Tanya's roundup
An astonishing, unbeaten, pyrotechnical 152 from Dan Lawrence sparkled into the afternoon at Chelmsford. He rocketed from 100 to 150 in 20 balls including three consecutive sixes off Matt Critchley, one landing in the river. He and Tom Westley, who made 106 in quick-time, too, put on 221 for the third wicket, building on the foundations set by half centuries from Alastair Cook and Nick Browne. Declaring on maximum batting points at 412 for three, Essex then ran in at a scrambled Derbyshire who finished 35 for three, with a wicket and a catch for that man Lawrence.
In the other Group One match, at Chester-le-Street, Worcestershire scraped together 213 against Durham, a near-miraculous recovery from 126 for eight, thanks to 42 not out from their captain, Joe Leach, and some tail-end staying power. Chris Rushworth’s haul was five for 56.
At a swinging and seaming Cardiff 14 wickets fell. Glamorgan were bowled out for 149, with David Lloyd top-scoring with 31 and a horrified Marnus Labuschagne lbw to Ben Coad for 10. Yorkshire then hauled themselves to 69 for four, from 10 for three, with Joe Root darting to 34 not out before bad light stopped play. Root senior was on hand to see brother Billy awarded his Glamorgan cap at tea.
Zak Crawley finished 61 not out in Kent’s second innings, which started much like its first with Jofra Archer taking a wicket in his opening spell. Sussex had earlier built up a first-innings lead of 111.
When the covers were eventually pulled away at Taunton, they revealed a green top. Surrey, however, saw only a batting paradise, rattling along until just after tea when they lost Hashim Amla and Rory Burns (55) in consecutive overs. Somerset’s Tom Abell then persuaded a glossy-looking Ollie Pope to tickle behind to Tom Banton for 33.
A low-scoring game scurried along at Lord’s where Middlesex were bowled out for 172, nine wickets falling to the A-team of Kyle Abbott (6-44) and Mohammad Abbas (3-46). Nick Gubbins, eighth man out for 51, surveyed the wreckage. Hampshire were quickly in trouble at nine for three and, as wickets continued to tumble, were 131 for seven at stumps. James Vince made 62 with disarming ease.
If you hadn’t guessed, that’s it for today: Friday deadlines playing havoc with the round-up and re-writes. A quite astonishing 150 from Dan Lawrence the highlight of the day! If only spectators had been in the ground to enjoy it. But that day is is coming, and coming quickly. Till tomorrow, good night!
Jofra Archer strikes first, as he did in Kent’s first innings, this time it is Jordan Cox who has to go lbw for 12. Kent 29-1, trail by 82 runs.
I must disappear to tap up the round-up for the paper, still plenty of overs left to watch.
Surrey slip. Amla (29) and Burns (55) fall in successive overs But Ollie Pope already has 14 off 12 balls with a couple of boundaries. Surrey 135-3
And 14 wickets have fallen now today at Sophia Gardens as Harry Brook becomes Neser’s third victim. Yorkshire, teetering on the edge of embarrassment at 47-4.
100 for Dan Lawrence
WOW! 112 balls, 13 fours, 2 sixes. Derbyshire having a day to forget. Essex 332-2.
Billy Root was given his Glamorgan cap, just as his brother walked out to bat. Joe paused, and applauded him. Also a lovely tea-time chat between Kevin Howells and Mark Wallace, who revealed that Labuschagne signed with Glamorgan for much less money than other counties could have offered because he wanted to come back to Sophia Gardens.
Teatime scores
Group one
Riverside: Durham 246 all out v Worcestershire 190-9*
Chelmsford: Essex 284-2 v Derbyshire
Group two
Lord’s: Middlesex 172 all out v Hampshire 47-4
Taunton: Somerset v Surrey 116-1
Group three
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 149 all out v Yorkshire 10-3
Hove: Sussex 256 v Kent 145 all out
- not tea
Updated
Sam Northeast has also had to unbuckle his pads, lbw to James Harris for 11. Unhappy Hampshire are 47-4.
Ballance follows where Kohler-Cadmore and Lyth already trod, for a lordly 7, and Yorkshire find themselves in trouble and strife at 10-3. I thought the heavy roller between innings was supposed to be their panacea?
Not sure the Sky team are inspiring batsmen to show their best techniques.... Yorkies 6-2.
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀...
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏏 (@GlamCricket) May 14, 2021
Hogan splatters the off stump and Yorkshire are 2⃣ down
📺 https://t.co/C0s8I2tf8P#GLAMvYOR | #GoGlam pic.twitter.com/kd0F8WisIS
Though, to be fair, it is swinging and seaming at quite a zip.
Hampshire seem to have had a bit of a shocker on the quiet. Top three shot out by the godly duo of Bamber and Murtagh. A recovery of sorts, from 9-3, to 36-3 by Sam Northeast and James Vince.
And Andrew Benton’s suggestion for fish-eaters out there:
“If you eat fish, then a fish finger sandwich is a good bet. You need bread with substance, I used to go for granary back in the olden days, and I layer it up with cucumber, cheese and pickle/mayo/coleslaw. There are as many variants as there are people eating fish-finger sandwiches, and as many layers as you like, but...just don’t skimp on the fish fingers and all will be great.”
At Chester le Street, Joe Leach and Josh Tongue were giving it some late-order irritation, but Tongue has gone for 17 and Worcestershire are 159-9, 87 behind.
A couple of emails are waving happily in my inbox.
“Hi Tanya.” Hi Nat Godden.
“Not the most exotic, but nice cheddar, rocket, roast pepper sounds nice to me, with Patak’s aubergine pickle on the cheese. [MMMmmm] With a pint to wash it down, better than a soggy sarnie (come on, it’s the weekend!).
“And pray Essex don’t now collapse…”
Not a chance, with Westley and Lawrence well on the way to beating the first-wicket partnership of 137. They’ve currently put on 96, Essex 236-2.
Oh I say. Yorkshire are 0-1 after a one handed stunner by Carlson at midwicket. Farewell Adam no-more-thousand-runs-in-May Lyth.
Surrey not finding batting too tricky at Taunton: 61-1 after only 18 overs. Stoneman the man out for 18. Ten extras though?!
And Glamorgan are all out for 149 after a miserable session and a two thirds. Three wickets for Patterson and Brook. The top scorer was David Lloyd with 31.
Have picked up a couple of interesting thoughts on the Hundred and Australians potentially pulling out of coming over this summer:
1 The experience of being stranded after the IPL (even in the Maldives) may have put some off - 21 out of the 48 overseas players in the competition are Australian as it stands.
2 Eight of the Head coaches in the Hundred are also Australian
My son comes back from school and laughs loudly when he reads Sky’s captions and sees DJ Willey is bowling. I kind of miss the days when you knew everyone’s initials - though it was a rather bizarre convention.
Some nice words about Chris Cooke on Sky - so true that he’s a player who slips under the radar. OOOF and there’s another wicket for Yorkshire as van der Gugten gets an outside edge for 9 and Kohler-Cadmore scoops the catch off the turf. A third for Patterson. Glamorgan, with a blanket over their head, 128-9.
Joy in a ball. Riki Wessels the unlucky man as Chris Rushworth picks up his fourth wicket of the day. Worcestershire in a bit of a pickle at 127-4, still 122 runs behind.
Consider those stumps splattered! 💥
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 14, 2021
Watch Durham v Worcestershire live right here, as the hosts continue to dominate Day 2 ➡️ https://t.co/dS6EGVZY5t#LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/ZgWN6lQHWJ
Yum, Gary Naylor. Thank you. And well done on the dairy - I’ve cut down but cheese - any cheese - is my downfall.
Hi @tjaldred.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) May 14, 2021
I recommend Mozza, Tomato and Avocado, with olive oil and a smear of mayo on sourdough. I've missed that sandwich every day since I gave up the dairy. pic.twitter.com/KS2O04GJ0U
After a eye-catching little cameo, Michael Neser nicks Jordan Thompson, forever tucking his shirt into his trousers, into the safe hands of Adam Lyth him behind. Glamorgan 117-8
At Lord’s, Hampshire 0-0, have survived an over from Tim Murtagh.
Neser climbs into a cover drive
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏏 (@GlamCricket) May 14, 2021
The partnership with Salter is starting to build 🤝
📺 https://t.co/C0s8I2tf8P#GLAMvYOR | #GoGlam pic.twitter.com/YqVoyNqJ5p
Just finished a slightly unsatisfactory peanut butter and rocket sandwich. Worthy but dry. What would you suggest for a vegetarian weekend treat? A triple-decker with wow factor.
FIVE for Kyle Abbot as Blake Cullen is snaffled by James Vince shortly after Nick Gubbins was bowled by Abbas for 51. Actually, hold the front page, make that six for Abbot as Ethan Bamber is lbw for 11. Middx 172 all out. Better than it could have been at 100-7.
Seems Essex aren’t going quite as well as they were. Billy Stanlake, who has rediscovered his radar, takes two in two overs - both the big boys, Alastair Cook, 58, and Nick Browne, 59. At six foot eight, the world must be a different place. I wonder if it is lonely up there. Can anyone BTL tell me?
At Taunton, Somerset have won the toss and will bowl on that green top. Which Surrey will bat today? Somerset are without Leach and Coverton. Surrey, including Rory Burns, Ollie Pope, Hashim Amla and Jamie Overton look the stronger side on paper. But Surrey paper is a fickle beast.
Updated
Worcestershire making a ham-fist of Durham’s attack as D’Oliveira is the third lbw of the innings. Ben Raine the man. Worcs 92-4.
And a fourth lbw at Cardiff! Harry Brook trundling in from the Taff End gets Chris Cooke for three. Glamorgan 82-7 not lifting their game for the cameras.
Worrying about the legs of the Sky commentators. Why do they have to stand up? Are chairs not socially distanced? Glamorgan resuming after lunch are 82-6.
Time for me to stretch my legs but, before I do, a shout out for the Essex openers, Nick Browne and Alastair Cook, both unbeaten in the fifties; and Nick Gubbins 50 not out in a Middlesex special first-innings.
Updated
Lunchtime scores
Play will start at 2pm at Taunton
Weather permitting, 67 overs in the day.
It is sunny in Cardiff, but not a sunny outlook for Glamorgan, alas, as they lose their sixth wicket - Douthwaite looks down as he wanders off the pitch, lbw to Brook - the third lbw of the morning.
A sprinkling of wickets in the last half hour before lunch:
David Lloyd decides to ignore one that nips back illustriously and, after a couple of lives, there is no getting away from his bails being removed, bowled for 31 by Patterson. Glamorgan 69-3. And, there goes another, Kiran Carlson, just after getting off the mark with a handsome drive for four, is caught . Glamorgan 73-4.
While at Chester le Street Jack Haynes has been Rushworthed for 8. Worcs 60-3.
Ciderabad Taunton:
Fair to say Taunton’s reputation for favouring spin has been altered. This is the pitch for the Surrey game after a mow. pic.twitter.com/8rKlfywv2l
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) May 14, 2021
Right, let’s give the games a quick once over:
Worcs 47-2: decent in the bowler-beautiful conditions.
Essex 88-0: not lost it yet
Middx 107-7: Gubbins (29 not out) surveys the wreckage
Taunton: no play before lunch
Glamorgan 61-2: Labuschagne out but LLoyd and Billy Root tuck in.
Sussex 124-4: just 20 runs behind Kent’s first-innings total
This is rotten news for the Hundred - the best thing about it is the prominence it is giving women’s cricket and the female stars who were coming over.
An issue for the Hundred. Major Australian withdrawals expected from the women's competition. Rachael Haynes the first to officially pull out, more likely to follow.
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) May 14, 2021
The pandemic means problems expected with overseas players in the men's competition too https://t.co/UVHM2csvF3
Could cricket grey catch on as a paint colour?
Updated
Essex are a-cruising.: 54-0, with Alastair Cook 22 not out. Extras 18 after poor Billy Stanlake has a tricky morning.
Stanlake's first spell in county cricket ends up being something of an ordeal: 4-1-25-0 and those figures included six front-foot no-balls, as well as four or five aborted attempts at finding his run-up
— Alan Gardner (@alanroderick) May 14, 2021
Roots Billy and Joe now both on the field at Cardiff; to be joined in brotherly harmony - for the first time on different sides -by Overtons Craig and Jamie later on at Taunton. Rain permitting.
Wickets! At Durham: Jack Libby feathers Ben Raine behind for 22 - Worcs 32-1; at Lord’s, where Middlesex are 100-6, Anderson the latest victim of the A-team (Abbas in this case) 100-6. Apologies, make that 100-7 as Abbas gets James Harris for a duck; and at Hove where Travis Head has been bowled by Darren Stevens for 20, Kent 103-3.
Labuschagne out!
A disgusted Labuschagne can’t believe the raised finger after being judged lbw to Ben Coad for 10 and has to plod off as angry pavement grey clouds gather to the side of the ground. Glamorgan 34-2.
And another catch goes a-beggin in the slips at Cardiff, as David Lloyd gets another life. To rub rock salt in the would, Lloyd then dispatches Thompson for four.
That drop at Cardiff at fourth slip, should it tickle you to know, was Joe Root.
Just dropping this in here - excuse the self publicity, but The Cricketer magazine are trying to find the Uk’s Greenest Cricket Ground. If you know a club that might qualify, please encourage them to enter. Just write in, in 600 words or less, explaining why your club should win – from building bird boxes to installing solar panels – and send your entry to magazine@thecricketer.com. Entries close at 5pm on July 15
Thrilled to be included as a judge on this excellent iniative to find eco-friendly ckt ground launched by @tjaldred and @TheCricketerMag. (The sort of thing i think you wd appreciate @holland_tom) https://t.co/7neug6f3KY
— Mark Cocker (@MarkCocker2) May 6, 2021
Big appeal in, ahem, tricky batting conditions in the north east. Daryl Mitchell has to go, lbw by a banana bending Rushworth. At the other end, Jake Libby has just passed 1000 runs for Worcestershire in only his 11th match. What a great transfer decision that was, at least for Libby and the Worcesters.
And at Cardiff, David Lloyd is dropped at fourth slip.
Joe Cooke tries to drive at Jordan Thompson and is pincered in front of his stumps, lbw for 5. Glamorgan lose their first wicket with 11 on the board. Enter, then, Marnus Labuschagne, skipping on the field, fiddling with his gloves, a huge red 99 on his back. Can he do better than he did at Old Trafford?
Updated
Kyle Abbott back in the swing of things at Lord’s, this time picking up John Simpson for 20, with only two added to the overnight score. Middx 92-2. Abbott 4-23, and counting. Nick Gubbins sighs, an hour and a half into another one-man-and-his-dog innings.
I see Richard Gould is leaving Surrey. He’s always cut rather an impressive figure - and genuinely loves the game.
Richard Gould is leaving his post as CEO at Surrey for a homecoming with Bristol City. A shame for cricket - one of the best administrators in the gamehttps://t.co/NfrT1Prn4Z
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) May 14, 2021
Mark Wood has waved for sawdust up at Chester le Street, after nearly slipping over. What a treat for Worcestershire to face him and Chris Rushworth under dirty skies and with damp clogging the air. They survive the first over.
Good luck to young Harry Duke, the Yorkshire wicketkeeper making his debut today. Just a reminder that you can watch Glamorgan v Yorkshire on Sky, while every game is being streamed and can be watched either via youtube or the ecb website while you can listen to all games through the BBC website.
I think, unless anyone has any better information, play will start on time everywhere except at Taunton - where there will be a pitch inspection at 12.30pm.
Some revised timings from Lord’s: Morning Session: 11.00-13.10 Afternoon Session: 13.50-16.00 Evening Session: 16.20-18.30
News!
Things are looking up. At Cardiff, Yorkshire have won the toss and will bowl: with Labuschagne, Roots Joe and Billy, Dom Bess and David Willey in action.
Scenes at Chelmsford an hour ago:
📸 Getting ready for Day Two at Chelmsford.#ESSvDER pic.twitter.com/ZcF3LJnlAQ
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) May 14, 2021
and overdue news on on the T20 World Cup
ICC consider expanding T20 World Cup to 20 teams https://t.co/r7539Pe5Gs
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) May 13, 2021
On those Australians stranded in the Maldives:
while Marnus Labuschagne talks Iron Mike through the art of defensive batting at a damp Cardiff.
"And this, Athers mate, is the forward defence." Cheers, Marnus. pic.twitter.com/d6wxI08vrN
— Isabelle Westbury (@izzywestbury) May 14, 2021
Updated
Thursday's round-up: Jofra's back!
A lively Jofra Archer took two wickets on his first bowl for Sussex since rehabilitating from both his persistent elbow problems and the finger injury he sustained when accidentally dropping a fish tank in the bath. In a pencil-point-sharp four-over opening spell, he sent back Daniel Bell-Drummond and Zak Crawley, finishing with two for 29. Crawley’s delivery in particular reared spitefully off the pitch on a good length and, surprised, Crawley gloved behind. Archer bowled two more spells.
Ollie Robinson, also on the selectors’ radar for the Test series against New Zealand in June, barrelled in, big and strong, snatching three wickets including the stubborn Jack Leaning, who made 63, and debutant Tawanda Muyeye, a former Wisden schoolboy cricketer of the year, for one. There were three wickets too for George Garton, with his characteristic stumbling follow-through, and two for off-spinner Jack Carson, as Kent were all out for 145 during an on-off afternoon of squally rain. In reply, Sussex were 51 for two at stumps, losing both openers before bad light fell.
“I bowl to Zak Crawley in the [England] nets and I have done that quite a bit,” said Archer afterwards. “Obviously, you’re never out in the nets so it was good to get him out here, with umpires. Hopefully Ollie Robinson will get his [England] chance this summer. We all know what he can do, he’s a talented bowler and his stats prove that.”
At a sun-dappled Chester le Street, an on-song Josh Tongue picked up five-wickets in the only game not to be affected by the weather. Durham were inserted by Worcestershire, whose bowlers chipped away throughout their innings. Only Alex Lees had real staying power, stroking 12 fours until cruelly deprived of his century on the stroke of tea, his eyes lighting up at the sight of a wide one from Joe Leach, only to edge it behind for 99. Mark Wood and Brydon Carse then livened things up with a bit of hoopla in a partnership of 44 – until Tongue zipped up the tail. Worcestershire survived a tricky three overs from Wood and Chris Rushworth until bad light ensured the day was done.
There were only 36 overs bowled at Lord’s, but it was time enough for Middlesex to lose their first four wickets, finishing on 90 for four. Hampshire’s Kyle Abbott, who spent some time with Middlesex in 2015, took three for 21, including Middlesex’s captain Peter Handscomb, who made his third duck of the season. There was a nice cameo of 24 from Jack Davies, in only his second first-class match, and Nick Gubbins and John Simpson carried Middlesex safely to stumps.
Play was abandoned without a ball being bowled at Cardiff, Chelmsford and Taunton.
Championship tables at the start of the round
Group One
Nottinghamshire 73 (played 5)
Warwickshire 67 (played 5)
Worcestershire 66 (played 5)
Durham 53 (played 4)
Essex 52 (played 5)
Derbyshire 40 (played 4)
Group Two
Gloucestershire 95 (played 5)
Somerset 82 (played 5)
Hampshire 62 (played 5)
Surrey 59 (played 5)
Middlesex 41 (played 5)
Leicestershire 40 (played 5)
Group Three
Lancashire 93 (played 5)
Yorkshire 86 (played 5)
Northants 68 (played 5)
Glamorgan 58 (played 5)
Sussex 51 (played 5)
Kent 38 (played 5)
Start of play scores: day 2
Group one
Riverside: Durham 246 all out v Worcestershire 6-0
Chelmsford: Essex v Derbyshire No play yesterday
Group two
Lord’s: Middlesex 90-4 v Hampshire
Taunton: Somerset v Surrey No play yesterday
Group three
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Yorkshire No play yesterday
Hove: Sussex 51-2 v Kent 145 all out
Updated
Preamble
Good morning! Let’s try again shall we? Six games were due to start yesterday, three were called off without a ball bowled, one lasted a session, another was rain-hassled and it was only in northern Chester le Street where the sun threw open the shutters.
First, today’s forecast: Cloudy , but sunshine and showers later for some. Tonight, rain pushing in from the southwest.
Unfortunately for both Somerset and Surrey (2nd and 4th in Group 2 respectively), there will be no play before lunch at Taunton because of the wet outfield. An inspection will take place at 12.30pm.
Elsewhere, we wait to see...
Updated
