Roundup
As England’s players played the biggest game of their lifetimes, county cricket skipped along, humming a merry tune. While many wondered why the World Cup Sunday, of all Sundays, had not been left free from county cricket, 500 or so doughty Lancashire supporters came through the turnstiles. Bafflement crossed the face of a spectator asked why he had not stayed at home to watch the World Cup final: “Why would we watch the television when you can watch Rob Jones bat?”
The aforementioned Jones made a very pretty 88, Glenn Maxwell, fresh from Australia’s World Cup squad, 59, and the in-form Dane Vilas a century as Lancashire declared six short of 500 against a Sussex attack missing Chris Jordan (injured) and Ollie Robinson (with the Lions.) Sussex survived four overs before the close.
Amar Virdi made a mockery of Nottinghamshire’s decision to prepare a spinning pitch for their new import Ravi Ashwin at Trent Bridge. In his first Championship appearance of the season, having been given some “tough love” by Surrey, he took eight for 61 as Notts were dismissed for 116. Young Jamie Smith made 57 as Surrey built a lead of 308 despite the magic of Ashwin, who took four more wickets, giving him 10 in the match.
At Chelmsford, Warwickshire’s shorn batting stumbled to 161, with Peter Siddle taking five for 33.
Darren Stevens again danced the dance of everlasting youth with his second five-fer in successive games, but only as Hampshire declared on 409 for nine. An unbeaten century from Joe Denly and 94 from Daniel Bell-Drummond took Kent past 300.
Somerset suffered one of their worst days in the Championship this season as Yorkshire continued to take advantage of a Gregory and Leach-less opposition, passing 500 with Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Harry Brook notching up their first Championship centuries of the season. Somerset had wobbled to 76 for four at the close.
At the Riverside, Durham reached the heady heights of 212, from 47 for six, with fifties for Ned Eckersley and an unbeaten 78 for Ben Raine. Worcestershire were then bowled out for 151 with Chris Rushworth bustling his way to four wickets.
Northamptonshire’s Temba Bavuma held the batting together with a hundred against Derbyshire; while Glamorgan were in a hole at Sophia Gardens after being bowled out for 171 by Middlesex.
Parky is on.
Lancashire declare - I suspect this match is about to change gear. A partnership of 123 between Croft 31, and Vilas not out 132.
And New Zealand lose a review...
Ravi Ashwin ten-fer, but Surrey lead by 275.
Somerset in deep swampy waters at 40-3 following Yorkshire’s huge first-innings score.
Essex’s openers in no trouble against Warwicks, and a hundred for Joe Denly at the Rose Bowl!
Worcestershire - gulp - 113 for seven, Middlesex 104 for 4 - but the lead is already 317; Bavuma eventually out for 134 at Chesterfield.
Couple of near-misses at Lord’s, patient building block time. Yes. Yes? Yes!
Thought you’d enjoy this...
Ha! The irony is... Ian Austin and Mark Ealham would have been perfect bowlers. And Jonathan Trott would have been the perfect batsman. https://t.co/W2Rzi8mv2T
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) July 14, 2019
That’s the hundred for Vilas - his twentieth first-class and fifth for Lancashire! I’m told that his conversion rate from hundred to 150 is “seriously weird.”
Back in the OT box - jinx block fully activated - we reckon it’s Jos Buttler’s moment.
I’m not sure anyone is still here, but just to say I’ve got to get a round-up in early, so I’m around but will update intermitently. Somerset -eek- 8/1.
And fifty for Jamie Smith against Ravi Ashwin! He raises his bat at Bunsen Bridge after a classy straight drive for four and has now the second highest score of the match, plus a forty in the first innings. Real Deal.?
Getting a bit nervy at Lord’s ho!
Meanwhile, a belated klaxon for Bavuma at Chesterfield - not out 117 with no-one else scoring more than 38. Northants 258-6.
That was Harry Brook’s first Championship century of the season, following Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s earlier. Somerset’s Gregory and Leach-less attack playing Yorkies into form. Let’s see how Somerset’s batting fares....
Tea-time scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford Essex 245 (Cook 84; Rhodes 5-17) v Warwickshire 161 (Siddle 5-33)
Ageas Bowl: Hampshire 409-9 dec (Organ 100, Rossouw 92; Stevens 5-68) v Kent 158-2 (Denly 68)
Trent Bridge: Notts 116 (Virdi 8-61) v Surrey 240 (Ashwin 6-69) and 78-4 (Ashwin 3-34)
Headingley: Yorkshire 520 (Ballance 111, Kohler-Cadmore 102, Brook 101; Bess 4-130) v Somerset
DIVISION TWO
Riverside: Durham 212 (Eckersley 50, Raine 78 not out) v Worcestershire 72-3
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 171 (Lloyd 67; Helm 5-53; Roland-Jones 4-45) v Middlesex 384 (Malan 166; Carey 4-54) and 49-3
Old Trafford: Lancashire 371-5 (Jones 88, Vilas 52 not out) v Sussex 127 (Parkinson 6-23)
Chesterfield: Day 1: Derby v Northants 255-5 (Bavuma 115)
Updated
Rob Jones is bowled for 88 - NO! - one that shot through. Vilas has made his seventh fifty of the season. Lancashire 371-5 and it’s tea here at OT too. Scores to follow.
Updated
Ravi Ashwin bowls Scott Borthwick at The Oval as they all retire for a mid-afternoon cherry bakewell. Surrey 78 for four but a lead already of 202 on this Trent Bridge bunsen.
A thought for anyone simultaneously watching tv to ponder:
If Roy wasn’t out first ball, we might as well abolish lbw.#ICCWorldCup2019
— Greg Baum (@GregBaum) July 14, 2019
Kent’s Matt Henry still cutting it in the black shirt. Great catch by Latham.
Gareth Harte breaks up a 22 run partnership at the Riverside. Worcestershire 56 for three, trail Durham by 156. My money’s on this being a close one- two wobbly batting sides continually saved by their bowlers.
Looking ahead to the August fixtures... Kent v Essex at Canterbury maybe the tastiest in Div one - if you assume (dangerous I know) that Somerset swat away Warwicks at Edgbaston. Yorkshire v Notts at Scarborough could be torturous for Notts in a season of continual torment. In Div Two, I fancy Glamorgan v Lancs at Colwyn Bay.
Maharaj goes at last - who knew he had such a taste for the long handle? Yorkshire reach the giddy heights of 505-8. We wait for Act II. Bess 4-123 against his old-new-old loan county.
Glad to see young Jamie Smith batting well at The Oval against Ravi Ashwin. Surrey’s injury crisis has thrown him in at the deep end - seems he has that golden touch everyone was talking about.
Oh my, Jason Roy is a lucky boy....
Rob Jones and Dane Vilas bring up the fifty partnership and the lead over Sussex passes 200. Should have mentioned that Chris Jordan hurt his knee yesterday and won’t bowl today. Lancs 333-4.
Another for Ravi Ashwin - Surrey 34 for 3. A lead of 158. Is it enough? **(Rhetorical question)
Hail Rushworth, full of grace fire. Daryl Michell gone for a duck as Worcestershire wobble at 17 for 1. Durham were all out for 212 with Ben Raine stranded on 78.
And suddenly Toby Roland Jones has four! Go TRJ! Glamorgan what is this stumble, trip? They’ve lost four for ten and are 157 for nine with only three players in double figures.
Updated
Amusing goings on at Trent Bridge or, to nick a BTL suggestion, Bridgeabad. Surrey 13 for two, with the two spinners Ravi Ashwin and Liam Patterson-White opening the bowling.
REPLAY | Ashwin picks up from where he left off in Surrey's first innings.
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) July 14, 2019
Watch every ball of #NottsvSur 👉 https://t.co/ZAMLaIhdJB pic.twitter.com/pobuMek1FU
Updated
Quick catch-up. Notts were all out for 116 with Virdi 8-61. That’s quite some entrance. Gives Surrey a lead of 126 as they start their second innings.
Warwickshire, shorn of Dom Sibley and Sam Hain limp on, 83 for five. Kent are batting, 56 for one, and Yorks go on, and on, and on - Harry Brook 72 not out, Yorks 434-7.
Also... the tofu looks tasty.
FOOD MENU 😋
— Lord's Cricket Ground 🏏 (@HomeOfCricket) July 14, 2019
Here are what @englandcricket & @BLACKCAPS will be eating during the interval!
What would you choose? 🤔#LoveLords#CWC19Final pic.twitter.com/kRtPfaeKYI
Updated
Sorry about the post-lunch silence. I ventured into the stands to see why people had made the trek to Old Trafford rather than watch England contest the World Cup Final on telly. Here is a cross-section of the answers, some more tongue in cheek than others....
“We’re talking agricultural cricket versus non-agricultural cricket.”
“I wouldn’t cross the road to watch international one-day cricket.”
“But it brings in all the money so its very good of it to subsidise county cricket.”
“I can’t watch a game where the players aren’t dressed properly.”
“Cricket has to be over four days - unless it is minor counties cricket.”
“Why would we watch the television when you can watch Rob Jones bat?”
“What you’ve got to remember is that we’re all good friends...”
“Well we were this morning..”
Lancashire 296-4.
Lovely shot by Glenn Maxwell to break the post-lunch lull: Sussex have take n the new ball and Hamza has it. Lancs 266/3.
Lunch time scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford Essex 254 (Cook 84; Rhodes 5-17) v Warwickshire 57-4
Ageas Bowl: Hampshire 409-9 dec (Organ 100, Rossouw 92; Stevens 5-68) v Kent 14-0
Trent Bridge: Notts 104-7 (Virdi 5-59) v Surrey 240 (Ashwin 6-69)
Headingley: Yorkshire 386-6 (Ballance 111, Kohler-Cadmore 102) v Somerset
DIVISION TWO
Riverside: Durham 209-8 (Eckersley 50, Raine 77 not out) v Worcestershire
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 128-5 (Lloyd 54 not out; Helm 4-41) v Middlesex 384 (Malan 166; Carey 4-54)
Old Trafford: Lancashire 255-3 v Sussex 127 (Parkinson 6-23)
Chesterfield: Day 1: Derby v Northants 66-3
Lunch scores to follow!
200 on the board#ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/gmwjkNSiJa
— Durham Cricket 🏏 (@DurhamCricket) July 14, 2019
A fabulous little sweep shot by Rob Jones takes Lancs to 243 and a feet-up, telly on, relaxed lunch. Apropos of nothing, I see the World Cup OBO is the most read item across the Guardian! Here’s the link.
Also, as it bows out, a shout out to this World Cup. A couple of days ago I got a message out of the blue from the only other girl in my class at secondary school who liked cricket. I’ve not seen her since I was 16. We occasionally used to bump into each other at Lord’s where we went with our respective dads but more usually hung out in the toilets after school where she’d put on mascara and I’d look on and try and copy her hair style. She just wrote to say how great the semi-final had been. So thank you cricket for extending the hand of friendship, and thank you Nicola.
Meanwhile, Notts are 94 for 7, Warwicks 49-4 and Hants 409-9 declared.
Virdi back with a swing, a swagger, and a bang. Opening the bowling, he’s got five for 39 against Notts. Alec Stewart spoke last week of the “tough love” Surrey have shown Virdi, and that he has to understand what being a professional sportsman means, ie - he’s not been fit enough.
Seems to have worked ok! Notts 89 for 7.
Updated
In Division Two, Durham’s late flurry has been ended by Ed Barnard. Ned Eckersley gone for 50 but Ben Raine still hanging on, 49 not out. Durham 169-7. At Sophia Gardens, David Lloyd is still there on 43 but Billy Root Roland-Jonesed for 32. Glamorgan 103-5.
Ah, and in the game starting today, Northants 62-3, a wicket for Derby’s young Hudson-Prentice.
A second five-fer in two games for roly-poly Darren Stevens, champion of the forty-plus club. Hampshire 402-9. Oh dear Warwickshire - 27-3. A wicket for young Aaron Beard. Ashwin and Patel rowing Notts towards three figures - 65-5. And Somerset have taken three wickets this morning, Yorkshire 351-6.
Meanwhile in Trafalgar square:
Great to see so many people in Trafalgar Square for the live screening of the @CricketWorldCup final. If you need somewhere to watch the game, you can still head down to the fan zone now #CWC19Final #ComeOnEngland #LondonIsOpen pic.twitter.com/HugvlaT8t0
— Mayor of London (@MayorofLondon) July 14, 2019
Updated
And Mullaney falls for a duck, lbw first ball. NOTTS 41-5.
McManus hovers just short of fifty for Hampshire as they pile up dem runs at the Rose Bowl, and Libby falls to Virdi at Trent Bridge on a dry used surface. Actually Notts are now 40-4, having lost three for five. Virdi 2-25. Normal service resumes.
And Hass goes, I’m afraid, for 11, lbw Wiese. Lancs 184-3.
"You can't play cricket in the rain"
— Cricket District (@cricketdistrict) July 13, 2019
Try telling these guys 🙌 #Commitment
[via 7070 Sports] pic.twitter.com/XvG0bGwhUA
Not a great start for Warwickshire as Essex sniff the air from Headingley and apply the hunting knife. Warwicks 14- 2, wickets for Siddle and Quinn.
Yorkshire (305-3) collect their third batting point, and Glamorgan start climbing out the hole at Sophia Gardens as Billy Root and David Lloyd rebuild (Glamorgan 69-4).
BOUNDARY// Lloyd unfurls two lovely drives in consecutive deliveries off the bowling of Murtagh 😍
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏏 (@GlamCricket) July 14, 2019
Glamorgan 48/4 in the 13th over #GLAvMID #GoGlam pic.twitter.com/WjryVo0oX4
Updated
Wow! Jennings cut to backward point and Rawlings leaps left and high. Paul Edwards says you won’t see a better catch than that at Lord’s (bah humbug!). Lancs 166-2.
Lots of people wondering why County Cricket is happening now, of all weekends.
Imagine the players are livid having to play today no?
— Laurence Hill 🦅 (@LaurenceH_CPFC) July 14, 2019
This is where cricket isn't doing itself favours.. Whose watching this on the same day as WC final
— Josh Jones-Keen (@joshjk1) July 14, 2019
It does seem peculiar, especially as the ECB has been building towards England being in the Final for four years. This was their EVERYTHING!
But having said that, there are a surprising number of people here - 300 or so. And a number I can’t see who are in the pavilion, gazing up at the screens, as Paul Edwards says, “as if witnessing the second coming.”
And that’s a lovely shot by Hameed. Lancashire 166-1.
Just asking around about Matt Parkinson for your benefit. General consensus is that there is no great conspiracy around his non-selection. Just that Lancashire’s seam attack has been so good and they’ve been playing on largely seaming wickets. At the beginning of the season they had Glenn Maxwell, who can turn his arm over, then Livingstone. Parry was picked last week because he’s the one who has been bowling slightly better in the seconds. Parkinson himself seemed phlegmatic about it, and said yesterday that he’d become resigned to playing just white ball cricket this season.
“I’ve had to bide my time and I’d sort of resigned myself to playing T20 for the next month, so it’s nice to go out there and do well. But you can’t fault our seam attack because there isn’t a better one in the country.”
Start of play scores
DIVISION ONE
- Chelmsford: Essex 245 v Warwickshire
- Ageas Bowl: Hampshire 340-6 v Kent
- Trent Bridge: Notts 20-1 v Surrey 240
- Headingley: Yorkshire 282-3 v Somerset
-
DIVISION TWO
- Riverside: Durham 122-6 v Worcestershire
- Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 25-4 v Middlesex 384
- Old Trafford: Lancashire 149-1 v Sussex 127
- Chesterfield: Day 1: Derby v Northants
Updated
In Division One, it is even stevens at Chelmsford with five wickets for Will Rhodes. Young Felix Organ made his maiden hundred for Hampshire against Kent. I’m feeling there could be a Notts-up in waiting against Surrey (20-1) and a century for Gary Ballance has put Yorkshire in a strong position against Division One leaders Somerset.
Now for a quick round-up from yesterday: Division Two
Matt Parkinson fulfilled the fantasty of many BTL taking by a career-best six for 23 with his legspin from 15.2 overs after Sussex collapsed from 77 for 1 to lose five for 11. Lancashire had over taken Sussex by the close for the loss of only one wicket - Alex Davies for 72. Keaton returns with an unbeaten fifty.
Glamorgan collapsed against Middlesex, with Tom Helm taking four for 8. David Malan earlier made a super 166. And Durham are in trouble against Worcestershire, after Cameron Bancroft failed.
Derby and Northants start today at Chesterfield, as does the Lions match against Australia A.
Here is the scene at Wombat CC, where the final day of English Women’s county cricket as we know it is being played between Devon and Somerset.
We've arrived at @WombatsCC. Gorgeous day, @SCBwomengirls & @DevonCricket warming up, All Stars session just finished, it's a hive of activity! #YourCounty pic.twitter.com/VUT0KyjBg4
— Women's County Cricket Day (@WomensCricDay) July 14, 2019
Preamble
Good morning everyone - anyone? -from Old Trafford and welcome to the most important day in English cricket since....The Oval Test of 2005? Headingley ‘81? Bodyline?
I can just see an elderly man in a blue shirt and white hair climbing the stairs of Stand A - he doesn’t have many companions. A scattering in the pavilion and another handful here in the press box ,where I’ve just watched Kane Williamson win the toss.
Out on the pitch Lancashire are playing volleyball and Sussex have had circle time (shoes on) after their disastrous day yesterday.
This was Jason Gillespie’s summary:
“We spoke this morning about the importance of adapting to conditions but we can have time meeting after team meeting after team meeting, if we’re getting rissoled for a hundred each time, we may as well be banging our heads against a brick wall.We know it’s not good enough. It is unacceptable. The brutal reality is that our top six batters are not doing their jobs and they need to find a way to get the job done.”
Updated
