Surrey in charge of top-of-the-table clash with Somerset
In the top-of-the-table clash at Guildford Surrey’s young batsmen made hay on a ground parched mustard by the summer. As supporters on white bucket seats flexed their bare toes in the sun, first Rory Burns, then Scott Borthwick, then Olly Pope made half centuries as Surrey reached 351 for five at stumps against Somerset.
The 20-year old Pope looked in wonderful touch and finished unbeaten on 73. Somerset, who chose not to contest the toss, bowled without much luck. There was a wicket for Dominic Bess and four overs for Jack Leach, back in the side for his first game since being hit with a ball in the nets in early May.
At New Road Lancashire made a late-afternoon hash of their innings, going from 77 without loss to 86 for five, with ducks for Stephen Parry, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Rob Jones and the luckless Haseeb Hameed. Ed Barnard took four wickets. Lancashire had earlier bowled out Worcestershire for 247, with four wickets each for Joe Mennie and Jordan Clark. Daryl Mitchell held the batting together with 118.
A superb 146 from Ross Taylor guided Nottinghamshire to 311 for six against Essex at Chelmsford. There were two wickets each for Matthew Quinn and Simon Harmer.
In the pink Kookaburra game at the Ageas Bowl Yorkshire recovered from 21 for three to 315 for seven thanks to a century for Gary Ballance and 79 from England’s Under-19 World Cup captain, Harry Brook. Hampshire’s Dale Steyn took four for 48.
In Division Two at Tunbridge Wells, 20 wickets fell in the day. First Kent were bowled out for 197, with five wickets for Keith Barker. Then Warwickshire collapsed to 71 for eight, reaching three figures, finishing on 125, thanks only to a 51-run ninth-wicket partnership between Jonathan Trott (59 not out) and Henry Brookes.
Runs flowed at Arundel, where Sussex finished on 439 for five against Durham thanks to maiden first-class centuries for Philip Salt and, in his third first-class game, Tom Haines.
At Grace Road 151 not out for Colin Ackermann guided Leicestershire to 353 for eight. Middlesex’s Tim Murtagh took five for 52. It was a rain-shortened day at Swansea, where Glamorgan slipped to 52 for five. But Chris Cooke had shepherded the tail to 175 for seven at stumps.
In the pink-ball game at Wantage Road Northamptonshire were dismissed for 282, with Richard Levi, Ben Duckett and Luke Procter all making fifties. In reply Gloucestershire were 25 for one.
Updated
Close of play scores
Division One
Worcestershire 247, Lancashire 86-5
Surrey 351-5 v Somerset
Essex v Nottinghamshire 311-6
Hampshire v Yorkshire 245-5 (latest; day/night match)
Division Two
Sussex 439-5 v Durham
Leicestershire 353-8 v Middlesex
Kent 197, 4-0 v Warwickshire 125
Glamorgan 175-7 v Derbyshire
Northamptonshire 282 all out v Gloucestershire (latest; day-night match)
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Make that Lancashire 86 for 5. Jones lbw Barnard, also for a duck. Barnard now 4 for 20, very quickly.
Looks like I might have closed the blog a bit early. Lancashire now 86 for four. Ducks for Parry, Hameed and Chanderpaul.
And that’s stumps at Guildford, with Surrey on top at 351 for 5. Pope 73 not out off just 85 balls, Jacks not out 15. The pair of them looked young as new lambs with helmets in their arms, walking off the pitch. The shadows are growing and the spectators potter off the ground towards Woodbridge Road. Close of play scores to follow. Many thanks for your company!
A WICKET at New Road. Davies out for 43, Lancashire now 77 for 1, and they save Hass and send in Stephen Parry.
Three of this Surrey team are home-grown British-Asian players: Harinath, Patel and Virdi. Good to see. Incidentally it has clouded over here at Guildford, with the wind lightly buffeting the roofs of the festival tents. And the umpires seem to be changing the ball after only 12 overs or so of the new ball. Ollie Pope has a sweet touch with the bat. An empty train trundles over the red-brick bridge, off on its meander via Cobham. And that’s enough disjointed thoughts.
Lancashire making a good start against Worcestershire - 56 for 0. And the Glamorgan recovery continues - 106 for 5. Warwickshire now 8 down,for 82, Trott 32 not out. Poor Tunbridge Wells - it could be all over by tomorrow.
And fifty for Ollie Pope! Ten smashing fours off 60 balls.
Numbers 6 and 7 for Glamorgan rubbing away some of the rouge of humiliation. Now 87 for 5 against Derbyshire.
Taylor moves on to 130 for Notts; Ballance and Brook’s 100-run partnership at the Ageas comes up in 155 balls. Finch passes 50 in the run-fest at Arundel. Warwickshire now 65 for 7, Trotty surveying the burning deck - not out 29.
I sense the official Lancashire twitter account is watching through its fingers: “We’ve got through 10 overs of the @LancsCCC innings, 23-0 with @JetJennings 14* & @aldavies23 8* in reply to Worcs’ 247ao #WORvLAN
Trying to identify a pied wagtail on the outfield, I miss Patel driving at Abell, caught two short of his fifty. Surrey nearly but not totally on top: 300 for 5
WICKET!! Tom Abell strikes again!!! Patel edges behind for 48 and Surrey are 299/5#SURvSOM pic.twitter.com/Rt9FSicdRQ
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) June 20, 2018
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Ballance and Brook going well against the pink ball, last year’s U19 captain Harry Brook 48 not out. Trott trying his best to save Warwickshire’s bacon with 27 not out.
Ollie Pope now the second Surrey batsman to make 500 Championship runs this season. Young Ryan Patel nearing a deserved half-century, watchful, precise.
Oh, Glamorgan. Not a great start at Swansea: 52 for 5, 3 for12 for Tony Palladino. Worse news still, Khawaja is already out, for 5.
Another wicket at Arundel - Salt out for 130, a second wicket for Salisbury. Pope looking in gorgeous touch here at Guildford: 20 runs, all in boundaries.
Chaos at Tunbridge Wells, Warwickshire 35 for 4, with the unplayable, evergreen Darren Stevens causing mischief with 2 for 9. Trott, not out 13.
Tumult at Guildford: Another WICKET as de Bruyn looks to go inside out, skips down the pitch and whacks it to at extra-cover. A duck in his first innings in Championship cricket. Surrey 247 for 4.
Borthwick out for 83, bowled by Tim Groenewald, one that nipped back. A lovely little innings. Surrey 247 for 3.
And Worcestershire have been bowled out while I was looking elsewhere - Mitchell last man out for 118. Four wickets each for Clark and Mennie.
And they run a rare three at Guildford.
Division One
Surrey v Somerset, Guildford. Surrey 239 for 2 (Borthwick 82 not out, Patel 30 not out)
Worcestershire v Lancashire, New Road. Worcestershire 239 for 2 (Mitchell 114 not out; Mennie 4 for 43, Clark 3 for 52)
Essex v Nottinghamshire, Chelmsford. Nottinghamshire 229 for 3 (Taylor 110 not out)
Hampshire v Yorkshire, Ageas Bowl. Day/night: Yorkshire 94 for 3 (Ballance 39 not out, Brook 34 not out.
Division Two
Sussex v Durham, Arundel. Sussex 279 for 2 ( Salt 126 not out)
Leicestershire v Middlesex, Grace Road. Leicestershire 202 for 5 (Ackermann 76 not out)
Kent v Warwickshire, Tunbridge Wells. Kent 197 all out (Denly 59; Barker 5 for 32)
Glamorgan v Derbyshire, Swansea: Start was delayed. Glamorgan 26 for 0.
Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire, The County Ground. Day/night: Northants 131 for 3 (Duckett 52, Procter 49)
Updated
And a hundred for Ross Taylor at Chelmsford, while Yorkshire have recovered to 80 for 3 thanks to Ballance and Brook. Leicester a steady 194, Ackermann 75 not out, and Kent all out for 197 amongst the rhodedendrums.
Tea scores to follow shortly
Make that 232 for 8, Morris for 0, a second wicket for Clark.
And that’s a super hundred for Daryl Mitchell who has led a great fightback this afternoon against Lancashire, Worcestershire 232 for 7.
Swept to the boundary second ball by Borthwick. Here ends the ball-by-ball commentary.
On the money first ball.
I really, really didn’t mean to jinx Tom Haines. Sorry Tom. Anyway, you got 124. Are Durham going to have their becoming-traditional two-days-bad, two-days-good match?
And replacing Dom Bess at the pavilion end we have Jack Leach... Surrey 212 for 2.
At Arundel centuries each for Philip Salt - thrust into the opening role because of injury - and Tom Haines, chucked in to the team this morning when Chris Jordan was picked off by the Lions. “Keep an eye on Tom Haines,” says Sussex expert Bruce Talbot, “he’s one to watch.” Sussex 253 for 1.
Mitchell helping the Worcestershire tail to a very healthy wag against Lancashire: he’s put on 45 now for the seventh wicket with Ross Whiteley.
Surrey now level on points with Somerset at the top of the table as the 200 comes up.
In the other pink-ball game: Northants 105 for 2; Duckett out for 52; Matt Taylor 2 for 28.
And at Guildford, we get our second look at Dom Bess, but still no sign of Leach...
Eeek! Yorkies. 21 for 3. Pujara b Steyn 0; Lyth c Alsop b Berg 21.
A pic so you can see just how scorched the grass is https://twitter.com/SomersetCCC/status/1009425570222964736
Surrey 144/1 from 41 overs here at Guildford. Lewis Gregory and Tim Groenewald in the attack#SURvSOM pic.twitter.com/sQ0B4X9x9G
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) June 20, 2018
It’s so lovely to watch cricket at a ground where everyone is perched on their little white bucket chairs around the boundary, hats firmly on, shoes off, busy festival tent selling HogsBack Brewery pints, trees floating upwards towards the sky. Borthwick moves towards an easy fifty as 20 year old Patel, waits, waits, to get off the mark.
Updated
A WICKET at Guildford. Rory Burns lbw playing across the line for 66, just slightly above his first-class average, spoils to Lewis Gregory. Surrey 158 for 2 as England U-19 Ryan Patel walks in.
Worcestershire whooping it up now at New Road: Daryl Mitchell moves onto fifty. 133 for 5. Chris Nash has been out at Chelmsford for 51, a second wicket for Quinn. A very aesthetically pleasing scorecard at the Ageas. Yorkshire 10 for 1, Lyth 10, Lees 0, Pujara 0, extras 0. It works better vertically.
Cripes! Salt’s got the first hundred of the round at Arundel, 15 fours. And young Haines is 80 not out.
Leicestershire continue their recovery at Grace Road, now 118 for 3. Ackermann 44 not out while Kent are 6 down at Tunbridge Wells for 158
Updated
Pink ball working very well for Northants - perhaps they could take it around with them? Ben Duckett 41 not out, Northants 65 for 0 off ten.
Yorkshire make a terrible start with their makeshift team. One for 1 in the first over. Lees lbw Edwards 0.
An expert in the press-box has pointed out that something the selectors might not like is Burn’s very quick glance to the right just before the bowler releases the ball. Surely not? Seems to work for him...
And that’s Burns’ fifty, four through cover. Surrey 122 for 1.
Eavesdropping on Alec Stewart talking to David Fulton about Rory Burns on Sky: “What more does he have to do?... I’ll be staggered, annoyed, disappointed if he is not picked for the Lions games against India A in July.”
And the day-nighter at the County Ground starts with a bang! Ben Duckett, who perhaps spent yesterday watching England playing knock-about at Trent Bridge, whallops five fours in an over.
bang.https://twitter.com/NorthantsCCC/status/1009415957914312705
And Burns resumes as he was after lunch, hitting Davey to the boundary first ball.
Lunchtime scores
Division One
Surrey v Somerset, Guildford. Surrey 98 for 1 (Burns 31, Borthwick 8)
Worcestershire v Lancashire, New Road. Worcestershire 84 for 5 (Mitchell 25 not out; Mennie 3 for 21)
Essex v Nottinghamshire, Chelmsford. Nottinghamshire 109 for 2 (Nash 48 not out)
Hampshire v Yorkshire, Ageas Bowl. Day/night: play due to start at 2pm.
Division 2
Sussex v Durham, Arundel. Sussex 130 for 1 ( Salt 59 not out, and young Tom Haines, only playing because Jordan was called into the Lions squad, 62 not out.)
Leicestershire v Middlesex, Grace Road. Leicestershire 84 for 3 (Ackermann 30 not out)
Kent v Warwickshire, Tunbridge Wells. Kent 104 for 4 (Hannon-Dalby 2 for 23)
Glamorgan v Derbyshire, Swansea: No play yet due to rain.
Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire, The County Ground. Day/night: play due to start at 1.30pm.
There’s just time for Scott Borthwick to push a beautifully-timed four in the last over before lunch, then the players trot off for sandwiches. Surrey 98 for 1. Rory Burns 31, Scott Borthwick 8.
Lunchtime updates to follow.
And another one down at Grace Road, Cosgrove for 16. And I’d missed Patel falling, lbw for for 20. Notts close to a hundred before lunch - 97 for 2.
Wickets tumbling at New Road, two wickets in two balls for Joe Mennie and Worcestershire down to the bare bones at 82 for five.
WICKET! A dejected Harinath thumps his bat on the ground on his slow walk back to the pavilion. lbw Tom Abell for 48. Surrey 83 for 1.
Sorry about the slow updates, the wifi is slightly dodgy, but we have just been bought egg mayonnaise sandwiches and a KitKat to munch while Surrey continue with run-manna.
And Bess comes into the attack, before 12.30 on the first day with short boundaries, the sun shining and two batsmen set on chunky runs.
Notts have also passed fifty at Chelmsford, Chris Nash 34 not out, Samit Patel 19not out. And Sussex are fair motoring at Arundel - 77 for 1. Philip Salt 37 not out.
A beautiful shot by Harinath rings up the Surrey fifty. He’s scoring at double the pace of Burns. A man on a mission.
And another wicket down at New Road where the Lancashire attack are sharing out the spoils. This time Joe Clarke departs, b Mennie for 21. Worcs: 54 for 3. I see that Lancs are persevering with Haseeb Hameed despite his Championship average of 5. Come on Hass, this time...
Play due to start again at Grace Road after a break for rain, with Leicestershire 25 for 2. No play at all yet at Swansea, where rain is miserably spoiling the festival bunting.
This is the ICC future tours programme - it is a headache inducing document, don’t try to look at it if you have anything even resembling a hangover. I THINK it is saying England play Ireland next July.
Icc future tours programme here. Ireland test next summer confirmed. https://t.co/3iGE9XmI3o
— Nick Hoult (@NHoultCricket) June 20, 2018
Bright sunshine here at Guildford where the lack of rain is evident on the outfield - so dry that it looks almost sandy. Surrey have made a good start, 30 for 0. Rory Burns, leading scorer in Division One, continues in the same commanding form and Arun Harinath is making the most of a chance of first-team cricket. He is currently second-team captain, and made hundreds in each innings here a few years ago when Rory Burns was out with a broken jaw.
Yikes, wickets tumbling everywhere - Kent now 30 for 2, with Bell-Drummond joining Guptill back in the pavilion. Leicestershire 25 for 2 - with a wicket each for Murtagh and Finn.
And another early breakthrough for Lancashire, Tom Fell b by Tom Bailey for 10. Worcestershire 28 for 2.
WICKET WATCH @TomBaildog strikes to claim the second wicket of the morning, Tom Fell bowled for 10. Worcs 15/2 #WORvLAN pic.twitter.com/xtpyZoBe3t
— Lancashire Cricket (@LancsCCC) June 20, 2018
And a few early wickets round the country - at New Road Martin Guptill is caught off Onions for 2, Worcestershire 5 for 1. At Arundel Luke Wells fell early for 8, Sussex 10 for 1. And at Tunbridge Wells, Sean Dickson bowled Barker for 1. Kent 15 for 1.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to this midsummer round of Championship cricket, with the days at their longest and most perfect for cricket watching. We have a full round of matches including festival games at Arundel, Swansea, Guildford, and Tunbridge Wells – get along if you can. We also have the first two pink-ball clashes of the season, with matches at the Ageas Bowl, starting at 2 o’clock, and at the County Ground, starting at 1.30pm.
Division One
Here at Guildford, we have the mouth-watering prospect of a top-of-the-table clash between Surrey and Somerset. Jack Leach returns alongside Dom Bess at a new-look Guildford with a revamped pavilion jointly funded by Guildford Borough Council and Surrey CCC. Both sides are missing players to the England Lions: Ben Foakes, the Curran brothers and Craig Overton. Ollie Pope, a product of Guildford colt’s system, will keep wicket for Surrey and blink and you’ll miss him overseas signing Theunis de Bruyn joins the team. Mark Stoneman is missing with personal issues, replaced by Arun Harinath.
At New Road Worcestershire take on Lancashire, who batted dreadfully in the previous game against Essex at Old Trafford. Liam Livingstone and Matt Parkinson are away with the Lions, Keaton Jennings is expected to captain. Brett D’Oliveira will lead Worcestershire in place of Joe Leach, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a stress fracture of the back. Martin Guptill and Steve Magoffin are added to the squad.
In the day-night game at the Ageas Bowl, seventh-placed Hampshire entertain a depleted Yorkshire missing five players to the England one-day squad and Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Matt Fisher to England Lions. Ollie Rayner joins Hampshire on a month’s loan from Middlesex because of injuries to Mason Crane and Brad Taylor and Liam Dawson’s absence, also with the Lions. This game is the first to feature the pink Kookaburra, being trialled this season in Division One floodlit games. Hampshire slipped to seventh after a home defeat by Surrey in their last match, despite having Dale Steyn to share the new ball with Kyle Abbott. Yorkshire are looking for revenge after defeat in the James Vince-fest in the Royal London One-Day Cup on Monday.
At Chelmsford, third-placed Essex take on fourth-placed Nottinghamshire who have suffered consecutive defeats. Nottinghamshire are missing Steven Mullaney, who will lead the Lions in their tri-series games; Alastair Cook plays for Essex who will be lead by Tom Westley with Ryan ten Doeschate still suspended.
Division Two
At St Helens, centurion Usman Khawaja makes his home debut for Glamorgan against Derbyshire who are still missing Luis Reece with injury.
At beautiful Tunbridge Wells, Kent take on top-of-the-table Warwickshire, who have only won one once here in 10 Championship games. Warwickshire come into the game full of confidence, after Ian Bell’s double century inspiration against Glamorgan in the last round and four wins from their first five matches. Kent are missing Sam Billings, so Joe Denly continues as captain, Warwickshire are without the injured Oli Stone and Sam Hain with the Lions.
At Grace Road Leicestershire play a Middlesex missing Eoin Morgan with England, and Nick Gubbins and Tom Helm with the Lions. Rejuvinated Leicestershire under the leadership of Paul Horton aim for a third consecutive Championship win.
Bottom of the table Northants remain winless and well adrift at the bottom of the table after suffering their fourth defeat in five matches, but will hope that the pink-ball fixture can inspire a return to form against Gloucestershire, who batted out a draw against Kent last week.
At Arundel, Durham hope to continue the form that has seen them pluck victory from the jaws of defeat in their last two home games. Sussex include Chris Jordan, Jofra Archer and Laurie Evans in their Championship squad for the first time this season.
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