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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Simon Burnton at Lord's

Vince and Westley score first double tons of county season – as it happened

Darren Stevens of Kent celebrates after scoring a century against Northamptonshire.
Darren Stevens of Kent celebrates after scoring a century against Northamptonshire. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

Simon Burnton's county roundup

Hampshire’s James Vince and Tom Westley of Essex became the season’s first double-centurions on the second day of the County Championship season, both captains steering their sides to commanding first-innings totals in very different styles.

Vince’s swashbuckling 231 came off just 220 balls, with 38 boundaries including a pair of sixes. He put on 224 with Tom Alsop for the fourth wicket and 194 with Liam Dawson for the fifth before he was finally caught behind off the bowling of Callum Parkinson, and he declared his team’s innings shortly afterwards for 612-5. There was still time for a bit more brutal run-scoring, though: Dawson faced 16 deliveries between Vince’s departure and the declaration, from which he scored precisely 50 runs including five sixes, all off Parkinson, to finish unbeaten on 152 off 139.

Though Vince’s higher total will steal the headlines Dawson’s innings capped a remarkable return to first-team cricket, his highest score for six years coming eight months to the day after he sustained a serious achilles injury during a game against Middlesex at Radlett. “I’ve had some dark days over the winter,” he said last week, “times when I’ve wondered whether it’s going to heal and if I would be able to get back to normal.” His first innings back surely exceeded even his most optimistic ambitions, and though he couldn’t complete the fairytale with a clatter of wickets he caught both Hassan Azad and Mohammad Abbas as Leicestershire finished on 154-4, still 461 runs behind.

James Vince of Hampshire celebrates making 200 with team mate Liam Dawson, who himself made 152 not out.
James Vince of Hampshire celebrates making 200 with team mate Liam Dawson, who himself made 152 not out. Photograph: Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Westley meanwhile scored a more pedestrian 213 off 408 deliveries at Chelmsford, as the 2017 and 2019 champions, and winners of last summer’s Bob Willis Trophy, opened their defence of the title in style against Worcestershire, although they were so unhurried about compiling their 490-9 declared that they may well need the rain forecast for Saturday to hold off if they are to get a result, though Sam Cook took three wickets in five balls late in the day to leave the visitors on 43-3.

On a fine day for batting captains, Sussex, 291-9 overnight, managed to limp on until a third batting point had been safely banked and then made promising inroads into the Lancashire line-up only for Dane Vilas to get in the way. From 41-3 he put on 91 for the fourth wicket with Alex Davies (61) and then 125 for the fifth with Rob Jones (58), and was still unbeaten at stumps with his side 339-5 and leading by 38.

Somerset, runners-up in each of the last three summers, fought their way back into their match against Middlesex at Lord’s after finding themselves in dismal positions at 17-4 and then 89-9, in response to the home side’s 313. But Jack Leach has something of a reputation for inconvenient last-wicket stands and he and Marchant de Lange added 74 to avoid the follow-on, with the England spinner hitting a couple of textbook cover drives and his South African partner doing some unabashed power hitting to score 51 off 50 balls before missing a straight one from Martin Andersson. They still trailed by 141, however, and despite the rapid loss of both openers Nick Gubbins and Steve Eskinazi dug in with an unbroken 73-run stand to leave Middlesex on 87-2 and ahead by 228.

Yorkshire also flirted with a follow-on against Glamorgan at Headingley, a match that pits Joe Root against his brother Billy. Dom Bess scored an unbeaten 38 to help them avoid that humiliation by 13 runs and with Glamorgan at 68-4 in their second innings all options are open.

Darren Stevens, whose debut first-class ton was scored in a different century and who celebrates his 45th birthday later this month, started his campaign with a hundred for Kent, helping his side to 455 against Northamptonshire, who were 91-1 in reply at close of play.

I am about to be frogmarched out of my box at Lord’s, so this is farewell from me. Here are the scores on the doors, with play still ongoing only at Headingley and Leicester

Group One

Chelmsford: Worcestershire are 43-3 in their first innings, in response to Essex’s 490-9 declared.
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire are 165-7 in reply to Durham’s first-innings total of 330.
Edgbaston: Warwickshire are 169-5 in their first innings, in reply to Derbyshire’s 189.

Group Two

Lord’s: Middlesex are 87-2 in their second innings, and lead by 228.
Leicester: Leicestershire are 133-4 in response to Hampshire’s total of 612-5 declared.
Bristol: Gloucestershire are 311-8 in reply to Surrey’s first-innings total of 220.

Group Three

Northampton: Northamptonshire are 43 without loss in reply to Kent’s 455.
Old Trafford: Lancashire are 339-5 in reply to Sussex’s 301.
Headingley: Glamorgan are 68-4 in their second innings, and lead Yorkshire by 205.

It’s certainly a wonderful world for Sam Cook at Chelmsford, where he has taken three wickets in five balls to leave Worcestershire on 32-3 and in a whole heap of trouble, trailing as they do by 449.

It’s actually just bad light stopping play at Lord’s, though I’m not sure it’s likely to get any brighter.

It’s also all over at Edgbaston, where Warwickshire trail by 20 with five first-innings wickets remaining. Derbyshire’s two biggest scores were 63 (from Luis Reece) and 64 (Matt Critchley), and Warwickshire’s are 40 (Robert Yates) and 41 (Matthew Lamb).

It’s stumps here at Lord’s, where Nick Gubbins and Stevie Eskinazi have slowed Somerset’s comeback with an unbroken partnership of 73. Middlesex are 87-2 in their second innings and lead by 228.

Dane Vilas, who came in with Lancashire reeling gently at 41-3, has just scored his 150th run with the team 327-5 and holding a 26-run lead over Sussex. Rob Jones, who missed out on a half-century klaxon due to an administrative oversight, was out for 58 and with Luke Wood alongside him it seems Vilas is now giving it some welly, with four runs off his last nine balls as I type.

We’ve had competing brothers already today, with the Roots in action at Headingley, but at Bristol Jack and Matt Taylor are now in the middle for Gloucestershire, with the score on 283-8, a lead over Surrey of 63 and rising.

Half-century klaxon! Ricardo Vasconcelos has a 45-ball 52 to his name for Northamptonshire against Kent. Darren Stevens had the best strike rate in the Kent innings with 86.56, but Vasconcelos is rumbling along at 114.89. At 91-1, though, Northants are still 364 runs behind.

A few scores on the doors: Essex declared on 490-9 and Worcestershire have chipped one off that in reply. Middlesex are 60-2 in their second innings, a lead of 201 on Somerset. And Gloucestershire are now 59 runs to the good against Surrey, with four first-innings wickets remaining.

Tom Westley has finally fallen, out for 213 as Essex pile it on against Worcestershire at Chelmsford. They’re currently 467-7, with Adam Wheater still there on 78.

Yorkshire are all out, Dom Bess unbeaten on 38 in their 193, a deficit of 137 on Glamorgan.

Updated

I’m going to tiptoe gently away from the blog for a while to craft a roundup for tomorrow’s paper (and online soon after close of play). Either myself or one of my fine colleagues will pop in to update on major events, but do keep dancing below the line.

TEA

Time for a brief breather, and here’s a teatimely update on the scores:

Group One

Chelmsford: Essex are 439-5 in their first innings against Worcestershire.
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire are 66-4 in reply to Durham’s first-innings total of 330.
Edgbaston: Warwickshire are 125-5 in their first innings, in reply to Derbyshire’s 189.

Group Two

Lord’s: Somerset have been dismissed for 172 in reply to Middlesex’s first-innings total of 313.
Leicester: Leicestershire are 45-1 in response to Hampshire’s total of 612-5 declared.
Bristol: Gloucestershire are 244-5 in reply to Surrey’s first-innings total of 220.

Group Three

Northampton: Northamptonshire are 43 without loss in reply to Kent’s 455.
Old Trafford: Lancashire are 204-4 in reply to Sussex’s 301.
Headingley: Yorkshire are 176-9 in reply to Glamorgan’s first-innings total of 330.

Half-century followed by wicket klaxon! Marchant de Lange reaches his half-century and is immediately bowled by Martin Andersson, heaving and missing. He got a 50-ball 51, Somerset are all out for 172, and trail by 141.

Double century klaxon! Tom Westley is the season’s latest double-centurion, the Essex captain guiding his side to 435-5 against Worcestershire, with Adam Wheater on 61 alongside him. Only one Essex batsman has failed to get at least 20, and that’s Alastair Cook.

There will be no follow-on at Lord’s, where Machant de Lange has just launched the ball into the stands to take Somerset’s score to 168-9. They trail by 145.

Jamie McIlroy is making his first class debut for Glamorgan at 26, and has just got his first wicket, in the shape of Yorkshire’s Matthew Fisher.

Lovely cover drive there from Jack Leach! That’s really very nice. Somerset’s last pair are making a nuisance of themselves, and have put on 45 so far. It’s 134-9 here at Lord’s, and they trail by 179.

At Lord’s Marchant de Lange now has 25 from 25, making him Somerset’s highest scorer and just one away from being the second highest scorer of the match (but still 141 away from top spot).

Gary Naylor is watching Lancashire v Sussex: “Alex Davies, going well with Lanky’s captain, Dane Vilas, given out LBW by Neil Bainton for 61, giving Sean Hunt a wicket on debut,” he reports. “Left arm round, the ball looked both high and legside to me and I suspect Davies would agree. The Sussex teenager is showing plenty of potential and, if he can win appeals from that angle consistently, he’ll be the next Wasim Akram. But I’m not sure that he will.”

Does anyone else find that Somerset’s Marchant de Lange reminds them of He’s So Fine by the Chiffons? If not, he really should.

Updated

Half-century klaxon! Alex Davies has passed 50 for Lancashire at Old Trafford, and Dane Vilas isn’t far behind on 44. They’re 127-3 now, in reply to Sussex’s 301.

Another couple of Somerset wickets have fallen, and they’re now 89-9 at Lord’s. Tim Murtagh got the latest, his fourth, hitting the top of Josh Davey’s off stump with a cracking delivery. This has obviously been a very poor start to the season for Somerset but on the plus side I thought my chance to watch Tom Lammonby was over when he was given out for five, but I might yet get another.

It is of course Liam Dawson’s first game back after a horrible achilles injury sustained playing against Middlesex last year, and it sounds like the rehab process has been long and draining. It’s worth reading this interview with him in The Cricketer last week. “I just want to be fit and able to play, do well for Hampshire and get back to playing cricket,” he says. “It’s been a long time and I’ve missed it.” Bloody well done, Liam.

Liam Dawson faced 16 deliveries between James Vince’s dismissal and the end of Hampshire’s innings, and scored precisely 50 runs. It went something like this: 4 4 4 1 1 6 1 4 4 1 1 6 6 . 6 1

Updated

Somerset are 83-7 now, Lewis Gregory giving Sam Robson some catching practice at second slip and going for 10. There’s some rain forecast for tomorrow, so there may well be a follow-on looming if Middlesex can finish the job in short order.

Liam Dawson 150

Declaration klaxon! Hampshire have had enough, James Vince choosing to end the innings at 612-5, with Liam Dawson sneaking in a 139-ball 152, just 17 away from his all-time highest score in any format.

Updated

I genuinely can’t believe I updated on James Vince’s serene progress when he was unbeaten on 231 from 219 balls, and he then got out very next ball. That is some top-level jinxing. Liam Dawson’s still going on 139, and Vince is now free to concentrate on the timing of a potential declaration. Hampshire are 598-5 now.

WICKET! Toby Roland-Jones gets his first first-class wicket since 2019, seaming the ball through the gate and into Craig Overton’s off stump. Overton and Steven Davies had been scoring pretty fluently, with a few very pleasing boundary strokes since lunch, but Somerset are 72-6 and in very deep trouble, still 241 behind.

Yorkshire have lost a couple of quick wickets at Headingley, where first Adam Lyth, for 52, and then Joe Root, for 16, were dismissed with the score on 79. And it’s still there, with Harry Brook and Jonathan Tattersall now at the crease and both still on zero.

Century klaxon! Liam Dawson has become the third Hampshire player to reach treble figures against Leicestershire, though thanks to his partner’s achievements nobody is likely to pay much notice. Jordan Cox got the highest score of last summer, with an unbeaten 238 for Kent against Sussex in that 423-run unbeaten partnership with Jack Leaning. In 2019 Dane Vilas got 266 for Lancashire against Glamorgan. I wonder if 2021’s highest innings will be completed on the second day of the season, because James Vince is still going. He’s on 231 as I type, off 219 balls, and Hampshire on 545-4.

WICKET! Second ball after lunch and Somerset are 40-5, Hildreth out very much lbw for 25, and Ethan Bamber has three wickets for four runs from 7.2 overs.

I was surprised to see one of the Middlesex players take a knee, but it turned out he was just tying a shoelace.

We’re soon to get back under way here at Lord’s, but before that both teams are coming out for a minute’s silence in memory of Prince Philip.

Lunch

Time for a break. Here is the situation as it stands:

Group One

Chelmsford: Essex are 312-5 in their first innings against Worcestershire.
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire are 0-0 in reply to Durham’s first-innings total of 330.
Edgbaston: Warwickshire are 38-1 in their first innings, in reply to Derbyshire’s 189.

The MCC flag in the Coronation Garden at Lord’s is seen at half-mast after the death of its former president, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.
The MCC flag in the Coronation Garden at Lord’s is seen at half-mast after the death of its former president, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Group Two

Lord’s: Somerset are 40-4 in reply to Middlesex’s first-innings total of 313.
Leicester: Hampshire are 514-4 in their first innings against Leicestershire.
Bristol: Gloucestershire are 142-1 in replay to Surrey’s first-innings total of 220.

Group Three

Northampton: Kent have scored 455 in their first innings against Northamptonshire.
Old Trafford: Lancashire are 52-3 in reply to Sussex’s 301.
Headingley: Yorkshire are 65-2 in replay to Glamorgan’s first-innings total of 330.

Updated

Bracey is swiftly despatched by Amar Virdi, lbw for 54. Gloucestershire are 140-1.

Half-century klaxon! James Bracey joins Chris Dent in getting a 50 - Dent is already on 70 and motoring on - and Gloucestershire are 131 without loss in reply to Surrey’s 220.

100 for Darren Stevens

Century klaxon! Darren Stevens has made it to triple figures against Northants, his 35th first-class hundred. Here’s a slightly outdated email:

“Nail biter in the Northants vs Kent game - Kent 9 wickets down, with the team tantalisingly close to 400 [now 421] and Darren Stevens (its his 45th birthday soon don’t you know) getting excitingly close to a century,” writes Colin Walker. “But, appreciate this may struggle to make the coverage as I know we’re all looking forward to another update from the lack of play at Edgbaston due to rain (I’d put a smiley face here to emphasise the jovial nature of this message, but I’m over 40 so it would just be plain wrong).” Sheesh, you guys are hard taskmasters.

Updated

200 for James Vince

Double-century klaxon! There’s no stopping James Vince, who reaches 200 off his 195 delivery. Liam Dawson is on 73 and going nicely, Hampshire are on 489-4, and Leicestershire are presumably feeling a bit put-upon.

Updated

Someone has passed black armbands to all the Middlesex players without me noticing, and the flags on the pavilion have been lowered to half mast, to honour the MCC’s former patron, Prince Philip, who has died aged 99.

Updated

Half-century klaxon! It’s, um, raining runs for Ben Raine, Durham’s third half-centurion in their innings of 314-9. He’s on 55, and Alex Lees is the top scorer on 58.

Somerset are 17-4 and Bamber has a second! George Bartlett edges and John Simpson takes an excellent catch, diving to his right. Somerset’s top three scored, in order, 6, 5 and 4, and Bartlett, the No5, got an 18-ball duck. After six overs, Ethan Bamber has five maidens and two wickets, and is going at 0.66 an over.

Half-century klaxon! Chris Dent has 50 from 57 balls for Gloucestershire at Bristol, reaching the landmark with a four and then, two dots later, a six off Jamie Overton!

“You don’t often have two seam bowlers in a side who both made their first-class debuts after their 26th birthday,” writes Romeoromeotango below the line. “I hope McIlroy and Hogan share the new ball.”

It was not to be, with Timm van der Gugten sharing the honours with Michael Hogan, but Hogan has taken two early wickets for Glamorgan at Headingley, and Yorkshire are 41-2, 289 behind, with Joe Root joining Adam Lyth at the crease.

And another one! It’s Bamber v Banton here at Lord’s, John Simpson dons helmet and comes up to the stumps, and very next ball Ethan Bamber, bowling down the slope and falling over in his follow-through, takes out off stump! Somerset are 15-3 now.

Another wicket for Tim Murtagh, and there’s no doubt about this one! Tom Abell, the Somerset captain, gets off the mark with a four and then gets a thick edge to the next, which is caught by Sam Robson at second slip. Somerset are 15-2, still 298 behind.

“Good morning Simon,” writes Tim Keward. Good morning Tim. “And a good morning, so far, for Kent who have scored 64 runs off 12 overs for the loss of just the one wicket. That man Stevens has been merrily dispatching any loose balls off to the boundary and has reached his half century off 77 balls - 38 runs of which have come from the ball travelling beyond the rope (8 fours, and one of the most nonchalant sixes you’ve ever seen).

More rain at Edgbaston:

WICKET! Gary Naylor is watching Sussex v Lancashire, where Keaton Jennings has gone for four. “Jennings out! Caught by the fourth of five slips supporting Ollie Robinson,” he writes. “Test captains could take a leaf out of the county captains’ playbook in setting fields that properly attack new batsmen. That and getting through the overs with a bit of tempo. Lancashire 8-1 trail by 293.”

WICKET! I didn’t get long to watch Tom Lammonby, who has been given out caught behind off Tim Murtagh for five. He doesn’t look entirely gruntled about this decision as he leaves the field, and I wonder if the ball perhaps flicked a pad rather than the bat. Somerset are 7-1.

Half-century claxon! I’m surprised more people weren’t tuning in to Hampshire v Leicestershire to see James Vince’s explosive innings. It’s still going this morning: he’s got a 170-ball 173, while Liam Dawson has just reached his half-century and is on 51. Hampshire are 436-4 and not stopping any time soon.

In other news, I have been misspelling the word klaxon all day yesterday and also this morning. Nobody told me! This is embarrassing. Do I change now or just push through? Will anyone buy the excuse that I’ve used the Spanish spelling?

People were asking yesterday for viewing figures for the YouTube livestreams, and the numbers have now been released - this image is from a Middlesex tweet.

Viewing numbers for streams on the first day of the county season.
Viewing numbers for streams on the first day of the county season. Photograph: Middlesex CCC

I’m particularly interested to see Tom Lammonby, the Somerset left-hander who burst into the team impressively last season and is still a mere strapling at 20. He gets off the mark with a lovely shot through midwicket for four off Tim Murtagh, one to stand and admire.

Century alert! Tom Westley has reached triple figures for Essex at Chelmsford, his first ton since the tail end of the 2019 season. His side are 238-3 against Worcestershire.

Yesterday, the first day of a new season, there were three other journalists sharing my box here at Lord’s. Today I am on my own. This means that I am a little lonely, and there is nobody with whom I can share witty repartee, but it also means there’s nobody here to judge me for getting started on my packed lunch at 11.30. So, swings and roundabouts.

It’s all over for Middlesex! Roland-Jones is pinned lbw by Craig Overton, and Middlesex are all out for 313.

Five-fer claxon! Lewis Gregory, whose spell with the second new ball yesterday changed the momentum in the game, clean bowls Ethan Bamber. Tim Murtagh is the last man in for Middlesex.

Middlesex have bagged a third bonus point by reaching 300, which Toby Roland-Jones celebrates with a lovely push through the covers. And so now have Sussex, who are 301-9 at Old Trafford.

Wicket! Surrey’s innings comes to an end in Bristol just three balls into the day, as Reece Topley is caught behind off David Payne.

Someone has just run around the outfield here at Lord’s distributing handwarmers to the fielders. You appear to need to shake them to fire them up, leading to several Somerset players shaking it like a Polaroid picture between the first over of the day and the second.

The covers are being cleared away at Trent Bridge, with play due to start at 11.15am.

What a world! And by way of a bonus, one of the replies to this tweet made me laugh out loud.

There’s nothing stopping us at Lord’s, where the bell has rung and the umpires are on their way out!

Pesky forecasters! There’s also a delayed start because of rain at Trent Bridge.

There is a member of the Lord’s groundstaff wearing a woolly hat, a large puffa jacket done up to the chin, gloves, shorts and Crocs. It is as if his top half and bottom half are living in entirely different seasons.

I’ve watched a weather forecast, and it looks like most of us will enjoy a dry but chilly day. Having said that there’s a delayed start at Edgbaston, with a pitch inspection at 10.55am ahead of an anticipated start half an hour later.

I’ve put on my scarf and flicked the heater switch.

An email! Um, from the Labour party press office! Apparently Sadiq Khan, not dissuaded by the I in IPL, is planning to bring the IPL to London if he’s re-elected as the city’s mayor. Here’s some of their press release. Other political parties are available.

Sadiq is an avid fan of cricket and had a trial for Surrey County Cricket Club as a teenager. He is also passionate about the power of all sports to bring people together.

Sadiq Khan said: “This is part of my plan to build a better London after the pandemic. I know Londoners are hungry to see more of the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant and, with two of the world’s greatest cricket grounds in Lord’s and The Kia Oval, London is ideally placed to host IPL matches.

“The absence of live crowds at elite competitions has been hard for many sport-loving Londoners but I know we can build a better, more open and prosperous city after the pandemic and see our capital confirmed as the undisputed sporting capital of the world. Bringing the Indian Premier League to London would not only guarantee a home crowd for every country but boost tourism and generate much-needed revenue to help get our capital back on its feet.”

Updated

Hello world!

I’m back at Lord’s, and this morning the sun is shining. Having learned my lesson the hard way, today I arrived with winter coat and scarf, and both are draped on the back of my chair. What’s more, although I now know about the switch in my repurposed hospitality box marked “heater”, I am yet to flick it. Things are looking up.

Lord's in sunshine
Lord’s is bathed in sunshine before day two of Middlesex v Somerset. Photograph: Simon Burnton/The Guardian

Before we get started, a request: hard as I strive interesting things will happen that I will miss. If you are watching a match (all matches should be available to stream here. Top tip: don’t worry if there is a padlock next to “watch live”, pick your match on the left-hand scrolly thing and you should be on your way; you could also check your chosen county’s YouTube channel) and something noteworthy happens, send me an email! I will appreciate it, cherish it, and probably also publish it. Thanks in advance for your assistance. Now, the scores on the doors:

Group One

Chelmsford: Essex are 207-3 in their first innings against Worcestershire.
Trent Bridge: Durham are 241-7 against Nottinghamshire.
Edgbaston: Warwickshire are 13-1 in their first innings, in reply to Derbyshire’s 189.

Group Two

Lord’s: Middlesex are 293-8 in their first innings against Somerset.
Leicester: Hampshire are 431-4 in their first innings against Leicestershire.
Bristol: Surrey are 220-9 in their first innings against Gloucestershire.

Group Three

Northampton: Kent are 309-7 in their first innings against Northamptonshire.
Old Trafford: Sussex are 291-9 in their first innings against Lancashire.
Headingley: Glamorgan are 310-8 in their first innings against Yorkshire.

Updated

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