The round-up
Hampshire made heavy weather of leapfrogging Somerset to the top of Division One courtesy of a heavily rain-affected draw against unbeaten Yorkshire.
Set 279 in 48 overs after Gary Ballance became only the second White Rose batsman to score five hundreds in as many Championship matches, the visitors slipped to 35 for three at tea before recovering to move seven points clear. The opener Joe Weatherley and his fourth-wicket partner Rilee Rossouw batted through the majority of an evening during which all of Yorkshire’s nine outfielders were in catching positions. Earlier, Ballance advanced from 83 not out overnight to 100 off 170 balls as rain restricted the morning session.
Ballance’s run of five centuries dates back to last season’s final game at New Road. Len Hutton achieved the feat twice in the late 1940s, including seven times in succession.
The veteran off-spinners Jeetan Patel and Gareth Batty, who claimed a hat-trick, both secured career-best hauls on an Edgbaston turner, but it was Patel’s Warwickshire who claimed victory against the champions Surrey. Batty (eight for 64) had Tim Ambrose, Patel and Henry Brookes all caught as the hosts declared their second innings on 166, setting a target of 272 in 74 overs. Patel, however, ensured Surrey’s wait for a first win goes on into a fourth game with a fabulous eight for 36 from 31 overs, six of which were bowled or lbw. Surrey were 141 all out.
The final day around the counties really was a day for the off-spinners, and Essex were carried to victory by Simon Harmer’s eight for 98. Set 338 to win 25 minutes before lunch, Kent slipped to 224 all out.
In Division Two, Middlesex secured their first win of the season at the fourth attempt, with Worcestershire soundly beaten at New Road in the face of a 353 target. Derbyshire completed victory against Leicestershire at Grace Road, comfortably defending a target of 234, while there were draws at Cheltenham between Gloucestershire and the leaders Lancashire and at Hove between Sussex and Glamorgan.
Updated
That’s all for today folks. You can follow the opening game of the World Cup over here.
Essex and Middlesex have both won, while Warwickshire need two Surrey wickets at Edgbaston in the best part of 19 overs. Rikki Clarke and Gareth Batty are at the crease. A Batty led revival would be some story. Here, Joe Weatherley has reached 50. Hampshire look likely to gain a draw and the lead in Division One. They are 103-3 with 19 overs remaining.
A note from Yorkshire’s statistician Paul Dyson: “Gary Ballance is the first Yorkshire player to score a century in each of five consecutive Championship matches. Four-in-a-row was achieved by Frank Mitchell in 1901 and by Herbert Sutcliffe in 1931.” Hampshire are 83-3 with 26.4 overs remaining.
All the sevens! But it’s not good news for Surrey, Kent and Worcestershire, who are all sliding to defeat. Surrey are 109-7 at Edgbaston, Kent are 210-7 at Chelmsford and Worcestershire are 207-7 at New Road. Warwickshire’s Jeetan Patel has six wickets against Surrey.
Here, Hampshire are resisting. They are 53-3 with 29 overs remaining. Avoid defeat and they go top of Division One.
There are plenty of victory chances around the traps. Surrey are 92-5 needing 180 more against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Jeetan Patel has four-for. Kent are 162-5 needing 176 more against Essex at Chelmsford. Daniel Bell-Drummond is doing his best to repel Essex with 61 not out.
In Division Two, Worcestershire are 178-6 needing 175 more against Middlesex at New Road. Tim Murtagh keeps on keeping on. He has five wickets.
Here at Headingley, meanwhile, Duanne Olivier, who could today have been playing for South Africa at the Oval had he not signed a Kolpak deal, keeps losing his run-up from the Kirkstall Lane End. Not 100 percent sure why, but there is a sprinkler cover about four paces back from the popping crease. Hampshire are 21-2 with 39 overs to bat out for a draw.
Wonders never cease. The sun is out at Headingley now! But there is a touch of gloom in the Hampshire camp. They are 6-1 in the third over of their ‘chase’ of 279 in 48 overs. Oli Soames is the batsman out, caught and bowled by Duanne Olivier. Yep, you guessed it, a short ball. Crikey, now it’s 7-2. Ben Coad has Ajinkya Rahane bowled middle stump off inside edge.
Yorkshire have declared, setting Hampshire 279 in a minimum of 48 overs. I would be surprised, but you never know. Hampshire have some work to do to save this game. Jonny Tattersall reached his half-century immediately before the declaration came at 332-5. David Willey was also 26 not out.
Surrey are tottering at Edgbaston, where they are 51-3 chasing 272 with the best part of 58 overs in the day. They have lost Stoneman, Borthwick and Foakes to Jeetan Patel. Rory Burns has 26 and Will Jacks has yet to get off the mark. I don’t think we’ll be long off a declaration at Headingley. Yorkshire lead by 259 with 53 overs left in the day.
Gary Ballance is out at Headingley for 100 (lbw to Mason Crane), his sixth career century against Hampshire in Championship cricket. Yorkshire have advanced to 267-4 and a lead of 213. Jack Leaning has 41 and Jonny Tattersall 16. There are 60 overs remaining in the day, and Hampshire have taken the new ball.
Surrey have reached 39-1 at lunch at Edgbaston, chasing 272. Mark Stoneman was lbw to Jeetan Patel, who has opened the bowling for Warwickshire. Kent are on the ropes against Essex at Chelmsford (60-3 chasing 338) having lost Sean Dickson, Zak Crawley and Joe Denly at the start of their ‘chase’.
In Division Two, Worcestershire are 91-2 chasing 353 at home to Middlesex, while Glamorgan lead Sussex by 101 at Hove thanks to a superb second-innings 335-5, including Marnus Labuschagne’s 182 and 99 for Nick Selman. At Cheltenham, Lancashire’s pursuit of batting bonus points against Gloucestershire has stumbled from 47-2 overnight to 149-5 at lunch. Keaton Jennings and Rob Jones made 52 and 53 respectively.
We are due for a restart at Headingley in 10 minutes or so. We are expecting there to be 67.3 overs left in the day. Yorkshire lead by 185 and 239-3.
HAT-TRICK ALERT!!!!
At Edgbaston, Warwickshire have declared to set Surrey 272 in a minimum of 74 overs, but not before Gareth Batty took a hat-trick, getting Tim Ambrose caught at mid-wicket and Jeetan Patel and Henry Brookes caught at long-on. 10 wickets in the match for the former England off-spinner.
Derbyshire have beaten Leicestershire (168 all out chasing 234) by 65 runs at Grace Road.
So Ballance gets yet another century. That’s five in as many Championship matches dating back to last September, four in a row this season and six in his career against Hampshire. Herbert Sutcliffe is the only other man to have scored that many for Yorkshire against Hampshire. Ah, it’s raining again, and we’re off with Yorkshire at 239-3, leading by 185.
I’d like to think Yorkshire would be looking at a declaration with a lead of around 270 and 55-60 overs remaining in the day. But, at this stage of the season and given Hampshire are a place above them in second, I think that might be a bit too optimistic from a neutral’s point of view. Instead, they are more likely to look at 300 in 45 and treat anything better than a draw as a bonus. Yorkshire 220-3, leading by 166 with 80.2 overs remaining in the day.
Important Division Two wickets at Worcester and Leicester. George Rhodes has been trapped lbw by Murtagh for a duck, so Worcestershire are now 13-2 and in bother. Hasan Azad has fallen for 44 to Luis Reece at Grace Road, leaving Leicester 123-5 chasing 234 to beat Derbyshire.
And there we go. Essex have declared. Kent need 338 to win.
Worcestershire have lost their first wicket at New Road - Tom Fell nibbling at a delivery from Tim Murtagh and edging to Sam Robson at slip, leaving them at 5-1 in pursuit of 353. We are due to start here at Headingley at 11.45am. At Chelmsford, Essex are still batting, not for long I would wager though. They already have a lead of 336 over Kent.
They’re underway everywhere but here around the circuit. In Division Two, Middlesex have declared overnight and set Worcestershire 353 to win at New Road. There is some good news from Headingley in that it has stopped raining again, but there is a fair bit of water on the covers.
Updated
Unfortunately, it is raining at Headingley, and we are in for a delayed start to day four. We’re heading for a draw I’m afraid.
Pandemonium at Headingley! Jonny Bairstow out first ball to Yorkshire ‘great’ Imran Tahir in the World Cup opener at the Oval. He played just one Championship match for the county, against Sussex at Hove, in 2007. Ah, it’s all calm again. Joe Root has just hit a boundary.
Preamble
Good morning from Headingley, where we realistically need a full day’s play to produce a positive result. Yorkshire hold the advantage with a lead of 153 and seven second-innings wickets in hand, but Hampshire aren’t out of it just yet. The weather is overcast, so I’d be surprised if we get our wish I have to be honest. Even if rain doesn’t disrupt us, bad light at some stage probably will.
It is the same story around the rest of the country as well. All seven games across both divisions were affected by the rain at various stages yesterday. There are, however, plenty of opportunities for victories.
A little bit of surprise news to start the blog, but positive news. They’re going to recommence play at Cheltenham College between Gloucestershire and Division Two leaders Lancashire. The last two days have been wiped out, owing much to wet patches at either end of the wicket. But there has been a meeting of umpires and captains this morning, and it has been decided to crack on. Lancashire resume on 47-2 replying to 205. A bonus points game unless something ridiculous happens.
In Division One, Essex lead Kent by 312 with four second-innings wicket in hand at Chelmsford, while Warwickshire are 181 ahead of Surrey at Edgbaston (76-2 in their second innings). Essex are chasing their second win and Warwickshire their first of the season.
Back to Division Two, and Middlesex are well placed for their first win at the fourth attempt given they lead Worcestershire at New Road by 352. A second-innings declaration will come very early into proceedings if it doesn’t happen before play starts. Middlesex desperately need a win after, like Surrey across the Thames, a slumbering start, as I described the latter county in today’s paper round-up.
Glamorgan are doing a good job of saving their game against Sussex at Hove - 218-1 in the second innings, trailing by 16 with Australian Marnus Labuschagne unbeaten on 131.
Finally, at Grace Road, Leicestershire need 124 more to beat Midlands neighbours Derbyshire. They will resume on 110-4, with Hasan Azad 44 not out and Harry Dearden yet to get off the mark.
