makeshift opening pair of stand-in captain Alex Lees and Will Rhodes, who struck the winning runs in a 10-wicket victory.
Richard Gibson writes
If Jack Brooks opened the door with his exemplary new-ball spell, it was Steven Patterson that took if off the hinges for Worcestershire with his efforts either side of lunch. Hullensian Patterson followed his double-wicket over before the interval with three successes in 10 balls to wrap up the home side’s innings for 100.
His return of five for 11 represented career-best figures and set Yorkshire a 105-run target to make light of their septet of absentees. Andrew Gale, their banned captain, is with the team and will have been impressed with the way they ramped up the pressure when the game was in the balance at the halfway stage. But Worcestershire’s application left a lot to be desired with some woeful strokes down the order accounting for three of the late wickets.
Richard Gibson sends news from Worcestershire
Even with seven players missing, and Ryan Sidebottom off the field injured, Yorkshire showed their class to leave newly-promoted Worcestershire in tatters at New Road.
Jack Brooks, the England Lions fast bowler who finished with 68 top-flight wickets last season, produced a sensational spell from the New Road end to swing the contest firmly back towards the champions. The middle dismissal of a spell of 6-2-14-3 - that of Daryl Mitchell - was a snorter that took off to flick the shoulder of the bat while Alex Gidman had only just got into double figures for the match on his Pears Championship debut when he nicked behind.
That left Worcestershire 21-4 and despite an hour of resistance from first-innings centurion Tom Fell and his flat-mate Tom Kohler-Cadmore, a double-wicket over from Steve Patterson plunged the hosts into further trouble. It left Worcestershire 55-6, a paltry advantage of 59 runs, despite the stunning batting conditions.
Ali Martin sends his lunchtime report
Lunch at Lord’s and Nottinghamshire remain fully in charge against Middlesex, although have not had it all their own way.
Had Alex Hales stuck around the score would surely have progressed quicker than the 86 runs harvested this morning that sees the visitors 187 for four with a lead of 304.
But stick around he did not, with Tim Murtagh extracting some sharp, unexpected bounce from Nursery End to see Hales edge behind to John Simpson on 37. It was a shame, with Hales – fresh from his run out in the first innings – looking fluent up to that point.
By that stage nightwatchman Will Gidman had already been removed for 18, caught by Sam Robson at slip off the part-time spin of Adam Voges.
Robson did, however, grass a second catch when Murtagh found the edge of Samit Patel’s bat on eight. Like the dismissal of Hales, the ball climbed but Robson, at second slip, should have held on to a ball that reached him at chest-height.
Patel remains on 28, having hit James Harris for three fours in the penultimate over before the interval to cries of “Rubbish! Rubbish!” from one Middlesex (we assume) supporter. Maybe it was Angus Fraser. Anyway, James Taylor is alongside Patel on 16 not out.
Vic Marks reports from Somerset v Durham
The game is still alive – just. So I suppose I can justify one more carvery before embracing a Spartan regime for the rest of the season.
Durham, inspired by Chris Rushworth, the sort of bustling bowler, who has streaks when it all clicks, has been superb adding three more wickets to his overnight haul.
He was on a hatrick after dismissing Allenby and Gregory in consecutive balls (obviously) and Tim Groenewald did not know much about the next one, which whistled past his outside edge. Rushworth had also removed Barrow’s off stump early on.
The only resistance has come from Peter Trego, who has been in this situation before and who generally reacts in the same way – and a good way. He counterattacks with those strong, heavily tattooed forearms swinging the bat with gusto.
This is some consolation for the locals but it is not going to make any difference. Still Trego has struck a run-a-ball half century, which demonstrates that the pitch does not possess too many demons and that Rushworth, for all his virtues, is not a reincarnation of Dennis Lillee in his pomp.
The only hiccup for Durham is that Paul Coughlin was unable to complete his sixth over and had to leave the field.
Ali Martin reports from Lord’s
A spot of breaking news from Lord’s, with Middlesex announcing Joe Burns as their overseas replacement for captain Adam Voges. Queenslander and right-handed batsman Burns, 25, played two Tests for Australia against India during the winter but missed out to the uncapped Voges in their winter squad. He’ll play seven champo games and 11 Twenty20s from early-May before joining up with Australia A in India for their July tour. Thereafter, Middlesex will get a replacement for the replacement.
Some words from Middlesex managing director of cricket Gus Fraser: “We are delighted to be signing a hungry young Australian who will be desperate to show everyone what he is capable of doing. Joe is an exciting young batsman who has had an excellent winter and was unfortunate to miss out on Australia’s tours. Ironically, it is probably Adam Voges who took his place in the touring party. He has experience of batting anywhere in the top six, is a very good limited overs player and is an excellent fielder.” If his new team-mates call him Burnsy and not Montgomery, I for one will be disappointed.
Cricket-wise, Notts now 129-2, leading by 246 runs, Alex Hales has 32 to his name.
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Richard Gibson has news of wickets
Apologies. I feel like a stalker this morning. But I felt compelled to return to tell you about Yorkshire’s two early wickets.
Significantly, one is Moeen Ali, who struck a glorious cover drive for four off Tim Bresnan to get off the mark but did not add to his tally - an absolute pearler from Jack Brooks taking the edge and Jack Leaning pouching low at second slip. Every innings of this contest has featured two early losses - Worcestershire were 11-2 in their first dig and are on that same score after Richard Oliver paid the ultimate price when he shouldering arms at Tim Bresnan and was struck on the pad by a delivering that shaped back.
Richard Gibson reports from Worcestershire v Yorkshire
There was a pre-play visit from Tony Pigott, one of the ECB’s four match managers, this morning. Pitch liaison officers and umpiring mentors are no more on the county circuit, which means the new quartet are required to multi-task. It was a pleasant surprise to hear that as well as being on hand to support groundsmen, officials and both teams they are on hand to answer any questions the media might have (unless it is something controversial, one suspects).
But let’s not pre-empt negativity. I was just finding the time to pass on news of a change for the 2015 season in between innings. Yorkshire managed that third batting point but conceded a four-run lead to Worcestershire after Tim Bresnan was gobbled up at third slip off Charlie Morris. Yorkshire have taken to the field with Jonny Moxon, son of director of cricket Martyn Moxon, on 12th man duty in place of the crocked Sidebottom.
Vic Marks reports from Somerset v Durham
Well, it’s not going frightfully well for the home side or the freelance journalist. The sun is out again, the Quantocks hazily inviting in the distance and Somerset have already lost another wicket.
In the second over of the day Chris Rushworth send the bright white off stump cartwheeling. It is possible that the ball kept a bit low; it is certain that Alex Barrow missed it.
So Somerset are five down and they still have not avoided the innings defeat. Jim Allenby, not out overnight, has begun his innings remarkably. After 44 balls he had managed one scoring stroke, an involuntary boundary last night. He has just added a single, which had his new partner Peter Trego scampering for safety. It looks as if Trego is minded to play a few more shots. We may not be here for that long.
Morning all
Today we have Ali Martin at Middlesex v Notts, Vic Marks at Somerset v Durham and Richard Gibson at Worcestershire v Yorkshire.
Enjoy the cricket.
Ali Martin sends his first report of the day
Good morning from Lord’s where Nottinghamshire, I fancy, will continue to turn the screw on Middlesex. Just arrived in the press box where one of the many tours that pass through is in full flow. Test Match Special have the only window in the spaceship - tick. Albert Trott is the only man to clear the pavilion - tick. The journalists are only here for the lunch - tick. Hoping to see a bit of fun first thing, with Alex Hales 14 not out, Notts leading by 218 with eight wickets in hand, and a very short boundary square towards the Grand Stand. Will Gidman is alongside him on five, pushed up the order late on day two.
Richard Gibson sets up the day
Recent evidence suggests Worcestershire’s stay in Division One of the County Championship will be a brief one. Lancashire and Northamptonshire found the going rather too heavy following promotion last year and went straight back to Division Two.
I fully expect Worcestershire to extend the trend, as much for the quality of the others in their company as their own shortcomings. However, there were some good things about their cricket on the second day of their opening match against Yorkshire. A lot can be told about a side from their catching and Worcestershire’s was very good, particularly the one by Tom Fell to snare Cheteshwar Pujara low at third slip.
Victory over the champions is a possibility, not least because Ryan Sidebottom, who has resumed this morning with a runner, cannot bowl. He has hobbled out to the non-striker’s end with Yorkshire two runs away from securing a third batting point.
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