Will Macpherson reports from Sussex v Hampshire
Ed Joyce is gone now, which is really bad news for Sussex. He was hit on the helmet by Gareth Berg before nicking off to one angled across him by the same bowler’s following over. It’s 106 for four and Sussex are still 35 behind. Chris Nash and Luke Wright were their face-savers in the first innings and now they need them to be their match-savers.
Lizzy Ammon writes
Richard Levi has his first county championship century and he looked mightily pleased to have got it leaping high (yes really) and punching the air. It came from 148 balls and included twelve fours. Northamptonshire have moved steadily into the lead here. Steady is the word of the day. It’s all been steady. Calm. Quiet. Steady. Yes steady steady steady. Reece Topley has just taken the wicket of Ben Duckett with a ball that jagged ferociously back into him to trap him LBW.
Northamptonshire’s lead is now 45, six down. Levi still there on 118*
Richard Gibson reports from Headingley
Lots more incident here at Headingley where, after Middlesex put on a half-century opening stand, Jack Brooks put himself on a hat-trick, Nick Compton fell for a first-baller, Adam Lyth took a spectacular slip catch and Dawid Malan is currently batting with a runner.
Having conceded a 17-run deficit on first innings, the Championship leaders reached 51 without loss at which point Lyth dived full length to his right to pocket a one-handed chance, offered by Australian Joe Burns, an inch or so above the turf. Next ball, Brooks trapped Compton in front with a shooter. Then, shortly after Burn returned as Malan’s runner, Sam Robson was pinned by Steve Patterson to heighten the decline to 65-3.
Will Macpherson writes from Hove
It’s both all go, and all Hampshire at Hove. Two more wickets for Fidel Edwards since we last spoke. Matt Machan played on to a rapid one, his off-stump sent flying, while Mike Yardy was given LBW to one that looked like it pitched outside leg. Umps took an absolute age to give it and Yardy could not believe his eyes, taking the slowest of trudges from the field. Ed Joyce and Chris Nash have settled in, and they need to stay until stumps, you’d think. Just the small matter of 28 overs to negotiate until then. It’s 61 for three and Sussex are on struggle street.
Will Macpherson reports
We’re back after our early tea and Hampshire have a breakthrough. Mike Yardy has slashed a couple of nice boundaries off Jackson Bird – back-to-back through cover and square-leg - but at the Cromwell Road End, Fidel Edwards has angled one across Luke Wells, and he’s nicked it to third slip. Hampshire well on top: Sussex 14-1 and with plenty of the proverbial digging in to do.
Lizzy Ammon has eaten two Wagon Wheels!
Whilst the carnage ensues everywhere else in the country, it’s all rather sedate here in Northampton where the home side are accumulating steadily at around three an over. No fireworks, nothing much of note. Richard Levi, who started tentatively, has reached his half century and is looking much more fluent. He’s being more than ably supported by Josh Cobb.
Essex have used seven bowlers so far and they still have the option to use the spin of Nick Browne or the medium pace of Ten Doeschate.
There’s not a great deal else to report here – it’s a gentle lilting day of county cricket. I have eaten two Wagon Wheels though. They’re definitely smaller than they used to be.
Will Macpherson with more news from Hove
Hampshire are all out for 392, a damn good showing and a commanding lead of 141. But disaster for Gareth Berg who is run out on 99, going for the second. It was a direct hit running in from deep square-leg by Matt Hobden. That would have been his first ton since 2011, to go with his best figures from 2011 yesterday. We’ve taken and early tea and Sussex will have to bat much more watchfully and intelligently than they did yesterday (when they were all out on the stroke of tea), if they are to stand a chance here. Cracking game, though.
Richard Gibson reports from Yorkshire v Middlesex
This has been some recovery by Yorkshire courtesy of Jonny Bairstow, who has somehow helped manufacture a first-innings lead of 17 for the champions at Headingley.
Despite being reduced to 142-8 in the second hour of the morning session, Bairstow more than doubled his score thereafter: first trusting number 10 Steven Patterson with the strike for the best part of an hour and then farming it in rather haphazard fashion during the innings highest partnership with last man Jack Brooks.
The final pair put on 59, with Bairstow overcoming some odd decisions by Brooks to take singles from final deliveries of overs with some thrilling hitting. Twice he monstered good deliveries from Toby Roland-Jones into the stands at midwicket and then followed a deft touch for four to third man for his 10th Championship hundred off James Harris. Two further sixes followed off Ollie Rayner before Brooks nicked off later in the same over.
Will Macpherson reports from Sussex v Hampshire
Now Wheater has that ton, and it’s been quite brilliant. He brought it up turning Hobden to midwicket and scampering a single. He hit 16 fours and reached the milestone in just 82 balls. Gareth Berg is teeing off now, slashing two violent cuts to the fence in one Hobden over. 334 for seven now. Bottom of the table Hampshire are dominating.
Will Macpherson writes
More of the same in the 30 minutes since the break – which was filled by hoards of kids playing on the outfield. Great scenes. Wheater and Berg have brought up their 100 stand in 91 balls and the 300 is up too. Sussex need a breakthrough, and fast. Regally-named debutant Fynn Hudson-Prentice has really struggled with the ball and has had a couple of misfields too. Looks a prospect though. Wheater has 86 now. Ton there for the taking.
Lizzy Ammon reports from Northamptonshire v Essex
We’re back underway after lunch, which was roast turkey, here at Wantage Road. Essex took three wickets this morning and have been assisted by a bit of cloud cover. They’ve bowled well with great discipline. Ravi Bopara took two quick wickets before lunch including that of the opener Stephen Peters who had played very fluently for his 44. Northants have a good platform at 121/3 although it won’t be easy against Masters, Napier and Bopara nibbling it about a bit.
This match isn’t shifting on as quickly as I see most of the others around the country are. This is a good pitch here at Wantage Road so any batting collapses aren’t down to that.
Will Macpherson sends his lunchtime report from Hove
It’s lunch here and Hampshire have that lead I mentioned they really should get. They’ve going along great guns since Sean Ervine was trapped on the crease by Hobden to leave them 197-7. He looked extremely peeved after the umpire took an age to give him out. Anyway, Adam Wheater was unperturbed. A couple of weeks ago he was extremely embarrassed to be dismissed by Sam Robson, but has been brilliant today. He reached 50 in 37 balls, which is the same number it took he and Gareth Berg – who has been hit on the helmet by Hobden - to bring up their 50 stand.
The pitch – after all the recent brouhaha – really seems ok; just a couple have misbehaved. Wheater has driven brilliantly down the ground, off front and back foot and also reverse-swept Luke Wells for consecutive fours in an over which cost 15. He lunches on 64 from 50, while Berg has 33 in a total of 264 for seven. Another half an hour of this stand and Hampshire will find themselves in a very handy position indeed. Lunch well, all.
Richard Gibson reports from Yorkshire v Middlesex
Chatting to Nick Compton last night, he suggested that 280 would have been an extremely good score and that although Yorkshire had edged day one, two quick wickets this morning would redress the balance.
Middlesex got those two wickets, of course, and then some courtesy of good discipline from their three frontline seamers. Will Rhodes survived one caught behind appeal but failed to add to his 11 runs when Tim Murtagh most certainly did kiss the edge while Tim Bresnan’s drive at James Harris simply flew to Ollie Rayner’s right at second slip.
Yorkshire’s hope of restricting Middlesex’s first-innings lead - which currently stands at 67 - rests chiefly with Jonny Bairstow, whose excellent form since returning from the Test tour of the Caribbean continues. Here, as in his previous four County Championship innings of 2015, he passed 50. Yorkshire 145-8.
Will Macpherson sends an update
Vince is gone. I repeat, Vince is gone. That was a lovely innings but he’s done for 76, after a waft at a wide one off Matt Hobden. Ed Joyce didn’t have to move at first slip. Vince needs to avoid doing that too often, because he had a huge chance to kick on and get a big score. Hampshire are 175-6, with Adam Wheater – who has creamed a couple of lovely drives – and Sean Ervine at the crease. With Gareth Berg still to come, they should be looking at getting a lead, but that Vince wicket doesn’t help one bit.
Lizzy Ammon writes from Wantage Road
The clouds have rolled in and it’s distinctly parky now here at Wantage Road and I’ve underclubbed in the wardrobe department.
The cloud cover is good news for Essex; there’s a bit more movement through the air than there was yesterday but Northamptonshire are handling it well. They’ve lost Rob Newton who popped one up to mid-wicket for 27. Stephen Peters and Alex Wakely are looking fairly solid although Napier is nibbling it about a bit. 73/1 at the moment and a decent platform for Northamptonshire to try and get a decent first innings lead.
Will Macpherson sends an update
So, in keeping with the theme of the round, we have our first wicket at Hove. Danny Briggs had been a doughty nightwatchman, fulfilling his role and more, by knocking it around for 12 this morning having been unbeaten on zero overnight. But he just tried to be a little too clever, going for an uppercut off Ollie Robinson and feathering through to Ben Brown. In terms of Vince-watch, he’s doing just swell. A flick to very fine leg was the only minor alarm as Brown dived – but not quite far enough – to his left. He’s on 64 and Hampshire are 144 for five.
In other news, Mahela Jayawardene – after a day in Brighton with his family yesterday – is playing for the Sussex seconds in a T20 at Horsham today. Sussex had hoped Ajmal Shahzad might be ready to play but alas he’s not.
Richard Gibson sends his first report of the day
Toby Roland-Jones provided a rollicking start to day two at Headingley with two wickets in three balls despite the favourable batting conditions.
Jack Leaning, Yorkshire’s leading run getter this season, was pinned on the crease by his opening delivery from the Football Stand End and Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell’s miserable form continued when he chased a wide one to nick to wicketkeeper John Simpson. Maxwell now has two runs in three completed Division One innings for Yorkshire.
County Championship leaders Middlesex therefore reduced Yorkshire to 96-6 but Jonny Bairstow - only the third batsman to reach 25 on either side - has found a willing accomplice in former England Under-19 captain Will Rhodes and the deficit has been reduced to 92.
Will Macpherson’s first update of the day
Morning from Hove, folks. Lovely day again, although a little more cloud cover about than yesterday. James Vince played beautifully last night and I really, really hope he can charge on today. I grew up in Sussex but might cry if he falls early. He’s the aesthete’s dream and, after a fallow start to the season, could do with a game-defining score. His team needs it too, a hundred-and-plenty in arrears and bottom of the table. We’re underway, Robinson and Magoffin bowling.
Lizzy Ammon sets up the day
Hello and welcome to the county blog on this sunny Monday morning.
Despite yesterday’s blue skies and sunshine, it was a wicket-laden day across the grounds. Each of the seven matches that started yesterday are into their second innings with Essex’s 276 being the highest score of the day.
What’s this down to? Results pitches being prepared? The influence of the T20 having started? Batsmen who have forgotten how to build an innings? Or are we not giving the right amount of credit to some good bowling?
I’m at Wantage Road where Essex lost their last six wickets for 39 runs in 63 balls; and it’s not down to the pitch which is flat and dry. Northamptonshire will resume 43 without loss. Will Macpherson is at Hove where it’s another challenging Hove pitch. Sussex were all out for 251 and Hampshire are already four down. Richard Gibson is up in the Democratic People’s Republic of Yorkshire where Yorkshire are also four down in reply to Middlesex’s 212 all out.
It was an interesting day down in Canterbury where Derbyshire are 67 for 7 thanks to a searing spell by Kent’s Matt Coles. When Wes Durston got out for 35, Derbyshire were 37 for six.
Games are moving on as they say. Grab yourself a coffee and let us guide you through what should be another intriguing day of county cricket.
Morning all,
Today we have Lizzy Ammon at Wantage Road for Northamptonshire v Essex, Richard Gibson at Headingley for Yorkshire v Middlesex and Will Macpherson at Hove for Sussex v Hampshire. Here are the reports from yesterday’s play:
Northamptonshire v Essex
Rob Keogh proves unlikely mastermind of Essex downfall
It has been something of a torrid time for Essex’s batsmen in recent weeks on seaming, green Chelmsford tracks; the policy of preparing result-wickets is yet to pay off for them and they came into this match propping up the County Championship Division Two table and all but doing likewise in the Natwest T20 Blast south group.
Yorkshire v Middlesex
Jack Brooks takes five wickets before Middlesex fight back
The breakneck speed of cricket at Headingley in recent times showed no signs of abating as the two remaining undefeated sides of the County Championship were pitched together in breathless combat. Honours finished fairly even between Yorkshire, the champions, and Middlesex, the current leaders. Although the scoring rate did not match that of New Zealand’s recent Test win here, wickets fell at a similar tempo and in so doing made it extremely unlikely that both will retain their unblemished records.
Sussex v Hampshire
James Vince shows Sussex how it is done as wickets tumble
A glance at this scorecard and you would be forgiven for thinking it was early April, all bluster and nibble. Fourteen wickets fell, 12 to seamers, 10 to catches in the cordon. A second look suggests exactly what this was; a stunning summer’s day. There were 367 runs scored, at close to four-an-over, and 236 of them in boundaries.
Enjoy the cricket
