Richard Gibson has news of a century
Chris Dent has just brought up a painstaking sixth first-class hundred, compiled across six hours, an innings that has taken Gloucestershire to within a couple of overs of a handshake.
Only when he got to 99 did Northants look like getting him out and Olly Stone shied twice unsuccessfully to run him out on the threshold of the landmark.
Ali Martin reports from Lord’s at tea
Tea at Lord’s sees Middlesex five down and this game back in the balance, even if the pitch is throwing up few problems. Adam Voges is 66 not out, having arrived at the crease at the start of the session following Nick Gubbins’ removal on the stroke of lunch. Since then he has seen Nick Compton, 85, and Paul Stirling depart in the space of two balls from Harry Gurney. And while John Simpson survived the hat-trick and managed to eat up 48 deliveries for 11 runs, he came a-cropper when attempting to leave a rising delivery from Jake Ball that cannoned off the underside of the bat and into the stumps. Middlesex 235-5 and clinging on.
Ali Martin writes from Lord’s
Since Harry Gurney removed Nick Compton at slip for 85 and followed it up with Paul Stirling’s wicket first ball, things have taken a turn for the serene again at Lord’s for Middlesex, who are now 224-4. John Simpson survived the hat-trick ball, while Adam Voges has enjoyed the attacking fields, with his 77-ball 59 a world away from Compo’s 217-ball vigil. One more and it’s the tail mind you. On the wickets since lunch, both were terrific deliveries from the left-armer, angling across and taking the glove on both occasions.
Richard Gibson reports from Wantage Road
Just the one wicket has fallen in 52 overs at Wantage Road today and that came as something of a surprise when Mohammad Azharullah rushed one through the defences of Will Tavare with the second ball of his second spell.
Chris Dent has been deliberate in his footwork and played with the straightest of bats to move into the 80s while Gareth Roderick, his second-wicket partner, has just reached a 50 from 89 balls. There has been an inevitability about a stalemate here for some time. I would love to be wrong, of course, and see the visitors pursue a target of around 200 in the final session. But these two sides seem to be feeling their way into the season.
Northamptonshire’s lack of spinner has been exposed, particularly as Rob Keogh, their part-time offie has gained appreciable turn at times. Oddly, it has been Roderick, the right-hander, rather than leftie Dent that he has troubled most. Gloucestershire are 216-1 on the eve of tea.
Meanwhile, Glamorgan may rue not dangling a carrot at Grace Road given Leicestershire’s start. Two wickets went down in the first seven balls but with just 50 overs to work with that match looks like another draw.
Ali Martin sends his lunchtime report
Right on the stroke of lunch Nottinghamshire get the breakthrough. Nick Gubbins, who had resisted for 158 balls nudged the 159th, sent down by Samit Patel, straight to Riki Wessels at short leg. The left-hander trudged off with 37 to his name and his bat slung over is shoulder in disappointment. But it must be said that he and partner Nick Compton have wiped out one session from three to give Middlesex a great chance of saving this match. Compo is 61 not out from 175 and the score reads 132-2.
Richard Gibson writes from Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire have negotiated the opening hour and a half without mishap here at Wantage Road. It is hard to see where the wickets are coming from and so I have opted to start tapping on the keyboard in hope of a jinxing.
Not that I am anything but impartial, you will understand. Just that the contest needs the change in tempo a breakthrough provides. Northamptonshire’s five bowlers have failed to create a single chance this morning - in contrast to Gloucestershire yesterday who floored half a dozen catches.
It was odd given the need for early incisions that Alex Wakely, Northants’ new captain across all formats, did not throw the ball to the club’s overseas recruit Rory Kleninveldt until the 19th over of the fourth day at 12.13pm. Within a couple of overs it became evident why. Kleinveldt, the heavy-set South Africa bowler, shipped 13 runs from his first over and then no-balled twice in his next, which cost a dozen.
The flurry of runs, following a watchful start to the morning, helped overnight pair Will Tavare and Chris Dent to their 50s. Left-hander Dent got to the mark first, albeit from 109 balls as opposed to Tavare’s 97. Gloucestershire are 129-0, in pursuit of what appeared at the start of play to be a notional 454-run target. In the modern game, you just can’t discount anything.
Updated
Ali Martin sends his first report of the day from Lord’s
Greetings from Lord’s where Samit Patel has opened proceedings from the Nursery End as Nottinghamshire chase the nine wickets required to start their championship season with a win. I say nine, it’s likely eight with Dawid Malan’s left-hand in plaster following a break to the fifth metacarpal on day one. Will we see him stride out to the middle late in the day? Will Notts regret batting into the fourth session last night, having already led by 446 runs at tea? Well, we’re about to find out...
Morning all
Today we have Ali Martin at Northamptonshire v Nottinghamshire and Richard Gibson at Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire. Here are the reports from yesterday’s play:
Chris Read hits century to leave Middlesex in strife
For Nottinghamshire supporters, there is little doubt as to who should have been behind the stumps for England for the past decade and half. While he may have entered his 37th year, Chris Read is no veteran county professional grimly clinging on in the twilight of his career.
Jason Gillespie calls win over Worcestershire ‘one of best of career’
Yorkshire began where they left off last season by overcoming their not inconsiderable handicaps to claim a victory that their coach, Jason Gillespie, lauded as one of the best of his career.
Durham go top after Paul Collingwood instigates Somerset’s demise
Durham surged to the top of the table with this emphatic seven-wicket win over Somerset. They had to wait a little longer than anticipated since they finally encountered some resistance from the home side’s lower order, which meant that they were required to score 150 for victory. But on another sun-kissed afternoon that modest target was not a problem.
Enjoy the cricket.
Richard Gibson sets up the day from Northampton
What happened to early-season result pitches? I have switched from Worcester to Northampton today and here before me is what looks like another belter of a surface. This is supposed to be the time of year when fast bowlers are looked after (before we run them into the ground in June, July and August). But they’re clearly not getting their greens in 2015.
The groundsman at New Road had given the pitch there a complete shave. In hairdressing terms, a grade zero. I suspect that kind of preparation had something to do with the top-flight’s top bowling attack being in town and Worcestershire’s own side possessing two spinners with international experience. I also suspect there will be more grass left on in their future home matches. As it was, Jack Brooks, Tim Bresnan and Steven Patterson bowled so well second time around that they did not require surface assistance.
The conditions here – and Northamptonshire’s lack of a frontline spinner – suggest that Gloucestershire have a decent chance of leaving Wantage Road with a draw. They resume on 35 without loss, having negotiated 15 overs thus far. But three sessions is plenty of time for the hosts to mark their return to Division Two with victory. Especially when David Willey is in your ranks. Remember, Gloucestershire appeared to be cruising to a first-innings lead when his triple-wicket maiden changed the balance of power.
Two other bits of news for you. One is confirmation of what Ali Martin told you last month: Jason Gillespie will coach Adelaide Strikers for the next two winters, dovetailing his work with responsibilities at at Yorkshire. The other is that George Bailey, the former Australia Twenty20 captain, has been snapped up by Sussex for the NatWest Blast. He previously played domestically here for Scotland and Hampshire.
