One hundred and two wickets fell on a deliciously fruitful bowling day in the championship. With start times brought forward to 10.30am because of the swiftly encroaching dusk, batsmen were given a torrid time from Edgbaston to Chelmsford.
Three teams were bowled out for less than a hundred with the day barely into its morning stretches. Gloucestershire were skittled for 76 thanks to new-ball magic from Jamie Porter and Sam Cook. Essex themselves looked in trouble at 32 for four but an unbeaten 71 from Paul Walter gave them the lead.
Glamorgan folded at a similar rate, managing only 97 on a green seamer, quite an achievement from 63 for one. Durham’s batsmen then made batting look easy.
Meanwhile, 20 wickets fell at Edgbaston where a positive Covid-test delayed play by an hour. Hampshire were fizzed for 89 by lunch, with five wickets for Will Rhodes. Mohammad Abbas and Keith Barker then ran through Warwickshire for 116, before batting suddenly became easy.
On a topsy-turvy day, Ben Duckett, Sam Northeast and Joe Clarke all made fifties before Nottinghamshire lost five for 19 either side of tea. Lancashire then lost two wickets before stumps.
An unbeaten 79 from Harry Brook handed Yorkshire the advantage on a ping-pong day at Scarborough. Somerset were skedaddled for 134. The Somerset bowlers chipped away, but Brook’s feisty innings threatened to take Yorkshire up and away.
Jamie Smith made a glorious 123 to lift Surrey from 15 for three. With a succession of on-drives sweet enough to keep autumn at bay, Smith reached his third first-class hundred. He put on a serene 145 with Will Jacks (60), but Northamptonshire struck with the new ball, Tom Taylor taking five for 41.
Kent built a handy lead over Worcestershire thanks to fifties from Ollie Robinson, Jack Leaning and a free-flowing Darren Stevens, despite having been 22 for three. Matthew Milnes and Nathan Gilchrist had earlier bowled out Worcestershire for 133. Leicestershire batted serenely on a flat pitch to reach 282 for three.
Just the 102 wickets falling in the day...lots of great bowling, but particular respect to the one centurion, Jamie Smith, in all his on-driving glory. Oh, and the reporter from Edgbaston seemed to think the problem was less the pitch, and more the batting. Thanks for all the comments BTL, see you tomorrow!
Updated
Jamie Smith last man out for 123, as Surrey are dismissed for 252. Taylor 5-41. Northants have a squeaky session before stumps.
Darren Stevens 50!
My Darren Stevens klaxon is all worn out: today the man wonder has just reached 50 off 47 balls, as Kent charge into the lead against Worcester
There are three changes to Sussex’s squad for tomorrow’s game against tMiddlesex: Ben Brown, George Garton and Delray Rawlins replace James Coles, Archie Lenham and Harrison Ward. Coles and Lenham have been released to play with the England U-19s.
Forgot to mention that Harry Brook won his county cap today at Scarborough. What a lovely place for it to happen.
Jack Leach win the battle of the England spinners after Dom Bess is stumped for 10. Yorks 130-5, Harry Brook still there on a feisty 53. Brook’s name might well be in the mix for a winter tour with the Lions (or whatever their current moniker is).
A ninth wicket at Trent Bridge, where Tom Moores is lbw for 12. Notts 260-9. Time for me to have a go at the round-up, I’ll pop back when I can. Meanwhile, at The Oval, England are 13-0 in pursuit of dreams and Jadeja is bowling.
Tea calls at Warwickshire ,where everything is running an hour or so behind. Hain (37 not out) and Burgess (27 not out) have reversed the disaster of 26-5, now only 2 runs behind Hampshire’s first innings.
Saqib Mahmood has returned to the Trent Bridge pavilion, clutching his side.
.@SaqMahmood25 has gone off the field midway through his over appearing to hold his side. George Balderson has completed the over with @TrentBridge 223-4 with Clarke 54* & Mullaney 4* #NOTvLAN
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) September 5, 2021
An email sways and settles, from the Reverend Christopher Swift in Coreglia Antelminelli, Italy.
I just wanted to thank Emma John for her excellent article on the obsession of cricket administrators with the cult of growth. A young academic at London University remarked recently on a Global Justice webinar that she was amazed and appalled that we live in a time which can imagine the end of the world more easily than it can imagine the end of capitalism.
Those administering cricket truly need to get out more
I agree totally, it was a wonderful article. Here it is if anyone missed it.
The lesser spotted Notts collapse: Notts dip from 211-3 to 230-8, as Danny Lamb as three late wickets ro the wicket of Duckett; meanwhile Ballance and Brook have put the breaks on Somerset’s fantasy fight-back with 48 for the fourth wicket at Scarborough.
Northern Diamonds beat Southern Vipers to reach the Charlotte Edwards Cup final against Southern Starts
Northern Diamonds beat Southern Vipers by 18 runs, thanks to 65 from Lauren Winfield-Hill and 4-26 from Jenny Gunn.
The final between Diamonds and South East Stars started at 4pm, with the Diamonds currently 45-2 off 7.1 overs.
A hundred for Jamie Smith!
And, on a day that dawned sweet for bowlers, the only hundred of the day comes from the hands of Surrey’s Jamie Smith, the third first-class hundred of his career.
Surrey 231-5
So after that cup of tea, time for a bit of appreciation for the sides who picked up their bats the right way up this morning : Leicestershire (219-2), Surrey (217-5), Durham (117-0) and Notts (223-4).
Sam Evans is showing the way for Leicestershire, 89 not out, buttressed by Lewis Hill and George Hill. Michael Jones and Alex Lees have eased to fifties apiece at The Riverside; runs all the way down the order for Nottinghamshire -half centuries for Duckett, Northeast and Clarke.
Michael Vaughan is not impressed by county pitches.
5 County teams bowled out for under 150 today !!!! It’s fine saying we need more 4 day cricket but we have to play on better pitches to prepare Test match standard players .. It’s not good for Bowlers or Batters .. Pitches need to be better .. RANT OVER .. #OnOn
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) September 5, 2021
Tea-time scores - merrily we roll along
Division one
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 211-4 v Lancashire
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 87-5 v Hampshire 89 all out
Scarborough: Yorkshire 47-1 v Somerset 134 all out
Division two
Riverside: Durham 117-0 v Glamorgan 97 all out
Chelmsford: Essex 71-4 v Gloucestershire 76 all out
The County Ground: Northants v Surrey 180-4
Division three
Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire 176-2
Canterbury: Kent 72-3 v Worcestershire 133 all out
Updated
To pick up on a comment BTL:
Jimmy has bowled 33 overs now, more than any innings since the 17/18 Ashes.
— Rory Dollard (@thervd) September 5, 2021
Meanwhile Overton has sent down 16. He's managed to be selected *and* rested in the same game.
Updated
Keith Barker just loves to bowl. Currently has 3-11 against Warwickshire, who, unbelievably, are in trouble (28-5) after bowling Hampshire out for 89 this morning.
A September afternoon in the Championship: cue carnage: Dom Sibley out for 6 on his birthday, Will Rhodes for a duck - Mohammad Abbas on a hat-trick, Warwickshire 11-4. At Scarborough, Tom Kohler-Cadmore has retired hurt after being hit on the elbow by Josh Davey, Yorks 21-1.
Warwickshire lose their first wicket of a tumultuous afternoon, Keith Barker thundering in to snaffle Yates in front for a duck. I make that 67 wickets so far today in the Championship.
Updated
And still they tumble. Young Dillon Pennington strikes in his first and third overs to snaffle both Jordan Cox and Zac Crawley (sent back to Kent to prepare for the Ashes). Kent 11-2.
Updated
Adam Lyth, supposedly levitating in England thoughts, is out for a duck at Scarborough. Yorkshire 1-1 in reply to Somerset’s 134.
And Essex 32-4, as Michael Pepper follows where others so recently trod.
Somerset join the all-out club, with the relative riches of 134; Worcestershire gone for 133 v Kent. Five sides out by 2.15 on the first day!
Meanwhile at Chelmsford, Gloucestershire (76 all out) are fighting back. Bracey, Cook and Westley all out with the scoreboard stuck on 28. Alastair Cook lbw for 15. Cook is in the final year of his contract... does anyone know more?
Notts cruising against Lancashire, a fifty for Sam Northeast as they reach 137-2. Still no wicket for Saqib Mahmood, who was fiery but without success this morning.
Things are looking a little bit tricky at The Oval, with Pant and Thakur growing impatient. India 358-6, the lead 259. If you tire of the Championship, follow it here.
Thanks to Romeo for this nugget. Crane the missing link.
@tjaldred https://t.co/Oe1ciGF1t2
— Romeo Romeo Tango Ψιτιζεν οφ Νοςηερε (@RomeoCCLive) September 5, 2021
Ah, Liam Livingstone is missing today’s game because of illness after his second Covid jab.
Hampshire 89 all out. This looks curtains for their Championship hopes.
Glamorgan all out 97, lush and plenty compared to Gloucestershire’s 76.
There is something in the autumnal water. Somerset now 100-8 after a brief rally, Green and Davey left with the task of scraping together some runs.
Hampshire 88-9
The delayed start didn’t help then...Rhodes 5-23
That’s a mere 37 wickets (and counting) in the morning session. Time for a sandwich! Back soon.
Lunchtime scores
Division one
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 97-1 v Lancashire
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Hampshire 44-3 not lunch yet, late start
Scarborough: Yorkshire v Somerset 77-6
Division two
Riverside: Durham v Glamorgan 85-6
Chelmsford: Essex v Gloucestershire 76 all out
The County Ground: Northants v Surrey 61-4
Division three
Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire 87-1
Canterbury: Kent v Worcestershire 91-6
Leicestershire have had a good morning, 87-1 v Derby. A shame to see Hassan Azad getting out for 25 . After that breakthrough season (2019?), it has all been much more difficult. This summer he has 360 f-c runs at 24.
Updated
There are a few of the games that will struggle to reach day three.
Glamorgan are 73-4 v Durham , with Rushworth 3-26, on the march.
Gloucestershire are 70-7 v Essex, and looking wistfully towards three figures. Porter 4-32, Cook 3-24 and Higgins the highest scorere with 22.
Worcestershire 54-6 v Kent, Barnard and Cox the only batters in single figures.
Surrey 44-3 v Northants, two ducks for Steel and Amla.
Somerset 68-4 v Yorkshire, a fifty run third wicket partnership then a double strike from George Hill. Azhar Ali not out 24.
Ben Duckett reaches the first fifty of the round, just 69 balls. Its been lovely, apparently. Notts now 77-1.
Division Tables at the start of this round
Division One
Warwicks 33
Lancs 28.5
Notts 28
Somerset 20.5
Hampshire 19.5
Yorkshire 16.5
Division Two (ranked on averages points per game due to cancellation of Durham v Surrey for Covid)
Essex 20.5
Gloucestershire 15.5
Surrey 13
Northants 11
Glamorgan 7.25
Durham 4
Division Three
Worcestershire 38.5
Middx 34
Kent 31
Sussex 17
Leicestershire 14.5
Derbyshire 13
A question:
@tjaldred Davies playing may have quietened some @lancscricket conspiracy theorists but no Parky and Livvy - and so far no explanation - causing plenty of chatter. Any inside knowledge? @
— Paul Speller (@Norbertsdad) September 5, 2021
And a theory, from my Lancashire sources! Only 12 wickets have fallen to spin at Trent Bridge this season in four-day cricket (and six of them in one match!) there was little chance of it turning in this one. It looks flat today too. Also Parky bowled 40 overs on the final day and Livingstone injured his shoulder and neck last week, was off the pitch on Thursday, bowled on Friday but was sore.
If you haven’t already, do make time for this piece this morning. Also, if you use instagram, check out Tom Shaw’s pictures @tomshawphoto. He’s amazing and a lovely human being.
A great round up of where we are from Gary Naylor:
At Edgbaston, Warwickshire have won the toss and will bowl.
Steph Cooper points me towards Canterbury where Matt Milnes has wover his magic to figures of 4-18, following last week’s nine wickets to decimate Leicestershire. Worcestershire 22-4.
Gloucestershire are having an absolute shocker at Chelmsford, currently 32-6.
Porter 3-18, Cook 3-14.
Update from Edgbaston - a postive Covid case, but match to go ahead
An ECB spokesperson said: “The start of the LV= Insurance County Championship match between Warwickshire and Hampshire at Edgbaston has been delayed until 11.30am following confirmation of a positive Covid-19 case within the Hampshire squad.
“The safety of players, officials and staff is our priority and it was important that an investigation was completed before determining it was safe to begin the match.”
We will dream of days like this in a couple of months . They’re handing out coffees on the veranda, please help yourself.
Scarborough get their game at last, Somerset 31-2.
Right, after all that excitement, a round up of the first half hour. September is not a good time to be an opener.
Div one
New invincible Notts 21-0
Not our year Somerset 14-2 (Abell and Lammonby both gone cheaply
Div 2
Glamorgan 30-1 (Lloyd lbw Rushworth 4)
Gloucestershire 24-2 (two wickets for Porter)
Surrey 11-1 (a duck for Steel)
Div 3
Leicestershire 15-0
Worcestershire 11-2 (Mitchell and Libby both gone to Milnes)
Updated
Play due to start soon at Edgbaston
Unclear of the exact situation but the players have resumed their warm-ups out on the sun-kissed pitch. Play will start at 11.30.
Updated
Covid hits the Indian camp
Something...
Indian coach Ravi Shastri has tested positive for Covid-19, and will go into isolation. So will B Arun (bowling coach), R Sridhar (fielding coach) and Nitin Patel (physiotherapist) "as a precautionary measure". Everyone else in the Indian team underwent two lateral-flow tests.
— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) September 5, 2021
Something? Nothing?
Something going on at Edgbaston. Toss delayed and it’s not because it’s raining.
— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) September 5, 2021
Updated
For Lancs conspiracy theorists (you know who you are) who thought Alex Davies wouldn’t get another game - he’s playing today, alongside Steven Croft. Livingstone and Parkinson miss out.
And if any of you were looking in vain for the ninth match: Sussex v Middlesex starts tomorrow at Hove.
Lancashire, Durham, Essex and Kent are bowling; Somerset, Leicestershire and Surrey are batting.
Fixtures: round two of the group stages
Division one
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Lancashire
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Hampshire
Scarborough: Yorkshire v Somerset
Division two
Riverside: Durham v Glamorgan
Chelmsford: Essex v Gloucestershire
The County Ground: Northants v Surrey
Division three
Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire
Canterbury: Kent v Worcestershire
Updated
Preamble
Good morning! ARGHG - it is a 10.30 start!
