Tanya's roundup
On a very rain-delayed day at Hove there were concerns over the fitness of Jofra Archer, playing in his first Championship game of the year. Archer suffered a recurrence of the elbow problems which meant he flew home before the one-day series in India and missed the IPL. To the seeming surprise of Ben Brown, the Sussex captain, Archer did not open the bowling from the Sea End and in fact didn’t bowl at all on day three, having sent down just five overs on day two. Sussex confirmed that he would not bowl again in the match, which would seem to make him a long shot for the Test squad against New Zealand, named on Tuesday.
“I think there was some confusion about the state of Jofra’s [right] elbow,” Ian Salisbury, the Sussex coach, said afterwards. “Ben thought he was going to bowl but his elbow was sore. Any time that Jofra can’t bowl you’re going to be frustrated as a leader, or as a team. But it happens. In sport people get injured. That’s life. That’s sport. He’s still willing to be out there because he wants Sussex to win.” Zak Crawley danced to 85 as Kent made a better fist of their second innings.
Joe Root was bowled for 99 after resurrecting Yorkshire’s innings alongside his captain Steven Patterson. Root, wearing a huge short-sleeved jumper, played the difficult pitch with touch-perfection. But, after being somewhat marooned in the 90s, he got an inside edge to a ball from Dan Douthwaite, which squirted on to his stumps. The No 11 Ben Coad lasted two balls, leaving Patterson unbeaten on 47 and Yorkshire with an invaluable first-innings lead of 81. Glamorgan’s second innings stuttered, with Marnus Labuschagne, yet to find his mojo, out for a three-ball duck, stumps splattered. Kiran Carlson and David Lloyd then applied a steady hand as the shadows grew.
Essex’s Simon Harmer took a career-best nine for 80 as Derbyshire limped to 146 all out. Bowling with variation and a bounce in his step after a couple of skimpy matches, Derbyshire’s batsmen tumbled like dominoes on a slope, losing six for 43. Harmer was denied all 10 by part-time spinner Dan Lawrence, for the second time in his career. Following on, Derbyshire’s innings started badly when Luis Reece was bowled for nought, but Brooke Guest batted sweetly to make his maiden first-class fifty.
Middlesex’s batting once again proved flaky in the face of Kyle Abbott and Mohammad Abbas, as they collapsed to a seven-wicket defeat to Hampshire. They staggered to 101 in their second innings, the highest score captain Peter Handscombe’s 24. Hampshire needed just 66 to win, a race against the weather, but Sam Northeast eased them home. Abbott finished with 11 for 85 in the match.
Centuries from Durham’s Will Young and Jack Burnham, his first since 2016, and 86 from Ned Eckersley, who ping-ponged six sixes, left Worcestershire with a tricky final day at the Riverside.
A belated goodnight after an eventful day - 99 for Joe Root, nine wickets for Simon Harmer, a win for Hampshire and perhaps the biggest news that which didn’t happen: a recurrence of Jofra Archer’s elbow injury meaning he didn’t bowl a ball for Sussex. It seems his chances of being fit to play New Zealand in the Test series are low. Poor guy. In the words of Ian Salisbury, “That’s life, that’s sport.”
Time for a evening drink, many thanks for the messages, see you tomorrow!
I took my eyes off the Riverside where Durham are motoring along: Jack Burnham, 95 not out, and Ned Eckersley 44 . I must put my head down to write the round-up now. Hope you can keep things jogging along below the line.
Yorkshire all out for 230, as Ben Coad can’t hang around to see Patterson to his century. A smashing innings by the Yorkshire captain, 47 not out and an inelegant but useful foil for Joe Root.
11 wickets for Kyle Abbott - Hampshire need 66 to win
Middlesex all out for a sorry 101. Best get this over with quickly I say. Hampshire’s Abbott and Abbas have 17 wickets between them.
Joe Root out for 99!
A squirt takes him to 99, but then gets an inside edge which rattles into his stumps. Well done Glamorgan for keeping things tight in the nineties, but what a classy innings, and an invaluable partnership of 118 with Patterson which took Yorkshire from a troublesome 111-8 to a lead of 80.
Updated
Kyle Abbott picks up his tenth wicket as Middlesex slip to 96-8, a lead of 59.
At Cardiff, Douthwaite appeals, desperately, for an lbw appeal against Joe Root, who is moving slowly through the 90s.
Updated
At Sophia Gardens, Steve Patterson seems to have broken his bat. And an email wings its way over from George Garret:
Good afternoon Tanya from an overcast Battersea.
I’ve been thinking about Jimmy Anderson’s approaching milestone of 1,000 first-class wickets (can he get the eight wickets he needs next week, against Northants?)
Amidst all the talk about Anderson perhaps becoming the last person to reach this landmark, what are the chances of Simon Harmer eventually getting there, especially in the context of his absurd figures this afternoon? Maths has never my strong point, but Harmer now has 677 wickets. Now, that’s two-thirds of the way there - and at 32, he’s surely not quite two-thirds of the way through his career yet, especially as a spinner.”
That’s a very good point. Philip DeFreitas (1,248 wickets), Caddick (1,180), Martin Bicknell (1,061) and Devon Malcolm (1,054) are the only English seamers to gather 1000-plus wickets since covered pitches were introduced. Robert Croft was the last England spinner to do it, in 2007.
But Harmer, a Test-class spinner without the restriction that Test players have to play under, is probably the man with the best chance of following Anderson. And he’s only 32 so might have another eight year’s cricket in him.
At Sophia Gardens, Joe Root moves into the 90s.
Updated
Rain watch
Off for bad light at Chelmsford, play due to restart at Lord’s at 4.30pm, and proceedings hoping to start for the day at Hove at 5pm.
Fall-out from Cameron Bancroft’s interview with Don McRae in today’s Guardian, as Cricket Australia call for anyone with new information to speak to them:
Derbyshire lose their first wicket as Reece is bowled by Jamie Porter for a duck. 14-1.
Rain is currently saving Middlesex’s blushes at Lord’s, with their second innings in tatters at 93-7.
News is due from Hove imminently.
And Yorkshire have built a handy lead of 46 thanks to two contrasting innings by Root (82 not out) and his captain Patterson (37 not out).
Billy Godleman has hit 13 off seven balls as Derbyshire follow-on. Bring Harmer back!
Joe Root chatting to Rob Key - my hearing slightly impeded by hoovering in the hall, but think he said it’s been great playing county cricket, getting a good look at the different bowlers. Don’t want to sound like a middle-aged mum but... he’s matured into such an impressive young man.
Updated
Teatime scores
Group one
Riverside: Durham 246 and 271-4 v Worcestershire 213 all out
Chelmsford: Essex 412-3 dec v Derbyshire 146 all out Derbyshire trail by 266 runs
Group two
Lord’s: Middlesex 172 and 93-7 v Hampshire 208 all out
Taunton: Somerset v Surrey 206-4 play abandoned for the day after 9 overs
Group three
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 149 all out v Yorkshire 185-8
Hove: Sussex 256 v Kent 145 and 138-2 No play yet - pitch inspection at 4pm
Updated
A career best 9-80 for Simon Harmer
Harmer finishes off Derbyshire with his second caught and bowled of the innings, and his ninth wicket!!! I guess Derbyshire will be batting again shortly.
Updated
At last, Josh Tongue finds a way to get rid of Young, for 103. Hit on his pad. Durham 232-4 and a hearty lead starting to build.
The Yorkies meanwhile have found some staying power with Root, who drives smoothly, gorgeously, through the on-side for four, and Patterson who is more of an up and over kind of guy. 172-8.
Harmer has his eighth! Sorry Derbyshire slip to 132-9.
Middlesex fans, now might be the time to avert your eyes. Currently 67-7, a lead of 31 over Hampshire. Only Handscomb has made it into double figures, with the floodlights on and clouds with attitude over the pavilion.
At Sophia Gardens, Marnus gets a bowl at Joe Root. Skippety skip and Root late cuts him for no run.
A hundred for Will Young!
The only hundred of the match (with apologies to Alex Lees) -a perfectly paced effort which has guided Durham to a lead of 262: 247 balls and a partnership of 78 with Jack Burnham.
Harmer plucks Brooke Guest and Harvey Hosein into his pocket. He currently has 7-64 from his 24 overs. Derbyshire 128-8.
Steve Patterson clatters Neser to the boundary and Yorkshire take the lead! Yorkshire 152-8.
Nigel Llong gets brushed by a Steve Patterson heave at Cardiff.
And a fifth wicket for Simon Harmer at Chelmsford with Madsen and Critchley falling in a flurry. Derbyshire 122-6. Essex need to run through the tail quickly to try and force a win today if possible - the forecast for tomorrow is grim.
“Hi Tanya.” Hello Romeo!
A gentleman’s trousers are much more comfortable if they require a hitch up than if they are suddenly and accidentally excessively hitched up.”
Ah.
As I’ve got older I’ve increasingly become a fan of high-waisted trousers.
Peter Handscombe’s miserable season continues unabated. This time, he’s lbw to Kyle Abbot for 24. Middlesex 49-5 and praying for the rain to hurry up and blow over the square from behind the pavilion.
Fifty for Joe Root!
Raises his bat after a crafty leg-side single, casual as you like. A different class on this wicket.
Smashing catch from a diving Mohammad Abbas who scoops a caught and bowled off the turf. Robbie White has to go. Middx 48-4 under heavy skies.
Can someone please hitch up Douthewaite’s trousers? Must be so uncomfortable.
Middlesex’s tail of woe starts at No. 1. Currently 35-3. Peter Handscombe trying to hit himself into form - three fours in a 9 ball 17.
Is Joe Root going to run out of partners before he reaches fifty? Currently 46 with Steve Patterson for company. Yorkshire 111-8
Middlesex 17 for 2...and they haven’t yet made up time on the first innings. Abbott the man this time as Davies edges the big man behind.
Mohammad Abbas running down the slope in the gloom is too much for Sam Robson, who trudges back, lbw for 5. Middlesex 13-1.
A partnership of 54 with Brooke Guest is broken when Hughes is stumped by Wheater off Harmer. for 22 Derbyshire 71-4. Feels like we haven’t had a GBH spell of inevitability for a while.
A closer look at the situation at Sophia Gardens revealed that Australian Michael Neser took two in two on his home debut. So much sympathy for poor Harry Duke who got a golden duck on debut. The only silver lining is that his worst fears have been realised and, in reality, it is all ok.
𝟱-𝗳𝗲𝗿
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏏 (@GlamCricket) May 15, 2021
What a start from Neser on his home debut! He gets Duke first ball and he now has 5⃣ in the innings 👏
His figures now read 10-4-20-5
Live stream 📺 https://t.co/C0s8I2tf8P#GLAMvYOR | #GoGlam pic.twitter.com/TvclazLFLX
Play abandoned for the day at Taunton
Only nine overs were bowled with Surrey adding 15 to their total before the rain turned parts of the outfield into a swamp. The forecast for tomorrow is equally dreadful. Unfortunately.
Feel like I let everyone down on the sandwich front after all yesterday’s recommendations.
Anyway, in the matches that started just after one o’clock, Derbyshire are recovering after a good night’s sleep (51-3); while Yorkshire are in danger of having a first-innings deficit at 81-6. Their silver lining, that Joe Root is still there on 35.
Updated
Play is due to start shortly at Chelmsford and Sophia Gardens. However I must just run the pup to the park - back in twenty mins.
Lunchtime scores
Group one
Riverside: Durham 246 all out and 162-3 v Worcestershire 213 all out
Chelmsford: Essex 412-3 dec v Derbyshire 35-3 Play due to start at 1.10pm
Group two
Lord’s: Middlesex 172 all out v Hampshire 208 all out
Taunton: Somerset v Surrey 206-4 rain interrupted
Group three
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 149 all out v Yorkshire 69-4 Play due to start at 1.10pm
Hove: Sussex 256 v Kent 145 and 138-2 No play before lunch - rain.
Updated
Hampshire all out for 208 - a most unexpected lead of 36 over Middlesex. A sparkling 84, 9 fours, four sixes, a batting point and a big lunch for Keith Barker.
Events at Lords: Keith Barker reaches 50 - and Brad Wheal is out to Tim Murtagh. Last man Mohammad Abbas is in, but Hampshire have all but hoovered up the deficit. A good morning’s work.
Meanwhile up at the Riverside, Durham have meandered along to 151 for 2, with Will Young 66 not out.
Amusingly, the first match at Lord’s with spectators is Eton v Harrow. As an aside, my son was telling me that his comprehensive stops playing cricket against the other schools in about year 9 because most of the other schools they play are private schools and the players are just too good - with proper pitches and equipment to practise with. Thinking a solution might be the soft-ball leagues that they play in West Indies - it would make the game open to any kids who have good hand-eye co-ordination, there is no expensive kit needed, and can be played on a hard-service playground. Perhaps this is happening already between schools in some areas. Anyone know?
Updated
They’re off at Taunton again -chalk this one up as a draw. At Lord’s, they’ve had to change the ball because it was so soggy it expanded to a size that it wouldn’t fit through the shape-shifter thing, but Barker continues to have a heave. Hampshire from 9-3 are now only 12 runs behind Middlesex.
UPDATE #SOMvSUR #WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/rEGmwNDMoC
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) May 15, 2021
And Kyle Abbot is beaten for pace by Cullen, who gut-punches the air in celebration. Hampshire 143-8.
An early lunch is being taken at Hove, with an inspection after sandwiches.
Inspection at noon at Sophia Gardens.
Barker and Abbot nudging Hampshire forward at Lord’s. Interesting chat on local radio about how 19 -year old Blake Cullen has been picked ahead of Steven Finn and Tom Helm - Stuart Law thinks he’s the “real deal.” Hants 141-7.
“I invested too much to the point where I lost control of my values. What had become important to me was being liked, being well valued, feeling really important to my teammates, like I was contributing something by using sandpaper on a cricket ball. That’s something I don’t think I even understood until that mistake happened. But it’s part of the journey and a hard lesson I needed to learn.”
I thought this was very poignant. Who hasn’t felt like this when first starting out, desperate to be liked and valued.
Scott Borthwick is the first wicket of the day, to the tireless Joe Leach for 27. Durham 98-2. Unfortunately for Hampshire, their batsmen are now out in the middle at Lord’s.
Rainwatch
If there is no further rain, play is due to start at 11.30 at Chelmsford, 11.20 at Lord’s, with no news yet from Sophia Gardens or Hove.
Updated
If you haven’t read it, I recommend Geoff Lemon’s brilliant Steve Smith’s Men. Perceptive, and beautifully written about Sandpapergate and the events preceding it. He said at the time of writing that it was just the first draft of history.
Updated
Don McRae’s interview with Cameron Bancroft has, inevitably, caused a few ruffles across the Pacific.
Update: CA still open to new info about Newlands, whether from Bancroft or anyone else. “CA has maintained all along that if anyone is in possession of new information in regards to the Cape Town Test of 2018 they should come forward and present it." https://t.co/1Kw76Sni0B
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) May 15, 2021
Sorry about the slight delay... we have games at....Chester le Street and Taunton. Elsewhere, rain does its dirty work.
At Sophia Gardens they are “mopping up.”
And “the bubble” is no more:
Updated
Something brilliant to settle down with before play:
Friday's round-up
An astonishing, unbeaten, pyrotechnical 152 from Dan Lawrence sparkled into the afternoon at Chelmsford. He rocketed from 100 to 150 in 20 balls including three consecutive sixes off Matt Critchley, one landing in the river. He and Tom Westley, who made 106 in quick-time, too, put on 221 for the third wicket, building on the foundations set by half centuries from Alastair Cook and Nick Browne. Declaring on maximum batting points at 412 for three, Essex then ran in at a scrambled Derbyshire who finished 35 for three, with a wicket and a catch for that man Lawrence.
In the other Group One match, at Chester-le-Street, Worcestershire scraped together 213 against Durham, a near-miraculous recovery from 126 for eight, thanks to 42 not out from their captain, Joe Leach, and some tail-end staying power. Chris Rushworth’s haul was five for 56.
At a swinging and seaming Cardiff 14 wickets fell. Glamorgan were bowled out for 149, with David Lloyd top-scoring with 31 and a horrified Marnus Labuschagne lbw to Ben Coad for 10. Yorkshire then hauled themselves to 69 for four, from 10 for three, with Joe Root darting to 34 not out before bad light stopped play. Root senior was on hand to see brother Billy awarded his Glamorgan cap at tea.
Zak Crawley finished 61 not out in Kent’s second innings, which started much like its first with Jofra Archer taking a wicket in his opening spell. Sussex had earlier built up a first-innings lead of 111.
When the covers were eventually pulled away at Taunton, they revealed a green top. Surrey, however, saw only a batting paradise, rattling along until just after tea when they lost Hashim Amla and Rory Burns (55) in consecutive overs. Somerset’s Tom Abell then persuaded a glossy-looking Ollie Pope to tickle behind to Tom Banton for 33.
A low-scoring game scurried along at Lord’s where Middlesex were bowled out for 172, nine wickets falling to the A-team of Kyle Abbott (6-44) and Mohammad Abbas (3-46). Nick Gubbins, eighth man out for 51, surveyed the wreckage. Hampshire were quickly in trouble at nine for three and, as wickets continued to tumble, were 131 for seven at stumps. James Vince made 62 with disarming ease.
Updated
Preamble
Good morning from this damp, green isle. May blossom and chirpy black-caps on the morning walk but spring had donned her lightweight waterproof. With so many games poised beautifully, it would be a real pain for the weather to intervene, but it seems it will. The forecast?
Patchy rain followed by scattered showers today. Heavy, thundery showers for many tomorrow.
Eyes immediately to Chelmsford where Derbyshire were put through the wringer by Dan Lawrence and Tom Westley and folded in rather a heap yesterday evening. To Hove, where Kent are making a better attempt at their second innings and Sophia Gardens where a not out Joe Root attempts to pull Yorkshire from their unenviable start of 10-3.
Updated
Start of play scores
Group one
Riverside: Durham 246 all out and 79-1 v Worcestershire 213 all out
Chelmsford: Essex 412-3 dec v Derbyshire 35-3
Group two
Lord’s: Middlesex 172 all out v Hampshire 131-7
Taunton: Somerset v Surrey 191-4
Group three
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 149 all out v Yorkshire 69-4
Hove: Sussex 256 v Kent 145 and 138-2
Updated
