Here's today's roundup
On a day of intermittent showers at Old Trafford, Glamorgan shovelled their way to three batting points against Lancashire, despite the best efforts of Jimmy Anderson.
The partnership of the day came between Dan Douthwaite and Callum Taylor, who both passed fifty as they put on 81 for the seventh wicket. Douthwaite was whippy and plucky, Taylor, patiently defensive, against Anderson, with the new and old ball, and the tweaking and twirling Liam Livingstone and Matt Parkinson. There were three wickets each for Anderson, bowling on a cherry pip, and Saqib Mahmood, who earlier limped off the pitch with an ankle problem. Keaton Jennings and Alex Davies then fiddled 22 in 18 overs in sunshine that belied Saturday’s cataclysmic weather forecast.
Essex and Nottinghamshire continued to don each other’s garments in their rapidly-advancing match at Trent Bridge. Alastair Cook had time to velvet six boundaries in his 35 before being first man out to Lyndon James. But with his dismissal, hopes of batting out the match faded as Tom Westley and Dan Lawrence followed cheaply, though Nick Browne was unbeaten on 60 at the close, with the deficit 95. Steven Mullaney had dominated the morning, making 117 as Notts advanced to 323; with Zimbabwe-born Netherlands-playing Shane Snater snapping up seven for 98.
Gareth Berg and Ben Sanderson continued to weave their hypnotic spell over Sussex, whose second innings threatened to stumble just as their first until Stiaan van Zyl breathed calm with 71 not out. Northamptonshire had earlier declared on 441 as Saif Zaib wafted to his maiden first-class century, Adam Rossington fell for 97 and Berg and Tom Taylor indulged in some late-order heave-ho.
Somerset added second-day plenty as their tail biffed and bashed, led by 74 from Craig Overton and 34 from nightwatchman Jack Leach. Keith Barker picked up four for 67. Overton then thundered in with the ball, taking three for 24 as Hampshire limped to 92 for three, still 165 behind.
Michael Burgess was the last man out for Warwickshire after a maiden first-class hundred for the club nudged their first innings to 343. Worcestershire’s reply was dominated by the ever-reliable Jake Libby, who made 74 until Olly Stone snaffled him, and an unbeaten fifty from Jack Haynes.
Gloucestershire’s man of the moment, James Bracey, skipped to a pretty 74 at Lord’s, and in front of an audience on Sky TV. Ryan Higgins and Ian Cockbain then helped nudge Gloucester to a 63-run first-innings lead, leaving Middlesex time to collapse to 26 for three before stumps.
Mark Stoneman and Rory Burns both made unbeaten half centuries as the spring air filled Surrey’s batting sails much as it had Leicestershire’s. Mid-afternoon, Amar Virdi had strolled off Grace Road with six for 171, and Leicestershire 496, after a maiden first-class century for Harry Swindells.
Joe Root squirted Matthew Quinn into the gloves of Ollie Robinson after a beguiling 41 as Yorkshire chased Kent’s 305. Gary Ballance made an unbeaten 91 in polka-time, followed by 59 from Harry Brook. Earlier Miguel Cummins had lofted Kent past 300, with two fours and two sixes.
That’s it from us for today, another cracking day of Championship cricket. Thanks for all the messages - do join us tomorrow, despite the weather forecast, if only in hope. The kettle is always on. From a blazing Manchester, have a lovely evening, good night!
Keaton Jennings and Alex Davies are on a go-slow in the glorious Manchester sunshine. Currently 15 from 15 overs. Tomorrow’s promised godly deluge currently seems ridiculously unlikely. I’ll meet you back here at 10.30 on Saturday morning to confirm. Must disappear again to rewrite for second edition, with only Headingley and Lord’s also still in play.
Jake Libby moves closer to 1000 runs, but more of a limp than a leap. Our for 74 to Olly Stone. At Grace Road, Surrey are suddenly invincible again with the bat: 71-o in quicktime. Sorry Sussex 69-4, Andersson and Berg, Andersson and Berg. And there goes Neswer, smudging Parky to Keaton Jennings forever under the helmet for 17. Glamorgan 314-8 in the sunshine. I must disappear to write 500 words quickly for the round-up, I know you will keep an eye BTL.
A hiatus, apologies. In the meantime - James Bracey has been out for 75, mis-pulling Andersson. Sussex have lost a third wicket, Travis Head on debut, 66-3 and Joe Root snicks Matthew Quinn behind for 41. And here at OT, Callum Taylor has also passed fifty and Glamorgan 300. Phew.
Updated
Tea-time scores
Group One
Warwickshire 343 v Worcestershire 118-2 (Edgbaston)
Nottinghamshire 323 v Essex 99 and 76-2 (Trent Bridge)
Group Two
Leicestershire 496 v Surrey 41-0 (Leicester)
Middlesex 210 v Gloucestershire 201-5 (Lord’s)
Hampshire 79 and 20-0 v Somerset 336 all out (Southampton)
Group Three
Yorkshire 127-2 v Kent 305 (Headingley)
Lancashire v Glamorgan 271-7 (Old Trafford)
Northamptonshire 441-9dec v Sussex 106 and 41-2 (Northampton)
Another fifty for the most reliable batsman in the Championship: Jake Libby. Worcs 106-2
Elsewhere, the Essex slide continues after Stuart Broad has Tom Westley caught behind. 74-2.And, oh, Sussex too: Aaron Thomason out for 7 to Ben Sanderson. 37-2. Surrey and Hampshire’s innings are wicketless as I type.
And this time Anderson gets his man! Douthwaite lbw for 61, a smashing little innings. He and Taylor are applauded off the field by their teammates and they take tea. Glamorgan 271-7.
Fifty for Dan Douthwaite, a punt straight back past Luke Wood to the boundary rope under the Glamorgan balcony. I’ve enjoyed it, both entertaining and patient.
Anderson thinks he’s got Callum Taylor. Full-effort two-handed appeal, followed by a single teapot. No says the umpire as the clouds fluff up behind the pavilion like an ever-expanding candyfloss. And Douthwaite and Taylor play on.
Dan Douthwaite thumbs his nose and pulls Luke Wood for six! Glamorgan pass 250.
Things are looking gloomy for Sussex who have already lost a wicket in their second innings: Tom Haines, for 18 - this was where the rot started first time around. Currently 32-1.
Glamorgan must endure half an hour of Luke Wood’s sharpness and Anderson’s parsimony before tea.
And so it begins at Trent Bridge: Alastair Cook is out! Lbw to Lyndon James. Essex 63-1. While at Canterbury, Joe Root and Gary Ballance have put on fifty after Kohler -Cadmore followed Lyth back into the pavilion.
Another fifty for James Bracey, this time against Middlesex, in a short sleeved jumper at Lord’s. Gloucs 149/4.Meanwhile, Liam Livingstone and Matt Parkinson tweak and twirl, so far without reward as Dourthwaite and Taylor poke and occasionally have a thrash. At the sanitising break, shadows are visible. Glamaorgan 237-6.
And lo, the new ball! Anderson has it, again from the JA end.
Northants declare on 441-9, with Tom Taylor unbeaten on 44. Sussex must now do an Essex (currently 50-0 after a similar first-innings pig’s ear.)
Leicestershire’s Swindells and Northants’ Zaib both made their maiden first-class centuries today - congratulations!
I love the new look Leicestershire batting this season: all out for a huge 496. Amar Virdi, namechecked by Simon Harmer as one of the best spinners in the country, 6-171. Young Harry Swindells last man out for 103. Is it the pitch or the bowling? We are about to find out as the Surrey innings begins.
An update on the (forlorn?) race to 1000 runs before the end of May from shortordercook BTL (thank you!):
1) Bedingham (567) - not playing
2) Lyth (515) - 3 n.o.
3) Hill (499) - out for 18
4) Vasconcelos (493) - out for 8
5) Critchley (483) - not playing
6) Haines (474) - out for a duck
7) Carlson (455) - out for 18
8) Pope (452) - not batted yet
9) Hameed (450) - out for 49
10) Libby (411) - 13 n.o.
All batters have maximum 5 or 6 innings remaining in May so we’ll need some big scores if anyone is going to reach the milestone. All three players currently batting or yet to bat have a good chance today with decent pitches and fairly nice weather.
Since shortordercook posted, Lyth has been out for 23 and Libby is 36 not out.
With nearly an hour gone since lunch, a peek through the scorecards.
Essex 21-0: Cook and Browne rearranging the armchairs.
Worcs 42-1: Libby doing what Libby does. Liam Norwell gets Mitchell for 12.
Somerset 333-9: Overton out for a boulder-hitting 74. Gregory, 33 not out, continues the battery.
Leics 485-7: Leicester bat on and on, 95 from Harry Swindells, 74 from Ben Mike.
Gloucs 123-4: Bracey still there on 41, but a regular flurry of wickets.
Glamorgan 200-6: A bonus point for the visitors, with Douthwaite and Taylor now up against Parkinson and a vigorous breeze. Saqib Mahmood off the field with a twinge, Jimmy Anderson at rest till the new ball.
Northants 405-8: After Zaib and Rossington, Gareth Berg has a thrash: six fours in his 32.
Yorkshire 45-1: Lyth out for 23. Darren Stevens, of course.
Popped out briefly, returned to discover that Bohannon had taken a wicket! Chris Cooke guiding him into the ample paws of Liam Livingstone. A lovely shot for four by Douthwaite off Parky, beautiful pick-up. Glamorgan 197-6.
Mahmood leaves the field - he’s not limping too badly. Steven Croft is his replacement as 12th man. Josh Bohannon has the ball and will finish the over. Quite a nice rhythm actually. Glamorgan 188-5
Oooh, Saqib Mahmood has hurt himself in his run-up. His left foot/ankle seems to be the one that is troubling him but he’s hopping from foot to foot in front of the physio.
Parky is on.
Nottinghamshire are all out for 323, when Stuart Broad is caught by his old captain Alastair Cook for 41 . Shane Snater finishes with a glorious seven wickets. Notts lead by 224. Sir Alastair soon to march out again. Essex need to bat out one and a half sessions before tomorrow’s deluge buys them a day. If Cook can’t stay for long - and his only real runs have come on the New Road paradise - it promises to be a spicy afternoon.
At the Rose Bowl, Craig Overton has been having some up and over ifty - now 61 not out with nine fours. The Somerset lead now over 200.
While at Lord’s, Kraigg Brathwaite has been well caught at second slip by a leaping Sam Robson. Gloucestershire 89-3.
From this distance, Saqib Mahmood’s beard is identical to Richard’s from Guess Who? Anyway, they’re back on, with the incoming weather rather more promising for this afternoon.
News of India’s squad for the tour of the UK later this spring. All my son and his friend will care about is the safe inclusion of Rishabh Pant.
India's squad for WTC final v NZ and the five Tests in England https://t.co/9LYUlB3ymN
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) May 7, 2021
Lunchtime scores
Group One
Warwickshire 343 v Worcestershire 12-0 (Edgbaston)
Nottinghamshire 296-7 v Essex 99 (Trent Bridge)
Group Two
Leicestershire 439-7 v Surrey (Leicester)
Middlesex 210 v Gloucestershire 83-2 (Lord’s)
Hampshire 79 v Somerset 272-8 (Southampton)
Group Three
Yorkshire 7-0 v Kent 305 (Headingley)
Lancashire v Glamorgan 162-5 (Old Trafford)
Northamptonshire 346-6 v Sussex 106 (Northampton)
Updated
A breakthrough at Wantage Road as Saif Zaib is lbw for 135 to Delroy Rawlins after a smartly crafted innings. Northants 346-6 an already cavernous lead of 240.
Worcestershire will have the pleasure of facing a few overs before lunch, after bowling Warwickshire out for 343, with Michael Burgess the last man out for 101, Ed Barnard’s third wicket.
And on the Old Trafford covers come. Glamorgan 162-5. That, I think, will be sandwiches.
Kent are all out for 305! Kent mark down three batting points, Yorkies two bowling points. Ben Coad the pick of the bowlers with 3-53. Vibing like a Darren Stevens type of afternoon.
The groundstaff, plastic sheet in hands, are poised at the p of the pull. Glamorgan have 23 minutes to survive till lunch - if the rain holds off.
Just after that smooth cover drive, Carlson fends awkwardly at a grievous lifter from Luke Wood to slip where Jimmy Anderson accepts it nonchalantly. Glamorgan 153-5.
Jimmy steps away from his End after the prescribed (?) six over spell: 6-1-9-1. Danny Lamb replaces him in the gloom. Keaton Jennings’ trousers flap spinnaker-like in the accompanying north-west hoolie. A lovely cover drive for four from Kieran Carlson takes him to 18. Glamorgan 153-4.
We can see it raining at t’other Old Trafford, but it looks as if it might skirt us.
And a hundred for Michael Burgess at Warwickshire! Nine fours and a six in a very handy innings. Alongside, Norwell falls for 7 and Warwicks 339-9
Miguel Cummins cracks Steven Patterson for two sixes, just to pass the time. Kent 285-8 and skipping merrily towards 300.
Smashing appointment by the ECB - Baroness Valerie Amos joins as an independent non-exec director.
ECB have appointed fmr leader of the house of lords, Baroness Valerie Amos to the board as an independent non-exec director. She has a sparkling CV with equality and humanitarian advocacy at its heart. Plus she has a long standing love of cricket. Seems a rather inspired choice
— Dean Wilson (@CricketMirror) May 7, 2021
They’re back on at OT, and the sun is shining, but I sniff foreboding.
Round and round the groundmen go in their trucks, pulling the rope behind them. I spot the sun shining on the red brick of the UA92 building.
Elsewhere: Bracey and Brathwaite are the burgeoning pair at the crease for Gloucestershire, who currently trail Middlesex by 162. Leicestershire are making meatballs of Surrey’s attack with runs all the way down - Mike and Swindells (53) following where Harris and Evans left off: 380-6. Burgess has 97 at Edgbaston but is fast running out of partners, Warwicks 329-8.
A 12.15 restart at OT, 12 overs lost.
Kent pass 250 in a first innings! They’ve lost Gilchrist this morning for 9, but O’Riordan and Cummins hang on. 254-8.
For Northants: Zaib and Rossington bat serenely onward: 256-5, with the Sussex bowlers, Robinson apart, struggling for wickets.
Updated
That wicket of Tom Moores gave Shane Snater his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
Jack Leach edges to Liam Dawson lounging in the slips for 34. Somerset 193-7, a lead of 114 over Hampshire.
Tom Abell’s captain’s knock comes to an end - bowled that man Abbott for 64 - but Leach is still there on 34. Assuming , always dangerous I know, that Hampshire are stuck in one of those ruts where runs just won’t come - I nominate this to finish by 6’o’clock tonight.
At OT, the umps are inspecting the covers, and the sky, in cable-knit jumpers.
Snater on a hat-trick! Moores gone first ball...
Ali reports a smashing catch at Trent Bridge: Simon Harmer diving one-handed to his right at slip to remove Lyndon James. Notts 207-5, a lead of 108, Mullaney 73 not out.
The groundsmen walk off in formation, hoods up, with the gait of people in soggy trousers.
It’s dark, and, yes, it is raining. Glamorgan 136-4. The press box lights come on.
Meanwhile at The Rose Bowl, Somerset are 182-5, Jack Leach bats on, 30 not out. A lead of 103.
𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗘𝗦 𝗟each 👊👊#WeAreSomerset #HAMvSOM pic.twitter.com/H99XZMQueO
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) May 7, 2021
A drop, a hard one, Cooke on six, off Anderson. Wood accelerates in from the Brian Statham end, long past the sawdust, 19 paces of acceleration, an experienced pony churning up the sod.
Number 991 in all its glory. We’re hoping for number 1000 in the Roses match.
WICKET WATCH @jimmy9 strikes in his second over of the morning, Billy Root lbw for 11 and that is wicket #991! #LANvGLA pic.twitter.com/yAdJXzbaRt
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) May 7, 2021
There have been 155,000 - and counting - views of yesterday’s Labuschagne dismissal.
WICKET WATCH @jimmy9 finds the perfect line and an edge to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne for 12. That's wicket #990 @GlamCricket 82-2 #LANvGLA pic.twitter.com/sN94gsmMvu
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) May 6, 2021
I glance up, to see Anderson celebrating and Billy Root marching off, caught on the back foot, lbw for 11. Glamorgan 121-4. Anderson starting where he finished yesterday - reports say he was on the money from the off.
Streams
Just a reminder to click here for the streams, that you can find audio coverage on BBC digital radio and watch the Middlesex v Gloucestershire match at Lord’s on Sky.
"It feels like a better day for batting." ☀🏏
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) May 7, 2021
The sun is shining at @HomeOfCricket for day two of @Middlesex_CCC versus @Gloscricket#MidvGlo #LVCountyChamp
📺 Join @collinsadam, @Nassercricket and co from 10.50am on Sky Sports Cricket pic.twitter.com/6fmQFZRsKc
Anderson has just completed his first over of the day, his eighth of the (truncated) match.
The players are out, with umpire Michael Gough tripping over the sawdust on the way out. Jimmy has the ball at the James Anderson end, and three slips await.
In other news: although the swifts aren’t yet screaming over Old Trafford, they have reached the sedate surroundings of Cheshire’s Tatton Park.
Updated
It has just been pointed out to me by Ken Grime that Sussex and Kent have been playing joint second XI fixtures - which could be a pointer to the future. I’m afraid we’ve had a little more rain, and the groundsmen are wiping down the heavy roller to ensure no water gets on the wicket.
And Ali Martin on the possibility of the IPL moving to the UK in September:
Rejigged playing hours here at OT: we’ll have 104 overs, lunch 1.10, tea four o’clock.
Here is a vlog(?) on Australia’s controversial travel ban on India which, amongst other things, has left Australia’s players stranded in the Maldives, poor darlings
Start of play scores
Group One
Warwickshire v Worcestershire (Edgbaston)
Warwickshire are 271-7.
Nottinghamshire v Essex (Trent Bridge)
Notts 188-4 in response to Essex’s first-innings 99, and lead by 89 runs.
Group Two
Leicestershire v Surrey (Leicester)
Leicestershire are 306-6.
Middlesex v Gloucestershire (Lord’s)
Gloucestershire 19-1 in response to Middlesex’s 210 all out, and trail by 191.
Hampshire v Somerset (Southampton)
Somerset 142-5, lead Hampshire (79 all out) by 63.
Group Three
Yorkshire v Kent (Headingley)
Kent are 224-7.
Lancashire v Glamorgan (Old Trafford)
Glamorgan are 117-3, with only 39 overs played.
Northamptonshire v Sussex (Northampton)
Northants are 214-5, and lead Sussex (106) by 108.
Preamble
Good morning from Old Trafford, where it isn’t raining, the sun is gingerly making an appearance and Paul Allot in dark denim is patrolling the grass. I missed the story of the round - a reinvigorated Jimmy Anderson dismissing Marnus Labuschagne for a paltry 12, perfectly length, perfect line - and Glamorgan start the day a relatively promising 117-3. In all likelihood, tomorrow will be a wash-out, so today is for making hay and Welsh wheelbarrow races on the outfield. Yesterday, there were 75,ooo views of the stream in just 39 overs.
Elsewhere round the grounds, Essex’s crown is slipping; Notts are on the comeback; Northants’ confident season continues after bowling Sussex out cheaply; another century for young Rob Yates for Warwicks v Worcs; Hampshire’s roller-coaster season is on the downward slope after being bowled out for 79; centuries for Sam Evans and Marcus Harris against Surrey; five wickets for David Payne after Middlesex were bowled out cheaply and 90 for Zak Crawley as Kent manage to stitch an innings together.
Updated
Simon's Thursday round-up
Jimmy Anderson laid down an early Ashes marker as he made short work of Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne in his first county appearance of the summer.
Anderson was making a belated start to his 22nd season with Lancashire following a calf injury and left his mark on Labuschagne, who has just arrived for his second overseas stint with Glamorgan. Anderson dismissed him for 12 with a wonderful delivery and went on to finish with one for 22 from 13 overs. Glamorgan, meanwhile, finished 117 for three in the first day of their County Championship match at Old Trafford.
For the third time in first-class cricket Stuart Broad took the wicket of Alastair Cook, but the England bowler was upstaged by Luke Fletcher, who got career-best figures of six for 24 off 16 overs as Essex were bowled out for 99. At stumps Nottinghamshire were 188 for four in reply, with Steven Mullaney getting a half-century.
Northamptonshire’s Ben Sanderson and Gareth Berg split 10 wickets between them as Sussex were skittled for 106. Sussex started badly, with Tom Haines falling early, and got worse. By the end of his fourth over Sanderson had taken three wickets for three runs and Sussex were 19 for three. Four overs and two runs later Berg bowled a two-wicket maiden, and when Tom Clark was pinned lbw by Sanderson, they were 21 for six.
But matters did improve from there thanks to Ollie Robinson’s unbeaten 49, and a total of 106 was in the circumstances something of a triumph. Still the wickets continued to tumble, Ben Curran out to the second ball of Northamptonshire’s reply and Ricardo Vasconcelos soon following. But half-centuries from Rob Keogh and Saif Zaib settled things down and they ended the day with a healthy lead.
The day’s lowest total came at Southampton, where Hampshire were 36 for two against Somerset, but then Sam Northeast was run out and they fell apart: by lunch they had scored seven more runs and lost another four wickets. Their innings ended for 79 and, though both Somerset openers fell with the score on 11, they took the lead for the loss of only one further wicket.
There was some serene batting at Leicestershire, where Sam Evans and Marcus Harris shared a stand of 195 against Surrey, both scoring centuries. From 208 for one, however, the score at stumps of 306 for six will be a minor disappointment. The day’s only other centurion was Robert Yates, who helped Warwickshire to 271 for seven at the close against Worcestershire.
Updated
