Roundup
Kent secured a fine win over Surrey by just 17 runs. Darren Stevens took three quick wickets early on in Surrey’s chase - after being set a target of 192 - but Ben Foakes instigated a fightback and gave his side a chance of victory before becoming the penultimate wicket to fall for 57 with 28 runs still required. Matthew Milnes ended proceedings by bowling Matt Dunn, his fourth wicket of the innings, as Kent moved to second in the southern group.
Somerset wasted little time to collect the final two Gloucestershire two wickets required for victory and to top their group. Craig Overton removed Josh Shaw who squirted a catch to George Bartlett and Jack Brooks completed the job when Matt Taylor was superbly caught at gully by Tom Lammonby, as Gloucestershire were bowled out for 70 in the second innings to go with the 76 they amassed in the first.
Emilio Gay led the way for Northamptonshire with an unbeaten 77 to see off Glamorgan. The opener was aided by Charlie Thurston, who followed up his first innings century with 64 more runs.
Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire did briefly make it out to the middle but like every other game, they were curtailed by weather, with the game ruled a draw during the afternoon.
KENT BEAT SURREY BY 17 RUNS
Milnes bowls a beauty to beat the defences of Dunn and hit off-stick. What a cracking finish to a fine game.
I am a huge fan of Virdi’s batting, he gets in position to play a forward defensive even before the ball is leaves the bowler’s hand.
Virdi and Dunn are chipping away to get the required total down for Surrey. Milnes thought he had Virdi trapped in front but umpire rightly adjudged that it his the tailender outside the off stick. Surrey require 22 more to win.
FOAKES IS OUT! Surrey’s best hope is strangled down the legside by Podmore who has Robinson behind the stumps to thank as he takes a fine catch. The Surrey man departs for 57 with 28 runs still needed for victory but only one wicket is remaining.
Northamptonshire beat Glamorgan by six wickets
Emilio Gay finishes with 77 not out as Northants reach a fine win. The opener looked stylish throughout his innings as he led his side to victory.
Keogh comes and goes ... two need for Northants.
41.4 | Keogh is found short of his ground by a direct hit trying to pinch a quick single.
— Northamptonshire CCC (@NorthantsCCC) August 25, 2020
The skipper joins Gay in the middle.
Northamptonshire 187/4, 2 runs to win.
Procter goes for Northants but they only have to muster another 13 runs for victory, so I can’t see anyone being massively bothered about that.
Foakes reaches 50
A relatively disastrous first over from Gilchrist, in the circumstances, as he is pulled up for three no-balls. On the other hand, a great one for Foakes who completes his half century, before whacking a delightful four to reduce the runs required to 31.
Kent turn to debutant Nathan Gilchrist who oversteps with his first ball to give away two runs via a no-ball.
Foakes has moved onto 49 and has not looked like getting out from ball one, which gives Surrey plenty of hope as they need just another 43 runs or victory. Dunn at the other is also looking relatively solid and has the potential to stick about.
Thurston is out at Wantage Road, with Northamptonshire 56 runs to win against Glamorgan. Surely, they will still do it.
Updated
Milnes has the golden arm for Kent as he traps Finch slap bang in front of his stumps for six. The Surrey loanee trudges back to the pavilion with his side still needing 56 runs to win with only two wickets in hand. On the upside, Ben Foakes is still there.
Northants want to get this done quickly to avoid the rain intervening again.
30.6 | Picked up off his pads and flies into the seats! ✈️
— Northamptonshire CCC (@NorthantsCCC) August 25, 2020
Not a bad shot second ball after a rain break...
Northamptonshire 132/1. pic.twitter.com/CZG8Yr1Syj
Leicestershire v Nottinghamshire drawn
Another rain delay at Grace Road ends with everyone seeing sense and they call it a draw.
Updated
As say this and then the rain returns to Northampton and the players are forced off. Hopefully they will not be off for too long.
Gay and Thurston have both passed 50 as Northamptonshire look set to complete a well-deserved victory over Glamorgan. If it wasn’t for De Lange’s incredible century yesterday, it would have been done and dusted by now. Northants need a further 63 with nine wickets in hand.
Rikki Clarke’s off stump goes cartwheeling out of the ground as Milnes strikes again with another pearler which beats the batsman all ends up as he looks to drive. Surrey now 116-7 with 76 more runs required for victory. Foakes is the key man here.
Foakes and Clarke are back out in the middle at the Oval. Foakes whips the first ball after tea for four. He will be looking for more of the same.
Tea at The Oval
The players head off with 106-6, requiring another 86 for victory. What fun the final session should be.
Surrey are in trouble now! Milnes bowls an absolute beauty which swings and goes through Sam Curran’s gate to remove the off stump. The bowler leaps for joy after reducing Surrey to 94-6. Another 98 runs a required to win still.
Gay (38*) and Thurston (39*) are leading the Northamptonshire charge against Glamorgan. Northants require another 98 for victory and if the weather permits, they should get them.
Stevens returns to the attack and it works for Kent! First he gets Evans to edge to slip but the ball does not carry and then the Surrey man plays it straight back to the allrounder who takes a sharp catch to leave the hosts on 77/5 as they chase 192 for victory. Sam Curran is coming in at a crucial point for Surrey.
Laurie Evans is playing some wonderful shots in Surrey’s chase. The man on loan from Sussex is already on 40, including eight boundaries.
Northamptonshire and Glamorgan have made it out to the middle. Northants require 126 more runs to win with nine wickets remaining.
Decent catch, to be fair.
What a photo. What a win!! 👊#WeAreSomerset #SOMvGLO pic.twitter.com/elikp05Lfy
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) August 25, 2020
Surrey move onto 51-4 after Evans whips one through the legside. The Surrey batsman is on 23, as he and Foakes look to rebuild the innings after a flurry of early wickets. This partnership will be crucial if Surrey are to win this game, as they are into the allrounders after this.
They’re back on at Leicestershire v Nottinghamshire too!
Hampshire v Essex abandoned
Another draw, not that it was going anywhere.
RESULT | It's elbow and foot bumps all-round here at @FACCC_Cricket 😞
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) August 25, 2020
With the ground remaining saturated, the umpires have deemed no further play is possible and play has been abandoned with the match declared a draw 🤝 pic.twitter.com/YnV1hGYXHr
Charles Sheldrick emails re Somerset: “All that hard work by the Ground Staff and the boys only needed 20 mins …
“Best of luck with the rest of the OBO, I am off for a cup of hot sweet tea and a lie down …”
Somerset beat Gloucestershire by 314 runs
Brooks forces Taylor to fend one off towards gully and he is caught as Gloucestershire are all out for 70. An utterly miserable game for Gloucestershire who could only muster 76 in the first innings.
Another wicket for Stevens! The allrounder has three early wickets as Jacks is given out by the umpire. There is some confusion as the scoreboard claims he was caught behind but it did not go near the bat, so it could also have been LBW. Either way Surrey are 20/4.
Updated
Podmore gets his man this time, as Stoneman edges once more to Cox, who takes it on this occasion to leave Surrey 20/3. Stoneman played a few shots in an attempt to find some form but it does not work. This has been a ropey start from the hosts to say the least.
Craig Overton gets the first wicket required for Somerset as Shaw chips one to midweek. Start the car.
Somerset and Gloucestershire are also playing, with the hosts at Taunton requiring just two more wickets to secure victory.
RUDDY ‘ECK! Stevens then gets Smith with the next ball, as the Surrey No 3 edges it to the second slip. The 44-year-old will be on a hat-trick at the start of the next over.
Surrey do lose a wicket as Stevens gets one to hold up in the pitch, not that his full pace is much quicker, and Borthwick gets a leading edge to Bell-Drummond at midwicket. This should be an interesting final day with Surrey 6/1.
Surrey should already be one down in the first over as Stoneman edges Podmore to Cox at first slip but the Kent man shells it. Cox will be kicking himself for dropping that as it was a dolly.
Kent all out - Surrey require 192 to win
Nathan Gilchrist edges Sam Curran to Rikki Clarke at slip to end the Kent innings on a score of 127. It was Curran’s fourth wicket of the innings, snaffled by Clarke who got five for himself. Game on with 62 overs remaining.
Surrey v Kent begins!
There are potentially 68 overs remaining at The Oval today, so we could/should get a result. Kent currently lead by 182 with one wicket remaining, so there is plenty to pay for and the sun is currently very much shining.
Derbyshire v Durham abandoned
Another one ends in a premature draw.
More good news ...
UPDATE: Play will resume at 13:45 if no further rain 🙌#WeAreSomerset #SOMvGLO
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) August 25, 2020
Surrey v Kent is now scheduled to start at 1.10pm. Good new for all involved ... until it rains again.
Enjoy some ruthless/agricultural hitting rom Marchant de Lange yesterday.
Marchant de Lange today smashed a 62-ball century for Glamorgan against Northants after coming in at 60/8 🤯
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 24, 2020
(📹: @GlamCricket) pic.twitter.com/gCn6vYoLdq
There is to be a 1pm inspection at Taunton, so we might get an actual result there today.
I can confirm that the sun is peaking through the clouds in south east London.
A SUPERSOAKER and sunshine at Grace Road. Another game with a chance of some actual cricket.
There will be an inspection at Wantage Road at 1.30pm, which is good news.
Update: it's not raining. ☁️ pic.twitter.com/IGQmfZAaIK
— Northamptonshire CCC (@NorthantsCCC) August 25, 2020
Updated
Get your eyes on the latest The Spin ...
“I may be alone in this opinion,” says OldPendle, “but I’d quite like to see Jimmy Anderson remain on 599 wickets rather than get the one he needs for 600.
“a) it would be classic Lanky;
“b) every time they meet up in future to reminisce about their playing days, he’ll be able to give Broad, Buttler and Burns a slap for putting down those catches yesterday.”
You’re very much alone on that one.
Some potential cricket in an hour or so ...
🍽️ Lunch will be taken at 12:20pm with a view to starting at 1pm.
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 25, 2020
In the meantime, our groundstaff will be hard at work. pic.twitter.com/pK1SlwCCuv
Early lunch
Every single game is now having brunch rather than lunch to get it out the way in the hope things become clearer.
I think the sun really is out at Taunton ...
I am currently in south east London and it has not rained for a couple of hours, which is good news. Surrey say there is a clean up operation underway at the Oval, so hopefully they might get to the wicket today.
“Here in Southampton the rain seems to have past, it’s really blowy, and the sun is trying to peek through,” says Fantaloupe. “If this continues (which seems to be the broad-brush picture from the forecast) then I wouldn’t rule out some play in the more southern matches later in the afternoon. There’s still a chance for a comedy result at the Oval, after all.”
Somerset v Gloucestershire will have an inspection at 1pm, so there is no need to get too worried about anything happening in Taunton soon.
Charles Sheldrick also kindly points out it is sunny there, currently.
Updated
The covers at Leicestershire v Nottinghamshire give an indication of how much rain they have suffered.
Just in case you were wondering, no games will be starting on time. Make yourself a brew or 14.
Yorkshire v Lancashire abandoned
Another one bites the dust.
ABANDONED: Predictably, Day Four has been abandoned & the match is drawn
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) August 25, 2020
🌹 #RedRoseTogether
Dom Cole asks: “Given Lancashire are all that stand between Derby and the Grand Final once bonus points are added, are you more confident of Lancashire depriving Derby of batting or bowling points next time out?”
Not at the moment as the Lancashire bowling lineup looks proper budget.
Some Test match inspiration.
Worcestershire v Warwickshire abandoned
We have our first victim.
Unfortunately our Bob Willis Trophy fixture against Warwickshire has been abandoned as a draw.#PearsBears pic.twitter.com/CgO7irFy39
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) August 25, 2020
Wegie says: “I see Pears v Bears has already fallen victim to the weather - given how much it’s hammered down in the Marches since about 10pm yesterday, that doesn’t count as one of life’s greater surprises.”
Updated
I am shocked!
Unfortunately it's very wet and windy to begin here at @FACCC_Cricket 😞🌧️
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) August 25, 2020
Here's the current scene... pic.twitter.com/FYXc546ZhI
“Morning Will, morning everyone,” says Galactus.
“Rain saving the Yorkists from a Lanky thrashing today, then.
“Not quite sure how that thrashing would have manifested itself given the match situation, but rest assured it was on the cards. Unless it stops raining. In which case all of us Lankies will be hiding behind the sofa if you need us.”
Yeah, I assumed Tom Hartley was going to run through Yorkshire today.
“Sorry for being Cassandra at the close of play ...” emails Charles Sheldrick. “It was howling round the thatch all night and into the morning, but it is lovely and sunny in Exeter at the moment ... Please just 45 minutes of play, that is all we need ...”
Good news for supporters of Exeter CC.
Oh ... and in London.
☔️ The big covers are firmly on!
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) August 25, 2020
Start time will be delayed unfortunately, updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/MDZeIUhckf
I will put it out there early ... no play at Headingley today.
Good weather for:
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) August 25, 2020
Ducks ✅
Boats ✅
Not good weather for:
Cricket ❌ pic.twitter.com/Papzj1dhRK
It is also wet in Northampton.
OK Francis - you’ve made your point. You can go now. @NorthantsCCC pic.twitter.com/6rcLKM1kYd
— Andrew Radd (@oldmanradd) August 25, 2020
Similar in Durham.
🌧🌧🌧🌧#ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/jCSj7XFjZA
— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) August 25, 2020
Preamble
Good morning,
I am not going to lie, the weather might have a slight impact on today’s action. Even if glorious sunshine was forecast there are only three games which would have had a chance of getting a result. The hope for us all today is that they get some action at Taunton, where Somerset require just two Gloucestershire wickets to secure victory.
A huge congratulations to Middlesex for winning inside three days, avoiding all this silly rain nonsense the rest of us will go through.
I am sure many of us are used to being sat in a pavilion, laughing at drizzle, so today will be delightfully frustrating for all involved. Those matches taking place in the North look most at risk of being completely rained off for the day but that is normal for them.
We might have plenty of downtime today, so please feel free to fire in questions about everything in life and cricket. The details on how to contact me are in the usual places.
Storm Francis, one assumes named after former Hampshire batsman Simon, will ensure that some venues do not see a single ball bowled today. Who is cricket’s best Francis?
Anyway ... let’s hope for some action.
Updated
