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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tanya Aldred, Vic Marks at Taunton and Graham Hardcastle at The Oval

County cricket: Somerset draw with Hants, Surrey thrash Yorkshire – as it happened

James Vince of Hampshire bats during day four of the Division One match.
James Vince of Hampshire bats during day four of the Division One match. Photograph: Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Close of play round-up

Division 1

Surrey v Yorkshire: Surrey 414 beat Yorkshire 229, 168 (S Curran 4-47, Virdi 3-52) by an innings and 17 runs.

Somerset v Hampshire: Somerset 506, Hampshire 231, 432 for 4 dec (Vince 201 not out ). Match drawn.

Division 2

Middlesex b Gloucestershire: Middlesex 455-8 dec, Gloucestershire 210 and 326 for 4 dec (Bracey 125 not out; Harris 3-60) Match drawn.

Derbyshire v Durham: Derbyshire 427 and 279 for 9 dec (Wood 6-46), Durham 520. Match drawn.

A sweet end to these spring rounds of Championship games. Today Surrey’s youth policy paid off, and 21 year old James Bracey saved the game for Gloucestershire. Mark Wood’s flight from the IPL proved fruitful and James Vince pulled it out of the bag spectacularly when all seemed lost. Thanks for your company this past month and a bit - see you again when the days have grown even longer. May Ed Smith’s squad provoke enjoyable and fruitful discussions BTL.

That’s it folks, everyone has shaken hands. Scores to follow.

And I know there are mixed feeling about All Stars cricket below the line but this (below) must be good news. Anecdotally, I feel sure I’ve seen a few more kids in the park with cricket bats than I have done in previous years. And the gear is branded All Stars stuff.

https://twitter.com/allstarscricket/status/995980777195298817

Updated

And Kevin O’Brien is three-quarters of the way there - 75 not out off 141 balls. Their first (male) fifty too. Ireland 254 for 6.

“Hands have been shaken at Taunton: Vince 201 not out. Somerset shrewdly avoid the glare of being Championship leaders for a month. Good afternoon all.”

Gower on Vince as the teams shake hands with Hampshire 434 for 2 declared, and Vince 201 not out, an innings to remember however kind the pitch today. Whatever the names copper-plated onto Smith’s envelope tomorrow morning, Vince can go to bed tonight with the happy knowledge he gave it all he had.

Updated

Oh Lord, Vince has only gone and done it. 201 not out, the day before the Test team is announced. Enough.?!

Another for Wood: this time Duane Olivier goes, caught behind again. Derbyshire 248 for 9, leading Durham by by 155.

A timely five-fer fer Mark Wood - his latest victim is Daryn Smit, caught behind for 34, leaving Derbyshire 242 for 8, leading Durham by 149. Still time for a result there?

Colin Graves shouting his mouth off prematurely, is it...?

Gloucester are into the lead against Middlesex - ten runs into the lead, in fact: they’ve just lost Jack Taylor for 41, but in brighter news young James Bracey has reached his century. They’re 256 for 4 at Lord’s.

Hampshire are now 361-4 on this chameleon of a pitch with Vince unbeaten on 167 after 7 hours and 42 minutes at the crease. Eddie Byrom has just bowled three overs of loopy leg breaks alongside Dom Bess. So handshakes are likely at 16.50 on a day of disappointment for Somerset, the greatest of which is the injury to Leach. They love him down here. “We don’t want to lose you but we think you ought to go” was the mentality before he broke his thumb. Now it will probably be about six weeks before he plays again. Someone might have stolen his Test spot by then.

No matter that the pitch has been sedated by the sun Vince has played a superb innings to save the match for his side. We wait to see whether he will be around the county circuit for much longer this summer.

Must solemnly report that James Vince has now reached 167, Hampshire onto 316 for 4, 87 in the lead over Somerset.

Another wicket down for Derbyshire, another wicket up for Mark Wood: Hardus Viljoen goes, leaving Derbyshire 225 for 7 and building a respectable lead, of 132.

Here’s a report from Graham Hardcastle to keep you ticking over, in which Joe Root speaks:

When you come back to Yorkshire, you want to perform and give a bit back to the side. It’s been a little bit disappointing,” said Root, who led Yorkshire at the Oval owing to Gary Ballance’s illness. “But that’s cricket, it can be challenging. I didn’t come into these games to get ready for the Test matches. I made sure I did my preparation beforehand to try and perform well for Yorkshire. It’s just not materialised, unfortunately. That’s just how it can go.”

A 50 for Kevin O’Brien! That, as you will no doubt not need reminding, is Ireland’s first Test half-century. Hats off to the larger of the O’Brien brothers. And perhaps more tangibly important, they’re now in the lead, albeit only by 11 runs but they’ve at least avoided an innings defeat after being made to follow on. 191 for 6 at the moment.

Good news for Cameron Bancroft: he’s been cleared to play club cricket in Australia, meaning he’ll turn out for Willetton while serving his nine-month ball-tampering ban. More here...

That was Amir’s hundredth Test wicket by the way. It took him 31 Tests. It took Wasim Akram 30!

“James Vince has moved on to 130 with great serenity, Rossouw has 22 and Hampshire now lead by 35. There is no spin for Bess; Overton is trying some off-cutters and the game seems to be drifting towards a draw. This is objective analysis; I don’t really believe in jinxing. In any case in my experience games of cricket only undergo technicolour transformations after I’ve written the match report.”

Derby on the slide at 184 for 6 - Critchley for 40 and Godleman for 25. Another wicket for Steel 2-30 and one for Weighell. They lead Durham by 92

Another wicket for Amir as Ireland look wobbly at 160 for 6, still 20 behind. A harsh attack to face in your first Test.

Vince moves to 130 off 330 balls, which brings a strange pattern to an innings that must mean something. But what? Lessons learnt? Fortitude at the last? Too little too late? Whichever, Ed Smith isn’t a man to leave his homework to the last moment - he had picked the team before today - hadn’t he?

Another 21 year old, Matt Critchley, demi-slaying the Durham attack at Derby. Five fours so far in his 34 not out. Derby 167 for 4, lead by 74. Not enough yet, but might a last-session run-chase be on the cards?

Updated

Bravo to 21 year old James Bracey, 60 not out for Gloucestershire in their steadfastness today against Middlesex. Currently 174 for 3, still 71 behind but less than two sessions to bat.

I think Rob Key is in mischievous mood.

A wicket at Malahide - Stirling lbw for 11, a second wicket for Mohammad Abbas. Ireland 129 for 5, trailing by 51. And at Lord’s: Roderick has gone, after an unflappable 48. A second wicket for Harris. Gloucs 160 for 3, trail Middlex by 85.

And Vince has moved on to 119 not out, with three fours since he reached 100.

“Jack Leach has a broken left thumb, which means that he will not be available to resume his Test career against Pakistan in the forthcoming two Test series. Before the start of play at Taunton in Somerset’s match against Hampshire Leach was batting in the nets against Jason Kerr, the first team coach, and his dog ball thrower. The ball rose unexpectedly and struck his thumb; Leach immediately headed for the pavilion. The worst fears of Leach and his Somerset colleagues were later confirmed.

This is a cruel blow for Leach, who impressed in his debut Test in Christchurch at the beginning of April and it comes on the eve of the announcement of England’s squad for the Lord’s Test. With Liam Dawson currently unfit there is not another left-arm spinner on the horizon. The selectors will no doubt reconsider Moeen Ali, who is currently in India, as well as two extremely raw off-spinners, Leach’s colleague at Somerset, Dom Bess, and Surrey’s Amar Virdi.”

Ponder Ed Smith’s mind over lunch. Good news for 30-year olds Malan and Stoneman?

Lunchtime round-up

Division 1

Surrey v Yorkshire: Surrey 414 beat Yorkshire 229, 168 (S Curran 4-47, Virdi 3-52) by an innings and 17 runs.

Somerset v Hampshire: Somerset 506, Hampshire 231, 260 for 4 (Vince 100 not out ). Hampshire trail Somerset by 15 runs.

Division 2

Middlesex b Gloucestershire: Middlesex 455-8 dec, Gloucestershire 210 and 149 for 2 (Roderick not out 48, Bracey 42 not out) Gloucestershire trail Middlesex by 96 runs.

Derbyshire v Durham: Derbyshire 427 and 114 for 4 (Wood 3-29), Durham 520. Derbyshire lead Durham by 21 runs.

A collapse by Yorkshire gave Surrey victory in the first session of the day. Surrey’s young team rise to second in the table, with a game in hand over Notts. Vince is playing beautifully, patiently, and with most fortunate timing at Taunton, to stay Somerset’s hopes of a third consecutive win at home. A fascinating session on the card there after lunch. As Vic reported, Jack Leach is currently off the field with a dog-ball-thrower related thumb injury. At Lord’s, Gloucestershire have not lost a wicket this morning to frustrate Middlesex; and Mark Wood has made important inroads into Derbyshire’s batting.

Lunch scores to come v shortly. Meanwhile some swotting up on Amir, whose patella tendonitis in the knee has been hampering him in Malahide.

Updated

“Vince has reached his hundred, one of his best. Perhaps the most telling statistic is the number of balls faced, 277. The pitch has been at its best for batting yesterday and today but there has been no flightiness from Vince. I’m informed that this has been the slowest hundred in the Championship this season, so the slowest and one of the best - that must confuse them at ECB towers - where are the sixes to keep the women and children entranced?

“Anyway Somerset then disposed of Tom Alsop fairly quickly, caught at second slip off Tim Groenewald for 12. So there is still life in this game. Still no sightings of Leach and no updates either. At lunch Hampshire are 260-4, 15 behind. Just before the break Rilee Rossouw edged his first runs and then fell to the ground; he summoned the physio so there was a six minute delay, followed by a bit of time wasting, which prompted two of the wiliest, old umpires (Lloyds and Evans) to race into position at 12.59.”

Updated

And on the stroke of lunch, Derbyshire lose another, Alex Hughes, c Stuart Poynter b Cameron Steel for 17. With a lead of just 21, Derby must dine timorously.

Updated

Alsop holds the position but unfortunately he’s still out, for 12, Hampshire 256 for 4, still trail Somerset by 19. Vince 100 not out.

A third wicket now for Mark Wood as Slater is caught by Cameron Steel for a careful 42. 103 for 3 with a lead of ten. Careful now.

And a HUNDRED for VINCE! 325 minutes, 277 balls, and still 13 fours.

And a second wicket for Mark Wood at Derby, Madsen for 32. Derby 94 for 2, leading by one run. Maybe it was worth racing back from the IPL after all.

https://twitter.com/DurhamCricket/status/995991780649832448

We know cricketers are not immune to the black dog. This terrific little video from Accrington Stanley striker Billy Kee is a reminder of what a struggle life can be if you are suffering from depression, anxiety or other mental-health complaints. Go well this mental health awareness week, and every week.

Ooops, after a period of steadiness, Ireland lose 2 for 1. N O’Brien b Amir 18 and Porterfield c Sarfraz b Amir 32; 96 for 4 still trailing by 84. Seems Ireland could be in more trouble if Pakistan took all their chances...

“No sighting of Ed Smith here...it’s a long way from home and he may have some notes to make. Finally Somerset have a wicket. Amla caught behind off Gregory for 107, flapping at a wide long-hop, or surprised by a quicker off-side bouncer, depending upon your disposition. If Smith was here he would be presumably be dismayed by Leach’s absence, lukewarm about Craig Overton’s bowling (tho pleased to see that his brother is fit enough to be the sub fieldsman), and mightily impressed by Vince who has played one of his most disciplined innings (unless he has already decided to drop him).”

And Amla falls, c Davies b Gregory, after 245 minutes of concentration for 107. Hampshire 233 for 3, still trailing by 42. Vince, so near, on 89. The drawbridge has fallen.

Updated

A minute’s watching for anyone pondering pencilling Sam Curran into their Test team, due to be announced tomorrow. Here are his ten wickets in the game against Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, Gloucestershire are pottering along at Lord’s, adding 49 in the first hour. Roderick 38, Bracey 19. They still trail Middlesex by 130.

Yorkshire have lost by an innings and 17 runs

… losing their last five wickets for just 26 this morning, including wickets seven, eight and nine without addition on 164. Sam Curran finishes with 10 wickets in the match. Full points for Surrey.

Updated

Surrey getting all excited, for those of you who like that sort of thing. Has anyone spotted Ed Smith today? Vic?

And at the Ageas Bowl James Vince is still on 72. You’ve got to admire his tenacity here.

And it is all over at The Oval - Surrey win by an innings and 17. Leaning the last man out, lbw Clarke 28. And here’s a huge well done to Surrey and their exciting, and brave, youngsters.

Derbyshire now in on the act: 33/1, still 55 behind. Reece b Wood for 12.

Yorkshire are losing wickets more quickly than I can type -164 for 9 now. Curran has ten wickets in the match, 4 for 47 in the innings and something special this morning.

Updated

More woe for Yorkshire comes in the form of Sam Curran’s eighth wicket of the match. He has removed Tim Bresnan, caught behind for one. They are still 21 runs behind and seven down. Jack Leaning has 28 and Steve Patterson is yet to get off the mark. If and when Surrey wrap this up, it would be their second win from three at home so far this season - a huge boost given struggling for results here has been their recent downfall.

Updated

Hashim Amla has just reached his century with an effortless cover drive - from 177 balls - and Hampshire are 207-2. Jack Leach is sitting glumly on the dressing room balcony. They say he is “being assessed” and we await updates. It does not look good for him with the Test squad being announced tomorrow. The new ball is due in an over.

Updated

And a hundred for Hashim Amla, 206 mins, 179 balls. Patience personified. Hampshire must be thanking their lucky stars, and their healthy bank balance, every time he walks out to bat.

And here is an fascinating little Twitter snippet:

Yorkshire tipping into the abyss. 164 for 7, with Bresnan gone for 1. Another catch for Foakes and another wicket for Sam Curran.

Jonny Bairstow has gone. Huge blow for Yorkshire. He’s been undone by extra bounce and feathers behind off Rikki Clarke for 29. You feel avoiding defeat is a task beyond Yorkshire now unless Tim Bresnan can return to his glories of 2016 with the bat. He has joined Jack Leaning, who has 26, at the crease. Yorkshire 160/6 and still 25 behind.

Updated

And here’s a little story: Bairstow out for 29 c Foakes ( !) b Clarke. Yorkies in much bother now 163 for 6, still trailing by 22.

And as I check back, I see that Ireland have lost 2, Joyce run-out (no!!) for 43 and Balbirnie lbw for a duck. Ireland 69 for 2.

Fifteen minutes gone and not a wicket fallen - has summer truly arrived? Amla moves on to 92 not out, who not so long ago was playing through this ...

https://twitter.com/amlahash/status/991372252498325504

Oh dear, this does not bode well. More from Vic:

“Jack Leach is not on the field. Jamie Overton is his substitute.”

Good morning, Tanya. Good morning everyone and greetings from a sunkissed Taunton, where the home side is concerned not only by the scoreboard, which shows that Vince and Amla were in fine form yesterday on the way to wiping out a deficit of 275 - it is now 97. Before the start Jack Leach, potential matchwinner here today, potential Test player next week, was in the nets, practising his batting. Jason Kerr, the first team coach was hurling balls with the dog ball thrower. Leach was struck on the left hand, clearly in considerable pain and promptly departed to the pavilion. The home supporters are anxiously waiting to see whether he takes the field in a few minutes. Will let you know.

Updated

Hello! Welcome to the final day of this round of Championship games - the last for a while. Of course the sun is out, the elderflower nearly in bloom and the season off to a flyer. Four games remain in play today:

Surrey v Yorkshire: Surrey 414; Yorkshire 229 and 142 for 5 (Bairstow 25, Leaning 13; Virdi 3-52) trail Surrey by 43 runs.

All eyes are on Jonny Bairstow after reports that Ed Smith has his eye on handing the gloves to Ben Foakes and moving YJB up the order, which may have contributed to Bairstow’s furious hitting in the first innings. But he’ll do well to extricate Yorkshire from this mess. Yesterday there were three wickets for off-spinner Amar Virdi including Joe Root for 23, who had been out earlier the same day for 14 – both times to 19 year olds. Sam Curran was awarded his county cap after taking 6-54 in Yorkshire’s first innings, becoming the fourth youngest Surrey player to be capped, and the fourth youngest to 100 wickets after Waqar Younis, Martin Bicknell and Jack Crawford

Somerset v Hampshire: Somerset 506; Hampshire 231 and 178 for 2 (Vince 63, Amla 86) trail Somerset by 97 runs

This could be a thriller, watching Vince - in his last innings before the Test team is chosen - and Amla try to bat out the day.

Middlesex v Gloucestershire: Middlesex 455-8 dec; Gloucestershire 210 and 66 for 2 (Roderick 6, Bracey 5)trail Middlesex by 179 runs.

Gloucestershire will do very well to escape here and

Derbyshire v Durham: Derbyshire 427 and 1-0 (Slater 0, Reece 1); Durham 520. Derbyshire trail Durham by 92 runs

which has draw written all over it.

Five games finished yesterday:

A thriller at New Road where Essex came from behind to win by 32 runs, with Worcester now cut adrift at the bottom of the table. Lancashire beat Nottinghamshire by an innings and 67 runs to register their first win of the season, with nine wickets for Graham Onions and six for Jimmy Anderson. In Division two, Warwickshire beat Northants by six wickets, thanks to a century from Will Rhodes, and already look a pretty safe bet to bounce back to Division one at the end of the season. Northants can already taste the grain of the wooden spoon . And in two relatively low scoring games, Leicestershire beat Glamorgan by three, yes three, runs for their third Championship win since 2012, and Kent beat Sussex by 58 and kicked them out of second place. Matt Henry took ten wickets in the match.

In other news: Ireland are following on in their first Test against Pakistan at Malahide where the weather is an unhelpful grey today and where Mick Jagger was spotted yesterday. Jos Buttler hit an unbeaten 94 for Rajasthan Royals – his fifth consecutive IPL fifty since being promoted to open, which equals Virender Sehwag record. And Yorkshire are considering broadcasting live from Scarborough for the match against Surrey next month.

Tanya will be here shortly, in the meantime here are the live scores from day three:

Division One

Hampshire (231 & 178-2) trail Somerset (506) by 97 runs with eight wickets remaining.

Yorkshire (229 & 142-5) trail Surrey (414) by 43 runs with five wickets remaining

Division Two

Derbyshire (427 & 1-0) trail Durham (520) by 92 runs with 10 wickets remaining

Gloucestershire (210 & 66-2) trail Middlesex (455-8d) by 179 runs with eight wickets remaining

Test match

Ireland (130 & 64-0) trail Pakistan (310-9) by 116 runs with 10 wickets remaining

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