Roundup: Lancashire build on Bailey's thrift to delight returning crowd
The swifts darted over the tram lines for the 221st Roses Championship match, and in the car park a man carefully folded his jacket over his arm and picked up his picnic bag. The crowds were back at Old Trafford for the first time in 617 days and, what’s more, the sun obliged, a distant heat haze rippling over the Manchester skyscrapers.
Yorkshire, who won the toss and chose to bat, took the opportunity to flirt with a record – their lowest ever total at Old Trafford. At 21 for six, and 40 for seven, 51 looked a stretch, with Lancashire’s Saqib Mahmood and Tom Bailey in particular bowling searching spells. Bailey’s figures were a parsimonious 14-11-6-3.
But Yorkshire had a gem in Harry Duke, the 19-year old wicketkeeper playing in only his second first-class match, and who had collected a golden duck in his one previous innings. From nervous bolter walking out at 21 for 5, he found his mojo and, full of youthful vim, stroked the ball simply and through the covers. He and Steven Patterson, all elbows and knees, put on 77 for the 10th wicket before Ben Coad and Duanne Olivier thrashed about to take the total over 150.
Alex Davies then teed off from the start, reaching his 50 to a happy crescendo of applause before tickling Olivier behind for 52. Jennings and Wells played out till the close, with just under 2,000 people watching Dom Bess twirling in from the Brian Statham End and revelling in Lancashire’s day.
Sixteen wickets fell at The Riverside as both Essex and Durham suffered batting malfunctions. First, Essex lost five wickets for three runs after Michael Pepper was out for 92, as Durham hoovered up their tail. Durham, in turn, collapsed to 58 for six post-tea, five of them lbw.
Northamptonshire’s Ben Sanderson filched five wickets at Hove for the third time in the past four innings, though it could not prevent a Sussex fightback. They had been in deep trouble at 67 for eight, before Jack Carson and Henry Crocombe tickled 99 for the ninth wicket. Facing 175, Northants then lost four wickets by the close.
Three wickets for Leicestershire’s Callum Parkinson, including two in two balls, failed to pin Middlesex down as a seventh-wicket stand of 90 between John Simpson and Luke Hollman took them to respectability at stumps.
A steady day at Edgbaston, led by 91 from Warwickshire’s Will Rhodes at the top of the order, was hijacked by Dane Paterson who snatched three wickets for Nottinghamshire in evening sunshine; while the England Under-19 batsman Jack Haynes hit a career best 97 for Worcestershire against Derbyshire at New Road before being caught on the boundary. Hashim Amla, leading Surrey for the first time, made an unbeaten century against Gloucestershire, and received a standing ovation from the Oval crowd.
The covers are sitting pretty out in the middle at Old Trafford, with Lancashire happy as a red rose bursting into bud. Disappointment for Yorkshire, whose day started badly, briefly rallied, before falling at the last. Elsewhere, a first century as Surrey captain for Hashim Amla, 15 wickets at The Riverside and game on at Hove. Time to go, have a lovely evening, and good night!
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Another fifty, but no cigar, for Alex Davies who tickles Olivier down the leg side for 52. Lancashire 71-1 and a wicket maiden for Olivier, who slips in his approach, his back foot giving way just as he reaches his delivery stride. All seems well though.
With news of D’Oliveira’s wicket (for 71), Worcestershire 256-6, and Hashim Amla 77 not out in Surrey’s 232-5, I must concentrate on fiddling together a round-up. I’ll leave you with the news that Alex Davies is bludgeoning Yorkshire round the ground. Lancs 41-0.
Jennings and Davies making batting look as easy as a slow deep south peach pie. Lancashire 28-0, the sun out and a bowling change as Patterson brings himself on.
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While at Chester-le-Street, Essex strike with the 16th ball of the innings: Alex Lees lbw to Jamie Porter for a seven-ball duck. Durham 1-1. In normal times, I wouldn’t put my grandad’s ten bob on Durham, but these are not normal times for Essex.
Hi-ho, the game racing on at Hove, where Henry Crocombe is having a good day. Fresh from his 46 not out, he has Ben Curran out for 7. Smart catch by Ben Brown. Northants 16-1.
VERY safe hands, @Ben_Brown26! 🧤😏 pic.twitter.com/sGUaIcxBcs
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) May 27, 2021
The four Yorkshire slips crouch down in unison as Ben Coad charges in. The wind ruffles Jordan Thompson’s trousers as clouds suddenly muffle the sun. Lancashire 5-0, with just under 2000 heads attentively watching each step, each shot.
“Just when the afternoon session at Edgbaston was looking barren for Nottinghamshire they go and get the breakthrough, Will Rhodes falling nine runs short of a seventh first-class century to end a grinding stand of 85 with Sam Hain.
“Left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White was the man to strike in the final over before tea, Rhodes pushing it off the face of the bat to Haseeb Hameed at short-leg. England’s latest call-up was delighted with it, and rightly so given the pace on the ball and reflexes required. A bonus in some ways for Nottinghamshire, with the swing on show this morning having faded away and any edges dropping short of the slip cordon.
“Rhodes had played a fine hand up to that point but it will be Matt Lamb who walks out with Hain (28 not out off 116 balls) after the break with the score on 163 for three.”
Danny Lamb comes on from the Brian Statham end and Luke Wells leaps to snatch a fabulous catch at first slip. D’Olivier is gone for 10 and Yorkshire slope off for an almost respectable 159. Which after their morning, is like a crusty top on top of a pork pie. Tea all round - back in 20 minutes.
Tea-time scores
Group One
Riverside: Durham v Essex 182 all out
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 163-3 v Nottinghamshire
New Road: Worcestershire 214-4v Derbyshire
Group Two
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Middlesex 156-6*
The Oval: Surrey 183-5 v Gloucestershire
Group Three
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Yorkshire 159 all out
Hove: Sussex 175 all out v Northants
And Ben Coad, who has thrashed four fours, upper cuts Mahmood for six into the point.I don’t know, another fifty, and, what do you say? It could be a tasty last session.
As Anthony writes, “Not good but better than when I left for my art class just before lunch.”
Olivier pulls Mahmood for four, clop. Bootiful!
I’m sorry to tell you that Middlesex are wobbling - 148-6 - Callum Parkinson out-bowling his brother with 3-58. While at Hove, the up-n-over 9th partnership between Carson and Crocombe is over, but not before they put on 99. Carson, Sanderson’s fifth wicket for 52, Crocombe 45 not out.
Snap and a click: three runs later, Duke tries to pull Tom Bailey and is snaffled by Dane Vilas . He marches smartly off, removing his helmet, and is applauded all the way. What a smashing innings, in a Roses match, a pressure situation and in front of the TV cameras. Enjoy being 19 Harry Duke, you lucky thing!
Bailey’s figures: 12-9-6-3.
Luke Wood is clubbed for six over the cover boundary by Patterson. Huffy, he bowls another short one, and Patterson loafs him for four. But all good things come to an end, and over Patterson blows, falling over facing Matt Parkinson. Smashingly awkward innings of 27, great partnership of 77. Yorkshire 121-8.
At the Riverside, Essex are 140-5, as Ryan ten Doeschate has been lbw to Borthwick for eight. Pepper still there, 69 not out.
Always good to hear news of Ravi Bopara.
@tjaldred Ravi Bopara came back from the 2007 World Cup and played for his club @HandCCricket in the Premier division of the @EssexLguCricket https://t.co/QUElMWVU12
— Name (@PaulFrame85) May 27, 2021
Bring shades, the Manchester grass is blinding green in the sun.
As a Luke Wood bouncer sails over Harry Duke’s head, I must say how lovely it is to have a crowd. Applause for fielding, applause for bowling changes, applause for a fifty partnership for the eighth wicket - even if they are Yorkies. (There are more than a scattering of Yorkies in). And this has been a very enjoyable little nugget of a partnership which has revived white rose spirits. Patterson giraffe like, elbows and knees, awkward but stoical. Duke, a pint pot full of vim and shots, and, as I say that, he is dropped before picking up his maiden Championship half century. Well played! Patterson shakes his hand mid pitch, they look like father and son. Yorkshire 100-7.
Good Afternoon Tanya, Good Afternoon everyone.
Good afternoon Em Jackson!
“With the news that Olly Stone sometimes turns out for Norfolk in the Minor League, does that not suggest that an FA-Cup T20 style competition is more than doable with the 18 Senior Counties, the top 11 Minor Counties, Cambs. And Oxford Uni Sides and an MCC side (32 > 16 > 8 > 4 > 2 – with the losers playing in a Plate Competition so everyone gets two matches guaranteed).
“Also, who is the best player you’ve ever seen playing for their non-First Class/List A regular side, I’m thinking of something like an England Captain rocking up for “Village Green Society 2nd XI” or something.
Happy to see Durham succeeding in the mixed bag of weather around Tyne & Wear today I must say.”
That’s a good call Em. Problem is, they’ve squeezed about every drop of blood they can out of the calendar at the moment.
At New Road, Jack Haynes is unbeaten on 61, after a handy partnership of 53 with Jack Whitely who was out after lunch for 22. Worcs 115-4. Essex 131-4, with Pepper 62 not out.
A totter at The Oval. Surrey now 123-3, another wicket now would be numerically pleasing , Patel gone for 62, Smith for 2. A couple of wickets for David Payne. Middlesex have slipped from 52-0 to 91-3, with Robson, Gubbins and Eskinazi pavilion bound. Handscomb, fresh from his runs against Surrey, at the crease and ready to go. Middx 100-3.
Parky is on. Yorks 71-7. A big appeal against Duke first ball. Not out. This could be tasty, talk of the ball turning square in practise.
I thought Gary had been quiet. Bravo!
Hi @tjaldred.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) May 27, 2021
The office this afternoon. I'd rather be at Old Trafford, but volunteering here is a decent second best.
If anyone is thinking of helping out in their area, it's really worthwhile. pic.twitter.com/dycFmKrWeV
Sussex are now eight down. But Carson and Crocombe have put on 27 for the ninth wicket, the largest partnership of the match so that’s something, I suppose. Sanderson has 4-31 and Sussex haven’t yet found the magic formula after Jason Gillespie left.
During my lunchtime amble, I met Robert Beveridge. He’s 78 and back at Old Trafford for the first time since 2019.
“I usually come to every day of every match and I watch league cricket too. It’s been very good to be here - I can’t say too much about the score, I have Yorkshire friends, but let’s just say we’d have taken it at 11 o’clock.
“Last year was terrible, its like a drug to me is cricket, it was very sad. It’s not life or death, sadly lots of people would like to be here but can’t because of Covid. I’m one of the lucky ones.”
Robert Beveridge, 78, a Lancs life member, back at Old Trafford for the first time since 2019."It's been terrible to be without, it's like a drug to me, cricket. It's not life of death, there are lots who'dve liked to be here but can't because of Covid. I'm one of the lucky ones" pic.twitter.com/I3eDkp5et0
— tanya aldred (@tjaldred) May 27, 2021
Forgive me Ali, I’ve just discovered your updates in my inbox. Please pretend these are live everyone:
“Lyndon (B?) James got the breakthrough for Nottinghamshire a short while ago, bowling Rob Yates with a lovely inswinger from around the wicket. James looks a genuine prospect to me - as well as depressingly young - and his ability to bat at No6, thus balancing the team, has been a key aspect of their change of fortunes this season. Will Rhodes has moved to 42 not out and the muscular Pieter Malan is alongside him on three, with the home side 57 for one. Injury worry for Notts too, with Ben Duckett going off the field after a ball fell short of slip and struck him on the elbow/forearm.”
“The ball has swung all morning at Edgbaston and never more so than out of the hand of Steven Mullaney. The Nottinghamshire skipper had been repeatedly moving them away from the right-handed Pieter Malan but you just knew the sucker ball was coming, with Mullaney getting one to hoop back into the South African’s pads on 17. Malan seemed to suggest a hint of inside edge on his way off the park. With Lyndon James earlier bowling Rob Yates, Warwickshire head into lunch on 78 for two and their skipper, Will Rhodes, one short of his half-century.”
They’re back on at Old Trafford, where the statuesque Patterson is beaten by the rapid Mahmood. I didn’t mention it before lunch but Duke raced along in the last quarter of an hour, five boundaries in his 24 not out, including a dribblingly gorgeous cover drive.
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Time for a plate of curry and a quick stroll around Old Trafford. Back in half an hour!
Lunchtime scores
Group One
Riverside: Durham v Essex 91-3
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 78-2 v Nottinghamshire
New Road: Worcestershire 98-3 v Derbyshire
Group Two
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Middlesex 73-1
The Oval: Surrey 77-1 v Gloucestershire
Group Three
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Yorkshire 57-7
Hove: Sussex 67-7 v Northants
Thompson fends desperately at a short ball from Wood, and it carries to Keaton Jennings at short leg - just positioned by Vilas. Happy days for Lancashire. Yorkshire 40-7.
Some nice quotes by Olly Stone on playing for Norfolk. Stone first played cricket for his local club Vauxhall Mallards, near Norwich, his first junior county cricket for Norfolk - who recommended him to Northamptonshire – and his formative senior county cricket for Norfolk in the Minor Counties Championship – now National Counties Championship – ten years ago.
And despite his Warwickshire and England commitments, Stone has carried on playing for Norfolk whenever he can.
“Norfolk have played a massive part in my development but it’s not just me, there are other good young cricketers who have come out of the county,” Stone said.“I started playing cricket because my brothers played but I got into the Norfolk age group sides and then it became a bit more serious.
“It was Steve Goldsmith who said that if took it seriously then I had a chance of progressing. Norfolk had links with Northamptonshire and was invited down for a couple of sessions with David Ripley, who was in charge of their academy at that time. They liked the look of me, I kept going back and it went from there.”
“On a couple of occasions I have been coming back from injuries and playing for Norfolk has been a good stepping stone in my rehab. It’s a chance to give something back to Norfolk but I also enjoy it. A lot of the current team I grew up with so it’s a friendly and familiar atmosphere.”
Duke, in his second Yorkshire game, is only 19. If he could just creep to double figures, to 25, to 50, what a game this would be. Yorkshire 36-6.
Duke leans back and glides Wood to the boundary. Sweet. Yorkshire 31-6.
Warwicks have lost Rob Yates for a slow 8, but Will Rhodes is steaming ahead, 34 not out. Warwicks 46-1. Pepper and Walter have put on 42 in quick time, Essex 82-3. Jake Libby, carelessly, has been run out, leaving Worcestershire 81-3. Robson and Eskinazi have put on fifty at Grace Road, as have Stoneman and Patel at The Oval. Sussex are 55 -5- 6 !
Ahem. 21-6.
Bess cuts to gully - and why not? - where a delighted Danny Lamb accepts, jumps into his teammates arms, and Yorkshire are 21-5. Yorkshire’s lowest total at Old Trafford in a Championship match is 51. Whistles innocently.
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A drop falls through the hands of first slip, and Kohler Cadmore gets a second life. Yorkshire 20-4.
@tjaldred The view from the Peter May stand. Building work behind us (boo!) so S*rrey are batting to a cacophony of drills, rattles and knocks, all words that form a part of the cricketing lexicon. Also: good bike parking, well done The Oval! pic.twitter.com/X92urTiEcE
— James Walsh (@jamesofwalsh) May 27, 2021
“Greetings from sunny - when isn’t it? - Edgbaston, where spectators are back and delivering the sweet, sweet sound of applause after an 18-month silence at the ground. No early look at Haseeb Hameed after his call-up to the England squad but Notttinghamshire’s opening bowlers are probing away nicely. Will Rhodes, the Warwickshire captain, has already been given a life on six too: Luke Fletcher finding the edge of the lefthander’s bat, only for Tom Moores to put it down diving to his left. Tough chance. After running through Worcestershire like a bull through Pamplona, Fletcher looks in a fine groove, while Zak Chapple has got some lavish swing at the other end. But Rhodes and Rob Yates are holding firm on 28 for no loss after 12 overs.”
Hard to glance away from this Yorks-up but, an hour in, a peek round the grounds.
Easy pickings for Warwicks (32-0); Middlesex (33-0) and Surrey (36-0). Worcestershire have recovered from 21-2, Libby 24 not out, Hayes 18 not out. 56-2/
Ben Sanderson has snatched three for 16 against wobbling Sussex, 32-4; and Browne and Westley have joined SirAlastair back in the pavilion at The Riverside, Essex 49-3.
Let’s keep it cheeky Yorkshire - why not?. Hill prods awkwardly and is caught for 2 off Tom Bailey. Lovely bit of bowling; nervous bit of batting. Yorkshire 11-4.
A foolish single ends in disaster: Brook is slow to respond to Kohler Cadmore’s call, fatally hesitates, and is the victim of a direct hit from Davies. Yorkshire 9-3. A satisfied hum starts to rise above Old Trafford.
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A second for Mahmood! A sensational ball in a smashing spell as a disconsolate Fraine totters head-down back to the pavilion. I don’t think it is unjust to say that Lancashire’s “second string” bowlers are better than Yorkshire’s “second string” batters.
@tjaldred Seems like it's been a whe since a Roses match has held so much importance. Hopefully the weather will respect this...
— phil withall (@phil_withall) May 27, 2021
Elsewhere, Daryl Mitchell has been lbw to Conners without a run to his name. Not a pretty season for him so far. Worcestershire 19-1. Sussex have lost Aaron Thomason to Ben Sanderson for four. Sussex 12-1. And another early exit for Alastair Cook, lbw to Chris Rushworth for 2, Essex 25-1.
And that IS out! Adam Lyth smartly caught by Danny Lamb off Tom Bailey for 4 . A fragile batting line up is cracked open.
Billowing clouds peep above the pavilion, as Mahmood has the ball, running in with four slips, Dane Vilas still keeping because Al Davies’ fingers are sore.
Lancashire haven’t beaten Yorkshire at home since 2000, when Sourav Ganguly and Darren Lehman were the overseas players. Ah - I think Liam Livingstone just dropped Kohler-Cadmore on 0 off Mahmood. Yorkshire 4-0.
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Championship tables
Group One - the Notts revival
Nottinghamshire 97 (played 6)
Essex 88 (played 7)
Durham 85 (played 6)
Warwicks 78 (played 6)
Worcs 71 (played 7)
Derby 54 (played 6)
Group Two - tight, tight tight
Gloucestershire 105 (played 6)
Somerset 104 (played 7)
Hampshire 94 (played 7)
Surrey 79 (played 7)
Middlesex 55 (played 7)
Leicestershire 51 (played 7)
Group 3 - top two running away with it
Lancashire 101 (played 6)
Yorkshire 98 (played 6)
Glamorgan 80 (played 7)
Northants 76 (played 6)
Sussex 64 (played 6)
Kent 61 (played 7)
And here is Ali’s piece on England’s selection wobble - Ben Foakes out after a dressing-room slip, Haseeb Hameed and Sam Billings called up. The Hameed selection must have been made in conjunction with Nottinghamshire - I hope they know what they are doing. A complaint from the press box: “What does Adam Lyth have to do?”
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I’ve just seen a man in the crowd with no shirt on.
A lovely piece here by Andy Bull:
Yorkshire have won the toss and will bat. Ballance is out with a calf injury sustained in training. There is no David Willey but Dom Bess plays, as does Parkinson for Lancashire. Mahmood replaces Anderson. There is no Root, Bairstow or Anderson as they are now in the England bubble preparing for the Test against New Zealand.
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Fixtures
Group One
Riverside: Durham v Essex
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire
New Road: Worcestershire v Derbyshire
Group Two
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Middlesex
The Oval: Surrey v Gloucestershire
Group Three
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Yorkshire
Hove: Sussex v Northants
Preamble
Good morning! It’s Old Trafford, it’s the 221st Roses Championship match and, at a push, a heat haze razzles out across Manchester.
In the car park, a man carefully pulls open the boot, folds his jacket over his arm, and pick up his picnic bag.
Lancashire are playing volleyball, Yorkshire playing football, and around the edges in scattered twos, but mostly ones, sits a crowd.
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