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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tanya Aldred and William Pickworth at Lord's

County cricket: Yorkshire collapse hands Somerset title boost – as it happened

Somerset v Yorkshire
Steven Patterson of Yorkshire is bowled by Somerset’s Roelof Van Der Merwe as wickets tumble on a wild morning at Taunton. Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Tanya and William's county roundup

A calamitous morning collapse at Taunton swung the championship pendulum firmly towards Somerset. From a promising position, Yorkshire lost six for 17 in barely seven overs, a short, sharp, shock compounded by Ben Coad falling sick and being unable to bat. Somerset strode gratefully into the distance, Tom Abell notching up his second fifty of the match, ably supported by James Hildreth.

Essex were finding the path to the pennant slurry‑filled as Warwickshire passed 500 in a game where batting seemed as easy as popping jelly babies – Matt Lamb scored a wonderful maiden first‑class century, 173 in seven hours – until Essex walked out. Alastair Cook was then promptly dismissed for seven. Simon Harmer deserved a luxurious bath after toiling over 59.5 overs, taking six for 143.

Nottinghamshire’s look-away-now season continued at Trent Bridge as Darren Stevens responded to the news that his contract will not be extended with five for 39 to help bowl out Notts for 124. Kent did not enforce the follow-on and Zak Crawley and Sam Billings – scoring his first hundred of the season – took the lead past 400.

James Vince led Hampshire to an almost-comfortable lead against Surrey with a flamboyant 91.

The tension at Lords in Division Two was exasperating as the game ebbed and flowed in an enthralling encounter. A swashbuckling 22 not out from Miguel Cummins, holder of the second-longest duck in Test history, helped Middlesex add 56 late-order morning runs. A dogged 64 from Angus Robson, Sam’s brother, held Durham’s batting together, though every twinkling of comfort was pegged back through regular wickets until Robson opened his suitcase of strokes to push Durham’s lead to 195. Middlesex safely negotiated the evening, leaving the match on a knife-edge.

Worcestershire delivered optimism for a rare championship win; five Glamorgan wickets for the resurgent Charlie Morris, while the openers, Daryl Mitchell and Hamish Rutherford, stroked half-centuries.

At Old Trafford, Josh Bohannon achieved his first championship hundred for Lancashire, against Derbyshire.

Northamptonshire continued to march towards promotion as Richard Keogh scored a brutal 132 before a late collapse and three wickets from the Leicestershire debutant Alex Evans steadied the contest while on a stop-start day in Bristol, Sussex made good progress against Gloucestershire with Phil Salt thumping 64 with contributions throughout the batting lineup.

And so day two of this round comes to an end, with many games already into their final act. The action at Lord’s will be done and dusted before tea tomorrow, and one doesn’t hold out much hope for Nottinghamshire or Yorkshire. Essex have the fight of their lives to bring much succour from Edgbaston and Surrey look in trouble at Southampton.

Josh Bohannon’s maiden century has motored Lancashire towards Division One, Sussex have a handy lead against Gloucestershire, Northants have stumbled slightly at Grace Road and a stoical innings by Darryl Mitchell has kept Worcestershire’s hope of finishing the season on a high alive.

Thanks for all your messages BTL and to Will for his top-class blogging. See you tomorrow!

Please excuse Will and me now while we write up the round-up - and as my fingers move over the keys, that’s the penultimate wicket in the bag for Middlesex - Robson still there on 56. Durham 182-9. And. Out. Strides. Rushworth.

Updated

Northants! They’ve just lost three for 10 and are now 314-7, a lead of just nine runs against their midlands rivals. Kudos to young Alex Evans who on debut bagged Newton, Wakely and Rossington.

Good to see Daryl Mitchell notch up his third fifty of what has been rather a slurry-coloured summer - averaging 23.79. Worcestershire doing much better second time round 153-2.

Thanks Will.

The autumnal bad light curse strikes - play abandoned for the day at Taunton, and play suspended at Hampshire. But a lovely dappled sunlight has descended over Lord’s where Tim Murtagh briefly came off the field and sat on the pavilion benches amongst the members. Angus Robson’s 48 in 198 minutes and counting for Durham is looking more and more crucial. Durham 167-8, the lead now 171.

Updated

Just handing over to Will briefly for an expert eye...

Just as Durham seem to be looking comfortable, yet again, Middlesex make the breakthrough to maintain the tension in this enthralling game. Angus Robson remains, holding the innings together on 45, in a dogged and determined knock, one which we regularly associate with his brother Sam. George Scott is the one to make the breakthrough, the young all-rounder with just his third wicket in First Class cricket for Middlesex, as Ben Raine chips to Dawid Malan at cover.

Just an over later and Harris strikes again, pinning Carse for a Duck. 165 ahead with two wickets remaining - don’t go anywhere!

Jordan Cox retired hurt at Trent Bridge after being hit on the forearm by Paul Coughlin. A slight wobble when Crawley was out for 82 and Kuhn for 5, but Kent can afford to kick back and dust down the cocktail shaker. Notts already need 360 to win. With some teams, you might doubt the truth, worry they’d dig in...

We think Notts can be relegated this round as, assuming Notts lose in the next couple of days, the maximum number of points they can garner in the rest of the season is 102. Warwickshire already have 96 thanks to their batting points this round. Does that make sense?

This is what they call pure joy.

Bad light has stopped play at Taunton with Somerset 269-5 - a lead of 365.

I hope Essex have set up a large bath with unlimited Radox for Simon Harmer. 59.5-15-143-6.

Warwickshire, playing in some parallel universe where runs are jelly babies to be wolfed down with abandon, are all out for 517.

,
When will this torture end? Simon Harmer wheeling in yet again for Essex. Photograph: Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo/REX/Shutterstock

Whoop! Congratulations to Josh Bohannon for his first Championship century: 101 off 177 balls. Lancashire 189-2.

That’s two debut centuries in one day - as Will points out, some succour to those who despair of long-form batting in England.

l
Maiden Championship century: Josh Bohannon. Photograph: Alan Martin/Action Plus via Getty Images

As Ned Eckersley trudges off, an lbw so true for the umpire that his finger was raised almost before Harris had finished his appeal, we think that 200 would be too many for Middlesex to chew over. The current lead is 145.

A wonderful century from Rob Keogh holding Northants together - I’m wondering how many other players from Dunstable have scored first-class centuries?

I’m going to whisper it because Will is sitting next to me but Moeen has had a bit of a wild swing and been caught at long-off for 26. Worcestershire now have a lead of 119 over Glamorgan - with eight wickets in hand.

And on Championship debut Scott Steel has been dismissed here for 39, chipping to mid-on. Durham 131 for five and looking good for 200.

Vince caught at slip

91 off 59 balls - 18!!!!! fours. Hampshire 224-4.

Updated

A typically sagacious piece by Andy Bull on cricket, cricket, too much cricket.

I see Zak Crawley is unbeaten on 38 as Kent grind Notts into the dust. He must be in the running for Young Player of the Year - alongside perhaps a couple of the Somerset youngsters. Ollie Robinson and Hassan Azad are unfortunately just too old.

Updated

If James Vince scores 175 against Surrey (currently 74 from 49 balls), how far will the pendulum have swung on the wintertourometer?

Here at Lord’s we have lost the second ball of the day, the first went into the Compton stand to sit amongst the debris, the second just disappeared under the advertising hoardings.

Updated

Wow! Will oversaw a sensational collapse by Notts and nearly ushered Matthew Lamb to his double century. Quite something that innings, and double points for inching Somerset towards the line. They now have a lead of 292 and counting over Yorkshire.

Updated

Thanks so much to Will who played a complete blinder on debut. I hope that the Ed (no, not that one) was watching and taking note.

Tea-time scores

It’s Tea here at Lords - a quick update around the country


Division One

Hampshire 149 all out (Clarke 5-21) and 150-3 (Vince 54*, Organ 54) v Surrey 162 all out (Pope 68)

Kent 304 all out (Stevens 88, Kuhn 56) and 75-1 v Nottinghamshire 124 all out (Stevens 5-39)

Somerset 199 all out (Abell 66; Maharaj 5-54) and 191-4 (Abell 62*, Hildreth 58) v Yorkshire 103-9 dec

Warwickshire 468-7 (Lamb 173*, Hain 82, Sibley 51) v Essex

Division Two

Gloucestershire 200 all out (Bracey 61) v Sussex 181-4 (Salt 64)

Derbyshire 244 all out (Godleman 111; Gleeson 5-64) v Lancashire 114-2 (Bohannon 51*)

Leicestershire 308 all out (Azad 86, Cosgrove 65, Rhodes 61*) v Northamptonshire 201-4 (Wakely 72*)

Durham 147 all out (Handscomb 54) and 94-4 v Middlesex 143 all out (Raine 5-26)

Worcestershire 205 all out and 78-1 (Rutherford 52) v Glamorgan 193 all out (Morris 5-73)

Updated

Worcestershire have somehow raced onto 59-0. New Zealander Hamish Rutherford has briskly moved to 43 off just 42 balls.

Rutherford is back for Worcestershire after missing their T20 Blast Quarter-Final against Sussex, jetting out to Sri Lanka to replace another Worcestershire overseas batsman, Martin Guptill, who picked up a stomach muscle injury, depriving Worcestershire of both their overseas stars against Sussex. Rutherford was dismissed first ball in the third T20 for his country after all that travelling - let us hope he at least got some good air miles!

Updated

Another quick wicket for Middlesex.

Finn, bowling in a sleeveless sweater, pins Gareth Harte LBW without scoring - Middlesex are on a roll now.

At Taunton, Banton seems to have remained in T20 mode, smashing 28 off just 30 balls so far with six boundaries. The home team now 269 ahead and surely in a great position for victory after their bowling exploits earlier today.

Lancashire have started their reduced day well, moving onto 74-1, with Keaton Jennings and Josh Bohannon both well-set.

Updated

James Harris strikes! After a dreadful start to the session, Middlesex have restricted Durham well and Harris dismisses Handscomb, the Australian looking unconvincing as supposed to his fluent 54 yesterday. That’s 28 runs for three wickets in the last 16 overs.

A finely poised encounter.

Oops - there is the commentator’s curse. Hildreth is dismissed by Adam Lyth for a crucial 58. Meanwhile, the in-form skipper Tom Abell moves onto 56 and is joined by the poster boy of the T20 blast this year, Tom Banton. Will Fraine is off the field for a depleted Yorkshire team with a knee injury - 142-3

They are still off for a mix of bad light and rain at the Ageas Bowl with Hampshire 150-3, whilst Nottinghamshire’s season of torment is halted slightly as the valiant Luke Fletcher dismisses Daniel Bell-Drummond. Kent just the 218 ahead!

And indeed those sunglasses will not need to be used as we come off for rain here at Lords. A good period of play for Durham who have watchfully moved onto 79-2, an 83-run lead.

In another crucial game in the Division Two promotion race, Sussex are 181-4, a mere 19 runs behind Gloucestershire. Left-armer David Payne has picked up three scalps.

And ... just as I finish typing, the brief rain shower has departed and the Middlesex players, led by Dawid Malan are back on the filed - game on!

Cummins, one of a triumvirate of West Indian Test players drafted in for the final three rounds of Championship action (Kraigg Brathwaite at Glamorgan and Shannon Gabriel at Gloucestershire ), is bowling a testing spell. He has beaten the outside edge of Handscomb numerous times.

Nevertheless, it is still gloomy here, and I find it very optimistic how the Middlesex fielders are almost all wearing sunglasses on the brim of their caps. Welcome to British Autumn!

Another wicket for Middlesex. The Bajan Cummins, probably used to playing cricket in more exotic conditions than this, forces Steel to snick off for 39. Durham 66-2 with Australian Peter Hanscomb to the crease.

In the Division One title race, Somerset are crusing at 120-2, James Hildreth, the best player on the circuit never to receive a Test Cap perhaps, scoring his third half century of the season.

Henry Brookes has been run out for 46 at Edgbaston, ending Warwickshire’s 105-run seventh wicket partnership, just the 405-7 they are! Advantage Somerset?

Updated

Vintage James Vince some may say? A thick edge flies over the slips to bring up the Hampshire skipper’s 50. Playing for a place on England’s winter tours perhaps? Off just 37 balls too... woah

Another dismal session for Nottinghamshire. Their last five wickets falling for just 20 runs. A five-wicket haul for Darren Stevens, the 24th of his career. Will Kent regret the decision to let him leave at the end of the season? Astonishing yet again from the 43 year old.

Delight in the press box here as Worcestershire dismiss Glamorgan for 193. Just a 12-run lead but us “Pears” will take anything on what has been a pretty dismal red-ball season with no wins in nine County Championship matches.

Five wickets for Charlie Morris - a remarkable comeback story for the paceman who, after breaking through for Worcestershire between 2012-2015, barely featured for four years, with problems about the legality of his action, before returning to the side this season. He has not looked back, taking 36 wickets at just 20.78 so far this campaign.

Updated

ROY DROPPED

As wickets tumble throughout the County Championship, it seems England’s own attempts to solidify their wafer-thin batting line-up have a new plan. Ben Stokes, struggling with a shoulder injury, will play as a batsman only. The absence of England’s talisman in the bowling department has caused the selectors to balance the side with both Sam Curran and Chris Woakes.

Durham fans will be fuming! Alex Lees and Cameron Steel, seemingly as comfortable as anything, have been involved in a calamitous mix-up. Lees hit the ball to mid-wicket with both batsmen hesitating before Steel sent the left-hander back after he had advanced. Murtagh’s throw was taken and the bails removed by John Simpson. 51-1. Angus Robson, brother of Middlesex’s Sam, comes to the crease.

In other news in Division Two, Keaton Jennings and Josh Bohannon are batting for Lancashire after a delayed start against Derbyshire. Northamptonshire, unbeaten in six, and on the charge for promotion, are 96-2 in response to Leicestershire’s 308, a maiden first-class scalp for The Foxes’ Alex Evans starting proceedings. Charlie Morris has dismissed his fourth Glamorgan batsman, but the Welsh county look set for parity with hosts Worcestershire, just 31 runs behind with two wickets in hand. Finally, Sussex are looking solid at 161-2 with Luke Wells holding firm on 42*

Don’t tell the Essex players the Somerset score; if Matthew Lamb and Henry Brookes’ 80-run unbeaten seventh wicket partnership wasn’t painful enough, Tom Abell and James Hildreth have pushed Somerset to 72-2, 168 runs ahead, a mammoth amount in a low-scoring game.

Elsewhere in Division One, Nottinghamshire are now 111-8, still 193 runs behind, looking as if they won’t trouble my batting points stat. The wonderfully named Felix Organ has been dismissed for 54 as Hampshire move on to 94-3, an 81-run lead over Surrey.

Meanwhile, here at Lords, Durham have raced on to 48-0, having dispatched Miguel Cummins and Steve Finn for 40 runs in just 5 overs since lunch. Cameron Steel has briskly moved on to 32.

Ah, this will slow it down. Ireland’s finest Tim Murtagh has replaced Cummins from the Nursery End, where the building works behind him make the Compton and Edrich stands more reminiscent of a lower-league football terrace.

Good afternoon everyone!

In what must be one of the most common occurrences of the County Championship season, Notts have lost another wicket, with Steven Mullaney falling to Darren Stevens. For context, Nottinghamshire’s 11 batting points is the fewest in both divisions of the Championship and it is no wonder that they are languishing at the foot of Division One.

The wicket was the 500th First Class dismissal for the evergreen Darren Stevens. Well bowled sir!

Just got back from a wander round Lord’s where I sneaked into the pavilion and was strangely touched to see this MCC blend of old and new.

An email comes in from Finbar Anslow: Hi Tanya, glorious day here in Milan, all the more so as I tucked into a juicy pizza whilst reading of Yorkshire’s first innings demise. Dost mine West Country heart beat a little faster? Huge session coming up for Somerset,..........

And some news from Old Trafford - play will start at 1.40 and, weather permitting, will last 64 overs.

I’m now going to hand over to Will for half an hour or so - be kind!


Updated

Thanks to Will for those lunch-time scores. Another wicket-heavy morning - though things slowed towards the end - with Durham showing some gumption here at Lord’s. Just another 14 wickets needed to match yesterday’s carnage.

Reports from Taunton suggest that Ben Coad won’t play today - out with an illness. I’m going for a quick stroll to clear my head of tumbling wickets - see you all in half an hour!

Lunch-time scores


Division One

Hampshire 149 all out (Clarke 5-21) and 77-2 v Surrey 162 all out (Pope 68)

Kent 304 all out (Stevens 88, Kuhn 56) v Nottinghamshire 104-5

Somerset 199 all out (Abell 66; Maharaj 5-54) and 49-2 v Yorkshire 103-9 dec

Warwickshire 360-6 (Lamb 106*, Hain 82, Sibley 51) v Essex

Division Two

Gloucestershire 200 all out (Bracey 61) v Sussex 116-1 (Salt 64)

Derbyshire 244 all out (Godleman 111; Gleeson 5-64) v Lancashire 20-1 - no play before lunch, rain

Leicestershire 308 all out (Azad 86, Cosgrove 65, Rhodes 61*) v Northamptonshire 63-1

Durham 147 all out (Handscomb 54) and 8-0 v Middlesex 143 all out (Raine 5-26)

Worcestershire 205 all out v Glamorgan 131-7

The second hundred of the round goes to Matthew Lamb at Edgbaston. It is his first first-class hundred - bravo!

,
First of many: Warwickshire’s Matthew Lamb scores his first first-class hundred. Photograph: Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo/REX/Shutterstock

Bad light has stopped play at Bristol in what seems a remarkably sane game in comparison with elsewhere. Sussex 116-1.

A bit of breathing space between collapses at Taunton etc has opened up - so a chance to glance at the score at New Road. Glamorgan have advanced from their overnight 44-2 to 106-6. Worcestershire’s youthful squad tap-tapping away: three for Morris and a joyful caught and bowled for Moeen.

A poignant moment at Edgbaston this morning when Ethan Brookes was out for a duck in his debut Championship innings and had to negotiate the long walk back as big brother Henry walked out. Warwickshire 348-6; Lamb a so-nearly 99 not out.

A second wicket at Taunton - making it a happy-clappy eight in less than an hour and half this morning. Somerset 17-2. Davies joining Vijay back in the pavilion. Abell and Hildreth back in the middle.

Updated

I’m looking forward to a trip to Tunbridge Wells next summer!

They’re up and at ‘em again at Bristol, Sussex 100-1: Phil Salt out for 64.

And Middlesex’s morning hurrah comes to an end having got surprisingly close to Durham - just four runs separates the teams. The last three batsmen added 56 this morning, thanks to some old-fashioned welly from Cummins (22 not out), Finn and Murtagh. Rushworth 3-54, Raine 5-26. So what do we think - will Durham make three figures?

Updated

A couple of wickets for Jamie Porter and another for Simon Harmer this morning at Edgbaston as Essex sniff the change in the wind blowing up from the south-west. Warwicks 324-6. Matthew Lamb 90 not out.

Having said that, another wicket falls at Taunton - Murali Vijay collecting a duck to go with his seven in the first innings. Keshav Maharaj opened the bowling. Just saying. Somerset 4-1.

This from the Yorkshire live blog this morning.

Batting is certainly not easy out there, but it just takes one batsman to get a score and others to chip in around him and Yorkshire will be driving the game.

Updated

So... Yorkshire are all out for 103, with Ben Coad not batting for reasons we don’t yet know. THEY LOST 6 FOR 17 THIS MORNING. Somerset have a first-innings lead of 96.

Updated

At ease, Lancs-fans.

The Notts-up klaxon needs to be retired. We need a non-Notts-up klaxon instead. Currently 55-4, Duckett and Slater following where Libby and Nash led.

And Ben Raine now has five for 17 - Middx the heady heights of 121-9, thanks to some surprise bat-throwing by Cummins.

And it’s all happening at the Ageas - Surrey all out, losing their last three wickets in seven balls, and Hampshire have already lost Ian Holland, Morkelled, for four.

I don’t really care about this story, but here it is if you want to read it.

Yorkshire have lost a mere three for six this morning: Kohler-Cadmore, Patterson and Tattersall. Currently 94 for six, a satisfying large 105 runs behind Somerset. (Sorry Yorkies, I just really, really, really want Somerset to win.)

I love having a wingman! Will has already come up with this fantastic stat on Middlesex’s No. 8 Miguel Cummins, currently one not out: he holds the West Indian record for facing the most number of balls without scoring a run (45) and the second longest Test duck ever (95 minutes). He achieved this against India last month.

Meanwhile Harris was bowled by Ben Raine for 14. Middx 97 for 8.

I’ve got Will, a young man on work experience from the Guardian here with me, and he’s going to take over the blog for half an hour some time today - he’s a county cricket fanatic who supports Worcestershire. You’ll love him!

And in other news, James Anderson is considering following Peter Siddle and turning to veganism to prolong his career.

I don’t think I linked this by Marina Hyde yesterday on Geoffrey Boycott.

And this contribution from the admirable Graeme Fowler, who seemed to spend most of yesterday fire-fighting on Twitter.

This is the view from the road behind the Compton and Edrich. The groundsmen and equipment have been moved to the spot between the pavilion and the Tavern stand.

Preamble

Good morning from Lord’s where the floodlights are already on and the general sense of gloom suggests that play may be stop-start-stop-start-stop. Around the grounds, the news is mixed. It is wet at Old Trafford and we have a delayed start at Bristol.

After a wicket-tastic day yesterday - and a sole century - the batsmen have some catching up to do. Who can raise their game?

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