County cricket roundup: Stoneman and Surrey dominate Yorkshire as Essex inch closer to title
For the first time in his decade-long career, Mark Stoneman returned to the County Championship as a Test cricketer, and how he looked it, stroking his fourth – and most fluent – century of the season as Surrey flogged Yorkshire. A painful day for the visitors, who are far from safe from relegation, began with a vital lost toss and ended with 398 runs on the board for three wickets.
England were happy for Stoneman to sit this game out but he insisted on playing and duly bolstered his already strong Ashes case: in total 88 of his 131 runs came in boundaries. Stoneman says all that has changed is “a new pair of trainers or two, which the boys have given me stick for to keep my feet on the ground”, but he looked a batsman emboldened by his international experience.
Yorkshire’s torrid day was bookended first by Stoneman and Rory Burns, who flew at them in an opening stand of 178 in 40 overs. Then, in the final session, Kumar Sangakkara and Ben Foakes attacked once more, scoring 139 to take Surrey to the brink of a full set of batting points that ease their relegation fears at the end of a peculiarly mediocre season. Sangakkara (who will resume 15 shy of his seventh century of the summer), Stoneman and Burns are the top three runscorers in Division One, yet Surrey have not won since the first week.
Between times, Burns was caught behind off Jack Brooks for 75, then Stoneman wafted at Tim Bresnan and was caught at slip, although not before sharing 55 with Ryan Patel.
Patel was caught behind just before tea, bringing together Foakes and Sangakkara, who drove through mid-off and cover as elegantly and authoritatively as ever. Foakes looks increasingly likely to join Stoneman on the flight to Australia, and reached a 96-ball half-century with four successive boundaries off Jack Brooks. Surrey, you sense, are not done yet.
Middlesex’s tame title defence continued at Uxbridge, where stumps were called at 11.10am on day one against Hampshire due to a waterlogged outfield, while events at Edgbaston mean Essex moved a step closer to becoming Champions, which could even happen this week. They bowled out Warwickshire for 201, then closed on 69 without loss. After Varun Chopra and Nick Browne’s assured start, Tom Westley will hope his return to the county game is as seamless as Stoneman’s.
Essex’s method was familiar, with four wickets apiece for Jamie Porter (61 for the season) and Simon Harmer (59). Porter trapped Sam Hain and Jonathan Trott lbw early, before Neil Wagner and Sam Cook chipped in with a wicket each, and Harmer’s off-breaks – on a pitch already turning – took out the lower order. Porter returned to dismiss opener Dom Sibley, last man out for 76.
Lancashire, Essex’s closest challengers, picked up three bowling points – with the 20-year-old leg-spinner Matt Parkinson taking four for 68 – against Somerset at Taunton. But, by closing on 330 for nine (having been invited to bat on a pitch with some spice), it is the upwardly-mobile hosts who look best placed, with Steven Davies’ classy century boosting their survival hopes.
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That's all folks!
Well, that really was a remarkable day at the Oval, and a quite brilliant one for Surrey, and particularly Mark Stoneman. Sanga and Foakes resume at 10.30 tomorrow; oh, what a chore. Anyway, it was an important one at the top and bottom of Div One too, and here are the scores on the doors.
Division One:
- Essex 69-0 v Warwickshire 201
- Surrey 398-3 v Yorkshire
- Somerset 330-9 v Lancashire
- No play between Middlesex and Hampshire today
Division Two:
- Leicestershire 325-7 v Worcestershire
- Northants 59-2 v Glamorgan 207
- Derbyshire 338-9 v Sussex
- Gloucestershire 242-5 v Kent
Report to follow, of course, and thanks for your company, as ever. Ali and I will be back in the morning! See you then, and let’s hope the weather’s nice.
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Joe Cooper's report from the Oval
An imperious century from Mark Stoneman, aided by partners-in-crime Rory Burns, Kumar Sangakarra and Ben Foakes, oversaw a day of domination for Surrey at the Oval. Dispatching the ball almost at will, the opening pair put on mammoth 178 for the first wicket before Sangakarra really put the hosts in command. Stoneman, back from duty with England, firmly put his name in the running for an Ashes opening spot by scoring a professional 131.
He drove, cut and pulled his way to his fourth championship hundred of the season, setting the tone for a boundary-filled day early in the innings when he scored back-to-back fours in the teens. The opening pair made it look rather simple until the 40th over when Jack Brooks finally struck for the visitors.
Burns’ habit of calling it a day before the big three figures came back to bite him as he edged to Andrew Hodd on 75. There may have been a hint of thigh pad, but the decision stood and Burns walked. This was not to deter the statesman-like Stoneman, who cut his way to 99 before calmly moving to the century off just 125 balls, containing 18 fours.
The relatively rapid pace slowed a jot when Ryan Patel entered the fray, but the hosts still moved towards maximum batting points. The youngster made a relatively tentative start as Stoneman continued to paste the Yorkshire attack around the park. Just as Surrey were entering cruise control, Stoneman was removed - to much applause as he walked off - thanks to a thick edge, caught by an obliging Shaun Marsh at first slip.
Enter Sangakarra, who nonchalantly flicked his way off the mark for four. His tranquil presence helped to keep his side in the ascendancy after Patel was removed for 27. The veteran Sri Lankan moved the total along at pace, bringing up the third batting point with a signature cover drive. Foakes upped the ante late on, his 64 not out was the perfect foil for Sangakarra’s impact hitting. The Sri Lankan’s innings was epitomised by a mighty drive over mid-off for the final ball of the 88th over which brought up 350.
A long and fruitless day in the field for Yorkshire was compounded when a Foakes thick edge flew through the slips with five overs remaining - he battered the next ball for four. Surrey finished the day on an authoritative 398 for three, 260 of which came in boundaries.
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398 for three at stumps, then Surrey. Ludicrous, really. Sanga leaves the last ball and turns to walk off on 85.
Stumps at Taunton, where Somerset are 330 for nine...
Sanga into the eighties with a lovely late cut... Surrey 390 for three...
Steve Davies gone for 111 at Taunton! Somerset 329 for nine. Three bowling points for Lancashire...
50 for Foakes! The runs keep on coming. He gets there with four successive fours off Brooks! 96 balls, 11 fours, and Surrey move to 376 for three as Sanga strokes Bresnan through point for four to begin the next over. This has been a mauling.
Stumps confirmed at Edgbaston.
Here’s that Sanga shot I mentioned.
Well, that's one way to bring up the fourth batting point 😳 #SURvYOR
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 12, 2017
WATCH LIVE ➡️ https://t.co/4rJDDX2jbe pic.twitter.com/iWPlpUgiax
Bad light stops play at Edgbaston! Essex 69 without loss, trailing by 132... Tom Westley quite possibly breathes a sigh of relief.
100 partnership between Sanga and Foakes...
Shooootttt
SIX!! Jack Leach swings Parkinson away over mid-wicket for the first six of the day! Somerset 312/8#SOMvLAN pic.twitter.com/lgi7e2fsEj
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) September 12, 2017
Close at Bristol: Gloucestershire 242 for five against Kent.
Hahahahahahaha
Kumar Sangakkara just came down the track to the last ball of a Tim Bresnan over and nailed it over mid-off for four. He has 71, Surrey are 350 for three, with four batting points.
Thanks to Alex and Ali Martin for this golden bit of info.
@willis_macp Ire/WI ODI is on Freesports - Freeview 95 or Sky 424
— Alex Klymyszyn (@AlexKlymyszyn) September 12, 2017
An email from Michael Bate wondering if anyone knows of a pub in London showing the Ireland-Windies ODI tomorrow? It’s not on Sky, but Michael think it’s on Eir Sports. Can anyone help?
And bad light at Bristol with Gloucestershire 242 for five against Kent.
Rain at Taunton! Off with Somerset 296 for eight.
100 for Steve Davies! Happy days.
Parkinson has four! He gets Bess, stumped, and Somerset are 289 for eight. Steve Davies on 99...
Yorkshire have the new ball and Sanga has 50! Class act, that man. 320 for three and Foakes looking tidy too.
Good fightback from Sussex: Derbyshire 263 for six.
Somerset are seven down! Parkinson had Trego stumped, and now Coverton’s been caught at slip off him. He has three-for, and Somerset are 264 for seven.
So Surrey have a third batting point, and they get there with a Sanga cover-drive. Lovely. He has 37 and it’s 301 for three.
Jan Brittin, leading women's Test run-scorer, dies aged 58
Women’s cricket has lost its leading Test run-scorer and century-maker with the death of Jan Brittin, the trailblazing former England international, aged 58. Brittin had been battling cancer and died on Monday.
Brittin’s was a remarkable, era-spanning career. She made her Test debut in 1979 alongside the likes of Rachael Heyhoe-Flint, who died in January aged 77, and Enid Bakewell, and by the time she retired in 1998 she was opening the batting with Charlotte Edwards, who retired from the game just last month. Edwards tweeted: “She was was my idol growing up, so calm, elegant, determined and very modest.”
In 27 Tests, she made five centuries in her 1,935 runs, averaging 49.61; with ever fewer women’s Tests these are records that appear very unlikely to be broken. Edwards sits in second place with 1,676.
Brittin also scored 2,121 one-day international runs in 63 matches, with a further five centuries, and top-scored with 48 in England’s victorious Women’s World Cup final against New Zealand at Lord’s in 1993. During that innings she became the first woman to pass 1,000 ODI runs, and also took the catch that sealed the victory.
“JB was was one of the most quiet and unassuming cricketers you could meet, but she was pure class,” said Clare Connor, the director of England’s Women’s cricket and a former team-mate of Brittin’s. “An outstanding cricketer and a truly lovely person. In a year when England have again won the World Cup at Lord’s, we should not forget the huge contribution JB made to the development and success of women’s cricket in this country.
“For girls of my generation she was our first real female role model. She batted with grace and timing – a classical opener, so beautiful to watch. She was also a brilliantly athletic cover fielder. JB was born to play Test cricket and it’s unlikely that her record in this format will ever be beaten. She also had a fine record in the one-day game, and of course she made that significant contribution to England’s World Cup win at Lord’s in 1993.
“On behalf of the ECB and the England women’s team, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Jan’s family and friends.”
Brittin was born in Kingston and was a stalwart of Surrey cricket (having spent her entire career there, she is the county’s leading women’s runscorer), and the club flag at The Oval will fly at half-mast for the remainder of the current Championship match against Yorkshire in her honour.
“JB was such an inspiration to me and many others growing up who were able to watch or play with one of the greatest female cricketers of all time,” said Ebony Rainford-Brent, the former England all-rounder and director of women’s cricket at Surrey.
“As a character she was fun, engaging and always generous in her knowledge, particularly when she gave back as a coach later in her career. Her records speak for themselves the class of player she was and will stand the test of time.”
Essex bats coming out in response to Warwickshire’s 201, then...
Warwickshire 201 all out! Porter gets Sibley for 76, caught behind, to finish with four, just like Harmer.
Nine down, Warwickshire have a batting point! Sibley 76 not out...
Glamorgan 207 all out! Good start for Northants. The way Sussex and Kent are going today, they might prove to be the closest challengers...
Back on after tea here at the Oval. Surrey 259 for three.
And at Edgbaston too, where there’s been a wicket straight away! Warks 193 for nine. Harmer gets the debutant Brookes. It would be pretty carless to fail to get any batting points...
Lovely stuff! One of my men of the season.
@willis_macp (former) Outground action from the legend that is Stuart Kerrison at Garron Park in Southend. https://t.co/uMAhgfFibh
— Paul Frame 🏏 👨💻 (@PaulFrame85) September 12, 2017
Tea at the Oval! Surrey are 259 for three and right in charge. Stoneman made 131. Sanga has 10...
Great day for the Glosters, who are 186 for two at tea.
@willis_macp two more for essex then
— Stuie Neale (@MrNeale92) September 12, 2017
Bowled well on way to work now my glosters doing awesome
A wicket with the last ball before tea at Edgbaston! Grievous Bodily Harmer gets Jeetan! Essex have Warwickshire 187 for eight... One more wicket and they will be 34 points from the title.
Tea at Taunton: Somerset 229 for five having recently lost Abell to Parkinson.
Another wicket at Edgbaston! Porter gets Barker lbw from round the wicket. That’s his third. Warks 185 for seven, with Sibley still there on 68.
Wicket! Two overs til tea and Ryan Patel has driven at Ryan Sidebottom and been caught behind! Bit wafty. 255 for three, and Yorkshire have a bowling point.
A wicket at Edgbaston shortly before tea! Warwickshire are 181 for six, as Grievous gets Alex Mellor, lbw not offering a shot. Lost track of the number of batsmen who’ve got out that way to him this year.
Five overs until tea here, and Surrey have a second batting point. Kumar Sangakkara got off the mark with an insouciant flick through midwicket off Rafiq. Delightful stuff.
Somerset have a batting point! 205 for four against Lancs.
Wicket! Stoneman gone for 131. Well that came from nowhere. Looked to cut Bresnan (again) and found slip off a thick edge. Gone for 131 from 170. Belting knock. Surrey 231 for two, Sanga in, and seven overs til tea.
Davies has 50 and his stand with Abell is worth 88 at Taunton. Good from them. Somerset are 193 for four.
(It did pitch in line)
Wicket at Edgbaston! Woakes gone. Warwickshire are 153 for five. Harmer with the wicket, getting him lbw from round the wicket. Did it pitch in line?
A fifty for Dom Sibley! Warks 148 for four. Battled hard, made from 142 balls.
Do believe there’s just been a televised all-run four at Edgbaston. Magnificent scenes.
A batting point for Surrey! The first of five?
And now Denly gets Dent. My word. 141 for one.
Kent having a tough old day of it! Glosters 141 for none...
Looks out, but maybe – given the reaction – it was pad?
🎥 Brooks with the only breakthrough so far. He gets Burns with one that jags away. Hopefully more wickets to follow...#YourYorkshire pic.twitter.com/aWSyAdvD6F
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) September 12, 2017
Genuinely tricky to explain why they’ve been quite so average.
Top 3⃣ batsmen in @CountyChamp Division One:@KumarSanga2 - 1086 runs@mark23stone - 929 runs@roryburns17 - 922 runs pic.twitter.com/FhqlGxowbe
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 12, 2017
100 for Mark Stoneman! And there it is! A single takes him to a ton from 125 balls, with 18 fours. Felt like he slowed down lots in the second fifty, but it still took just 68 balls. Sensational knock.
Burns looked very disappointed with that decision. Maybe thigh pad? Looked like he edged it on replay.
Anyway, Stoneman to 99 with a late cut four off Patterson, who he has minced all day.
Stoneman, who has 95, is joined by Ryan Patel.
Wicket! Finally! An actual wicket! Rory Burns is gone, caught behind off Brooks. Surrey 178 for one. Burns made 75 – that’s his danger zone.
Stoneman on to 88. Classy, classy innings, this. 162 for none.
Wicket at Edgbaston! Sam Cook gets Lamb – just prodding uglily outside off – caught behind! He made 32. Sibley still there on 30, and Warks are 110 for four. In comes Woakesy.
More rain in Cardiff, just as Glamorgan have gone six down to Northants... 102 for six.
As Ali Martin says ... Cracking delivery to remove Adam Lyth today...
So pleased to announce the safe arrival of Ruby Charlotte Lyth Born Sunday evening. I'm a very proud Dad and husband. pic.twitter.com/kpzBdiYzEu
— Adam lyth (@lythy09) September 12, 2017
Wicket at Taunton! Somerset 110 for four after McLaren removes Lord Byrom. Door ajar for Lankies to keep the title race interesting...
Gary Naylor’s talking points! You know the drill: click, read, comment. Thanks.
Well we are back on here at the Oval, and I’ve been joined by Guardian Sport work experience bod Joe Cooper. Say hi to Joe!
Lunch at autumnal Edgbaston sees Warwickshire 75 for three against title-chasing Essex, having been pegged back early by the impressive Jamie Porter. His removal of Sam Hain and Jonathan Trott in quick succession made it 59 for the season. And had Simon Harmer held onto Dom Sibley on two at second slip things it would have 60, and things could have been dire for the Bears. But Sibley remains unbeaten on 17 from 80 balls, having been the junior partner in a stand of 46 with Ian Bell.
Bell went from looking all at sea first up to the Sledgehammer of old ... only for Neil Wagner to swing one into his pads for the third lbw of the innings. That Bell’s 37 was his highest score in 10 innings tells you much about Warwickshire’s plight this year. His replacement at the crease, Matt Lamb, reached the interval on 10, however, and announced his arrival with a crunching drive off Wagner through extra cover for four. Bit of spin for Harmer on this fresh pitch too.
Very good.
@willis_macp 17 runs in 11 overs at Edgbaston. Is it safe to say that the Bears are currently Going Nowhere? https://t.co/GNnR8TEMah
— Paul Frame 🏏 👨💻 (@PaulFrame85) September 12, 2017
Lunch! Scores on the doors
Not many wickets around this morn. None at all here at the Oval, where Surrey are right in charge. Here’s them scores.
Division One:
- Warwickshire 75-3 v Essex
- Surrey 126-0 v Yorkshire
- Somerset 103-3 v Lancashire
- No play between Middlesex and Hampshire today
Division Two:
- Leicestershire 88-3 v Worcestershire
- Glamorgan 75-3 v Northants
- Derbyshire 127-2 v Sussex
- Gloucestershire 81-0 v Kent
Enjoy your sarnies. Speak shortly.
Well Burns ends the session by reaching his 50, and Surrey are 126 for none. Stoneman has slowed up significantly waiting for the break, but still has 72. Been very easy going since the first half-hour.
50 for Rory Burns!
Rain in Cardiff. Shock. Northants have Glamorgan 75 for three.
Somerset are 90 for three as Hildreth goes to McLaren. Big job for Abell...
Lee Smith writes: “Morning Will, what Matthew Doherty really needs is this:
Nice player, Lord Byrom.
Eddie Byrom moves to 33* with a couple of boundaries from the leg-spin of Parkinson. It's spitting with rain - 88/2#SOMvLAN pic.twitter.com/oOjJyEernD
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) September 12, 2017
Just noticed that Worcestershire have left out Shantry and am mildly outraged, to be honest.
Matthew Doherty is in my inbox. He chortles: “Hello Will, I see that Porter and Wagner are making Warwickshire face the music!”
Hur hur hur. Something something Dean Elgar.
Sanga is down to bat No4, behind Ryan Patel. Surely after this start, Sanga comes in No3? 107 without loss.
Stoneman into the 60s with a couple of boundaries off Rafiq. Surrey 98 without loss.
The ball, having been pummelled to all parts by Stoneman and Burns, is being looked at by the umps and replaced.
Ian Bell, you’ll be gobsmacked to read, has just been removed for a glossy 37. A lovely collection of clips and drives ended when Neil Wagner got one to swing back into the pads of the former Warwickshire captain in the 19th over to make it 58 for three.
Dom Sibley a more watchful 10 not out at the other end (watching it fly past his outside edge has been part of this) and having already had one life when dropped by Simon (Homes Under the) Harmer at second slip on two. That straightforward chance denied Jamie Porter a third, having removed Sam Hain and Jonathan Trott earlier in the piece.
Updated
Boundaries everywhere here at the Oval. Burns moves to 34 with successive off-side ones off Patterson. Yorkshire looking very pedestrian indeed.
Bell gone! Wagner gets him lbw. Swung back in. 58 for three the Bears.
Stoneman moves to a superb 50 with a punched drive on the up through wide mid-on for four. Surrey 77 for none. 58 balls, 11 fours. Class.
Northants have Glamorgan 36 for three, which is very handy for their promotion hopes...
This week’s Spin: on Blofeld.
Somerset are 44 for two... Jarvis gets Bartlett.
Leicestershire are 25 for three! The Woosters are going up!
10 boundaries already in Surrey’s 54 for none. Stoneman beating Burns 7-3.
Leicestershire 21 for two as Leach gets Eckersley...
WICKET WATCH: Absolutely plumb. ☝️
— Lancashire CCC (@LancsCCC) September 12, 2017
🌹 #RedRoseTogether pic.twitter.com/FFhJhupDnZ
Somerset lose their first! Tres goes lbw to Bailey for 25 and it’s 38 for one.
Stumps at Uxbridge. What. A. Farce. Wet outfield slipping onto pitch means no play is possible. Deary me.
Worcestershire are on the move! Tongue gets Toby Carberry and it’s 19 for one.
News from the Oval is that Mark Stoneman looks in absolutely delightful touch. He’s moved to 18, after back to back boundaries off Sidebottom, through cover point and square-leg.
Morning Will and chums. Warwickshire lead by 13 after four overs is the optimistic way of looking at things here at sunny-ish Edgbaston, where Jamie Porter has continued his golden season for champions-elect Essex with the early wickets of Sam Hain and Jonathan Trott – both lbw – in his first nine balls.
First one trapped Hain on the back leg as the bat jacknifed down at an awkward angle, then Trott was pinned on the front pad. If there was a day for Ian Bell to end a drought of centuries that goes back to April last year, this is it. Chris Woakes back for the Bears, while Neil Wagner is in for his second spell as the Essex overseas left-armer. Tom Westley plays too.
Sure is! Warwickshire 13 for two.
@willis_macp watching #warksvess good start by essex
— Stuie Neale (@MrNeale92) September 12, 2017
Sounds like a shambles at Uxbridge. Heat lamps on the pitch, and very little danger of play today. Could Middlesex get another points deduction?
Watch all this – live!
Besides the action on Sky Sports Cricket (404) from Edgbaston, there are a series of streams today. Watch them!
- Surrey v Yorkshire at The Oval here.
- Somerset v Lancashire at Taunton here.
- Glamorgan v Northants at Cardiff here.
You glorious, glorious man.
Somerset 6/0 from 4 overs under sunny skies here in Taunton. #SOMvLAN pic.twitter.com/B6ACFZfMMx
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) September 12, 2017
Essex have two! Trott gone lbw, and in comes Bell...
Well there’s a wicket in the first over at Edgbaston! It’s Porter again! Hain gone lbw for 4, Warks 8 for 1.
We think we have an answer to this. Yorkshire v Leicestershire, Scarborough, in May 2012.
@willis_macp when was the last time @YorkshireCCC opened without Lees nor Lyth?
— Daniel Forman (@dannyforman) September 12, 2017
Cricketers are on the field here at the Oval!
Stoneman and Burns opening, up against Sidebottom and Brooks.
This is a great question. Graham Hardcastle, who follows Yorkshire home and away, is scratching his head next to me over this. He reckons possibly 2013...
@willis_macp when was the last time @YorkshireCCC opened without Lees nor Lyth?
— Daniel Forman (@dannyforman) September 12, 2017
Here’s your teams from the Oval. There’s a Champo debut for Freddie van den Bergh, who has been on Surrey staff forever.
Surrey: Stoneman, Burns, Patel, Sangakkara, Foakes wk, Pope, Scurran, Clarke, Batty c, Meaker, van den Bergh
Yorkshire: Kohler-Cadmore, Marsh, Lees, Ballance, Leaning, Bresnan, Hodd, Rafiq, Brooks, Patterson, Sidebottom
Adam Lyth is absent because his wife’s giving birth to their first child, so Pepsi opens. Lees remains at No3...
Team news from Edgbaston. Essex bowling first. Warks have done what I’ve wanted them to do for a while, and opened with Sam Hain. The Other Ryan Sidebottom has signed a contract extension, while there’s a Champo debut for Henry Brookes.
Warwickshire: Sibley, Hain, Trott, Bell, Lamb, Woakes, Mellor, Barker, Patel, Brookes, Sidebottom
Essex: Chopra, Browne, Westley, Bopara, Lawrence, ten Doeschate, Foster, Harmer, Wagner, Porter, S Cook
Morning Stuie! Glosters can still play a role in the title race if they beat Kent!
@willis_macp morning will time for another morale booster #cmonglos
— Stuie Neale (@MrNeale92) September 12, 2017
Had a toss? Here they are
Division One:
- Uncontested at Edgbaston: Essex to bowl first against Warks
- Uncontested at Taunton: Lancs to bowl first against Somerset
- Surrey win the toss and bat against Yorkshire
- Delayed toss at Middlesex-Hampshire, wet outfield
Division Two:
- Glamorgan win toss and bat first against Northants
- Sussex win the toss and bowl first against Derbyshire
- Leicestershire win the toss and bat against Worcestershire
- Uncontested toss at Bristol, Kent to bowl first against Gloucestershire
Must say, that looks blooming marvellous
Not a cloud in the sky ahead of day one of @SussexCCC v @DerbyshireCCC in Hove - live on @BBCDerbySport 1116am from 10.25 #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/3bY2Tp9K6g
— Dave Fletcher (@fletchsport) September 12, 2017
Surrey have won the toss and are batting! Kumar already has two tons against Yorkshire this year. Worth noting that Surrey left Scott Borthwick out of their squad this week...
There’s a toss about to take place here at the Oval. Ballance v Batty - a battle for the ages.
Morning all it's the morning call!
Welcome to another week of Championship action here on county cricket – live!. This week there’s two of us – Ali Martin at The Big One at Edgbaston and me, Will Macpherson, at the Oval for Surrey’s game against Yorkshire. Here in south London the sun is shining, and it’s warm enough for your correspondent to be sat outside wearing a t-shirt and sunnies. Which is nice.
That is not to say that’s the case everywhere. I’m hearing bad things from Uxbridge, where it rained yesterday and Middlesex are due to be playing Hampshire. The toss is delayed because of the outfield. Don’t play outground cricket in September is my hot take.
The proper top-and-bottom clashes are at Taunton – where Lancashire will play Somerset, surely on a turner – and at Edgbaston. Essex can win the title and Warwickshire can go down this week. Every ball will be live on Sky. Watch it! Here at the Oval, Kumar Sangakkara is back, which is just lovely. And there are four games in Div Two, involving everyone except the leaders Notts and Durham. Here’s the games:
Division One:
- Warwickshire v Essex
- Somerset v Lancashire
- Surrey v Yorkshire
- Middlesex v Hampshire
Division Two:
- Gloucestershire v Kent
- Sussex v Derbyshire
- Worcestershire v Leicestershire
- Glamorgan v Northants
There are ways you can contact me! Three of them, to be exact. Here they are.
- Below The Line (play nicely)
- By email: will.macpherson.freelance@theguardian.com
- By twitter: @willis_macp
All that leaves me to say, as ever, is enjoy the cricket. We’re right at the sharp end.
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