Gary Ballance, after a few barren innings, was back in the runs for Yorkshire as his fifth hundred in 10 Championship matches this season put the league leaders Somerset under significant pressure during a hard fought opening day as slow and steady ultimately reaped rewards.
It is difficult to know whether Ballance is a genuine Ashes contender. His stats are overwhelmingly in his favour - more than 850 runs this season - but many pundits will say his technique cannot stand up to facing the likes of Starc, Cummins and Pattinson. His hands are too low is a popular comment.
Here, from late morning to late evening, he hit 111 off 212 balls and shared a third-wicket partnership of 199 with Tom Kohler-Cadmore (77 not out) to give Somerset plenty to think about at 282 for three. The leaders did not bowl badly and could have had more reward, but their decision to bowl first was a questionable one, albeit that the skies were overcast when Tom Abell walked out for the toss at 10.30am.
At Chelmsford last week, Yorkshire attacked against Simon Harmer and co and were bowled out for 208 on the way to defeat. Here, Ballance and Kohler-Cadmore were much more cautious, and it worked a treat as they were able to play with more freedom after tea.
Sticking with Chelmsford, and second-placed Essex were bowled out for 245 by Warwickshire as Will Rhodes claimed five for 17 from 14.3 overs of medium pace, including Sir Alastair Cook caught in the gully for 84. It was, however, a major surprise to see off-spinner Jeetan Patel go wicketless at a venue where spin has ruled the roost this year.
Felix Organ, Hampshire’s 20-year-old opener born in Sydney, scored his maiden century (100 off 235 balls) in only his third first-class match to underpin a home score of 340 for six against Kent at the Ageas Bowl, while Indian Test off-spinner Ravi Ashwin claimed six for 69 as Nottinghamshire bowled Surrey out for 240 at Trent Bridge and closed on 20 for one.
In Division Two, Matthew Parkinson sent the perfect ‘You should have picked me earlier, shouldn’t you’ message to Lancashire’s hierarchy with a career best six for 23 in his first Championship appearance of the season, with Sussex (127 all out) losing all 10 wickets for just 50 in a remarkable collapse either side of lunch at Old Trafford. A leg-spinner with a coiled action, the England Lions man had been kept out of the team largely due to the success of the Lancashire’s plethora of seamers.
But Parkinson, with help from Glenn Maxwell’s off-spinners, wrecked Sussex’s strong start of 77 without loss. Lancashire will have celebrated Australia’s World Cup semi-final exit more keenly than most given it opened the door for Maxwell to return to their ranks a few days earlier than expected.
The all-rounder was only due to return to Old Trafford in time for the start of the T20 Blast on Friday. Instead, he finished with four for 41 before Lancashire closed on 149 for one.
Rain affected progress at Chester-le-Street where Durham struggled to 122 for six against Worcestershire while Dawid Malan’s 166 off 194 balls was his fourth Championship hundred of the season and kept second-placed Glamorgan at bay at Sophia Gardens. Middlesex were bowled out for 384 late in the day and Tom Helm ripped out the hosts’ top order with a remarkable spell of 4-0-8-4 to leave the hosts reeling on 24 for four in reply.
I’ll take a short break now before returning with my daily round-up of all the action from today’s seven matches.
Just looking at Dawid Malan’s stats this season. Four hundreds in nine matches. Is he an Ashes contender? He is currently unbeaten on 132 in Middlesex’s 329-8 against Glamorgan. He has shared 87 for the ninth wicket with Nathan Sowter (46).
💯 | Yet another brilliant century for @dmalan29! 🙌
— Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) July 13, 2019
His 4th in @CountyChamp this season 💪 pic.twitter.com/wNm8VOXx4H
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Craig Overton has returned to the attack but gets pulled for four by Gary Ballance, who has 76. After that, he takes the new ball. Yorkshire are 225-2 in the 81st over.
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Will Rhodes has four of the six wickets to fall at Chelmsford, and he has only bowled seven overs. Essex have slipped from 157-2 to 171-6. If I’d just seen the score, I would have said that Jeetan Patel would be in the thick of the action, but he’s gone wicketless in 20 overs. Sir Alastair, for 84, was the first wicket of the collapse.
WICKET | Bears are on 🔥🔥🔥
— Warwickshire CCC 🏏 (@WarwickshireCCC) July 13, 2019
4️⃣ for @willrhodes35 and now @OHD_20 gets Harmer for 0.
Essex are now 178/7 after being 157/2!
Match Centre 👉 https://t.co/0a5VYCu8nY
🐻#YouBears #ESSvWAR pic.twitter.com/VmrbZcZQmV
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As Lancashire take a stranglehold on their clash with Sussex at Old Trafford - they are 50-0 in reply to 127 - second-placed Glamorgan are chipping away at Middlesex, who are 235-7 with Dawid Malan 94 not out. Veteran Aussie seamer Michael Hogan (I really have to stop myself from typing Hulk, seriously) has taken three wickets. Here at Headingley, Gary Ballance has just reached 50 off 135 balls and Tom Kohler-Cadmore follows him there as I type off 100 balls. Yorkshire are 188-2.
Time for tea around the country. Interesting cloud formation at Headingley.
TEA: Yorkshire enter the interval 181/2 with Ballance 47* and Kohler-Cadmore 48*. Bess and Brooks have the wickets for Somerset#YORvSOM#WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/KEx95ccHAV
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) July 13, 2019
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As tea approaches, we have a rare occurrence - a team are ahead of the over-rate. Somerset will have bowled 34 overs in the session. Yorkshire are going well at 181-2, with Gary Ballance and Tom Kohler-Cadmore on 47 and 48 respectively. They have shared 99 for the third wicket.
Play due to restart at Durham at 3.15pm, where there will be 51.1 overs remaining in the day after a couple of hours of rain. Durham are 47-6.
Ravi Ashwin has taken all four wickets, including more recently Dean Elgar bowled for 59 and Jamie Smith, via a sharp catch by Ben Slater at short leg, for 42. Surrey are now 158-4 at Trent Bridge. Here at Headingley, Somerset are yet to break through after lunch as Yorkshire reach 149-2. Gary Ballance has 30 and Tom Kohler-Cadmore 33.
REPLAY | A splendid grab from @BennySlats and a celebration @alanshearer would be proud of. #NottsvSur live stream 👉 https://t.co/lRqV3nuL3h pic.twitter.com/2pasKFm3OP
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) July 13, 2019
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Sussex are all out for 127, with Matthew Parkinson claiming a career best 6-23 - not a bad way to say to the coaching staff and captain, ‘Hey, you should have picked me earlier shouldn’t you!’. So, having been 77-0, Sussex lost all 10 wickets for 50 runs.
WICKET! Congratulations to @mattyparky96 who has taken a first-class career best 6-23 after bowling Mir Hamza for 0. Chris Jordan 21* & @SussexCCC are 127 all out #LANvSUS pic.twitter.com/hgT6pC6kso
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) July 13, 2019
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Ian Holland has been caught at first slip for 60 off Harry Podmore, shimmying down the pitch ever so slightly too. He has fallen to leave Hampshire at 95-1 against Kent at the Ageas Bowl. It’s not been a bad start to his spell at the top of the order after a ton against Warwickshire last week
It is raining at Durham, where they haven’t resumed after lunch at the Riverside against Worcestershire. That will be some relief to Durham, who are 47-6.
Some collapse at Old Trafford, where Sussex were 77-0 not too long before lunch. Now they’re 95-8. Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Parkinson have four wickets apiece. Here, Yorkshire are 98-2.
WICKET WATCH Here's the 7th wicket to fall, Wiese lbw to @mattyparky96 for 4, Sussex 95/7 #LANvSUS pic.twitter.com/PGWqMHcVBI
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) July 13, 2019
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For me, this afternoon is a big one for Somerset, who can really reaffirm their title credentials. At 80-0 just before lunch, Yorkshire were on top. Somerset didn’t bowl badly, but they were on the back foot. However, two quick wickets before lunch and they’re back in it. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Yorkshire were 250 all out because that is what champion sides do when they get a sniff.
That's lunch here at Headingley with Yorkshire 83/2. Here's that Dom Bess wicket ⤵️#YORvSOM #WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/U8LFHYTbyK
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) July 13, 2019
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Here’s a lunch update from around the grounds, where runs are being scored in Division One and wickets are tumbling in Division Two.
Division One
Essex 73-2 v Warwickshire, Chelmsford Henry Brookes with a couple of wickets for the visitors, while Sir Alastair Cook is unbeaten on 34.
Hampshire 74-0 v Kent, Ageas Bowl - Ian Holland continuing his good form at the top of the order as a locum opener with 53 not out.
Surrey 104-2 v Nottinghamshire, Trent Bridge - Dean Elgar unbeaten on 47 for the slumbering champions, but Rory Burns fell for 22, trapped lbw by Ravi Ashwin, who has both wickets.
Yorkshire 83-2 v Somerset, Headingley - Early frustration for the leaders turned to late joy as Jack Brooks and Dom Bess removed Will Fraine and Adam Lyth after an 80 opening stand.
Division Two
Durham 47-6 v Worcestershire, Riverside - Horrible morning for the hosts, who were asked to bat. Joe Leach and Charlie Morris have two wickets apiece.
Middlesex 115-4 v Glamorgan, Sophia Gardens - Dawid Malan is 43 not out, but the hosts are on top. Lukas Carey removed Sam Robson and Nick Gubbins for seven and nought.
Sussex 95-5 v Lancashire, Old Trafford - Sussex slip from 77-0, with Glenn Maxwell taking three wickets having returned to Championship action after Australia’s World Cup exit.
Yorkshire have lost Will Fraine for 45, caught just in front of square-leg by Dom Bess off Jack Brooks having timed a flick off his legs. Unfortunately for him, he just picked out the man. In comes Gary Ballance, who hasn’t had a great few weeks. After a sensational start to the summer, Ballance’s form has just dipped recently. Yorkshire 80-1 as we approach lunch.
Not often that Lancashire have relied on spin this season, but they are doing this morning after a healthy Sussex start at Old Trafford. Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Parkinson, the latter playing his first Championship match of the season, have struck to leave the score at 85-2. Parkinson trapped Varun Chopra lbw for 32 in his third over after Maxwell got Phil Salt for 40. Both wickets fell with the score on 77. Here at Headingley, Yorkshire are 67-0 and going well.
WICKET! Luke Wells is caught and bowled by @Gmaxi_32 for 5. @SussexCCC 87-3 in the 26th over #LANvSUS pic.twitter.com/yhrJoisMue
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) July 13, 2019
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Durham are 43-5 against Worcestershire at the Riverside, with two wickets for Joe Leach and one apiece for Messrs Pennington, Barnard and Morris. No one has yet managed to pass 12 for the hosts.
Charlie Morris takes the wicket of Alex Lees. Bowled for 12. @DurhamCricket 38-4. pic.twitter.com/qtMF3CjjTf
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) July 13, 2019
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It looks as if there’s been a quartet of solid starts for the batting teams in Division One; Essex, Surrey, Hampshire and Yorkshire, with the latter’s being the best of them at 55-0 in the 18th over. Adam Lyth has just pulled Jamie Overton for six to move to 29.
Glamorgan seamer Lukas Carey has removed Sam Robson and Nick Gubbins cheap in Cardiff and Middlesex are 35-2. Here, the new Emerald Stand is open to the Yorkshire faithful for the first time, and they have a pretty good view of Yorkshire’s steady start at 33-0 in the 14th over.
There have been a couple of wickets in Division Two, including Cameron Bancroft trapped lbw by Dillon Pennington trapped lbw for eight. Durham are 19-1 in the sixth over against Worcestershire at the Riverside.
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Quiet start, wickets-wise, around the country, in fact a non-existent start as there hasn’t been one yet. Here, Yorkshire have reached 15-0 after six overs, with Craig Overton and Jack Brooks, who received a warm hand from the home faithful, sharing the new ball.
Play at Old Trafford was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of former Lancashire captain Jack Bond, who died on Friday aged 87. Glenn Maxwell is back in the Red Rose team after World Cup duty with Australia. Sussex are batting first having won the toss.
Uncontested tosses here at Headingley, so Somerset are bowling, at Chelmsford where Warwickshire have chosen to bowl against Essex and the Riverside in Division Two – Worcestershire are bowling against Durham.
Preamble
Good morning from Emerald Headingley, where the leaders are in town to face a Yorkshire side who have had an up and down last few weeks. Loss, win, loss. Somerset, 15 points clear of Essex at the summit, have won seven of their nine games so far, and the popular opinion is that a maiden title is theirs to lose.
Having seen Yorkshire lose at Essex last week, I don’t subscribe to that view. Essex are the real deal. They ‘Simon Harmered’ the White Rose county and were nowhere near at their best. In bowling Yorkshire out for 208 on day one, Essex were apparently of the opinion that it was the worst they’d bowled all season.
One thing is for sure. It is a two horse race. Given Yorkshire, in third, were playing Essex and Somerset in succession, they had a chance with two wins. This clash throws up a couple of interesting asides. The return of Jack Brooks to Headingley will rouse the home crowd, I’m sure. A Championship winner in 2014 and 2015 with Yorkshire, he took more than 300 wickets for them in that competition in six seasons.
Then you have Dom Bess playing for Somerset against the county he is about to rejoin on loan for T20. Bess played four Championship matches for Yorkshire earlier in the season. “At least it saves me doing the trip back and forth,” he joked a couple of days ago.
Essex host Warwickshire at Chelmsford, where their 100% record stands at five fixtures this summer. But the Bears will be no pushovers, as their Houdini like escape with a draw from Hampshire away earlier this week suggests. Ninth-wicket pair Henry Brookes and Jeetan Patel batted out the best part of the last 28 overs on Tuesday to secure a draw from the jaws of defeat. They will have to do without in-form opener Dom Sibley due to the England Lions versus Australia A game at Canterbury, which starts on Sunday. Mind you, they are not alone. Most counties are affected by that game with absentees.
Hampshire are at home again, against a Kent side who beat Surrey at the Oval earlier this week, while struggling Surrey – at Trent Bridge – face a Nottinghamshire side who are having a nightmare campaign and are on course for relegation.
There are three fixtures in Division Two starting today and a fourth on Sunday – Derbyshire v Northamptonshire at Chesterfield. They are all attractive clashes too. Leaders Lancashire host fourth-placed Sussex at Old Trafford, while second-placed Glamorgan host a Middlesex side who will hope their win over Gloucestershire earlier this week sparks a drive for the promotion places. They are currently seventh and 15 points behind Derbyshire in fourth. At the Riverside, Durham host Worcestershire.
I did wonder for a moment whether there would be any alteration in scheduling of this round due to England’s World Cup final appearance.. An obvious way would be to return briefly to the old Test match rest day and have day two on Monday instead of Sunday. After all, around this time last year if you remember, Yorkshire rearranged a T20 Blast fixture with Derbyshire which clashed with England’s football World Cup semi-final against Croatia.
Yorkshire have since said a big reason for that was safety. Earlier in the competition when England beat Sweden people were dancing in the streets and climbing on top of buses celebrating for example. Instead of re-jigging this game, Yorkshire have stressed that Sunday’s World Cup game will be shown around the ground on TVs in places such as the East Stand Long Room.
The scheduling of the Vitality Blast will also be a big factor. There are counties who start that competition on Thursday and most others on Friday, so pushing the Championship back a day would eat into valuable preparation time.
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