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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Will Macpherson at the Oval

County cricket: Roland-Jones strikes late for Middlesex, leaders Essex on the ropes – as it happened

Rikki Clarke of Surrey celebrates with his teammates after dismissing James Franklin of Middlesex.
Rikki Clarke of Surrey celebrates with his teammates after dismissing James Franklin of Middlesex. Photograph: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Updated

That's all folks!

Well, what a return for the Champo! All three Div One games are well into their second innings, while plenty is going on in Div Two too. Here’s the scores on the doors:

Division One:

  • Surrey 26-2 v Middlesex 247
  • Somerset 118-5 v Essex 159
  • Lancashire 112-3 v Warwickshire 200

Division Two:

  • Durham 376-7 v Derbyshire
  • Sussex 79-3 v Glamorgan 294
  • Worcestershire 338-7 v Gloucestershire
  • Leicestershire 326-9 v Kent
  • Notts 213 & 19-0 v Northants 141

Thanks for your company today, it’s been great fun. Hope you had a great Bank Holiday, and see you all from your desks tomorrow! I’ll be back at the Oval...

Leicestershire’s last wicket stand is worth 96, and they are 325 for nine against Kent! Proper fightback.

News from Trent Bridge:

Stumps at OT, where Lancs are 112 for three in response to Warwickshire’s 200.

Likewise at Durham: they are 376 for seven, with Colly still there on 127.

And at Colwyn Bay, where Sussex are 79 for three (one of those is the nightwatchman) after Glamorgan made 294.

Stumps! Surrey 26 for two in response to Middlesex 247.

Very curious final over in which Meaker twice turned down runs because he didn’t realise two, not one, were available. Anyway, honours about even. Rojo sensational in the gloaming. Looking forward to tomorrow: this is a better deck than 12 wickets falling suggests.

Wicket! Rojo again! Class. He’s nicked Burns off with one that nipped away. There’s one over in the day, Surrey are 26 for two, and Rayner is bowling to Meaker with plenty of men round the bat.

Stumps at Chelmsford!

Somerset 118 for five in response to Essex’s 159. What a day!

I see Paul Coughlin has gone for 68 at the Riverside. Hardus Nails has four and Durham are 375 for seven.

Wicket! RoJo! Oh, Ryan Patel. He’d looked wonderfully composed but he’s gone and Surrey are 21 for one. Middlesex posted a man under the lid at leg gully, and he’s drilled Rojo straight to him. With three overs left, on comes Rayner and out comes Meaker, the nightwatchman.

Lancs 81 for three as Olly Stone makes Vilas his first Champo wicket for Warks...

Sensual stuff from R-Pats.

Somerset five down and Porter has four! It’s Hildreth gone now, caught at midwicket for 51 (which really sounds very, very careless), and the nightwatchman Leach is in with Steve Davies. 102 for five.

Ryan Patel is off the mark! He bowled really nicely earlier too. Surrey eight for none late on day one. #Rhymes

And there’s that wicket.

Hildreth has 50, but Essex have a fourth. Abell gone for 30. Caught at first slip off Porter, who has three. Somerset 98 for four.

100 for Colly!

Middlesex all out for 247!

That, right there, is not terribly bright cricket from the Lambeth Lara. Anyway, Sam Curran has his first and Middlesex are all out three shy of a second batting point. Scurran dug it in and Murtagh slogged, top-edged, and was caught easily at midwicket.

Nine overs for Surrey to bat, I reckon.

50 for Paul Coughlin! Durham are 305 for six, with Colly on 89.

Abell and Hildreth have put on 50! Somerset are 77 for three...

Lancs are 44 for two, with Alex Davies going to The Other Ryan Sidebottom.

Surrey have taken the new ball, and Steven Finn has nailed Scurran through the covers and down the ground for picture perfect boundaries. 232 for nine.

Two in an over for Steve Mullaney, my new fantasy captain, and Northants find themselves 59 for seven in response to Notts’ 213.

Haseeb Hameed has gone to Chris Wright for 15 at OT. Lancs 35 for one as Davies is joined by Livi.

The Lambeth Lara is back in his home borough and having a bat.

Wicket! Now Rayner is out sweeping, and Middlesex are 224 for nine. Virdi with the pole.

Well in the last half-hour or so at the Oval, Middlesex have got themselves a batting point but also lost John Simpson. He was lbw to Batty. Rayner, who will be vital with the ball because it is turning, is playing nicely and has 34. 220 for eight.

Haseeb Hameed is outscoring Alex Davies, which is slightly unnerving. Lancs 18 for none.

So Notts have Northants 44 for three. Ball 2 Wood 1.

Somerset are three down! What’s happening at Chelmsford? Lord Byrom the latest to go, to Porter! 20 for three, 139 behind.

Durham are six down but the two PCs (Colly and Coughers) are batting so they’ll be fine.

So Lancashire’s first innings is underway, with Hameed and Davies hitting a boundary each. 8 without loss.

Cricketers are back on the field at the Oval.

Essex have a livestream! I had no idea.

Here’s the link.

And here’s the one from the Oval.

Somerset are 10 for two! R-Bop gets Rouse...

Adam Milne takes Leicestershire’s eighth wicket, thus preventing Darren Steven taking all 10! They are 175 for eight.

So, what a session that was for Surrey. Meaker and Clarke bowled a brilliant spell each from the Vauxhall End, and Patel, Virdi and Batty played their part too. It’s turning, but Middlesex have been passive and lax since Robson, who looked a class apart, was out. 163 for seven.

Tea! Your scores

Tea taken at different times across the land of course, but here is where we are.

Division One:

  • Middlesex 163-7 v Surrey
  • Somerset 9-1 v Essex 159
  • Warwickshire 200 v Lancashire

Division Two:

  • Northants 20-0 v Nottinghamshire 213 (not tea yet there)
  • Glamorgan 240-6 v Sussex
  • Leicestershire 162-6 v Kent (not quite tea yet there either)
  • Worcestershire 198-4 v Gloucestershire
  • Durham 212-5 v Derbyshire

Speak shortly.

Warwickshire all out for 200!

Jarvis gets his sixth since lunch, and Warwickshire are all out for 200, which represents a decent comeback. Hameed and Davies to amble out after tea.

Wicket! Batty in on the act now! Rojo goes lbw and Middlesex are 163 for seven. Been very poor since lunch, the champs.

And Warwickshire’s ninth wicket stand is broken on 76 as Jarvis makes Stone his fifth wicket! Five-bags in consecutive matches for Jarvis. Warks 195 for nine.

Six for Stevo! Leicestershire are 155 for six as Dexter goes for 40.

Colly has 50, Richardson is out, and Durham are 195 for five.

Wicket! Franklin gone now, and Middlesex struggling at 158 for six. He prods forward to Clarke, who is bowling a lovely spell, and gets an edge to the cordon, where Borthwick takes another good catch.

Warwickshire’s ninth wicket is worth 63. Very handy indeed. They are 179 for eight against Lancashire. Matt Parkinson is bowling, and getting a bit of tap, but I don’t reckon Lancs will mind that.

Rikki!

Notts are all out for 213! Wessels goes for 69, and Gleeson ends with four. Azharullah got five.

Somerset are 2 for 1. Tres goes to Porter...

Clarke’s first ball to Franklin hits him on the pad. Big appeal, nothing doing, few words exchanged after.

Ashwin in for Worcs! He joins B-Dolly, who has 85, and they are 186 for four after Tom Smith gets George Rhodes.

Wicket! Clarke gets Voges and Middlesex are 150 for five. It’s been a funny, shaky sort of innings from Voges, and it ends as he’s lbw having just fallen over his front pad a touch. Just wonder whether Middlesex have tried to get one more season out of Voges when it wasn’t quite there to be had. Franklin in, with plenty of work to do. It’s a 300 wicket at least.

Glamorgan have a batting point, which didn’t look likely earlier. They are 206 for six against Sussex, with Meschede on 42.

Voges has just edged through the cordon for four. He has 39, and Middlesex are 149 for four with 11 overs til tea.

Spotted!

Essex all out for 159!

Not, it’s fair to say, the score of the champions elect. Coverton picks up his third, Porter, and Essex are outta here. Huge 40-odd overs in Somerset’s season loom for the rest of today.

Durham have lost Cameron Steel (what a revelation he’s been this summer, by the way) for 72. They are 147 for four against Derbyshire, with Colly on 28.

Notts have lost two in two overs and are eight down to Northants. Wessels still there, on 44. 176 for eight, and in need of a few more.

Essex 140 for nine, and full bowling points for Somerset, as van Meekeren gets Walter. PvM has four on dayboo.

Meaker doing work.

Warwickshire, like Essex, are eight down. Four each for McLaren and Jarvis. Wright gone lbw. 119 for eight.

Sure he’ll still be at Northants next year...

Survived... Full, straight, defended...

Hat-trick ball, then. Simpson to face, with Meaker going round the wicket. Three slips. I fancy he’ll aim at the stumps.

Essex 121 for eight! Trouble in paradise...

That was the end of the over so we have to wait for the hat-trick ball. In the meantime, Ryan Patel is trundling in.

Wicket! First ball! Stirling has tried to leave Meaker, it’s nipped back and the off-bail is gooonnnnnneeeee! Two in two, both castled. 131 for four, and Surrey now Right. On. Top.

Beauty! That’s magic from Meaker who has been a bit erratic but always dangerous today. Too quick, and maybe did a touch off the seam, and it’s through Robson’s defence. Off stump gawn. 131 for three, and work for Paul Stirling to do.

Noema-Barnett gets Joe Clarke. A crime against cricket.

Warwickshire are seven down and their last batsman, Lamb, has gone. Jarvis with four for Lancashire.

And now the Bears are 106 for six... Barker gone for a duck. McLaren and Jarvis are 3-3.

Warwickshire are 106 for five! Jarvis gets his second, Ambrose. Good day for Lancashire so far...

50 for Robson! Gets there with a nice cover-drive four off Virdi. 115 for two.

Voges has just been dropped on 20, by Borthwick diving to his right at second slip. Was, I reckon, a 5%er. But he got one hand to it and it popped out. 106 for two.

The leaders are 98 for seven...

My word, this chap.

Essex are right in the doo doo! 98 for six with Browne gone...

Darren Stevens has four. Leics 83 for four.

So we are back underway at the Oval, and Robson got us going with a lovely cover-driven four off Scurran. Middlesex 80 for two. Virdi continuing at the Vauxhall End.

And Tendo is gone at Chelmsford! Caught second slip off Coverton. Essex 90 for five.

Lunch! Scores on the doors

Well that’s the first of three sessions done on this glorious Bank Holiday Monday. Here’s your scores on the doors.

Division One:

  • Middlesex 76-2 v Surrey
  • Essex 89-4 v Somerset
  • Warwickshire 89-3 v Lancashire

Division Two:

  • Nottinghamshire 110-4 v Northants
  • Glamorgan 114-4 v Sussex
  • Leicestershire 74-3 v Kent
  • Worcestershire 84-2 v Gloucestershire
  • Durham 94-3 v Derbyshire

Enjoy your sarnies.

What a player Ryan ten Doeschate is. Came in at 39 for four, but Essex take lunch on 89 for four. Tendo has 35 off 37 with five fours and a six.

Lunch at the Oval, where honours are just about even. Sam Robson has played nicely for his 36 and Middlesex are 76 for two. Virdi has bowled well.

Archer really is superb. He has three today and Glamorgan are 96 for four.

Wicket! I like it when Amar Virdi gets wickets, cos he’s a great celebrator. Eskinazi had started brightly, but had become a touch bogged down. And now he’s gone lbw. Looked out, and Middlesex are 68 for two with Robson on 30. In comes Voges. One more before lunch and it’s very much Surrey’s sesh.

Samit and Hales gone at Trent Bridge, and Notts are 88 for four!

Notts are 71 for two, with Pujara gone. Mullaney charging along as per.

An email! From Brian Withington.

I am now officially pleading with you to abandon the Oval sideshow and get over to Chelmsford and work your OBO magic to stiffen the resolve of the Men of Essex in their hour of need.

I may well find myself slipping over to Chelmsford over the next couple of days if that game continues to be quite so interesting. Essex are 40 for four.

Ryan Patel, who is going to open the batting, is into the attack on his first-class debut. Bit more than medium pace, with decent carry. Middlesex are 55 for one.

The leaders are in strife. Tendo to the crease...

Good news for these two, good news for Worcestershire.

That sounds unpleasant.

Warwickshire are 41 for three! McLaren has all three. Bell gone this time, for 14. Caught at second slip by Jos of the Buttlers.

Carberry, btw, was Darren Stevens’ 400th first-class wicket. He now has 402 as he gets Ackermann.

Updated

Essex are 37 for three! Coverton gets Ravi.

Wicket! Compo has looked in decent touch this morning but he’s gone. Meaker’s just got one to leave him a touch, it takes a splicy edge and flies hard towards Badger Borthwick at second slip. Low to his left, Badge does not drop them. Middlesex 34 for one.

Michael Carberry, making his first appearance for Leicestershire, is gone. He made 18 before Darren Stevens got him. Stevens has two and Leicestershire are 35 for two.

It’s Gary Naylor’s county cricket talking points! Read them

Ollie Robinson, who is playing his first game of the season, is on the act for Sussex, who have green Glamorgan 27 for three.

Dan Lawrence, batting a place too high for Essex, is gone at Chelmsford, and Essex are 21 for two...

Paul van Meekeren of Somerset (rear) celebrates taking the wicket of Essex’s Dan Lawrence.
Paul van Meekeren of Somerset (rear) celebrates taking the wicket of Essex’s Dan Lawrence. Photograph: Nick Wood/Getty Images

Updated

I did this last week (well, I’ve been doing it all summer tbh), mainly for you lot. I know most of you have read it already, but read it again! Luke Fletcher, my favourite subject, is commentating on the Notts game today.

Skipper Trott is gone at Old Trafford, so former skipper Bell is in earlier. Warks 19 for two.

BY THE WAY!

It’s the Surrey stream. Watch what’s happening here.

Wickets all over the shop!

  • Jofra has a second at Colwyn Bay and Glamorgan are 15 for two
  • Somerset’s Paul van Meekeren has a wicket on Champo debut, and it’s Varun Chopra. Essex 21 for one
  • Norwell has got rid of Daryl Mitchell at New Road. Worcs are 11 for one

Glamorgan have rested a host of their big names ahead of Finals Day - lots of Welsh names in the side to face Sussex. Jofra Archer already has a wicket, Owen Morgan, and Glamorgan are 15 for one.

Early wicket for Lancashire! Sibley gone to R-Mac, who is captaining again. Croft sitting out again.

That is great news.

Oh my word.

Oh, Keaton. Jennings has nicked Hardus Nails behind first ball of the match and has gotta go. Durham 0 for 1.

Here we go. Cricketers on the field of play about to play cricket!

Here’s the teams from the Oval. Surrey with two debutants, Sanga at CPL, Stoneman with England, and Finch and Tom Curran injured. They look ripe for the taking. Middlesex have won the toss and will bat first...

Surrey: Burns, Patel, Borthwick, Roy, Pope, Foakes+, Curran, Clarke, Meaker, Batty*, Virdi

Middlesex: Robson, Compton, Eskinazi, Voges, Stirling, Simpson+, Franklin*, Roland-Jones, Rayner, Murtagh, Finn.

The Surrey make their way to the field to start the first innings .
The Surrey make their way to the field to start the first innings . Photograph: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Updated

Team news! Some random bits of team news from round the grounds.

  • Ollie Pope and Ryan Patel debut for Surrey. Amar Virdi plays
  • Ravi Ashwin debuts for Worcestershire, Che Pujara back for Notts
  • Olly Stone makes his Champo debut for Warwickshire
  • Dom Bess makes his first appearance for Somerset away from Taunton

Sure there’s more nice nuggets like this.

Your tosses!

Here’s what’s happened at the toss around the grounds.

Division One:

  • Middlesex win the toss and bat against Surrey
  • Warwickshire win toss and bat first against Lancashire
  • Essex win the toss and bat against Somerset

Division Two:

  • The Woosters have won the toss and bat against The Glosters
  • No toss at Colwyn Bay: Glamorgan to bowl first v Sussex
  • Leicestershire win the toss and bat against Kent
  • No toss at Durham: Durham to bowl first v Derbyshire
  • Nottinghamshire win the toss and bat against Northants

There yo ugo.

Morning Stuie! Lucky Glosters off to New Road!

The middle at the Oval is an absolute HIVE of activity. Toss about to happen. Expecting Surrey debuts for Ollie Pope and Ryan Patel, as maybe even a Middlesex one for Maxy Holden. But that last one seems unlikely. Rojo is playing for Middlesex, but Gubbins is injured.

Morning all it's the morning call!

Good morning and welcome to County Cricket: the run-in – live!. I’m Will Macpherson and I’m at the Oval to bring news from the London derby, which is the perennially underwhelming Surrey against the recently underwhelming Middle Saxons, and beyond. It’s a huge one for both sides here, and not a time for any team to be suffering slip-ups.

It’s absolutely scorching in south London, as it was yesterday. The hottest August Bank Holiday ever(!), I’m told! I’m sat outside watching Middlesex play football and I might just be sweating more than they are. If you are lucky enough to live near one of the eight grounds in action: get yourself down! It could barely be better...

So what have we elsewhere then, I hear you yelp? Well, the leaders Essex are hosting Somerset, who are still in some strife lower down. And Warwickshire, another team in strife lower down, are at Lancashire. The other two Division One sides, Yorkshire and Hampshire, are taking a week off. Hampshire will be grateful for that with Finals Day on Saturday, eh.

There’s a full programme in Division Two. Nottinghamshire are hosting Northants, who aren’t out of the promotion race yet, while Kent are playing Leicestershire and Worcestershire are hosting Gloucestershire. Sussex, the other side in the mixer, are up at Colwyn Bay to play Glamorgan for the first time since Steve James made a triple-ton. The other game is Durham v Derbyshire.

I’m contactable! There are three ways to do so.

Right, let’s get this show on the road. Toss and team news from all the grounds as and when I get it! Enjoy the cricket, and find some shade.

Updated

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