Bad light has ended play prematurely on day three at Lord’s with Durham stumbling to 24 for two in their pursuit of 259 to beat Middlesex, reports Chris Stocks. They’ll resume in the morning requiring another 235 to win. But, after dismissing the hosts for 89 in just 24.2 overs this afternoon, they surrendered some of the momentum provided to them by the five-wicket hauls of Chris Rushworth and John Hastings by losing Keaton Jennings and Mark Stoneman early on. James Harris, the Welsh all-rounder who has hardly had the best of times since moving from Glamorgan three years ago, picked up both wickets – Jennings, who scored 98 earlier in the day, sending a leading edge to midwicket and Stoneman edging to first slip. This contest is in the balance after a crazy Bank Holiday Monday which saw 18 wickets fall. And if you’ve got a day off tomorrow and are anywhere near St John’s Wood you could do worse than turn up to watch the conclusion to this match. My report from today will be up on the site later and you can follow all the action tomorrow with Ali Martin from Lord’s and Lizzie Ammon at Canterbury. Have a great evening.
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The umpires have taken the players off for bad light here at Canterbury with 13 overs remaining, reports Lizzy Ammon. There’s been a very good fourth-wicket partnership between Sam Northeast and Joe Denly who have battled through against some disciplined and probing bowling from the Leicestershire seamers. The partnership is worth 79 but Kent still trail by 231 runs and will have to bat for a large part of tomorrow to keep themselves in the game. I suspect that might be it for the day from Canterbury. Thanks for your company today – see you tomorrow.
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The carnage is over at Lord’s – for now, reports Chris Stocks. Durham have dismissed Middlesex for 89 in 24.2 overs, their lowest County Championship score since being routed for 66 against Yorkshire at Lord’s in 2010. The equation is now simple for Durham – they require 259 runs to win and have 21 overs left today to break the back of that chase. They might want to get a move on, too, given the forecast for St John’s Wood tomorrow isn’t good. The plaudits here will go to Chris Rushworth, whose five wickets for 38 runs means he has now taken five-wicket hauls in his past four County Championship matches. You might remember the 28-year-old seam bowler from Sunderland took 15 wickets in a day against Northants last September, a match that saw him take career-best figures of nine for 52 in one innings. He has since taken five wickets or more in an innings against Warwickshire, Somerset and now Middlesex. His partner in crime here was John Hastings, whose five for 24 was a reflection not only of the Australian’s superb bowling but also the sloppiness of Middlesex’s batting. Both Rushworth and Hastings made the most of overcast conditions by bowling a full length. In such circumstances, anything other than discipline and application is likely to lead to a batsman’s downfall. They were both commodities in short supply in the Middlesex ranks. Perhaps the biggest indictment on the home side’s batting today was the fact Tim Murtagh, the seam bowler batting with a runner after sustaining a hamstring strain, was his side’s top scorer with an unbeaten 22. Murtagh’s 39-run stand with Steven Finn for the last wicket should shame the more esteemed batsmen in the Middlesex dressing-room as it has perhaps put the outcome of this match right back in the balance.
It’s slow going here at Canterbury but it’s been an impressive and important partnership between Sam Northeast and Joe Denly, writes Lizzy Ammon. They’ve added 51 for the fourth wicket against some disciplined and probing bowling from the Leicestershire seamers. But at the rate they are going Kent are going to finish the day still around 200 runs behind and will need to bat for most of tomorrow to keep themselves in this match.
There’s an impressive array of haircuts on display amongst the Leicestershire cricketers ranging from the curly mop of Charlie Shreck to the slightly bizarre offering from Matt Boyce which is shaved up to ears and then flopping locks above it. The X Factor audition rooms have got nothing on county cricket in the haircut stakes.
Away from the pitch, Kent have sold off some land on the Old Dover Road side of the ground on which retirement flats are going to built. The building work hasn’t started yet but I’m told that already a few of the flats have been sold off plan.
OK, so it’s tea at Lord’s and I think it’s time for everybody to breathe, sighs Chris Stocks. Followers of Middlesex who witnessed their team’s astonishing collapse this afternoon might prefer to sit in a sensory deprivation chamber. The players might, too, after being reduced to 37 for seven after declining to enforce the follow-on. At tea, things have improved a touch for the hosts, who have reached the heady heights of 46 for seven – a lead of 215. Durham can thank Chris Rushworth and John Hastings for getting their team back in this match, seemingly from nowhere. The pair took full use of the overcast conditions on offer – yes it’s clouded up since this morning – and probed the opposition batsman with full deliveries that teased the opposition batsmen. More often than not they couldn’t make up their minds whether to come forward and attack or not and were trapped on their crease – three of Rushworth’s dismissals were lbw. In terms of records, Middlesex’s lowest first-class score is 20 against MCC back in 1864. This, though, could be their lowest since they were skittled out for 49 against Notts at Trent Bridge in 2006. It’s also worth noting Tim Murtagh, who has not bowled since pulling a hamstring yesterday, will bat for Middlesex with a runner when required.
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While the wickets are tumbling at Lord’s and the steam rises from Stocksy’s laptop; it’s all been a bit more sedate here in Canterbury, writes Lizzy Ammon. It’s tea now and it’s been tough going for Kent in this afternoon session. They brought up the 100 in the final over before tea. Leicestershire have been outstanding this session, they’ve been extremely disciplined with the ball and the movement that Raine and McKay got from the Nackington Road end has caused real problems for the batsmen. Kent opener Joe Denly has curtailed his natural attacking instincts and battled away with patience and determination, he’s faced 99 balls for his 30 runs but there’s a long long way to go for Kent.
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Things have moved on apace at Lord’s since lunch, reports Chris Stocks, an inspired opening spell from Durham seam bowler Chris Rushworth turning this game on its head. Paul Collingwood must have felt like he was back playing for England such was Durham’s collapse earlier this afternoon, the visitors losing their last four wickets for 51 runs. But that was nothing compared to Middlesex’s capitulation as a rampant Rushworth helped reduce the home side to 37 for 7 just 10 overs into their second innings. Durham, all out for 294 with Brigadier Block stranded on 38 not out, had fallen 20 runs shy of their follow-on target of 314. Middlesex, though, refused to enforce it and, despite a first-innings lead of 163, are surely regretting that decision right now.
The main reason for that is Rushworth, whose four wickets in 17 balls flattened Middlesex’s top order. The Durham man had earlier held up an end as nightwatchman for 25 overs. But his ability with ball in hand, using pace and swing as a lethal combination, was evident when he pinned opener Nick Gubbins lbw and followed up with two huge scalps in three balls to dismiss Nick Compton and Adam Voges, the Middlesex captain who is in Australia’s Ashes squad this summer. Sam Robson, whose first-innings 178 did so much to put Middlesex in charge of this game, was next, also trapped on his crease leg before. It was a spectacular implosion from the hosts, albeit in the face of some terrific bowling. John Hastings then joined the party, the giant Aussie dismissing James Franklin, John Simpson and Ollie Rayner in the space of 11 balls to put Middlesex in complete disarray. With just three second-innings wickets in hand they lead by just 206 and Durham, from absolutely nowhere are now favourites to win this game.
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The New Zealand squad have arrived at Lord’s for a training session ahead of their opening tour game against Somerset, which starts at Taunton on Friday, writes Chris Stocks. The Black Caps are gearing up for a two-Test series against England that starts here at HQ in 17 days’ time and they appeared to have a spring in their collective step, no doubt after watching West Indies do a number on Peter Moores’ men in Barbados on Sunday evening.
A bad start for Kent, reports Lizzy Ammon, who’ve lost the wickets of Daniel Bell-Drummond and Rob Key. Both wickets fell to Clint McKay who’s getting impressive movement off the seam coming down the hill from the Nackington Road end. He’s bowling a long spell because he’s looking very penetrative. Charlie Shreck and Ben Raine have not got anything like as much movement from the Pavilion End but there’s a rebuilding job here for Joe Denly and Brendan Nash as Kent trail by 337. The clouds rolled in over lunchtime and you get the feeling that this session is decisive in how the match pans out. The temperature at the Spitfire St Lawrence Ground has dropped but the crowd have stayed in their numbers and they are being treated to some fascinating cricket.
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Sad news from Lancashire, who have announced the death of their former head groundsman Pete Marron. The county said that Marron had died suddenly in hospital aged 59. Marron served as the head groundsman at Old Trafford for 25 years and prepared some notable Test surfaces, in particular the one on which Shane Warne bowled his ‘ball of the century’ to dismiss Mike Gatting.
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Middlesex have offered us that lunchtime update on Tim Murtagh’s injury – and it’s good news (sort of), reports Chris Stocks at Lord’s. The 33-year-old has seen the club doctor, who had diagnosed a hamstring strain. He is having a scan tomorrow to establish the full extent of the injury and will play no further part in this match. The result of the second scan will determine whether he’s fit to face England in that ODI for Ireland at Malahide on Friday. But, as I reported earlier, it seems highly unlikely he will be risked. Meanwhile, Middlesex started the afternoon session well, Phil Mustard bowled off his pads by the left-arm spin of Adam Voges. That left Durham 243 for seven and, despite Paul Collingwood’s presence at the crease, it’s now touch and go whether the visitors will reach the follow-on target of 314, especially as Middlesex have just taken the second new ball.
Picture break … to Worcester:
We should be in for an interesting afternoon session here at Canterbury, writes Lizzy Ammon, which may determine how this match goes. Conditions have changed a bit with the clouds rolling over which may help Leicestershire get some swing. The pitch is fairly flat and there’s runs to be had but having let Leicestershire get to almost 400, there’s a bit of pressure on the Kent openers Denly and Bell-Drummond to bat long but maintaining a good run rate as Leicestershire did. They amassed their 386 runs in 91.5 overs. Denly has begun well with a couple of fluent drives off Charlie Shreck.
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It’s been a frustrating morning for Middlesex at Lord’s, reports Chris Stocks. Durham’s nightwatchman Chris Rushworth hung around like a bad smell for 25 overs before he was eventually trapped lbw by the off-spin of Ollie Rayner for 40. Rushworth had two lives, surviving an earlier leg before appeal by Rayner that looked good and dropped on 24 by wicketkeeper John Simpson off the reliable medium pace of Neil Dexter. The Durham man’s 73-run partnership with Keaton Jennings did much to blunt Middlesex’s hopes of victory. Jennings, 22, played sensibly to reach 98 but fell shy of his sixth first-class century shortly before lunch when he was tempted into an errant cut shot off the occasional left-arm spin of Adam Voges and edged the Australian behind. With the South African-born opener gone, Paul Collingwood was joined at the crease by one-time England wicketkeeper Phil Mustard. And with Brigadier Block and The Colonel joining forces, Durham, who had rallied to 242 for six by lunch, will fancy their chances of knocking off the remaining 72 runs required to avoid the follow-on.
Darren Stevens has taken five wickets this morning – bowling that nagging wobbling line and length that makes him such a difficult bowler to face, writes Lizzy Ammon. Leicestershire are all out for 386 just missing out on the final batting bonus point. You get the feeling that 386 should be enough to ensure they don’t lose the game. Kent face a tricky few overs before lunch but this is a very good batting track and there are plenty of runs to be had. Matt Coles has again bowled well this morning getting a good bit of movement through the air but without wicket taking success today.
The runs are now flowing for Leicestershire after the loss of two early wickets, reports Lizzy Ammon. Debutant Lewis Hill has just passed 50 and it’s been a very good one. He’s particularly strong off the back foot through the offside and plays the cut shot unusually well. His nickname is show-pony but he’s given no indication so far of why that might be. Leicestershire have sailed passed 350 picking up another batting bonus point and conditions for batting are very very good. When Kent do finally dismiss Leicestershire they’ll be reassured that the wicket is pretty flat and there should be plenty of runs on offer for them. Tree -lined Canterbury always looks beautiful when the sun is shining and whilst the ground development hasn’t met with universal approval from the members, I think they’ve done it very well and it has enabled the county to get themselves on to a much more secure financial footing.
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I have an injury update on Tim Murtagh from Lord’s, notes Chris Stocks, where Durham have started solidly to move onto 173 for four, still 141 runs shy of avoiding the follow-on. I am reliably informed Murtagh is having the scan on his left hamstring at 11.30am. My mole in the Middlesex dressing-room tells me the 33-year-old is walking around fine and is in good spirits this morning. The team management are quietly confident Murtagh has sustained a strain rather than a tear – which would put him on the sidelines for six to eight weeks. But even if the news is good, it seems highly unlikely the Ireland seamer will be fit to face England in Friday’s ODI at Malahide as even a strain is likely to see him rested for two weeks as a precautionary measure. We’re expecting a definitive update at lunch. I’ll let you know as and when that news drops.
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The sun is beaming down and the ground at Canterbury looks a picture, reports Lizzy Ammon. Kent have taken two wickets in the first five overs of play here. Darren Stevens the man to get both of them. Ben Raine was trapped LBW for 12 and Clint McKay has just been caught at deep backward point from a thick edge for 6. Leicestershire are 312 for 7. They bat a long way down in this XI but a good start for Kent who had a disappointing day yesterday. There’s a very healthy sized crowd in here at the Spitfire St Lawrence Ground and some of them have even taken their anoraks off.
Welcome from Lord’s, where the sky is blue, the sun is shining and we’re set fair for day three of this Division One match between Middlesex and Durham, writes Chris Stocks.
There were clouds both literally and metaphorically for the hosts yesterday when they lost Tim Murtagh to injury. It leaves them a bowler light today as they set about a Durham side who, in reply to Middlesex’s first-innings 463, start the day on 157 for four and needing to double their score to avoid the follow-on. Murtagh will have a scan on his left hamstring later today – the result of which will determine whether the seam bowler will be fit to play for Ireland in Friday’s one-day international against England at Malahide. I’ll bring you news of that scan as soon as I get it and also of anything else of note that occurs at the Home of Cricket, where Durham’s South African opener Keaton Jennings is well set on 61. Nightwatchman Chris Rushworth, on nought, looks less secure. But the visitors from the north-east do have Paul Collingwood due in next and in a match situation like this who else would rather have to call on than Brigadier Block? England could have certainly done with Collingwood in Barbados over the weekend. And as cricket followers across the country digest the defeat to West Indies last night, it’s pleasing to hear that Steven Finn, overlooked for the tour of the Caribbean after a difficult World Cup campaign where he looked down on pace and self-belief, is back bowling with speed and accuracy for Middlesex. Alongside James Harris, Finn could hold the key to Middlesex winning this game.
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Good morning one and all writes Lizzy Ammon, welcome to the county blog. With the Test match over and done with you can give your undivided attention to the action around the grounds in the County Championship. And what is this I see? The sun is out on Bank Holiday Monday – well this is a turn up for the books.
In Division One, Chris Stocks will be bringing you the action from Lord’s where it’s day three of the match between Middlesex and Durham. Middlesex are in a strong position having taken four Durham wickets despite being a bowler down. It means that, for the third match in a row Middlesex are down to ten men – the cricketing gods are not with the Middle Saxons. Elsewhere in Division One, Worcestershire’s Charlie Morris continued his good start to the season taking 5 for 71 from 24 overs as Somerset’s batting worries continue; they were dismissed for just 250 in 75 overs.
In Division Two, the match at Cardiff was heavily weather affected with only 16 overs bowled in a day during which Derbyshire lost two wickets. At Chelmsford, Gloucestershire’s Liam Norwell took four wickets in 17 balls as Essex capitulated to 150 all out. In reply the Gloucestershire openers Will Tavare and Chris Dent cruised along nicely ending the day with over half of Essex’s total. At Wantage Road, half centuries from Stephen Peters and Alex Wakely have taken Northamptonshire to 198/6 but the day saw a huge injury blow for Lancashire with the news that their captain Tom Smith’s back injury is worse than first feared and seems to involve a bulging disc. I’m not doctor but that sounds complicated to fix.
Our other featured live game is Kent v Leicestershire where I’ll be bringing you news of the thrills and spills from the St Lawrence Ground. Having lost the toss and been inserted Leicestershire had a good day reaching 300 for 5 in the final over of the day thanks to an aggressive century by captain Mark Cosgrove.
Away from the county scene, here’s Mike Selvey’s quotes piece from Barbados after England lost to the West Indies by 5 wickets. And here’s Ali Martin’s report on the news that Michael Vaughan has ruled himself out of taking the England Director of Cricket job.
So settle in, avoid getting dragged to the garden centre and enjoy your Bank Holiday Monday with some glorious county cricket action.
