Price is right for Gloucestershire on historic day
The county season is just three weeks young and yet Tom Price may have already produced the performance of the summer, his maiden first-class century and a hat-trick on the same day sparking Gloucestershire’s revival away at Worcestershire.
Just the first of these dual feats would have been headline-grabbing on its own, such was the mire Price found himself in before lunch. Strolling out at No 9 with his team having subsided to 45 for seven, the 23-year-old produced an innings straight from the pages of Alexandre Dumas as a 98-ball 109 propelled the visitors to 231 all out.
But that punchy counter-attack of 12 crisp fours and three larruped sixes was only half the story in front of the old cathedral at New Road. Price’s second spell with the ball sent Azhar Ali, Jack Haynes and Brett D’Oliveira packing in the space of three teasing deliveries, each one edged into the gloves of James Bracey behind the stumps.
Having later added the wicket of Ed Pollock to his stash, caught by Bracey once again, as Worcestershire closed on 118 for seven in reply, Price beamed: “The three I got out are fantastic batters. I’ll wake up in five minutes. It’s like a dream.”
This was in fact the second hat-trick of Price’s fledgling career but just the 17th time in history a player has scored a hundred in the same first-class match. Gloucestershire supporters of a certain age will remember the great Mike Procter having twice achieved this rare double for the county back in the 1970s, similarly James Franklin in 2009.
Roundup: Duckett and Vince make hay in sunshine
It was largely a day for batting in Division One, with the sun out at most grounds. Ben Duckett continued to ooze form, cantering to his first Championship century of the season as Nottinghamshire built a steady platform against Middlesex despite a middle-order wobble. Haseeb Hameed made a brisk 55, chock- a-block with boundaries.
Hampshire’s Nick Gubbins, fresh from a half-century against Surrey in a losing cause, joined James Vince in a third-wicket partnership of 198. Both scored centuries, Vince still there at the end, Northamptonshire rueing enough dropped catches to make a large coronation quiche. Bad light and rain brought an early close at Canterbury, where Nick Browne and Tom Westley made half-centuries for Essex against Kent.
Somerset’s batters defied the pessimists by schlepping from 80 for 4 to 311 for four thanks to twin centuries from Tom Abell and 19-year old James Rew, against a Lancashire attack including Jimmy Anderson and Saqib Mahmood – who bowled 18 overs in his return to four-day cricket after last year’s stress fracture.
In Division Two, some rebuilding by Tom Alsop, who fell just five runs short of his century, and a snappy innings from Oli Carter – including two successive boundaries off a peroxided Dom Bess – gave Sussex heart against a disciplined Yorkshire.
Marnus Labuschagne made his return to what he calls his second home, snatching two catches and taking two wickets as Durham charged to 382-6 at Glamorgan. There were also half centuries for Michael Jones, Scott Borthwick, Brydon Carse and Ollie Robinson.
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The day belongs to one man – Tom Price, maiden hundred and a hatrick too – come on down! Thanks for reading – till tomorrow, good night.
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Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Canterbury: Kent v Essex 164-1
Lord’s: Middlesex v Nottinghamshire 252-5
The County Ground: Northamptonshire v Hampshire 287-4
Taunton: Somerset 311-4 v Lancashire
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Durham 382-6
Hove: Sussex 275-5 v Yorkshire
New Road: Worcestershire 118-7 v Gloucestershire 231
@tjaldred no mention of this match for a while?
— Aeneas (@lawrencegillies) April 20, 2023
Eyes elsewhere! But in haste, Rew and Abell have put on 200 and Jimmy has just dropped a caught and bowled. Not one of Lancashire’s finest afternoons. Somerset, cruising, 280-4.
I must now concentrate on writing the round-up for the paper, do keep chatting BTL!
And a fourth wicket for Price, and Bracey, a thick outside edge and a left-handed swooping dive with outstretched glove. Worcs 84-5.
Hundred for James Vince, Hundred for Tom Abell!
In other news: Hampshire and Somerset bat on in the two remaining Division One games. Vince, supreme, 104 not out, loses Gubbins (125) and Fuller in quick succession. Hants 287-4. Tom Abell (110) and James Rew (90) have stuck together a partnership of 194. Somerset, glue suddenly working, are 276-4 against Lancs.
That hat-trick in full.
What a day for Tom Price!
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) April 20, 2023
A brilliant hundred with the bat and now he has a hat-trick 😲#LVCountyChamp | @Gloscricket pic.twitter.com/m8lcfcKWXV
Has future star written all over his happy face.
Two hat-tricks, two five-wicket hauls, an 8fer and a hundred in 17 career first-class matches for Tom Price - 23 years old and properly excellent.
— Nick Friend (@NickFriend1) April 20, 2023
And a big hand to James Bracey, who caught each of Price’s hat-trick victims safely in his gloves. Worcs 74-5, who will do their rescue job?
Just watched the hat-trick ball – across a brisk Midlands wind. Throws the ball to himself at the top of his mark, short sleeves, untucked in shirt, bustling approach an an inevitable nick. Magic!
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A hat-trick for Tom Price!
D’Oliveira does the business by edging into the gloves. The Price is so right.
Just Tom Price on a hat-trick!
They’ve called it a day at Canterbury, with the rain parking overhead. Essex 164-1.
Jake Libby and Ed Pollock galloping along at New Road, Worcs 58-0. Batting hero Tom Price sent down three overs fresh from his innings. At Hove, Oli Carter reaches fifty and has a long-sleeved handshake with Fynn Hudson-Prentice. Floodlights on, rain approaching. Sussex 259-5.
Another fifty for Ollie Robinson, whose silky skills with the bat have survived the move to the north-east. Durham 284-5 as Glamorgan plug away.
.@OllieRobinson7 has his second first-class FIFTY for Durham 😃#ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/ceR76IfkSW
— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) April 20, 2023
Bad light at Lord’s – hard to believe from the distance of a golden afternoon in Manchester – Notts, 252-5, Ben Duckett still there on 119.
A hundred for Nick Gubbins!
Gubbins, who played so carefully last week in the second innings against Surrey, before being dismissed for 84, gets his reward today. Hants now 220-2, James Vince slipping along nicely in companionship on 77.
In winter, early spring and late autumn, the sun disappears from our garden early in the day. But come April, you can have an afternoon cup of tea at the end of it. Small pleasures eh. Anyway, off we go again, waiting to see what Worcestershire can do at New Road in reply to Gloucestershire’s whack a mole afternoon. The Canterbury rain is on its way to Hove. Can Alsop get to the magic number before it arrives?
Just going to put the kettle on and sit in the sun for ten mins.
Tea-time-ish scores
DIVISION ONE
Canterbury: Kent v Essex 164-1
Lord’s: Middlesex v Nottinghamshire 235-5
The County Ground: Northamptonshire v Hampshire 178-2
Taunton: Somerset 199-4 v Lancashire
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Durham 244-4
Hove: Sussex 218-4 v Yorkshire
New Road: Worcestershire v Gloucestershire 231
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Over and all out at New Road, Tom Price finally extinguished in unfortunate fashion as Dale slaps a drive back off Matthew Waite who, with the lightest of touches, manages to deflect it on to the stumps with the non-striker out of his ground. Gah! Still, that is some performance from the No9 as he gambols off with a career-best 109 to his name and 231 runs on the board for Gloucestershire. He looked keen to get the bowling boots on...
A hundred for Ben Duckett!
Pipped to the post by Tom Price over at New Road, but a belter of an innings from a man dripping in form. His first Lord’s hundred! Notts 208-4.
A truly superb maiden first-class century for young Tom Price at New Road, the No9 needing just 93 balls to bring up the milestone and trigger a huge roar from his team-mates on the pavilion balcony. He came in at 47 for seven and has flipped this innings on its head, finessing 11 fours and drilling four sixes. A word for his mate at the other end, Ajeet Singh Dale, who is very much holding his own in a 10th wicket stand that has swelled to 72 with Gloucestershire now 222 for nine in the 54th over.
A round of applause for Somerset’s middle and late order for discovering enough grit to match Lancashire’s. From 80-4, Rew and Abell have taken them to 179. Jimmy comes back to attempt to break the partnership before tea.
A maiden century for Tom Price
93 balls and a great serving of panache!
This is how you appeal for an lbw
First a catch, then a wicket!
𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗨𝗦!!!
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏏 (@GlamCricket) April 20, 2023
Labuschagne traps Jones lbw for 69 and he is fired up! 🔥 @DurhamCricket 193/3 in the 52nd over
𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 👉 https://t.co/82tBrhz1KU#GoGlam | #GLAMvDUR pic.twitter.com/nlALNcaPsj
A sentence I didn’t think I’d be writing at 45 for seven: Gloucestershire have gone past 200. It came up through a lovely straight drive from Ajeet Singh Dale, the No11 also making it 50 runs unbeaten for the last wicket in the process. We’re entering/have entered that strange territory, where the side that lost the toss should in theory be happy with the score and yet when (if?) the change of innings comes, somehow the (urgh) momentum is with their opponents. Or something. Anyway, time for a bit of spin from Brett d’Oliveira, with Tom “d’Artagnan” Price on 91...
James Vince, fancy, 49 not out. Nick Gubbins, sensible, 63 not out. Hampshire move slowly but effectively onwards against Northants: 154-2.
Not sure how the oak-like Carter is managing to stay upright running up that huge slope shown on the Hove feed. Ooof nice hook by Alsop. Sussex 165-4.
Somerset and Gloucestershire must have sore hands after ripping up the morning script. Somerset now 155-4 from the muddy ditch of 24-3. James Rew giving Tom Abell (50 not out) some support after some up and at em by TKC.
Finally managed to get Youtube working on the telly, and the dog settles in a sunny patch on the rug. Dom Bess seems to have had a perm and a peroxide wash, as he wheels through a maiden at Hove. Sussex 143-4, 51 not out to Alsop.
Luuurvely counter-attacking half-century from Tom Price here at New Road, straight from the pages of Alexandre Dumas with a spot of long-handled humpty from Marchant de Lange at the other end. De Lange, who launched three mighty sixes, finally fell off the top edge for 22 but Price, with tail-gunner Ajeet Dale for company, remains out there on 52 from 50 balls. Gloucestershire 151 for nine in the 41st over.
Rain has stopped play at Canterbury – with Browne 54 not out and Westley, quietly, resting on 71.
Tom Price (52 not out) has hauled Gloucs to 150-9. A good recovery from eight for four. Another pair of fifties up at Durham, Jones and Borthwick both 59 not out against Glamorgan. And wickets for Yorkshire – Pujara, he of boundless runs last year, lbw for 18, Tom Clark gone in the very next over. Sussex 127-4.
Mickey Arthur – Derbyshire and … Pakistan:
The PCB has confirmed Mickey Arthur’s appointment as the Director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team #Cricket
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) April 20, 2023
It’s a deceptive day at New Road, the ground bathed in sunshine but the air is pretty Baltic in the shade. Gloucestershire resumed on 73 for seven after lunch - beef stew in the press box - and while the scoreboard hasn’t moved since, it’s down to a technical glitch, with Tom Price and Zafar Gohar chiselling away out there for an additional 16 runs in the first couple of overs. Am nerdily looking forward to watching Price bowl later ... has more than a touch of Pat Cummins about his action, even if he’s probably 10mph slower. And, once again, as I type that a wicket falls, Gohar nicking behind off Joe Leach and Ben Cox holding a fine one-handed catch low to his left. Gloucs 89 for eight...
Fifty for Nick Browne as Essex travelate away against Kent, 147-1. Middlesex fighting back at Lord’s – Hameed out just before lunch and Roland-Jones runs-out Slater, 133-2.
At The County Ground, Nick Gubbins and James Vince trying to get over the disappointment of nine-wicket defeat to Surrey by getting stuck into Northants: Hants 106-2.
Tom Abell pounces, on the counter attack, straight driving Anderson down the ground. Somerset tick up and over three figures.
Time to find some lunch, back soon!
Inevitable pre-lunch breakthrough news: Bamber comes back, and Hameed finally gives the cordon something to do, edging to Eskinazi at first slip.
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Lunch-time scores
DIVISION ONE
Canterbury: Kent v Essex 121-1
Lord’s: Middlesex v Nottinghamshire 123-1
The County Ground: Northamptonshire v Hampshire 77-2
Taunton: Somerset 91-4 v Lancashire
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Durham 104-1
Hove: Sussex 103-2 v Yorkshire
New Road: Worcestershire v Gloucestershire 73-7
They take lunch round the grounds, salmon en croute for Essex and Notts’ batters , beer and sandwiches for Gloucestershire’s. Scores to follow.
Saqib Mahmood spoke before the start of the season, hopeful and determined.
“I feel I can do all of what the captain requires but perhaps not to the levels the other guys can. But if I am honest, I feel I am better bowler than I was, the time out has allowed me to become more skilful and I want to be someone they have to pick.
‘In my head now I feel I have to perform at this level to be within a chance of doing that. There can be no rustiness, I have to kick off straight away.’
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Hameed actually beat Duckett to his half-century, taking 86 balls and scoring Nottinghamshire’s 100th run in doing so. Then Duckett dumped the next ball over the titchy boundary and into the stands to get there himself, the first six of the match but not, I’d wager, the last. With the whiff of lunch in the nostrils Middlesex are straining now to discomfort two set batters - so much so that Luke Hollman, Middlesex’s young spinner, has just overstepped. Notts are 113 without loss.
A brace of fifties at the top of the Notts order, Hameed and Duckett skimming away at more than four an over against already-weary Middlesex. A little read on HH for your lunchtime.
Really lovely to see Haseeb Hameed in a good place again.
— Sam Dalling (@SamJDalling) April 19, 2023
Was lucky to catch up with him last week to chat Ramadan; faith; how that intertwines with cricket; lots of runs; a lack of runs; Ben Duckett and a change in approach
🏏👇https://t.co/OP3GkYGOEO
Back at the tripe-writer after a stroll around New Road, during which two more wickets fell. And as I type that, another - Ben Gibbon, moments after seeing a diving catch elude him at mid-off, holding a fine follow-up in the same position to give Dillon Pennington his second, send Jack Taylor packing and leave Gloucestershire deeper in the mire at 45 for seven. Price, O (as opposed to T) earlier found himself a very straightforward lbw to Joe Leach and then Pennington got in on the act, Graeme van Buuren trying to thwack his side out of trouble but managing to plop a top edged pull into the gloves of Ben Cox. What a session for the hosts.
The Yorkies have pulled back Sussex a little, a wicket apiece for Thompson and Bess. Pujara joints Alsop at the crease. 84-2.
While at Taunton, TKC and Tom Abell have put on fifty to tickle the kidneys of loyal Somerset fans. Saqib Mahmood is playing his first Championship game since the stress fracture last year – has four miserly overs under his belt. Somerset 79-3.
A great read by Ali on Matthew Potts, one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the Year for 2023.
While he sits on the sidelines, Durham are a-cruising, 71-1 v Glamorgan. I think that’s Marnus at second slip:
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏏 (@GlamCricket) April 20, 2023
TVDG comes into the attack and makes an instant impact, trapping Lees lbw for 24 😍@DurhamCricket 40/1
𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 👉 https://t.co/82tBrhz1KU#GoGlam | #GLAMvDUR pic.twitter.com/f7ySOE7Ryd
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Haseeb Hameed getting big kudos from the BBC commentators – all but six of his runs have whistled across the rope. Notts 63-0 v Middlesex.
The Zummerset live stream is down, a brief respite for those who want a break from worrying about the top order. Currently 50-3, Lammonby and Dickson in Jimmy Anderson’s pocket, Bancroft caught off Tom Bailey. Kohler-Cadmore zipping along nicely though, three fours in his 16.
SirAlastair joins those unlacing their boots up the pavilion, yesterday’s dreams, todays dregs. Essex racing away from Kent – 66 for one, Wes Agar the wicket taker.
“Good Morning Tanya, good morning all . . . .”
Hello Em Jackson! (watching in NE Eng after living in SW Eng )
“Durham showing how it’s done away from home at this level vs a challenging opponent (and who Glos drew against remember), meanwhile across the Bridge and up the M5, Glos decided to take two Middlesex-amol’s . . . . side-effects of which can include, unlike certain medicines, lack of runs, apparent home-sickness and the need for extended dressing-room rest.”
The press box at Lord’s is a cocooned ecosphere that sits so far above the rest of the seats that what atmosphere we get is broadcast to us from a microphone positioned elsewhere. What we’re mainly getting today is the sound of the microphone being buffeted by wind, so that’s obviously a thing. Ben Duckett is rattling on at almost a run a ball but Haseeb Hameed is finding life a little more difficult and as I type Ethan Bamber beats the edge again - Middlesex have four slips in, but somehow they haven’t had anything to do yet.
Greetings from Lord’s. Middlesex have won the toss and will start their attempt to haul themselves off the bottom of the nascent table by trying to defend one extremely short boundary, hindered by the absence of Tom Helm - Martin Andersson makes his first appearance of the season - but helped by it being up the slope. Notts meanwhile bring in Matt Montgomery for Tom Moores. The forecast for the next few days is not exactly encouraging but it looks like play will start in glorious sunshine, and with the home of cricket looking absolutely pristine.
Gloucestershire’s top order has crumbled, Marcus Harris, no doubt buzzing about being named in Australia’s Ashes squad, has just received a wet fish around the chops as he plays around one from Joe Leach and is trapped lbw for a 25-ball one. It’s eight for four and the Pears have positively ripened.
Like David Rudder in Permission To Mash Up The Place (niche calypso reference, admittedly), Worcestershire are on a roll at New Road, Joe Leach following Ben Gibbon’s monkey business as he tempts Miles Hammond into an expansive drive and a third catch flies to the cordon. Second excellent puch by Jake Libby but after last week’s washout, this isn’t great from Gloucestershire, who are five for three.
Make that two in two ... Ben Gibbon, strong left-armer, one time construction worker, has winkled out James Bracey in more orthodox fashion, finding a touch of bounce and the shoulder of the bat to send a second catch into the slips. Miles Hammond survives the hat-trick ball and the visitors are one for two after two overs.
Underway here at New Road, where Gloucestershire have won the toss and opted to have a bat. Am told by local sage John Curtis we had a mini flood a couple of weeks ago, but it was “clean water” and not the nasty stuff that can occur here. Joe Leach is probing away with the cherry ripe Dukes ball, and I’ve just heard one member wish another a “Happy New Year” ... always wondered about the statute of limitations on this. Could easily be the premise for an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Suppose it’s still valid for a new season. And as I type that, Chris Dent has fallen to Ben Gibbon. Went to leave, then had a late stab at the ball, which flew into the cordon safely. Gloucestershire none for one.
Apologies to Simon and Ali, whose musings have lain dormant in my inbox. To follow, just imagine them in real time…
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Ahem, make that Gloucestershire 8-4. Leach 2-8, Gibbon 2-1.
A bit of a batters’ paradise round the grounds – with the exception of New Road where Ali has put a Guardian curse on them (Gloucs 8-3).
In Division Two, Lees and Jones giving Labuschagne an early taste of Bazball at The Riverside – Durham 28-0; while Sussex’s Orr and Haines watch, and raise them -41-0 against bottom of the table Yorkshire.
In Division One, Alastair Cook is leading the Essex charge against Kent – 31-0; Notts’ Hameed and Duckett doing the same at Lord’s, 32-0; Hampshire (21-1) and Somerset (22-1) are slightly more circumspect.
Jimmy in the wickets at Taunton. Have a pit in my stomach for Somerset’s batting. Somerset 6-1.
A master at work. @jimmy9 🤩 https://t.co/V9idLkWv91 pic.twitter.com/SJcCD9l33w
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) April 20, 2023
Good morning Andrew!
@tjaldred morning! Looking forward to the Kent v Essex game. Hoping Kent can bounce back after being totally outclassed by the Bears. Wonder if Agar will be any good. Kent's overseas seamers have been a mixed bag recently.
— Andrew Harrison (@andyhamamatsu) April 20, 2023
He starts ok – with a maiden. Must admit to looking him up – 26, brother of Ashton, played two ODIs for Australia, six foot two, fast medium.
A quiet first five minutes! Ben Gibbon has just taken two in two balls in the first over at New Road. Gloucs 0-2.
Greetings from New Road, where I have snuck in unannounced to either Tanya or the office after waking up to glorious sunshine in the West Midlands. There’s a nice buzz at the ground, this being Worcestershire’s first home fixture of the summer and Gloucestershire the semi-local visitors. Out in the middle we have the usual flea circus warm-up, with various mitts, rubber stumps and coaches desperately attempting to nick the ball to the slips after playing careers spent trying to do the exact opposite.
A word from the county game’s biggest fan:
𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 🎙️
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏏 (@GlamCricket) April 19, 2023
"My focus is solely to win games for Glamorgan in any way I can." 🏏
World number 1⃣ @marnus3cricket is excited to don the Daff for a 4⃣th season 🔥#GoGlam pic.twitter.com/r1dnrdLXby
A delve into Wisden 2023
The five cricketers of the year are: Tom Blundell, Ben Foakes, Harmanpreet Kaur, Daryl Mitchell and Matthew Potts.
A great read from Gary Naylor on last week’s action:
Congratulations to Rehan Ahmed – and Leicesteshire! Long may they play happily together.
It was a great honour for me to receive my @leicsccc gold fox cap.
— Rehan Ahmed (@RehanAhmed__16) April 20, 2023
Thank you to everyone who has supported me. #Cap | #GoldFox | #FoxesFamily pic.twitter.com/UYkmPJmipr
Division Two table
1 Leicestershire (played 2) 34
2 Durham (played 2) 27
3 Worcestershire (played 2) 27
4 Sussex (played 1) 21
5 Derbyshire (played 2) 14
6 Gloucestershire (played 2) 13
7 Glamorgan (played 1) 12
8 Yorkshire (played 2) 12
Division One table
1 Warwicks (played 2) 35
2 Surrey (played 2) 32
3 Essex (played 2) 28
4 Hampshire (played 2) 23
5 Notts (played 2) 23
6 Northants (played 2) 22
7 Kent (played 2) 20
8 Lancashire (played 2) 17
9 Somerset (played 2) 12
10 Middlesex (played 2) 6
Fixtures
DIVISION ONE
Canterbury: Kent v Essex
Lord’s: Middlesex v Nottinghamshire
The County Ground: Northamptonshire v Hampshire
Taunton: Somerset v Lancashire
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Durham
Hove: Sussex v Yorkshire
New Road: Worcestershire v Gloucestershire
Good morning! It’s round three, already! I saw a duckling on my dog walk, the hawthorn is intoxicatingly sweet and Leicestershire are at the top of the Division Two table.
Seven games in play this week, with Surrey, Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Derby putting their boots on the side table. Loads to talk about this week, including the launch of Wisden, but first – today’s games.
