Day two roundup
Mohammad Abbas drove a ceremonial horse and carriage through Middlesex’s fragile batting at the Rose Bowl, scattering batsmen like beech nut shells in a school playground. Sleeves buttoned at the wrist, front on action, lithe and elasticated, full and fast, he snaffled Max Holden with his fifth ball. Nick Gubbins was lbw next delivery, and Stevie Eskinazi caught behind with the first ball of his next over to complete the hat-trick.
Two more wickets followed in two balls – Robbie White and Martin Andersson both lbw as a fury of slips looked on. At that point, with statisticians poised for all 10, first Kyle Abbott, then Brad Wheal snatched the glory, leaving Abbas with 6 for 11 off 11 overs. Hampshire did not enforce the follow-on, momentarily slipped to 2 for 2 in reply, but 90s from Sam Northeast and Ian Holland steadied the ship.
At Old Trafford, Lancashire’s Matt Parkinson, bowling in his first first-class match since September 2019, ripped a ball past the plumply upholstered frame of Adam Rossington and into his stumps, bringing back memories of another blond legspinner, and another batsman, at the same ground, 28 years earlier. Ball of the 21st century, quipped someone in the press box. Parkinson finished with 3 for 49 as Northamptonshire recovered from 87 for 8 to be all out for 177, thanks to Rossington and the Lancashire old boy Simon Kerrigan, who survived Tom Bailey’s hat-trick ball to finish 45 not out. Kerrigan had earlier bowled lovely loopy overs, his trousers waving above his ankles, finishing with 4 for 60.
After 18 wickets fell on Thursday, Durham took charge at Chelmsford. First their bowlers irritated their way to another 111 runs, then they wheedled their way through the Essex lineup, despite a carefree 76 from Dan Lawrence. At the close Essex, on 208 for 6, led by just 45 with four wickets remaining.
Dom Sibley was unable to bat after fracturing a finger on his right hand in the field on Thursday, and Warwickshire fell 72 short of Notts’ first innings total despite 72 from Sam Hain. Stuart Broad finished with 3 for 50. Haseeb Hameed and Joe Clarke both made unbeaten fifties as Notts built a tidy second-innings lead.
At the County Ground, Worcestershire’s batting faltered in the face of Matt Critchley’s legspin despite sixties from Tom Fell and Riki Wessels; and a close match continued to unfurl at Taunton where a sophisticated century from James Bracey guided Gloucestershire to near parity with Somerset.
Pretty runs from England’s Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes in an unbroken stand of 160 saved Surrey’s bacon against Leicestershire at The Oval, while at Canterbury the inevitable march of cricketer of the year Darren Stevens continued, off the mark with a six and making 52, though Yorkshire dominated. Sussex continued to bat like kings at Sophia Gardens, with a hundred from Stiaan van Zyl and 97 from George Garton.
Close of play scores
Group 1
- Derbyshire 390 all out v Worcestershire 243-7
- Essex 96 and 208-6 v Durham 259 all out -ESSEX LEAD BY 45
- Nottinghamshire 273 and 128-2 v Warwickshire 201-9
Group 2
- Hampshire 319 all out and 204-2 v Middlesex 79 all out MOHAMMAD ABBAS 6-11
- Somerset 312 v Gloucestershire 301-8
- Surrey 253-3 v Leicestershire 375 all out
Group 3
- Glamorgan 285 v Sussex 481-9
- Kent 265-9 v Yorkshire 379
- Lancashire 305 and 60-0 v Northants 177 all out
That’s it from me for today - on a day that belonged to Mohammad Abbas and - a tiny part of it - to Matt Parkinson and his wonder ball too. Thanks for the comments and emails and see you tomorrow. Good night!
Updated
Gloomy over Old Trafford now, with two overs left in the day and Jennings and Davies steady, Lancs 57-0 and a healthy lead. Over at Trent Bridge, meanwhile, Haseeb Hameed has fifty not out!
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Here ‘tis:
The greatest wicket taking delivery by a blonde haired leggy at @EmiratesOT?
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) April 16, 2021
We can't think of any better, @mattyparky96... 😉
🌹 #RedRoseTogether @ShaneWarne pic.twitter.com/xrUOQtt4wW
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As I was typing up this follow-on news from Paul Frame...... “Hampshire enforced the follow-on in 2017 against Essex after they had sealed the championship trophy the week prior to the game.Essex batted again and won the match. I think that has burned them with regards to today’s decision not to enforce the follow-on. “
.....Matt Parkinson slips an unplayable ball to Rossington who is bowled for 49. It spun the width of an arctic roll and is a much-needed breakthrough after a partnership of 82 with Kerrigan .
And as Darren Stevens steam-rollers to his first fifty as WCOFTY, I will semi-retire to write the round-up but will pop back with any big news like a unbeaten 60 run partnership between Kerrigan and Rossington at Old Trafford.
Fabulous batting by Sussex today - thanks to 87 from Haines and 113 from van Zyl, while Derbyshire’s Conners and Critchley have rather speared Worcestershire’s day, despite a patient 69 from Tom Fell.
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Tea-timeish scores on the doors
Group 1
- Derbyshire 390 all out v Worcestershire 135-4
- Essex 96 and 85-2 v Durham 259 all out -ESSEX TRAIL BY 78
- Nottinghamshire 273 v Warwickshire 200-6
Group 2
- Hampshire 319 all out and 20-2 v Middlesex 79 all out MOHAMMAD ABBAS 6-11
- Somerset 312 v Gloucestershire 189-6
- Surrey 88-2 v Leicestershire 375 all out
Group 3
- Glamorgan 285 v Sussex 340-6
- Kent 191-6 v Yorkshire 379
- Lancashire 305 v Northants 142-8
Interesting idea from Gary Naylor re follow-ons - would certainly add to the excitement value in even contests!
The follow-on is going out of fashion @tjaldred. I'd revive it by allowing any first innings lead to trigger the option. It might also bring more attacking spinners into the game, as a captain might want that insurance policy if they're defending 150 in a fourth innings chase.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) April 16, 2021
It’s tea at Trent Bridge where Notss have taken three Warwicks wickets since lunch but the Bears have crept to within poking distance (74 runs). Still no Sibley. General team-timeish round up to follow but OH MY I’ve just noticed Hampshire are 7-2! What is the pitch doing at the Rose Bowl? One for TRJ and one for Bamber.
Hampshire are NOT going on enforce the follow-on. Does no-one like grinding batsmen into the dust any more.? I haven’t mentioned Gloucestershire for a while. Sorry Glocs. Bracey still stoically there (does he do it any other way?) on 69, but wickets tumbling with foot-tapping regularity at the other end - 178-6. Three for Coverton, one for Davey, two for de Lange.
Darren Stevens (31) and Ollie Robinson (44) throwing everything at Yorkshire, still 224 runs behind but spirited nonetheless. Meanwhile at The Oval, Surrey are batting after Leicestershire were all out for 375 - three for Virdi, three for Clark - as they lost 3-0 in the late middle order. Mark Stoneman’s just been out for 24, Burns 23 not out, Amla 2 not out.
Middlesex all out 79!
Mohammad Abbas 11-6-11-6. Someone tell Dan Brown, there’s a message in there somewhere.
Safely patted away...
TWO in TWO BALLS for Tom Bailey: Tom Taylor’s off-stump removed followed by Nathan Buck lbw and Simon Kerrigan is facing the hat-trick ball!
Ay-up, Fell and D’Oliveira rebuilding at Derby (85-3), and Essex at Chelmsford (55-2).
And for those who’d like to read more on Parky - a nice piece by Jamie Bowman in the Bolton News.
Northants lose a third wicket in 3.1 overs - this time Keogh lbw Bailey for 29. Both literally and metaphorically, the clouds are closing over Northamptonshire - 74-6 and 231 behind.
Make that his second! A smashing catch at backward short leg by Steven Croft, diving then groping, Northants 73-5. After a summer and a winter spent in the England bubble, fantastic to see him actually bowling.
I was deep in Darren Stevens when I heard a shout from the outfield as Luke Procter has a swing at Matt Parkinson and Parky has his first first-class wicket since September 2019.
Kerrith Britland (thank you) has sent me this link to an interview with Darren Stevens about his Cricketer of the Year award. It’s 35 minutes long, though no problems obviously as you can just ask DI to hold back time. I see he’s just hit Patterson for six first ball. Kent 107-5.
“Afternoon Tanya”
Afternoon Paul Frame!
“It’s sign of how well Durham have batted this morning is that Rushworth’s dismissal made me think of the famous newspaper vendor poster from the 1930 tour of England.
Durham to have won well before 3pm tomorrow?”
I think the question is how well before.
Gosh. Essex. Cook out now, joining Browne in the pavilion. 144 behind and a very unlikely story starting to write itself.
Incidentally, the first spectators will be allowed into Old Trafford in time for the Roses game. About 4,000 spectators permitted - which is more than would usually wind their way through the gate but fewer than the Lancashire membership.
Northants stumble-trip. Vasconcelos slumps slowly off the pitch, disconsolate, bat heavy in hand, kicking imaginary leaves after panning Luke Wood to mid-wicket. Sun still out but Northants in trouble.
Just checked out Mohammad Abbas’ Test stats- 84 Test wickets at 22.81. Not that much a surprise that Middlesex’s, um, flaky, batting is struggling. Rather mean of Abbott to grab his first - TRJ for 5 - but at least they’re keeping it in the ABB club. Middx 43-7 need another 16 to equal their current lowest first-class score.
A dribble of post-lunch wickets round the grounds - though not at Old Trafford where the food was delicious yet not over filling: a third for Stuart Broad against Warwicks (118-4), Chris Rushworth removes Browne’s middle stump and Essex are reeling at 11-1, Leaning caught behind for a three-ball duck at Canterbury (Kent 67-4) and Haines falls second ball after lunch to Hogan at Sophia Gardens.
Oh and a sixth at the Rose Bowl - ABASS SIX FOR 11!!!! MIDDX 32-6
Those Abbas wickets in full - love the commentary, from the second wicket it sounds as if they’re expecting a wicket to fall every ball!
LUNCH | 5⃣ wickets, including an incredible hat-trick, from @RealMAbbas226 sees us reduce Middlesex to 23-5
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) April 16, 2021
👇SOUND ON 🔊
📺https://t.co/vVlxv4bMSu & Hampshire Cricket App 📲 pic.twitter.com/8ovrMK6CeF
Updated
Lunch-time scores
Group 1
- Derbyshire 390 all out v Worcestershire 25-2
- Essex 96 v Durham 259 all out
- Nottinghamshire 273 v Warwickshire 113-3
Group 2
- Hampshire 319 all out v Middlesex 23-5 MOHAMMAD ABBAS 5-6
- Somerset 312 v Gloucestershire 97-2
- Surrey v Leicestershire 353-7
Group 3
- Glamorgan 285 v Sussex 211-1
- Kent 59-3 v Yorkshire 379
- Lancashire 305 v Northants 35-2
And to continue the England player dodgy digit news, this just in on Dom Sibley
Dom Sibley has a small fracture of the second finger on his right hand. If it settles down and the match situation dictates, he could bat in this game. But he may well not. It'll be assessed again in the coming days but you'd think he'd be a doubt for the next 2-3 rounds of games
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) April 16, 2021
Did I mention a fabulous catch by Keaton Jennings? Here tis to reduce Northants to 35-2 at lunch. Time to grab a plate of Old Trafford quinoa - Lunch Scores and the full Abbas to follow.
WICKET WATCH A second for @SaqMahmood25 after Emilio Gay edges to @JetJennings 26-2 #LANvNOR pic.twitter.com/W06WpI21Yy
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) April 16, 2021
More on Ben Stokes (thanks to Simon Wilde) - if he is out for three months he’ll miss (deep breath): the IPL, the two Tests v NZ, 3 ODIS and 3 T20s v Sri Lanka and 3 ODIs v Pakistan.
My email has suddenly sprung into life - and a chiding arrives from Tim Maitland from 40 minutes ago
“I know it’s tough what with you being on the “wrong side of the Pennines”, but the Kent/Yorkshire game is moving on at a pace. Kent are already two down after Olivier comprehensively castled Zac Crawley.” Apologies, a mini-recovery since then, with Kent 58-2, Denly and Cox digging in.
An email wafts its way north, from James Wallace, with news of Surrey’s struggles at The Oval:
“One of those days here in sunny south London, blue skies all around and everyone seems to have an extra level of jaunt in their step. Marked contrast to yesterday when at times it was greyer than an Earl Grey in Grayes on a grey day, leading to a slightly frustrating on/off afternoon. The murk and cold forcing the ground staff to appear slightly forlorn and braced figures in the breaks, I was humming Brian and Michael all afternoon.
“It was Sam Evans and Leicestershire’s day, plenty of boundaries on both sides of the wicket, the ball whistling away like a skimmed pebble on the Oval’s notoriously glassy and elongated square. Serene progress from the midlands side this morning too...HANG ABOUT - Evans’ patient innings comes to an end, bowled by the spin of Amar Virdi, the ball gripping just enough to spin past the outside edge and into the timbers. Still, 298/4 is not a bad position to be in.”
On the BBC commentary they’re comparing Abbas to Malcolm Marshall with both his open chest and quick arm. Gary Naylor suggests SF Barnes.
Always hard to imagine exactly how old players played (and grainy footage seldom helps) but I suspect the closest in style to SF Barnes in modern times is Mohammad Abbas @tjaldred.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) April 16, 2021
A magician of a bowler whose deliveries (eventually) are never quite where they should be.
Updated
Abbas has the ball again ...
A pause for breath amid the tumble of wickets at the Rose Bowl with news of a smashing left-handed catch on the second attempt by Hartley at second slip here at Old Trafford. Ben Curran gone for 9. Northants 13-1.
Make that five for Abbas!
Two more in three balls - lbw for White and Andersson. Middlesex 14-5. Abbas 2.5-1-3-5
Hat-trick for Mohammad Abbas!
Holden, Gubbins and Eskinazi - not quite Root, Williamson and Bairstow* but fabulous all the same. Middlesex 8-3.
(*Jordan Clark must be the only Lancastrian in cricket history to take a hat-trick against Yorkshire before leaving to play for Surrey.)
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A peek round the grounds:
At The County Ground, Derby all out 390 - adding 30 for the last two wickets this morning. Worcs currently padding up.
At Chelmsford, Durham bat on, and on...currently 206-8 - Salisbury and Poynter rubbing salt in the wound.
At Trent Bridge, Warwickshire recovering - 73-3 - thanks to Briggs and Hain.
They’re between innings at the Rose Bowl - Hampshire 319 all out, tailenders adding another forty odd.
Brathwaite and Dent got Gloucestershire off to a good start this morning before Brathwaite fell lbw to Coverton for 18. 68-1.
Surrey still struggling at The Oval - with Sam Evans now 133 not out and Lewis Hill 56 not out. No wickets for Roach, Dunn and Virdi, one for Joverto and two for Jordan Clark.
Four wickets for Simon Kerrigan and he leads the fielders off at Old Trafford with Lancashire all out for 305. Parkinson and Hartley both left the field with career bests with the bat!
Kent are 29 for 2 at Canterbury - Willey and Olivier following Yorkshire’s 379 all out. I sniff runs in the air for COTY Darren Stevens.
And lastly, at Sophia Gardens, Sussex 142-1 and steady against Glamorgan. Haines 52 not out.
Updated
To those who asked about points carried forward from this stage to the Divisional stage - the official ECB word:
Divisional Stage - carrying forward of points and, for tiebreaker purposes, carrying forward of results
16.3.2.1 If the result of both matches between teams can be carried forward, each team shall carry forward half the aggregate number of points scored in the two matches against the team that goes through to the division from the same group. For tie break purposes, each team shall also carry forward half the number of wins and losses from the two matches against the team that goes through to the division from the same group, as well as half the wickets taken and runs scored.
16.3.2.2 If the result of only one match between two teams can be carried forward, the teams will carry forward the points scored in that match and for tiebreaker purposes, the result of that match, the wickets taken and runs scored.
16.3.2.3 If both matches between two teams were cancelled, each team shall carry forward the average number of points carried forward by the other four teams in their new division. Nothing is carried forward in respect of wins and losses and wickets taken and runs scored – refer 16.3.3.3.
Here we have Simon Kerrigan, short sleeves, flapping three -quarter-mast trouser legs, bowling from the James Anderson End. And what a lovely loopy thing it is to see. Lancs 293-9 and 40 minutes gone in the day.
Ben Stokes out for three months
Ben Stokes needs surgery to his left index figure after breaking it when fielding for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. He is expected to be out for three months.
A hell of an effort by Leicestershire down at The Oval - now 243-3. Sam Evans bats on, 117 runs and a maiden first-class century to the good, though Kemar Roach has the second new ball in his hands.
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A gentle morning here at Old Trafford as Saqib Mahmood is caught out deep by Nathan Buck having a hook off Taylor. Lancs 271-9. Tom Hartley now has a career best 13 not out as the slip cordon bends down in front of me including the tiny figure of Ricardo Vasconcelos and the rather more cushioned hindquarters of Adam Rossington.
Updated
At Canterbury Patterson lasts three balls before being caught at cover off Milnes for 38. 362-9.
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Some very 21st century stats courtesy of Inside Edge Cricket
Day 1 - YouTube Views:
Somerset v Gloucester - 41.7k
Notts v Warwickshire - 23.3k
Surrey v Leicestershire - 14.9k
Essex v Durham - 21.5k
Hampshire v Middlesex - 17.5k
Glamorgan v Sussex - 12.2k
Kent v Yorkshire - 28.7k
Lancashire v Northampt - 18.7k
Derbyshire v Worc- 11.4k
These are: “total views on YouTube alone, so won’t take into consideration any audio or any streaming elsewhere.” Sensational performance by the south west.
The players are out in sparkling whites, Sanderson has the ball and we’re off!
Who wants something heartwarming to start the day? Everyone? Good - here you are!
This is a lovely story in the @bailiwickxpress about George Knight, who turned 100 last summer and was this week named as the @WisdenAlmanack schools cricketer of the year for 1939, when he shone for Victoria College in Jersey https://t.co/gvuuhBpbdW
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) April 16, 2021
Now at Old Trafford where, glory of glories, the sun is still out and there is not a bobble had to be seen as the players warm up. The groundsmen are gathered around what looks very much like an extremely heavy roller but is, I am told, not.
Haven’t opened my Wisden yet but interested to see that Steve Waugh has won the Wisden Cricket photograph of the year. I know he did those photo montage books of his tours as a player and, to this non-pro photographer’s eye at least, it is an amazing snap.
📸 Nice shot, Steve!
— The Nightwatchman (@NightwatchmanXI) April 16, 2021
Former Australian captain Steve Waugh has won the Wisden Cricket Photograph of the Year competition, with this image of children playing cricket among sand dunes near Osian, Rajasthan 🏏 pic.twitter.com/DHXRgzEm3m
Lovely to hear from a bouncy-sounding Simon Kerrigan on his return to Old Trafford:
“It was really enjoyable. There was definitely a point over the last few years where I thought I would not be back here bowling in a competitive game so I’m pretty proud to be out here today and it was good to get some overs.
“I was pretty nervous at the start but was able to get into it and hit my areas and thankfully I then stuck in there most of the day.”There were a lot of questions being asked of Luke Procter and I this morning about the pitch and we were panicking because it looked a bit different to the usual day one pitches here as usually you get a bit of moisture in the track and it tends to not be the worst time to bowl.
“It’s a good pitch and there’s a little bit of spin there and something for the seamers with a few little cracks which the ball will do a bit off. There’s something in it for everyone but we saw today that there were flat periods when it was tough to get people out.”
Here is a great piece by Paul Edwards summing up Kerrigan’s recent struggles.
Start of play scores
Group 1
- Derbyshire 360-8 v Worcestershire
- Essex 96 v Durham 148-8
- Nottinghamshire 273 v Warwickshire 24-2
Group 2
- Hampshire 281-8 v Middlesex
- Somerset 312 v Gloucestershire 13-0
- Surrey v Leicestershire 215-3
Group 3
- Glamorgan 285 v Sussex 99-0
- Kent v Yorkshire 358-8
- Lancashire 264-8 v Northants
Updated
Preamble
Good morning from Manchester, where the sky is forget-me-not blue, the sun is stretching its little fingers and the frost is fading fast from the tulip leaves. Today is day two of the second round of matches – already! – and all eyes turn to Chelmsford.
There, yesterday, 18 wickets were marked in the scorebook as Durham had the pleasure that comes from the school shirker outsmarting the leader-board surfer. All out for 96, Essex finished the day with a deficit of 52. A happy day for Scott Borthwick, especially, who scored 70 percent of Durham’s runs with his first century since returning to the north east.
Elsewhere, there were wickets for Ollie Robinson and Simon Kerrigan; and runs for Kiran Carlson, Matt Critchley, Sam Evans, Liam Patterson-White and the usual bish-bash-bosh for the Somerset lower-order.
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