Star-studded Yorkshire beaten in quick time
Despite a team sparkling with the one-match presence of Joe Root and Harry Brook, Yorkshire lost to Warwickshire by five wickets in two-and-a-half days at Headingley. Root’s 90 was the game’s top score but Warwickshire held their nerve, chasing down 185 with relative ease – debutant Zen Malik’s clinching the game with a six. As well as their second defeat of the summer, Yorkshire also collected a points deduction for a slow over rate. Division One is proving a difficult nut to crack.
Essex’s Jordan Cox, selected by England for the Zimbabwe Test, retired hurt on 103 after straining his side diving for the crease on 99 in a ding-dong match at Taunton. Cox was picked to tour New Zealand last year but was forced out with a broken finger. James Rew inspired a Somerset recovery.
Josh Hull rearranged the stumps of Northamptonshire’s top three as Leicestershire cruised to their third win of the season and settled into their armchair at the top of Division Two. Chasing 289, Ricardo Vasconcelos, Luke Procter and James Sales all found their stumps flying within Hull’s first four overs, and Northants stumbled to 156 all out.
Ollie Price stepped into the huge boots of Wally Hammond and Charlie Barnett at Old Trafford, becoming only the third Gloucestershire batter to make a double century against Lancashire. His 253 not out, full of charming cover drives and neat pulls, kept the fielders on their toes on a pitch that had the home members muttering into their windbreakers. Price put on 203 with Miles Hammond (97), and got an affectionate pat from batting partner and older brother Tom when he passed 200. Tom Bailey was given a letter of warning before play by the ECB’s anti-corruption officer for inadvertently taking a mobile phone on to the field of play on Saturday, and will face an internal investigation by Lancashire.
Daniel Bell Drummond’s 223 put Kent in a strong position at Lord’s, Ben Brown made his first century as Hampshire captain at Southampton, Derbyshire avoided the follow on at Sophia Gardens and had Glamorgan wobbling at 15 for three.
Updated
Well played Ollie Price, Daniel Bell Drummond, Warwickshire and Leicestershire. We’ll be back tomorrow, thanks for your company. Bye!
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire 429-7 v Durham 511
Taunton: Somerset 145 and 216-6 v Essex 206 and 259 Somerset need 105 to win
Headingley: Warwickshire 253 and 186-5 BEAT Yorkshire 205 and 232 by FIVE WICKETS
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 431 and 132-5 v Derbyshire 350
Old Trafford: Lancashire 450 v Gloucestershire 589-8
Grace Road: Leicestershire 304 and 175 BEAT Northamptonshire 191 and 156 by 132 runs
Lord’s: Middlesex 238 and 81-3 v Kent 129 and 473 Middlesex need 284 to win
Leicestershire beat Northamptonshire by 132 runs
Grace Road: Leicestershire 304 and 175 BEAT Northamptonshire 191 and 156 by 132 runs
Hampshire have avoided the follow-on; Leicestershire need three wickets – and time for me to write up for the paper. Do stay and chat BTL.
A double century for Ollie Price!
An eggs over easy cover drive brings up 200 for Ollie Price, with older brother Tom at the crease to give him an affectionate pat on the back. The Gloucestershire dressing-room stand and cheer on the balcony.
The only previous double hundred by a Gloucestershire player against Lancashire at Old Trafford was by Wally Hammond, 100 year ago.
Middlesex need 365 to beat Kent.
Good luck.
DBD 223.
Gloucestershire take the lead at Old Trafford as this game meanders towards a draw – and a beautiful drive takes Ollie Price into the 190s. Meanwhile at Taunton, James Rew and Lewis Gregory may yet take the game into tomorrow. Somerset 155-5.
A flying catch by Cox at Grace Road. Leicestershire leap, Saif Zaib walks off, head bowed. Northants are 78 for six, needing an unlikely 289 more.
200 for Daniel Bell Drummond!
A fabulous effort from Kent’s captain, who has dragged his team from the bin under the sink to the drawing room. Kent 451-9, a lead of 342 over Middlesex.
I’m sorry that I missed this from Friday. Rest in peace Josh Baker.
On the first anniversary of Josh Baker's passing, we pause to remember a young man whose spirit continues to shine brightly in our hearts.
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) May 2, 2025
Forever a Pear. Forever 33. Forever Josh. 💚 pic.twitter.com/yAC45SFa9C
Can Jonathon Trott work some magic? (Glamorgan 44-3)
Glamorgan have Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott in on a short term basis, along with Aussie Ian Harvey, and have made a good start against Derbyshire https://t.co/2jvZoTfL86
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) May 2, 2025
Updated
Tea-time scores
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire 321-6 v Durham 511
Taunton: Somerset 145 and 61-5 v Essex 206 and 259 Somerset need 225 to win
Headingley: Warwickshire 253 and 186-5 BEAT Yorkshire 205 and 232 by FIVE WICKETS
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 431 and 44-3 v Derbyshire 350
Old Trafford: Lancashire 450 v Gloucestershire 433-6
Grace Road: Leicestershire 304 and 175 v Northamptonshire 191 and 78-4 Northants need 211 to win
Lord’s: Middlesex 238 v Kent 129 and 438-8
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Point deduction for Yorkshire
Yorkshire were deducted one point because of a slow over-rate, so only take two from the defeat by Warwickshire.
Anthony McGrath chewing the fat:
“I think with bat and ball, we’ve been short, too inconsistent really.
“I just spoke in the dressing room there briefly. I think we were in the game all the way through. But, at key moments, we just couldn’t wrestle the initiative really and push on.
“We were nearly there on occasions, but a little bit soft with both bat and ball. We’ve shown signs of that through the season, and we’ve got to stamp that out, particularly in Division One, because against teams that are used to that, you’ve just got to sustain periods of pressure for longer.
“I think 250 was probably par in that first innings, and then I think anywhere near 250 (target) that last innings, we would have been able to defend that.
“With 180, we still thought we had a chance. But we were a little bit short, and that was a culmination of how we batted and how we bowled.
“(Over-rate, point deduction) There’s no excuse. Every point counts whether you’re at the top or the bottom, so it’s something we need to manage better.
“It’s not an excuse that we didn’t bowl an over of spin. Warwickshire didn’t bowl spin either, so it’s frustrating. Hopefully we can pick that up going forwards.
“(Joe Root, first-innings 90) He played really well.
“It’s difficult for them both (Root and Harry Brook). We know they’re world-class players, but you can practice as much as you want - it does take a bit of time to get your rhythm in the middle. But Joe was superb in that second innings.”
Only two Gloucesterhire players have scored a double century against Lancashire: Wally Hammond and Charlie Barnett. Ollie Price is 181 not out as they take tea at OT. (Thanks to Ken Grime)
Updated
Suddenly looking tasty at Sophia Gardens, where Derbyshire crawled out of a hole and to 350, a great rescue act by Reece (73) and Thomson (60). And they Derby have Glamorgan 15-3: Northeast and Carlson both out. The lead just 96.
Big bad Josh Hull:
Left-handed batter, right-handed batter
— Rothesay County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 4, 2025
Same result for Josh Hull pic.twitter.com/y5PHpi19rp
Harmer, Harmering. It’s possible the reverse-sweep wasn’t the most circumspect choice. An unhappy Tom Banton shuffles off. Harmer 3-30. Somerset 78-5.
And a wicket conjured from a still glass of milk at OT, Bracey for 44 and a surprisingly diminutive van Buuren joins Ollie Price. Glos 395-5. An observation from Paul Edwards: in three matches at OT this season, the opposition haven’t yet had to bat twice.
Simon Harmer whizzes one through the air and into Tom Abell’s stumps. Somerset 71-4.
Meanwhile, here at Old Trafford, Ollie Price has moved to a career-best 161 and Lancashire have resorted To Josh Bohannon at the Statham end. Glos 394-4, trail by 56.
A Sunday afternoon stroll around the other first-division grounds:
At Southampton, Ben Brown has his first fifty of the season, 64 not out, but Hampshire at 274 for six could be made to follow on against Durham, currently 231 behind with four wickets in hand.
And after a partnership of 46 with Tom Abell, Tom Lammonby has become Simon Harmer’s first victim of the second innings. Somerset 62-3, need to climb an increasingly steep mountain (259 runs).
And update from Mike – THREE for Hull, who has now added a castled Sales to his tally.
I can’t find the wickets yet, but I can find this lovely picture, which gives you an impression of his height!
𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗫 👑🦊
— Leicestershire CCC 🦊 (@leicsccc) May 3, 2025
A proud moment for the Hull family yesterday, as Josh was presented with his Gold Fox county cap by Club President, Jack Birkenshaw.
One of our own. Congrats, Hully. 💚#Foxes🦊 pic.twitter.com/DogObD5tcu
Eyes from Grace Road (thank you Mike Daniels) “Two quick wickets for Hull as he’s bowled both openers to break the innings open.” Northants 31-2, need another 258.
Warwickshire beat Yorkshire by five wickets!
A memorable game for Zen Malik, on debut, who wins the game with a six and finishes 49 not out. Yorkshire, with Root, Brook and Bairstow, beaten in two and a half days.
Headingley: Warwickshire 253 and 186-5 BEAT Yorkshire 205 and 232 by FIVE WICKETS
Warwickshire 20 points, Yorkshire 3 points.
Zen Malik on debut finishing it with a maximum!! Finishes 49* in a tight run chase!! Amazing way to get his FC career up and running! Been a long time coming!!
— SACA (@SACAUK) May 4, 2025
Congratulations @WarwickshireCCC https://t.co/5mgw80s2bH
Updated
At Headingley, Barnard falls, for a rapid 37, but after a stand of 69 … barring a miracle…
A concussion test for James Bracey after he was hit by Turner, but the peroxide-haired physio cheerfully gives him the all clear. Glos 342-4
Warwickshire look home and dry, thanks to Barnard and Malik – just 25 needed.
Jordan Cox update
Jordan Cox has not taken the field at Taunton. Would be rotten luck if he’s out of contention for the Test against Zimbawe – he was picked to tour New Zealand last year but was forced out with a broken finger. He also missed some of the 2024 cricket season with emergency appendix surgery.
Curtains for Cameron Green and big disappointment up here in the press box, we were looking forward to watching him bat. Excellent delivery by Tom Bailey.
So nice, @TomBaildog did it twice. 🔂
— Lancashire Cricket Men (@lancscricket) May 4, 2025
🌹 #RedRoseTogether https://t.co/j51mmYaLF8 pic.twitter.com/sUCZphQG0K
Sam Cook v Archie Vaughan ends as Vaughan goes to pull, top edges, and hangs his head and starts shuffling away before the ball has even been caught. Poor Vaughan’s last three innings have been 0, 0 and four. Somerset 9-2.
Updated
Somerset’s run chase starts with an Andy Umeed duck. Somerset 4-1.
Tom Bailey bends his back, Cameron Green leans forward like a battleship moving into harbour, and is bowled. Glos 310-4, 140 behind.
Daniel Bell-Drummond resumes after lunch 160 not out, the Kent lead a rather magnificent 237. This was Zac Crawley on his captain yesterday evening (courtesy reporters network):
“He’s got a lot of character, Deebs – he’s a fantastic player with a lot of talent and it was due. He always gets runs at important times.
“He’s one of those streaky players who’s going to have low scores here and there but he always seems to chip in with a hundred when we need it most.
“There’s still some really good balls in there and on this particular pitch you want to put them out of sight really – it could get flat or it could just deteriorate, in which case we’re in a really strong position. If it deteriorates, then 200 could be a really hard chase.”
Asked about his own form:
“I’ve felt in decent touch all year, to be honest but just haven’t been able to get that (big) score yet. I got another decent ball, but I was pleased with how I played today so I’ll just try and take confidence from that and build on it.
“Every time you get picked for England is a massive honour, so that was fantastic news for me and I’m looking forward to that game against Zimbabwe. Hopefully I can build on the confidence I’ve got over the last couple of games.
“Every time I walk on the field I try and give my all – in training, for Kent and for England – and if I’ve done that I can go to bed and sleep well, that’s why I don’t get too down on myself.”
Delicious stroganoff. A nugget from lunchtime, a seasoned hand thinks that young Rian Maisuria from the Lancashire academy is one to keep an eye on.
Three run chases to enjoy after lunch: Warwickshire are nearly there, but not without jeopardy; Somerset survived the first over and Northants will have to get the second biggest total of the match at Grace Road. Now for some vegetable stroganoff.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire 216-4 v Durham 511
Taunton: Somerset 145 and 0-0 v Essex 206 and 259 Somerset need 321 to win
Headingley: Yorkshire 205 and 232 v Warwickshire 253 and 109-4 Warwicks need 76 to win
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 431 v Derbyshire 300-9
Old Trafford: Lancashire 450 v Gloucestershire 296-3
Grace Road: Leicestershire 304 and 175 v Northamptonshire 191 Northants need 289 to win
Lord’s: Middlesex 238 v Kent 129 and 339-5
There are also four women’s Metro Bank One Day Cup matches today – Surrey are flying against Warwickshire, but. Hampshire are struggling against The Blaze.
Somerset need 321 to win
Essex have had an attack of the vapours, losing Pepper, Thain, Cook and Rajitha with just four runs added to the board. Three wickets for Pretorius and the unlucky Leach. Actually they’re now all out, after losing five for seven. Somerset need 321 to win. Unlikely, but if Tom Banton catches the breeze…
And there’s no need to leave a voice note with that one: Tom Bailey arrows one down, Hammond drives optimistically and loses his off stump on 97. A long trudge back. Glos 277-3.
An update on the phone in pocket saga from Saturday – Tom Bailey was spoken to the ECB’s anti-corruption official Tim McDermott this morning and was handed a letter of warning. The matter will also be looked at by the cricket regulator and internally by Lancashire.
A hundred for Ollie Price!
A burst of cheering and applause from the Gloucestershire balcony and he and Hammond (96) have a quick cuddle in the middle. Very nicely played.
Justin Broad, who was the top scorer yesterday for Northants, has removed the dangerous van Beek for 27 and Conway picks up Scriven, his third. Leicestershire are nine down but the lead is 271, which will be plenty unless Northants are planning something spectacular.
A hundred for Jordan Cox... who then retires hurt
After pulling a muscle on 99, diving for the line during a quick single, Cox completes his hundred muscling a reverse-sweep before hobbling off to field concerned phonecalls from England. A fabulous hundred. Essex 251-4 and a lead of 312.
How is Warwickshire’s chase going? Pretty well, although Hamza Shaikh has just been caught by YJB off new boy Buckingham and Davies lost his off stumps to a screamer from Ben Coad. Only 125 more needed.
A fascinating nugget from Mike Daniels:
“Apropos of Ethan Bamber, I net a bit at Edgbaston in the winter and over the past few years the Bears player you’d see most often doing individual practice has been Chris Woakes.
“This winter it was Ethan Bamber and if he’s gaining rewards now then he fully deserves to seeing how he put the hours in during the winter.”
This was Logan van Beek talking to the ECB’s reporters’s network yesterday about the Grace Road terror track:
“With the divots in the pitch and the grass a bit longer this time, towards the end of the day it created a bit more havoc. As a batter, trying to find ways to score is tough and credit to them they bowled really well. So we’re just happy to have been there at the end and tomorrow every run is going to be crucial.
“The first hour after the heavy roller has been on the pitch as a bowler you feel you aren’t doing that much, but once you get work into the ball and divots start to appear you start to get more movement. And what we did well was that we stopped them going anywhere in terms of putting on runs, and then when we got one wicket, we’d get three or four in a hurry.
“It is the kind of pitch where as a batter there is always a ball with your name on it, which just shows what a good hundred it was that Rishi scored yesterday.”
Leicestershire have already lost Ian Holland but van Beek and Green have added another handful of runs – Leics 120-7, a lead of 233.
Fans are scattered around the sunny side around Old Trafford like handfuls of Quality Street from a less than generous aunt. Saqib Mahmood is charging in from the Jimmy Anderson end, George Balderson from the Statham end.
A wicket on the batting paradise that is Southampon – Mark Stoneman for 57.
I went to see Hamlet Hail to the Thief last night and loved it. Big recommend whether or not you’re a Radiohead fan – on in Manchester till May 18 or in Stratford upon Avon in June.
Saturday's round-up
There was a standing ovation for Joe Root from the Headingley faithful for an innings of fan-favourite shots. After a sketchy one on Friday, his 90 with Yorkshire on the back foot was just the warm-up Dr McCullum might have ordered. Root was Ethan Bamber’s eighth wicket in the match, a bowler thriving after a winter move from Middlesex to Warwickshire.
There was also good news for England fans of a nervous disposition from Lord’s, where Zak Crawley knitted a third second-innings fifty in three games, albeit after being dropped on three. It was a diligent innings, with Kent trailing by 109 on first innings, but still contained the trademark imperious drives before he was out lbw to Dane Paterson for the second time in the match.
Tawanda Muyeye and Jack Leaning flickered briefly but the innings built itself around Daniel Bell-Drummond, a captain who has not found runs easy to come by this season. But his unbeaten 103, his first red-ball hundred in more than a year, inched Kent to a lead of 117 before bad light stopped play. Middlesex earlier lost their last six wickets for 61, with a second successive fifty for Ryan Higgins.
Jordan Cox was another England player to settle nicely into form, with a rollicking 61 not out at Taunton as Essex eased into a dominant position, collecting a lead of 224 in a low-scoring game. Somerset had lost nine wickets for 99 in one of their trademark collapses, trousers falling down at the same time as their shirt buttons pinged off. Simon Harmer happily stepped into Jack Leach’s boots, reeling through 19 overs and taking four for 43 from the River End. Their No 10, Migael Pretorius, was the second-highest scorer with a boisterous 24.
Manchester’s clouds settled into their regular position above Old Trafford on a day when the coat returned to a cricket watcher’s backpack. Friday’s centurion Marcus Harris was out after adding just a couple of runs to his overnight 165, playing on to the zippy Ajeet Singh Dale, but some useful contributions down the order took Lancashire to 450 – more batting points than they had accrued in total in the previous three games.
Tom Price grabbed the last two wickets in successive balls, leaving him to start the next innings on a hat-trick, while the not-out batter Tom Bailey caused a stir of his own when his mobile phone fell out of his pocket mid-run. Gloucestershire advanced, carefully at first, and then with more abandon, as Ollie Price and Myles Hammond put together an unbeaten hundred partnership.
Graham Clark, not in the Durham XI on Friday morning until young Ben McKinney had a back spasm, continued to seize his chance, moving to a career-best 160 on a glorious batting surface at Southampton. He was out to an spry caught and bowled by Wisden Cricketer of the Year Liam Dawson, who pocketed five for 158. Mark Stoneman made a gritty unbeaten 54 in Hampshire’s reply.
Glamorgan had a dominant day against Derbyshire, passing 400 runs and then reducing Derbyshire to 215 for seven with four wickets for Andy Gorvin.
It was a topsy-turvy day at Grace Road. But Ben Sanderson, in his first match of the season after knee problems restricted his appearance, then went through the Leicestershire top five.
It was a topsy-turvy day at Grace Road. First Northants were bowled out for 191, with four wickets for Logan van Beek. Then Leicestershire collapsed like an empty chip bag – Ben Sanderson, in his first match of the season after knee problems, running through the Leicestershire top five.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire 112-1 v Durham 511
Taunton: Somerset 145 v Essex 206 and 163-4
Headingley: Yorkshire 205 and 232 v Warwickshire 253 and 15-0 Warwicks need 170 to win
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 431 v Derbyshire 215-7
Old Trafford: Lancashire 450 v Gloucestershire 184-2
Grace Road: Leicestershire 304 and 96-6 v Northamptonshire 191
Lord’s: Middlesex 238 v Kent 129 and 226-4
Preamble
Hello! From a bright but brisk Manchester. We are still without rain and the Mersey is running uncharacteristically low, though it didn’t bother the beautiful mandarin duck that was serenely paddling along this morning. We’re heading into day three of this fifth Championship round, with all seven games still in play – though things look sure to wrap up at Headingley, at Lord’s, and at Grace Road.
Play starts at 11am, do drop in for a chat.
