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

County cricket: Surrey v Middlesex, Essex v Somerset and more – as it happened

Toby Roland-Jones of Middlesex celebrates with his teammates after catching out Rikkie Clarke of Surrey.
Toby Roland-Jones of Middlesex celebrates with his teammates after catching out Rikkie Clarke of Surrey. Photograph: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

That's all folks!

Time for CC - live! to sign off for the night! Been another enthralling day, but expecting a frustrating one tomorrow. Do join me for the rain! This is where we are:

Division One:

  • Middlesex 247 & 15-0 v Surrey 280
  • Essex 159 & 117-3 v Somerset 164
  • Lancashire 484-6 v Warwickshire 200

Division Two:

  • Derbyshire 164ao v Durham 480-9d
  • Glamorgan 294 & 126-6 v Sussex 268
  • Worcestershire 363 & 10-0 v Gloucestershire 258
  • Kent 313-9 v Leicestershire 350
  • Notts 213 & 317-8 v Northants 141

Night all.

Stumps at New Road! Worcestershire are 10 for none and lead by 115 against Gloucestershire.

Just two games left. Kent have just brought up a third batting point at Canterbury, while Worcestershire’s openers have nine balls to negotiate at New Road.

You’re all thinking about the Test match, aren’t you?

News from New Road.

Close of play at the Oval.

Forecast is no good for tomorrow. We will resume with Middlesex 18 behind, with all 10 second innings wickets in hand.

Derbyshire all out for 164! Rushworth returns to get the last. Trail by 316. Will Colly enforce? Surely?

I see Sam Northeast fell for 97 for Kent. Boo. They are 287 for nine, 63 behind Leicestershire.

With nine overs left to bowl at the Oval, it looks like we are going off for bad light. Lights have been on since tea but you can see players’ shadows – not the worst call I’ve ever seen.

Middlesex 15 for none, trailing by 18. Probably us for the day.

Stumps at Rhos-on-sea - Glamorgan lead by 152 with four wickets in hand.

Off for bad light at Old Trafford!

You’d think that’s that and that they will lose seven overs there. Lancs are 484 for six, 284 in front, and Livingstone had 215.

That’s stumps at Chelmsford. Essex are 117 for three, leading by 112. Browne 66 not out.

And they are off for bad light at Trent Bridge as well. Notts 389 in front, two wickets in hand.

Bad light’s stopped play in north Wales, with Glamorgan 152 ahead with four second innings wickets in hand.

Here come the criggiters at the Oval. 15 overs in the day, Middlesex 33 behind. Robson and Compo at the crease. My hunch is they’d settle for none down and parity overnight. Nothing adventurous.

Buttler goes for 49... Lead is 258.

Bosh

DOUBLE TON FOR LIAM LIVINGSTONE

If you say his surname as Living-stun, that rhymes. What a class act this lad is. 200 off 302 balls with 24 fours and three sixes. Lancs lead by 254, and Jos is with him on 48. Don’t think they will be mucking about.

Surrey all out for 280!

That’s a lead of 33, but not as many as they would have wanted. They lost their last six wickets for 49 runs, starting with the fall of Roy. The last four went to the new ball. Rojo got the last, Virdi clean bowled, and finished with four for 66.

Paul Frame has seen a dog at Chelmsford.

And another! Pope gone now. He’s been given lbw to Murtagh. He’s ambled down to Batty as if to ask about review it. Looked a bit of ropey call. 279 for nine. Lead is still 32....

Wicket! Rojo strikes. Pope edged him through the cordon earlier in the over and now Clarke tried to drive him over cover. Problem was, Steven Finn is quite difficult to drive over. Gone. 279 for eight, lead is 32, and Batty is in.

Jos on to 40 off 45. He’s letting Livi chill out in the 180s by the looks of things. You’d think Lancashire might want a little bowl tonight. Their lead is 234, and there are 18 overs in the day.

I wonder what Ashwin makes of Noema-Barnett.

News from Chelmsford...

Ouchy. That looks like that for the day at Chelmsford, then.

A wicket for Keaton Jennings! Alex Hughes gone. Derbyshire 118 for six and the follow on very much on the cards.

Wicket! New ball does it. Scurran plays away from his body to Murtagh and is caught well at second slip by Rayner. Catching. 266 for seven, lead 19.

Ollie Rayner of Middlesex is congratulated by his team-mates after catching out Sam Curran of Surrey.
Ollie Rayner of Middlesex is congratulated by his team-mates after catching out Sam Curran of Surrey. Photograph: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Updated

New ball taken. Surrey 265 for six and lead by 18. Scurran got off the mark with a truly lovely backfoot drive.

Full batting points for Lancs! Livingstone has 181... The lead is also more than 200. Might as well tee off, tbh.

Glamorgan are skating on thin ice. They are 77 for four and lead by just 103.

I feel like Essex will end up winning this game. That said, it’s due to wang it down tomorrow.

haha I see Jos has already hit a six. Lancs 391 for five. Livi on 174.

Wicket! Just before the new ball, Middlesex get the big one! Foakes is gone lbw to Franklin. They are still in this. Scurran joins fellow 19 year old Ollie Pope, with Surrey six down and leading by 10... Foakes made 73.

Updated

How exciting!

Warwickshire have a wicket! Chanderpaul gone for 95, first ball after tea to Chris Wright. Buttler in with Livi, who has 169.... The lead is 176.

Wessels goes 6, 4, 6 to move to a ludicrous ton. 77 balls, and he’s so far got 14 fours and four sixes.

Tea! Here's yer scores

As ever tea comes at all sorts of funny time around all sorts of funny grounds, but here’s a selection of scores.

Division One:

  • Surrey 244-5 v Middlesex 247
  • Essex 159 & 85-3 v Somerset 164 (they are back on there)
  • Lancashire 371-4 v Warwickshire 200

Division Two:

  • Derbyshire 97-5 v Durham 480-9d
  • Glamorgan 294 & 60-1v Sussex 212-8 v
  • Gloucestershire 149-5 v Worcestershire 363
  • Kent 180-5 v Leicestershire 350
  • Notts 213 & 292-8 v Northants 141 (not tea yet, with Notts scoring rapidly)

Enjoy a cuppa, why don’t you?

Updated

Empty Wessels is going mad! He has 91 off 75 and Notts lead by 364 with two wickets in hand.

Foakes took Voges for a couple of nice boundaries there, and takes tea on 69. Looks in great touch. 244 for five are Surrey, just three behind and with power to add in Scurran and Clarke.

Tea at Durham: Rushworth gets Critchley just before the break and Derbyshire are 97 for five and millions of miles behind.

Tea at Old Trafford: Livi has a career-best 169, Shiv has 93. Lancs lead by 171. Warks in strife.

Glamorgan 60 for one at tea against Sussex. Their lead is 86.

Wicket! The Voges trick has worked! How on earth has the Voges trick worked?! Roy has tried to get after him and been well caught by RoJo (he doesn’t drop many) at mid-off high above his head. Roy gone for 79, and Surrey are 231 for five, just 16 behind. Pope in on dayboo.

Adam Voges of Middlesex celebrates with his team-mates after dismissing Jason Roy.
Adam Voges of Middlesex celebrates with his team-mates after dismissing Jason Roy. Photograph: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Updated

Tea at Chelmsford! Essex are 84 for three, and lead by 79. Browne has a half-century.

Adam Voges is bowling, which says a bit about where Middlesex are. Four men out, and Foakes moves to 50 off his first ball. Too easy. 221 for four.

A wicket for Ashwin!

Livi has 168, which equals his highest first-class score. Shiv approaching a ton too, with Buttler still to come. Lancs 359 for four...

Liam Livingstone of Lancashire isn’t put off by the pigeons congregating on the pitch, as he adds to his total.
Liam Livingstone of Lancashire isn’t put off by the pigeons congregating on the pitch as he adds to his total. Photograph: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

Updated

Well, Surrey are really kicking on here. Roy has 76, and Foakes has started to tuck in to Finn. Rojo back to try stem the flow. With six overs to go before tea, it’s 219 for four, and they are just 32 behind. How good is this?!

50 for Roy! There with a sneaky nudge into the offside. 56 balls, three fours and a pair of sixes. Surrey 163 for four.

Jason Roy of Surrey celebrates his 50.
Jason Roy of Surrey celebrates his 50. Photograph: Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images

Updated

Paul Coughlin has Durham’s third wicket. Derbyshire 53 for three...

Gritty period... then Roy. Surrey are just 89 behind.

Jason Roy has just nailed Rayner for successive sixes down the ground and, all of a sudden, has 48 from 50. Looks in good order. Surrey 157 for four.

Notts are five down. They lead Northants by 258, so can probably declare now. Alex Hales made a rapid 25, Samit a rapid 64, and Che Pujara a slow 34. Empty Wessels about to have some fun, I suspect.

So Sussex are all out. They made 268. Ben Brown made 77, Jofra 27 and they put on 43. They trail Glamorgan by 26.

Essex’s lead is 34, but they are three down and have lost Ravi. He’s been stumped off Jack Leach....

Jack Leach of Somerset is congratulated by his team-mates after taking the wicket of Ravi Bopara.
Jack Leach of Somerset is congratulated by his team-mates after taking the wicket of Ravi Bopara. Photograph: TGSPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

Rushworth gets Godleman, Derbyshire 32 for two...

A wicket at the Riverside! Graham Onions, back from injury and very much out of the contract at the end of the season, gets Luis Reece. Derby 28 for one in reply to lots.

Kent are 79 for three as Billings joins Northeast. Leics, don’t forget, made 350...

Here we go.

Sussex are nine down, 60-odd behind, but Jofra is in at No11, so...

The Glosters have lost their first to the Woosters. Tongue gets Dent and it’s 38 for one.

Wicket! Meaker is gone! The nightwatchman had done very nicely, but he’s had a waft outside off to Finn, and Surrey are 106 for four. He made a very fine 42. Roy looks like he fancies it at the other end. Foakes in ahead of Pope, the debutant.

Away we go for the afternoon session then. Should be good. Rojo and Finn bowling, Roy batting... 96 for three..

Lunch! Scores on the doors!

Here’s what’s going on around the grounds.

Division One:

  • Surrey 95-3 v Middlesex 247
  • Essex 159 & 8-2 v Somerset 164
  • Lancashire 239-4 v Warwickshire 200

Division Two:

  • Derbyshire 12-0 v Durham 480-9d
  • Sussex 212-8 v Glamorgan 294
  • Gloucestershire 5-0 v Worcestershire 363
  • Kent 70-2 v Leicestershire 350
  • Notts 213 & 131-2 v Northants 141

Enjoy your sarnies!

A ton for Livi! What a guy. Gets there with a six in the over before lunch. Lancs 239 for four.

Liam Livingstone of Lancashire celebrates after scoring 100 runs.
Liam Livingstone is understandably pretty chuffed at reaching his century. Photograph: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images

Updated

Lunch at the Oval, and probably Surrey’s session, but the loss of Borthwick and addition of just 70-odd means it’s a close run thing. Bit of a grind, and it’s 95 for three.

Wicket at Chelmsford, and that game could be over today! Dan Lawrence has a pair, Craig Overton has two and Essex are effectively 3 for 2.

Fans watch the action at the Cloudfm County Ground in Chelmsford as Essex take on Somerset.
Fans watch the action at the Cloudfm County Ground in Chelmsford as Essex take on Somerset. Photograph: TGSPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

Wicket! It’s taken an hour and 50 mins, but Middlesex have a wicket. Steven Finn the bowler, his tight line doing for Borthwick who was tempted into driving and caught behind. 89 for three, and Roy in.

Essex are 8 for one! Coverton gets Chopra. The lead is three...

Lancashire lead! They move to 201 for four, with Livi on 86.

Updated

Durham declare!

Colly is gone for 177! Durham are 479 for eight, but no declaration yet...

Kent are two down, as DBD goes. Northeast joins Denly. 40 for two in response to Leicestershire’s 350. Would be a hammer blow to their promotion hopes if Kent lose this.

Quality, quality operator.

Somerset all out for 164. That’s a lead of five.

Groenwald goes, Somerset 164 for nine. One innings match incoming...

Somerset lead! They are 161 for eight, with Dom Bess on 21.

Sussex are having a very poor morning in Wales and are 158 for seven, looking at a hefty first innings deficit. Glam made 296.

Wicket at OT! The first of the morning, and it’s the nightwatchman Parry. Jeetan gets the wicket, ending a stand of 85 with Livi, who has 66. Shiv hits his first ball for four and Lancs are four down, trailing by 31.

Well that was a frustrating first hour from Middlesex. Murtagh replacing Rojo. Surrey 70 for two with Meaker on 34 and looking good.

Off for rain at New Road! Oh no. Glos 5-0.

Colly has 150 now...

So Kent got that pesky final wicket, but not before Leicestershire got four batting points. Stevens with his eighth (for 75). Parkinson the man to go, also for 75, a career best. Lewis Hill 85 not out. Kent 11 for none in response. Their batting looks strong, with Zak Crawley, who everyone raves about, down to come in at 6 or 7 on dayboo.

Streams! Watch county cricket. But keep this window open.

Essex v Somerset here.

Surrey v Middlesex here.

Well, with Surrey ambling along to 62 for two, on comes the great man Ollie Rayner. This is his ground. The people’s cricketer at the people’s ground.

Morning Stuie! Good start to the day from the Glosters. Can they back it up with the bat?

Worcestershire all out for 363! They’ve lost three for not many this morning, but that’ll do.

Meaker’s getting after TRJ! He top edges a pull then backfoot drives, both for four. It’s 55 for two.

Durham have maximum batting points!

There goes Davies... Smart work from Foster.

Oh no, Steve Davies is out now and Somerset are 133 for eight and very much looking at a first innings deficit. They are still 26 behind. Porter has five, again...

Essex’s Simon Harmer, right, congratulates Jamie Porter on his five wicket haul.
Essex’s Simon Harmer, right, congratulates Jamie Porter on his five wicket haul. Photograph: TGSPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

I love Steven Davies so much.

Early wickets in Div 2, then.

  • Libby went to Azharullah at Trent Bridge, and Notts are 29 for one, leading by 101.
  • Gus Robson gone to Ruaridh Smith up in north Wales - Sussex 103 for four, with the old stagers Nash and Wright together.

Updated

And Livi has a 50!

Somerset are seven down. Coverton, who was deemed good enough to have a nightwatchman last night, is gone, for 0 off 4. Amir again. Bess and Davies trying to get up to parity. 128 for seven.

Very pleased to report that three consecutive members of Middlesex’s cordon: Rayner (second slip), Robson (third) and Eskinazi (fourth) are wearing floppy hats. All paired with long sleeves, too.

Well, we are underway here at the Oval. A Rojo maiden, and now Finn from the Pavilion End. Lovely shot from Meaker down the ground.

And early action at Chelmsford! The rather confusing nightwatchman, Jack Leach, goes second ball of the day to Amir! 118 for six. Could Essex burgle a first innings lead?

Essex’s Mohammad Amir celebrates taking the wicket of Somerset’s Jack Leach.
Essex’s Mohammad Amir celebrates taking the wicket of Somerset’s Jack Leach. Photograph: TGSPhoto/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

They’ve just said on the PA that we could get a shower later on! Sorry, what? I’m wearing shorts and flip flops.

Middlesex’s huddle has found cause for applause. No idea what about, and can’t quite think what it would be for. But they are getting close to their game of foorball! So are Surrey. How exciting.

While we wait for meaningful action or, as it’s otherwise known, cricket, why not read Gary Naylor’s ever-thoughtful county cricket talking points?

Ah the wonderful Tanya Aldred has written this week’s Spin. Just excellent news. Tanya wrote my all-time favourite line about cricket, and I suspect a few of yours too, about Tim Bresnan who, she wrote, “has the air of a man with an emergency cheese sandwich in his back pocket”. Magic.

Morning all it's the morning call!

Good morning! It’s Tuesday, but doesn’t it just feel like a Monday right now? Weird, eh. It’s cos there was a Bank Holiday yesterday, and not just any old Bank Holiday but a ripper, a scorcher, a sweat-patch-creator. And it wasn’t it just lovely? It produced some great cricket, at ‘Edinglee, and in eight games around the county grounds, too. I’m Will Macpherson and I’m at the Oval to guide you through the next 96 overs of action in the game here, and the seven others, too.

So, this game, then. Surrey’s rather thrown-together side, containing four 19-year-olds, did really well to bowl Middlesex out for 247 on a pitch that is doing a bit but not much. But then Toby Roland-Jones bowled a beaut of a spell from the Vauxhall End and might just have made it Middlesex’s day. Who knows, really, but they felt like a pair of decisive blows. Much rests on the shoulders of Messrs Borthwick, Roy and Foakes.

Elsewhere, the action was every bit as enthralling. Somerset had Essex on the ropes, but Jamie Porter has kept the leaders right in it. Runs on the board, long tail (Jack Leach is in as a nightwatchman for Craig Overton, which I don’t quite understand) and all that. At Old Trafford, Lancashire look in a strong position against Warwickshire. Would be a treat to see Liam Livingstone kick on.

Division Two was nice and spicy. Stevo took seven, but Leicestershire might just be on top because their last pair have so far put on 98. 20 wickets fell at Trent Bridge, but by all accounts it’s no minefield. And Colly scored a ton! Another one! Ashwin’s playing for Worcestershire (who had a good day), while it looks to me like honours even between Sussex and Glamorgan. This is where we are at:

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

And here’s yesterday’s report and roundup. These are words you really have to read. And comment on. Please do that with haste.

I am contactable! There are three ways you can contact me. They are these:

I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you. So thanks in advance. In the meantime there ain’t much else for me to say besides: enjoy the cricket. And keep a cool beverage close at hand: it’s another scorcher.

Updated

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