Roundup of the day's play
Mark Stoneman was so near yet so far from cementing his place at the top of England’s Test order through late 2017 and early 2018, scoring five fifties in eleven matches. He just could not convert starts and was left out shortly after the 4-0 Ashes defeat Down Under at the start of last year.
Since then, the Surrey man has rarely looked like getting back into contention. But here, there was a reminder of what might have been.
Not a million miles away from home turf in Newcastle, Stoneman scored only a second Championship century since being discarded by England - his first of the summer - to help Surrey, who lost six wickets after tea to be bowled out for 362, claim a lead of 35 at the halfway point of their clash with Yorkshire. Starting day two on 28, he moved through to a century off 165 balls with 13 fours, only to fall two balls later when caught behind down leg off the South African seamer Duanne Olivier. Unfortunately, replays suggested the deflection was more sweatband than glove. Then again, he has become accustomed to frustration hasn’t he.
You can draw comparisons between Stoneman’s England record and his start to the ongoing Championship summer, with him failing to convert three fifties prior to this innings. But he was one of five centurions around the counties on day two, four of them in Division One.
Essex’s Nick Browne, another left-handed opener, and Kent’s Daniel Bell-Drummond also posted their first hundreds of the campaign, and they were big ones. Browne’s unbeaten 163 helped Essex pile the pressure on struggling Nottinghamshire (213) at Trent Bridge with a close of play 345 for three. Bell-Drummond’s 166 was the top-score in Kent’s 585 for seven declared against a threadbare Warwickshire attack at Canterbury. But Ashes hopeful Dom Sibley’s 60 not out gave the Bears a boost late in the day at 142 without loss.
Leaders Somerset were made to work by Hampshire in defence of 408, with Sam Northeast’s 101 helping ensure they closed on 329 for eight. Jamie Overton claimed five wickets.
Derbyshire’s Leus du Plooy was the day’s fifth centurion as they took charge of their home clash with Middlesex, who were 135 for three replying to 557 for six declared.
Division Two leaders Lancashire are in a hard-fought battle with Durham - 199 for five replying to the Red Rose’s 337. Jimmy Anderson bowled Australian Cameron Bancroft for 77. Sussex are on course for defeat against Northamptonshire at Hove.
Right, that’s all from me for the day. Thanks for your comments. Tanya Aldred will be helming the blog tomorrow and there will be a roundup here later on. Bye.
A few wickets around the traps … Surrey 303-7 now, trailing by 24. Yorkshire have struck three times with the new ball. Hampshire are 311-7 against Somerset, trailing by 97. Jamie Overton has taken a couple of quick wickets, and in Division Two Durham are 148-4 against Lancashire (337). Jimmy Anderson has bowled Cam Bancroft for 77.
A few wickets around the traps....Surrey 303-7 now, trailing by 24. Yorkshire have struck three times with the new ball. Hampshire are 311-7 against Somerset, trailing by 97. Jamie Overton has taken a couple of quick wickets, and in Division Two Durham are 148-4 against Lancashire (337). Jimmy Anderson has bowled Cam Bancroft for 77.
Surrey may have lost Ben Foakes for 40 in the last 15 minutes, superbly caught by a diving Jack Leaning in the gully off Ben Coad, but the visitors are closing in on 300.
Northants are really piling the pressure on Sussex at Hove as the hosts bid to avoid a second home defeat in a fortnight. Having gained that first-innings lead of 167, they are now 137-1 second time around with Ricardo Vasconcelos on 65.
Durham may have lost Alex Lees at Sedbergh, but they are going nicely against Lancashire in reply to 337. Cam Bancroft has an unbeaten 66 at tea, with Durham 115-1. New ball wicket at Scarborough as I type. Curran slices Coad to backward point for 43. Surrey 267-5.
Updated
I make it there have been five centuries scored today so far, four in Division One - Stoneman, Bell-Drummond, Browne, Northeast and, in Division Two, du Plooy. There are plenty of opportunities to add to that as well. Tea here at Scarborough. Surrey are 253-4, trailing by 74.
Hampshire are going along ok against leaders Somerset, with Sam Northeast posting a century before falling as one of two wickets to Dom Bess. They are now 225-5 in reply to 408. A partnership between all-rounders James Fuller and Keith Barker would cement some earlier good work. Here at Scarborough, Sam Curran and Ben Foakes are both in the twenties, and Surrey are 90 behind at 237-4 as we approach tea.
There have been a couple of declarations in the last 15-20 minutes. Kent have declared on 585-7 against Warwickshire and Derbyshire have pulled out on 557-6 against Middlesex, with Anuj Dal falling for 92. Here, Surrey are 210-4, trailing by 117.
Jubilation and then despair for Mark Stoneman, who reaches a 165-ball century - his first of the season, edging Duanne Olivier wide of slips for four to secure his milestone. But then he falls two balls later, caught behind down leg. Surrey have lost two in as many overs, including a first for Keshav Maharaj as he has Ryan Patel caught behind. Surrey are 186-4.
Anuj Dal is 83 not out for Derbyshire and will either become their third centurion of the innings against Middlesex – the score is 542-5 – or the third man to narrowly miss out. While Billy Godleman and Leus du Plooy both reached three figures, Luis Reece and Fynn Hudson Prentice both fell in the nineties.
When you look down the list of scores around the country, Sussex at 94-9 stands out like a sore thumb amongst a host of strong batting displays. Ben Sanderson and Ben Hutton have shared eight of the wickets for Northants at Hove, with Sanderson taking five.
I really can’t help but think that period when Yorkshire slipped from 187-1 to 231-7 after lunch yesterday will end up being the decider in the match. Surrey look well set here on 154-2.
Around the grounds at lunch
Division One
Kent 448-4 v Warwickshire at Canterbury – Daniel Bell-Drummond has ploughed on to 154 not out against the depleted Bears, who looked so good at York a fortnight ago before losing to Surrey last week.
Essex 155-2 v Nottinghamshire 213 at Trent Bridge – R Ashwin claimed his first Notts wicket this morning, Tom Westley caught at slip, but Essex are on course for another win to maintain the pressure on leaders Somerset.
Hampshire 105-2 v Somerset 408 at Taunton – Ajinkya Rahane and Sam Northeast have shared an unbroken 68 and are into the forties. This feels like a key period in that contest.
Surrey 148-2 v Yorkshire 327 at Scarborough – Mark Stoneman’s 71 not out has equalled a season’s best. Surrey have the edge.
Division Two
Derbyshire 488-5 v Middlesex at Derby – 96 for Luis Reece, 102 for Billy Godleman, 99 for Fynn Hudson-Prentice, 118 for Leus du Plooy and 57 not out for Anuj Dal represents a fair old top order performance and has piled the pressure on the promotion-chasing visitors.
Glamorgan 449 v Worcestershire 6-0 at Cardiff – 7-92 for Brett D’Oliveira and his leg-spinners, but Glamorgan remain in control.
Lancashire 337 v Durham 1-0 at Sedbergh – There’s been a bit of rain in Cumbria (or the Yorkshire Dales as some would say), and Durham have had a decent morning, claiming five wickets. Aussie Nathan Rimmington (4-74) took three of them.
Sussex 83-7 v Northamptonshire 273 at Hove – Horrible morning for Sussex, 7-2 overnight. New ball seamer Ben Sanderson has taken four wickets.
Keshav Maharaj, Yorkshire’s new short-term overseas, is into the attack as Surrey advance to 139-2. Maharaj, the South African left-arm spinner, arrived in England mid last week and part of his preparation involved him net bowling to Afghanistan ahead of their World Cup clash with Pakistan at Headingley on Saturday. Yorkshire leg-spinner Josh Poysden was also there and spoke at length to Rashid Khan about the art of leg-spin.
Yorkshire have a wicket, and it’s Scott Borthwick caught low down at first slip by Tom Kohler-Cadmore off David Willey. Surrey have moved to 121-2. That was Kohler-Cadmore’s 28th catch of the season in all cricket.
They’re underway at Sedbergh, and Durham have claimed two wickets in the opening half hour of play - Steven Croft to Brydon Carse and Dane Vilas to Chris Rushworth for 72, the latter driving to mid-off. Lancashire are 293-7.
The Notts Post are reporting that Notts have put contract talks with Alex Hales, out of contract this year, on hold until the end of the summer following his recent troubles and that he has yet to receive any approaches from other counties for his services. Meanwhile, at Trent Bridge, R Ashwin has just taken his first wicket for the county - Tom Westley. Essex are 95-2 replying to 213.
Sean Dickson has fallen for 166, leaving Kent 383-3. He has fallen, caught on the pull, to hand James a maiden first-class wicket on his Warwickshire debut.
Big Ben chiming, hey. Sussex are under the cosh at 15-4 as Northants’ pair of Bens, Sanderson and Hutton, strike early at Hove, getting rid of Luke Wells and Aaron Thomason. Here, Dean Elgar has just fallen, bowled by another Ben - Coad - via an inside edge as he attempted to leave alone. Surrey 68-1.
An early rain delay at Sedbergh. They will be starting at 11.30am.
The heavy bails have already been called for here at Scarborough due to the breeze. Umpires Wharf and Blackwell have been busy boys in the first 10 minutes of play as they’ve also been trying to push the crowds sat behind the boundary rope back a few yards in a bid to avoid collisions with fielders sliding to save fours. Surrey 59-0.
Before we get into the thick of this week’s action, this look back on last week around the counties from Gary Naylor is worth a read …
Good morning from sunny Scarborough
How nice it is to be writing that as I think the last two or three times I’ve been with you on the blog it’s been a story of will it, won’t it rain. Yesterday seemed to largely be a batting day around the country, with the odd exception.
A host of high scores, centuries for players young and old and some interesting games developing – none more so than here on the East Coast at North Marine Road, where Surrey are 48-0 replying to Yorkshire’s 327, which included opener Will Fraine’s 106, a maiden first-class century.
Yorkshire may have a decent score on the board, one they would have probably taken before play yesterday on a pitch which is usually fruity. But they let the champions off the hook. They were 187-1 after all. Instead Jordan Clark, he of last season’s remarkable Roses hat-trick fame, charged in and claimed 5-77, continuing a love affair of playing against Yorkshire, no matter whether is wearing the colours of Lancashire or Surrey.
Seam did the trick for title-chasing Essex against hapless Notts (213 all out at Trent Bridge), with Messrs Porter, Beard and Siddle all taking three wickets apiece. Sir Alastair fell for two in reply to an old mate, Stuart Broad, but Essex still replied with 72-1.
How frustrated must Joe Denly feel? Kent are 338-2 at home to Warwickshire and he only gets 22 when in need of big runs to press his Ashes case. Instead, Zak Crawley made 77, opening partner Sean Dickson 146 not out and Daniel Bell-Drummond 68 unbeaten.
Warwickshire’s attack is threadbare to be fair to them. Ravaged by injuries, they are playing three seamers who didn’t start the season with the Bears in on loan duo Toby Lester and Ben Mike and James Wainman, released by Yorkshire over the winter.
James Hildreth’s 105 underpinned Somerset’s 408 all out against Hampshire (15-1 in reply) at Taunton. I see Dom Bess is playing there. That is a fascinating situation. Somerset refused Yorkshire permission to extend his loan as they wanted him for their clash with Essex at Chelmsford last week and then didn’t pick him. I do wonder whether he will be at Taunton come 1 April next year, despite having another year left on his contract there. My guess would be no.
Into Division Two, and Billy Godleman scored another century for Derbyshire – 372-4 against Middlesex. What a season he’s having.
Marnus Labuschagne the same for Glamorgan, who are in a commanding position at 354-6 at home to Worcestershire. The Aussie is also having an excellent summer, his first in county cricket.
I was amazed to see play halted for bad light early on at Sedbergh School yesterday, but they still got the full day in, with Lancashire closing on a competitive 275-5 against Durham – a host of solid contributions highlighted by fifties for middle-order pair Dane Villas and Rob Jones. Keaton Jennings made 11 against his former county before being bowled by Chris Rushworth.
Sussex, for whom Ollie Robinson took six-for – including his 200th first-class wicket, are under pressure against Northants at Hove as their mixed season hit another speed bump, with the visitors making 273. Sussex then slipped to 7-2 before close, losing loan signing Varun Chopra for five.
