Roundup: Notts frustrate Surrey after Fisher rips into top order
Seventeen wickets fell on a feet-tappingly tense day at the Oval, the game swinging like an out-of-kilter pendulum as the bowlers hunted in packs, with assistance from a pitch with a twinkle in its eye. Nottinghamshire finished the day with a lead of 277 and two wickets left, to leave Surrey the biggest score of the match to chase – but on a pitch that usually irons out.
After a calm first hour Surrey collapsed from 101 for one to 173 all out, only for Nottinghamshire’s batters to repeat the feat, quickly 89 for six against the excellent Matt Fisher, who has picked up 10 wickets in the match and may have bowled himself on to the Lions’ winter tour of Australia. Liam Patterson-White and Lyndon James then added crucial late afternoon runs.
Surrey announced that 80,000 people had come through the gates at the Oval to watch Championship cricket this year – a record for the 21st century.
The two teams who fought out the Blast final on Saturday met again at Edgbaston. After having Somerset in trouble at 99 for five, Hampshire once more came under the pump as Tom Abell and Kasey Aldridge piled on the runs, a century each in a sixth-wicket stand of 221. Abell passed 1,000 runs for the season and Aldridge was unbeaten on a career-best 149.
Leicestershire played pinball at Grace Road against a Kent side containing five teenagers including Corey Flintoff, older brother of Rocky. First Rishi Patel rocked to his second century of the season, then Ben Cox and Shan Masood shuttled to quick 90s before Ian Holland declared on 459 for seven, maximum batting points in the bag.
Essex need a draw to secure Division One safety, and steadily batted themselves towards it against Warwickshire, propped up by Charlie Allison’s 98.
The Division One basement dwellers Worcestershire and Durham scrapped for bones at Chester-le-Street. After a nip‑and‑tuck morning Gareth Roderick (95 not out) and Brett D’Oliveria (84) added 170 for the fourth wicket.
A calm and crucial 94 from Kiran Carlson kept the Derbyshire vultures at bay after they had reduced Glamorgan to 99 for six. Derbyshire need to win to have a chance of overtaking the Welsh side to the second promotion place.
Saif Zaib hit yet another half-century for Northamptonshire, keeping them afloat against a perky Gloucestershire attack at Bristol. There were three wickets for Graeme van Buuren and three for Matt Taylor. The hosts then lost three of their own before stumps.
It was a ding-dong battle at Hove, where both Yorkshire and Sussex are trying to keep their heads above the relegation zone. Yorkshire. The visitors went from 100 for two to 115 for seven, before they were dug out of a hole by Jordan Thompson and the tail.
Only 44 overs were possible at a wet Old Trafford, enough for Lancashire to pour cold water on Middlesex’s promotion hopes by reducing them to 189 for eight.
Goodbye from The Oval after a fascinating wicket-laden day, we will discover who came out of it with the upper hand tomorrow. Thanks for your comments, good night!
Close of play scores
Division One
Riverside: Durham v Worcestershire 320-5
Taunton: Somerset 381-7 v Hampshire
The Oval: Surrey 173 v Nottinghamshire 231 and 219-8
Hove: Sussex 84-4 v Yorkshire 194
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Essex 325-5
Division Two
The County Ground: Derbyshire 17-0 v Glamorgan 259
Bristol: Gloucestershire 65-3 v Northamptonshire 206
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Middlesex 189-8
Grace Road: Leicestershire 459-7 v Kent 17-0
Time for me to write up for the paper, but do chat on below the line – nine overs left at The Oval.
At the run-paradise of Grace Road, Shan Masood just misses out on his century, but Leicestershire fans shouldn’t have to wait too long for another, Ben Cox is on a 16-foured 92. Leicestershire are going to burst through the maximum batting-points barrier with more than 25 overs to spare. Leics 446-6.
Fifty for Liam Patterson-White
Every run worth double for Notts. The partnership grows to 80. Some hands on hips in the field. Fisher flies anoher past Patterson-White’s outside edge.
At Edgbaston, poor Charlie Allison has been caught two runs short of his hundred. Essex 292-5.
Yes Surrey have the advantage of money, the advantage of location, the advantage of a huge squad of England/ex-England/closetoEngland players, but they are the biggest supporters of red-ball cricket in the country. Over 80,000 people through the door at The Oval this summer – a 21st century record. Congratulations to all for spreading the love!
The @CountyChamp is all the rage at the Kia Oval! 🏏
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 16, 2025
Over 80,000 supporters have joined us this season - a 21st century record at the People's Home of Cricket. 🤝
🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/3zqopS0SKo
D’Oliveira and Roderick have settled in at the lordhavemercyonthisseason clash at Chester-le-Street and are tucking in. A partnership of 130 and counting, Worcs 274-4.
Updated
Hundreds for Tom Abell and Kasey Aldridge
A nice juicy partnership of 213 for Somerset.
Updated
The Notts lead now up to 210, as The Oval lights come on. Atkinson eases in, James swishes and misses.
Patterson-White pulls high at Fisher, but avoids the fielder. Around The Oval, everyone waits for the next move. The Notts lead creeps up to 187 – bigger than the Surrey first innings. So far, this year, pitches here have become easier to bat on as the game progresses.
A thousand first-class runs for Tom Abell, as he hovers just two short of his century. Somerset 265-5.
In Division Two: Gloucs snaffled Northants out for 206 – three for van Buuren and Matt Taylor.
While Leicestershire are making merry against Kent’s young attack. A hundred for Rishi Patel, and half centuries for Lewis Hill, Shan Masood and Ben Cox . A first Championship wicket for Ekash Singh. Leicestershire 364 for five.
Rory Burns asks for a new ball. Not this time, sonny. James and Patterson White have calmed things down a little.
Kiran Carlson and Timm van der Gugten have tugged Glamorgan back into this match at Derby with an eighth-wicket partnership of 94. Carlson just out to Dal, caught for 94.
At Old Trafford, Tom Aspinwall has pocketed two in two. De Caires the Middlesex pillar, 33 not out. Middx 78 for four.
Yorkshire all out 194 – which is better than it could have been at 115 for seven. Three for Hudson-Prentice and Jaydev Unadkat. An invaluable 38 from Jordan Thompson.
Cupcakes for the press, a wicket for Surrey – Verrreynne caught at slip off a was it-wasn’t it edge. The lead 153.
Tea-time scores
Division One
Riverside: Durham v Worcestershire 202-4
Taunton: Somerset 208-5 v Hampshire
The Oval: Surrey 173 v Nottinghamshire 231 and 88-5
Hove: Sussex v Yorkshire 175-8
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Essex 180-3
Division Two
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Glamorgan 176-6
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire 194-6
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Middlesex 61-2
Grace Road: Leicestershire 288-5 v Kent
Tom Curran comes into the attack. Not easy pickings, but easier pickings. James and Verreynne have put on 25, the lead 136 as tea approaches.
Ali Martin drops a telegram from on high: “I wonder if Fisher is bowling himself onto the Lions shadow Ashes tour...”
Updated
A 64-run partnership between Matt Critchley and Charlie Allision has taken Essex to a comfortable 175 for three at Edgbaston. A game that Essex will be desperate to fill with bonus points, still, theoretically, in danger of relegation.
Zaman Akhter has got rid of the dangerous Saif Zaib for 76. Northants 193 for six.
And a morale-boosting six for Notts at The Oval as Verreynne frying pans Tom Lawes.
Verrynne goes big! 6️⃣
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) September 16, 2025
Notts 70/5 leading by 128. #SURVNOT | 📺 https://t.co/dFmzj21Sdp pic.twitter.com/WaN3L5n9SV
Updated
Haynes gets an inside edge onto his own stumps – a drive that looked very pretty in his head brings a messy downfall, to a rousing roar from the Oval crowd. Notts are in deep trouble now at 53 for five – the lead just 111.
Yorkshire slipped from 100 for two to 115 for seven at Hove . Three for Hudson-Prentice. Agarwal, 24 not out, must be wondering just what he signed on the dotted line, but has found a resilient partner with the attacking Thompson, 30 not out. Yorkshire 163-7.
Another for Fisher, another lbw, another nip-backer…he punches the air into a celebration of brown caps. He now has three for nine in 2.2 overs. Notts are four down, the lead 100.
A second for Fisher! The ball zips back and twangs Clarke on the back pad. The ump raises his trigger finger without a twitch of an eyebrow. The pavilion dressing- room door spins again, and out comes Jack Haynes. The Notts lead 95.
McCann finishes the over by getting an outside edge just short of slip. Breathe.
Elsewhere – the 2nd XI County Championship final, day one of four. An unbeaten hundred for Ollie Sykes, Surrey 252-5.
Ollie Sykes moves to 103 not out in the Second XI Championship Final from 92 balls. 📈
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 16, 2025
Surrey 242/4 after being inserted by Worcs this morning.
SCORECARD & STREAM ➡️ https://t.co/FRGZCU9oci
🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/Vf7IQAFRSi
Wonderfully expressive body language by HH, hit on the pads by Fisher, turns away from the umpire, looks back, hangs his head, shoulders slump, shrinks away to the pavilion. Surrey pound the turf, Notts 30-2.
Wayne Madsen 500 caps alert:
What a player and servant of our cricket club! @DerbyshireCCC https://t.co/95OjsLGZMM
— Mickey Arthur (@Mickeyarthurcr1) September 16, 2025
Worrall, sweatband on one arm, thunders in. Hameed two careful runs from 17 balls.
Up at the Riverside, Worcestershire lost their two set batters, Lategan and Edavalath, soon after lunch. Edavalath to a hopeless non-communication run-out. Durham 162 for four.
Hampshire are getting the better of the Blast final rematch at Taunton. Somerset 122-5, a first wicket for Washington Sundar. Tom Abell the top scorer, 31 not out.
Bang goes the first Notts wicket. Slater is left bent in half, the off stumps skew-whiff. Super ball from Dan Worrall. Notts 9 for 1.
In the other Division Two games:
Glamorgan’s stroll towards Division One hits a hitch with a car-crash first innings: 101 for six against challengers Derbyshire. Kiran Carlson providing some glue, 39 not out.
Saif Zaib (of course) rescues Northants from an early wobble, 48 not out after Matt Taylor’s opening burst (3 for 39). Northants 140-4.
Still nothing doing at Old Trafford, with Middlesex 13-2.
100 for Rishi Patel!
After a rough patch, reward. Off just 114 balls, 20 fours. Young Kent a little browbeaten. Leicestershire 206-2.
HH leaves Worrall. I’m a bit worried about his stumps.
That was Surrey’s lowest first-innings score of the year. Burns, Pope and Sibley are already out in front of the pavilion in formation, practising their slip catching. The pavilion bell tolls. Surrey huddle. Out walk, Ben Slater ,and gallop, Haseeb Hameed.
Surrey all out 179, 58 behind
Here we go! Fisher smartly caught at second slip by McCann, who started the day by dropping Rory Burns back in the distant morning when Surrey looked as if they were getting away. Three wickets for Tongue and James, two for Hutton and Pennington. Excellent by Notts, sloppy by Surrey. Three bonus points each.
Updated
Mick Newell guessed at lunchtime on the BBC that the heavy roller neutralised The Oval pitch for the first hour, before the pitch struck back.
The Surrey tail not convincing, flashing and dashing as Notts pound in. And off goes Atkinson caught behind for five. Gorgeous ball from Tongue. Surrey 162-9, 69 behind
Josh Tongue keeping it interesting at The Oval! Ryan Patel sent on his way lbw and now Tom Curran, another lbw, to Pennington. Surrey eight down and strill trailing by 77.
Lunchtime scores
Division One
Riverside: Durham v Worcestershire 107-2
Taunton: Somerset 83-4 v Hampshire
The Oval: Surrey 141-6 v Nottinghamshire 231
Hove: Sussex v Yorkshire 87-2
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Essex 90-1
Division Two
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Glamorgan 63-3
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire 100-3
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Middlesex 13-2
Grace Road: Leicestershire 151-2 v Kent
Ryan Patel is going to have grind out some more of what Mark Church calls “dirty” runs this afternoon. As the players go in, the crowds gather on The Oval turf and inspect the wicket. Lunch score to follow.
In the five overs possible at Old Trafford before the rain returned, Middlesex have had a dismal start. A wicket for captain Anderson, a wicket for Tom Bailey – Robson and Hollman gone. Middx 13 for two.
Surrey have lost five for 28!
Surrey, suddenly vulnerable, lose a fifth. Dan Lawrence, who slinks to the crease like a lion, slopes back three balls later, gone to a leading edge for 0.
And now Pope! Driving without due care and attention and swallowed up by McCann at slip – a third for James. Surrey 129-6.
Taha investigates the mood and state of cricket in fixture-starved Ireland ahead of the white-ball series with England.
And Foakes goes! Hesitant and leaden footed after being tested the ball before, he edges James behind. Surrey 118 for four. Notts on the charge.
Fact of the day (courtesy of Richard Spiller): Brett Hutton played one first-class game for Surrey three years ago against a South African development XI at Guildford. And he gets rid of Rory Burns, lbw, full and loud, for 47. Foakes and Pope rebuild. Surrey 113 for three.
Olly Stone walks round the boundary to deliver a water bottle to Dillon Pennington. Last winter he was picked for England’s winter tours before suffering another injury (knee) which kept him out of contention this summer. He’s an impressively resilient man.
Updated
Some relief for Notts as Lawes takes a pumped-up step forward but hits only to cover where Jack Haynes safely catches. In strides south London’s favourite ginger son. Surrey 103 for two.
A tumble of wickets with an hour gone – though Notts continue to wait, Tom Lawes proving a frustrating nightwatchman, now making merry against Lyndon James. Surrey 101-1.
In Division Two, Glamorgan have crumpled in the limelight, both openers gone, including the in form Asa Tribe. Aitchison and Reece the bowlers. Glamorgan 24 for two.
Gloucestesrhire’s Matt Taylor has bowled both Luke Procter and Calvin Harrison, Northants 42 for two.
And Ben Raine winkles out Jake Libby for 14: Worcs 47 for one.
A flying @OllieRobinson7 catch & we have our first breakthrough. 🦸♂️#ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/3AVFUew8KF
— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) September 16, 2025
No play yet at Old Trafford.
Kent are playing FIVE teenagers against Leicestershire: Jaydn Denly (19), Ben Dawkins (18), Ekash Singh (19), Corey Flintoff (19) and Olly Curtiss (19).
Rishi Patel is still enjoying himself, 38 not out at just over a run a ball, but Budinger gave a first catch to Flintoff for 16. Leicestershire 66-1.
A first-class debut for Corey Flintoff! 🧢
— Kent Cricket (@KentCricket) September 16, 2025
🎥 LIVE Match Centre: https://t.co/5PVATxFT4T pic.twitter.com/n2CTcJ1LVA
Essex chair Anu Mohindru stands down
There’s a little bit of embellishment and then there’s a big fat fairytale. A bizarre story about criminal lawyer and (former) Essex chair Anu Mohindru’s fake CV. He has been disbarred by the Barristers’ Tribunal Service for lying about studying biomedical sciences at Oxford and subsequently stood down from his position as Essex chair
Notts need velcro hands this morning, but Freddie McCann parries Barr up and out of his hands at slip after Burns has a dash at Hutton.
Have just clocked that the email address above is wrong, and I think it was wrong yesterday. Will try to fix but in the mean time do drop me at line on tanya.aldred.freelance@theguardian.com
At Taunton, Tom Kohler-Cadmore slaps a couple of boundaries before holing out to Ali Orr at deep midwicket. Somerset 21 for one against Hampshire.
Not a wicket has fallen around the grounds in the first 10 minutes, and Rishi Patel is sparking with four fours in his first 13 balls at Grace Road. Kent are giving Corey Flintoff, son of Fred, a Championship debut.
I wish I could send you all a bottle of essence de Oval to tide you over till next year. Nostalgic, with autumnal undertones, a peppering of Jack Hobbs (and a flash of money), as worn by Rory Burns as he turns Josh Tongue off his hip for a single. Surrey 48 for one.
We have games!
After yesterday’s wash-out wind-out, there is a delay only at Old Trafford. Around the grounds, the captains’ coin has landed:
Durham won the toss and will field
Somerset won the toss and will bat
Yorkshire won the toss and will bat
Warwickshire won the toss and will field
Derbyshire won the toss and will field
Gloucestershire won the toss and will field
Kent won the toss and will field.
Notts are warming up with a fielding drill in their dark green tops, while over by the Micky Stewart pavilion Surrey kick a football. A groundsman pushes a mower up and down on a far pitch and the heavy roller rumbles along the cut strip.
Monday's round-up
Autumn unpacked her suitcase as eight Championship games were called off without a ball bowled due to rain and hazardous high winds. It was only in a small pocket of south London that play was possible, a full day’s worth in the big title battle at The Oval.
Division One leaders Surrey, who had a one-point lead over second-placed Nottinghamshire coming into the game, sent their East Midlands visitors in and had bowled them out after tea. It was a disciplined and, at times, fierce display of bowling led by Matt Fisher (five for 61) and Gus Atkinson (four for 41).
Atkinson, who is almost sure to play his first Ashes series this winter, was particularly slippy. He made the first breakthrough, sending Haseeb Hameed on his way for nine. The Notts captain was caught in the slips, where he’d been dropped a few overs before. Freddie McCann (34) and Ben Slater (50) then batted fluently until Fisher removed them both after lunch.
As the wind continually buffeted the flags on top of the pavilion, and scattered leaves and sticks from the poplar trees around the concourse, Surrey’s relentless bowlers pressed on. A boundary-laden cameo from Joe Clarke (29) and an unbeaten 30 from Brett Hutton apart, the visiting batsmen struggled to assert their authority.
Fisher enjoyed his first five-wicket haul for Surrey since he moved from Yorkshire last winter. “We did what we usually do, hunt like a pack,” he said after play. “I felt like I’ve put in decent areas all season, sometimes I’m lacking that little bit of nip but I had it today.” And on watching his bowling partner: “I’m purring at mid-on watching Gus.” Ben Foakes finished with five catches.
As the shadows spread over the ground like a rash, Rory Burns and Dom Sibley did what they do, playing a straight and steady bat. Then from nowhere, Dillon Pennington made one spit off the pitch and Sibley got a lick as it passed by. The batter threw his head back in frustration as he had to trudge back to the pavilion, out for 14 with just nine balls left.
The high winds which delayed play around all the grounds (except the Riverside, which was affected purely by rain) did so because of the risks to ground staff and spectators in handling flat covers, including the covers lifting staff off the ground, or blowing loose and hitting the crowd.
Scores on the doors
Division One
Riverside: Durham v Worcestershire
Taunton: Somerset v Hampshire
The Oval: Surrey 43-1 v Nottinghamshire 231
Hove: Sussex v Yorkshire
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Essex
Division Two
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Glamorgan
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Middlesex
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Kent
Preamble
Good morning from The Oval where the Hobbs gates are open, the sky is periwinkle, and Surrey are on top in this crucial Championship arm wrestle. Play starts here and – possibly- around the grounds at 10.30am, do join us!
