Roundup: Ahmed matches Botham to send Ashes message
While England discussions have circled around Shoaib Bashir and Liam Dawson, another twirling tyro has been having a summer to remember. Rehan Ahmed waved another little flag towards this winter’s Ashes tour by becoming the first Englishman to take 13 wickets and score a century in a first-class game since Ian Botham in the Jubilee Test of 1980.
He followed up his 115 and then six for 51 in Derbyshire’s first innings, with seven for 93 in their second as Leicestershire collected their sixth win of a wonderful campaign, leaping 34 points clear of second-placed Glamorgan and dancing towards promotion – whatever that will mean for 2026.
Not that Derbyshire went down without a fight, lasting until a delayed tea against a clutch of close fielders for Ahmed and fiery short-pitched stuff from Josh Hull.
“For someone who has scored four hundreds and taken a 10-fer, I certainly think Rehan’s got to be in contention [for England],” said the Leicestershire coach, Alfonso Thomas. “He’s so versatile that he can bat in any position.”
Another young England spinner, Tom Hartley, finished with 11 wickets, alongside his first-innings hundred, for Lancashire at beautiful Cheltenham. The die was cast when Gloucestershire failed to avoid the follow on, and the victory makes it two in two under Jimmy Anderson’s captaincy.
Essex took 26 minutes to hoover up the three Sussex wickets they needed to win. James Coles reached his third successive Championship century, only to be caught via Dean Elgar’s rump for 108, serenaded by seagulls. It is Essex’s second win of a torrid summer.
Hundreds from Zen Malik and Beau Webster helped Warwickshire romp to victory against Worcestershire via the third-highest run chase in their history.
Glamorgan eased to a five-wicket win against Kent, who haven’t won a first-class match since April. Kiran Carlson’s unbeaten 89, alongside vital cameos from Billy Root and Colin Ingram, ensured that the target was met without too much angst. Matt Parkinson finished with four for 82.
Middlesex whittled away at Northamptonshire resistance, leaving Rob Keogh forlorn and unbeaten after a four-and-a-half hour 61.
There were draws at Scarborough, where Surrey avoided the follow on against Yorkshire, Dom Bess took seven wickets and Jonny Bairstow left the game early when his partner went into labour; and at Southampton, where Hampshire held Notts thanks to Kyle Abbot’s no-nonsense approach to boundary hitting.
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Another cracking round, is everyone getting the hang of the Kookaburra now? Thanks for your company as ever, I’ll be back on Tuesday at Scarborough, if I can rid myself of this horrible lurgy. Have a wonderful weekend. Bye!
Division Two table
1 Leicestershire 179
2 Glamorgan 145
3 Derbyshire 128
4 Lancashire 124
5 Middlesex 123
6 Gloucestershire 116
7. Northants 110
8 Kent 92
Division One Table
1 Surrey 154
2 Nottinghamshire 153
3 Somerset 137
4 Warwickshire 136
5 Sussex 125
6 Hampshire 117
7 Essex 112
8 Durham 111
9 Yorkshire 104
10 Worcestershire 78
Lancashire BEAT Gloucestershire by five wickets
Back to back wins for Jimmy and co.
Cheltenham: Lancashire 557 and 111-1 BEAT Gloucestershire 381 and 285 by nine wickets.
Final scores
Southampton: Hampshire 454 DRAW with Nottinghamshire 578-8dec and 108-1
Taunton: Somerset 250 and 89-5 BEAT Durham 145 and 190 By FIVE WICKETS
Hove: Essex 504 BEAT Sussex 204 and 262 by an innings and 39 runs.
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 184 and 396-5 BEAT Worcestershire 333 and 243 by five wickets.
Scarborough: Yorkshire 517-6dec 120-5 DRAW with Surrey 537
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Leicestershire 398 and 236-9dec BEAT Derbyshire 189 and 256 by 189 runs.
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 327 and 189-5 BEAT Kent 155 and 360 by five wickets.
Cheltenham: Lancashire 557 and 111-1 BEAT Gloucestershire 381 and 285 by nine wickets.
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex 625-8 dec BEAT Northamptonshire 261 and 257 by an innings and 107
And then there was one. I’m going to leave you to watch Lancs tuck a second victory into their waistbands, while I write up for second.
Warwickshire BEAT Worcestershire by five wickets
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 184 and 396-5 BEAT Worcestershire 333 and 243 by five wickets.
The third biggest run-chase in Warwickshire’s history, thanks to marvellous hundreds from Zen Malik and Beau Webster
Warwickshire 19 points, Worcestershire 5.
Yorkshire DRAW with Surrey
Even Surrey have to let this ship sail.
Scarborough: Yorkshire 517-6dec 120-5 DRAW with Surrey 537
Josh Bohannon nearly decapitates the BBC commentators with a huge six.
Just turned onto the Cheltenham stream, charmingly sepia. Not to jinx anything, but this is easy. Jennings has just hit three fours in a row against van Buuren. 48 needed off 78 balls.
Middlesex BEAT Northants by an innings and 107 runs
At last!
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex 625-8 dec BEAT Northamptonshire 261 and 257 by an innings and 107
Maximum points for Middlesex, stoical points for Northants. A heroic unbeaten 61 for Rob Keogh in four and a half hours.
Keaton hits a pretty six, Chris Green style. They like close finishes at Cheltenham.
Five done and dusted, four to go. Middlesex need one wicket; Lancs need 70 runs; Warwicks need just 34 and Surrey seem to be hoping to whistle out Yorkshire and go for a biff-bang win.
Nottinghamshire DRAW with Hampshire
They cut their losses at the Rose Bowl.
Southampton: Hampshire 454 DRAW with Nottinghamshire 578-8dec and 108-1
Hampshire 12 points, Nottinghamshire 14
Leicestershire BEAT Derbyshire by 189 runs
Derby: Leicestershire 398 and 236-9dec BEAT Derbyshire 189 and 256 by 189 runs.
A sixth win of the summer.
Derbyshire 2 pts Leicestershire 22 pts
I’ve now got to write up for Friday’s early edition – back in a while.
Tea-time-ish scores
Southampton: Hampshire 454 v Nottinghamshire 578-8dec and 45-1
Taunton: Somerset 250 and 89-5 BEAT Durham 145 and 190 By FIVE WICKETS
Hove: Essex 504 BEAT Sussex 204 and 262 by an innings and 39 runs.
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 184 and 267-3 v Worcestershire 333 and 243 Warwicks need 126 to win
Scarborough: Yorkshire 517-6dec and 59-2 v Surrey 537
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 189 and 251-9 v Leicestershire 398 and 236-9dec
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 327 and 189-5 BEAT Kent 155 and 360 by five wickets.
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 381 and 268-8 v Lancashire 557
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex 625-8 dec v Northamptonshire 261 and 194-7
Zen Malik (130) has found a doughty companion in Beau Webster (55). Warwicks need only another 126 – Worcestershire will be hoping that the new ball works so sudden and spectacular magic in seven overs’ time.
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I wonder if Adam Hollioake realised just what a challenge he was signing up for when he joined Kent. “Probably where we lost it was our middle-order in the first innings (losing six wickets for seven), that was pivotal and even yesterday we had some good partnerships but no-one went on and got three figures, so that’s the area that cost us.
“I’m pretty happy with the ball, the boys toiled well and they’re showing good spirit given all the injuries we’ve had, things are bad when I’ve got the whites on (as a reserve sub fielder).
“It’s our job as coaching staff to problem solve but you can’t attribute the injuries to anything from our pre-season, they’re freak injuries.
“There’s no-one in this competition we’re intimidated by, our biggest opponent is ourself and we’re still trying to work out our template for success.”
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So Dom Bess finished with 7-162 at Scaborough – he’s taken seven-fer before for Yorkshire, against Northants in 2021, just after crowds had started to be let in again. I wonder if Yorkshire might consider picking Dan Moriarty as well for next week’s game against Sussex?
Not too shabby cricketing company for Rehan.
Rehan Ahmed is the first Englishman to score a century and take 13 wickets in the same first-class game since Ian Botham in the 1980 Jubilee Test
— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden) July 25, 2025
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At Cheltenham, Lancashire’s fingers twitch around the champagne cork. Gloucestershire have just two wickets remaining, a lead of 87 and no specialist batters left.
Green with a superb caught and bowled, which means Gloucestershire are eight down and 75 ahead with plenty of time still left in this match 📸 pic.twitter.com/wllvra1uMS
— Luke Adams 🏏 (@ladamscricket) July 25, 2025
And Rehan gets a rest. Oh and Peter Handscomb drops a tricky chance off Ben Green’s first ball.
Morley looks totally unfazed by 13-wicket Rehan and his clutch of crouching close fielders.
It’s a race – will Derbyshire’s last pair at The County Ground outlast Northamptonshire’s last three (Leech b Cornwell for 14) at Merchant Taylors’.
100 for Zen Malik
Hundred number two for Zen Malik, getting there with a six, just as he did to win the Championship game against Yorkshire in May. Warwickshire are going to do this, aren’t they?
A 12th, 13th wicket for Rehan Ahmed…
Another wicket at Cheltenham, gosh Gloucestershire are making a bit of a hash of this, unless the pitch has changed drastically. It’s Bracey too. The lead just 29, five wickets in hand.
Glamorgan BEAT Kent by five wickets!
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 327 and 189-5 BEAT Kent 155 and 360 by five wickets.
Kent’s winless run continues.
Glamorgan 21 points; Kent 3 points
A hundred for Felix Organ
Belated notification, sorry Felix. I missed the fact they were playing on for half an hour at Southampton because Hampshire were nine down. His 121 is his highest first-class score.
After lunch and six wickets for Bess! Surrey are in danger of being bowled out – I thought they’d bat all day. Blake was eventually out for 72, not a bad little outing.
Lunchtime scores
Southampton: Hampshire 440-9 v Nottinghamshire 578-8dec
Taunton: Somerset 250 and 89-5 BEAT Durham 145 and 190 By FIVE WICKETS
Hove: Essex 504 BEAT Sussex 204 and 262 by an innings and 39 runs.
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 184 and 149-3 v Worcestershire 333 and 243
Scarborough: Yorkshire 517-6dec v Surrey 473-8
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 189 and 168-7 v Leicestershire 398 and 236-9dec
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 327 and 168-4 v Kent 155 and 360
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 381 and 168-4 v Lancashire 557
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex 625-8 dec v Northamptonshire 261 and 129-5
Glamorgan are in touching distance, thanks to an unbeaten 72 from Kiran Carlson – just 28 more needed.
Derbyshire are now seven down, Ben Green and Louis Kimber joining the Rehan wicket-taking party.
Bertie Foreman polishes his two-tone oxford brogues after removing Dan Mousley, reverse-sweeping to backward point. A first wicket of a long morning for Worcestershire, Warwicks 138-3 need another 255. Zen Malik, not out 50.
Reflections from Hove
It is was the best of times, it was the worst of times:
Tom Westley: “That was our most complete performance of the season. At a crunch time, to turn up and play like that is testament to everyone in our changing room: 24 points and a win is massive for the club and hopefully we can take that into the last four games. We don’t want to make excuses about injuries - we probably haven’t played anywhere near our ability through the season and it has been challenging getting our strongest XI at times, so it was nice here to bowl them out for 200 in the first innings and then throughout the game everyone chipped in.”
Paul Farbrace: “It’s been hugely disappointing. In the three years I have been here it’s comfortably our worst performance in four-day cricket. We never got into the game. We played poor shots with the bat and made poor decisions throughout. Apart from James Coles and Tom Alsop in the second innings we haven’t batted anywhere as well as we can, there were a lot of soft dismissals and our bowlers haven’t done much better to be fair, we didn’t play Division One standard cricket which is really frustrating and disappointing.”
(Ollie Robinson had an injection in his groin on Wednesday and won’t be available until the back end of the One-Day Cup.)
And Hampshire avoid the follow-on thanks to Kyle Abbot’s no-nonsense approach to boundary hitting. A six? Two? Thanks very much.
But Gloucestershire could still be in trouble after losing three wickets this morning against Lancs – Bancroft, Charlesworth (for 71 to go with his first-innings 160) and Ollie Price, who played a flamboyant hoopla, only to top edge to Luke Wells at slip. They’re still 23 runs behind.
Aha! Rehan has a fifth, Derbyshire lose a sixth and slip towards defeat before lunch.
Surrey have avoided the follow-on at Scarborough; but Hampshire haven’t (yet) at Southampton – still 30 runs short, Varma gone for 112. Organ still there on 88, three wickets in hand.
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Jim is over on the OBO should your tastes drift towards the international. Root and Pope doing pretty things.
My Friday brain hadn’t clicked that Glamorgan were already in a run chase – 143 more needed, seven wickets in hand. Parky M, 2-13, has already removed nightwatchman James Harris this morning.
In other chase news – Warwickshire, 71-2, need another 322 to beat Worcs and Derbyshire, 119-4, another 327 to beat Leicestershire.
Essex BEAT Sussex by an innings and 39 runs
All over in less than half an hour, a fourth wicket for Critchley as Henry Crocombe is bowled. A second win of the season for Essex.
Hove: Essex 504 BEAT Sussex 204 and 262 by an innings and 39 runs.
Essex points, Sussex
Tune into Hove, and am instantly serenaded by seagulls. And there goes James Coles, caught, via Dean Elgar’s bum, off Simon Harmer, to be caught at backward square leg for 108.
And at Scarborough, a second catch for Dom Bess, to go with his three wickets, Ryan Patel for 92. Josh Blake is batting, mentioned BTL so I looked him up – playing in just his third first-class match, and because Ben Foakes was injured during a Blast game.
It’s been an all action first ten minutes:
At Hove, James Coles collected his century, before losing his partner Ari Karvelas to Simon Harmer shortly afterwards. Sussex now eight down.
An important wicket at Cheltenham, Cameron Bancroft to Jimmy – for the second time in the game.
And Josh Tongue and his past perpendicular (thank u BTL!) removes after going wicketless yesterday, Eddie Jack lbw.
"It gets soft early"
I know how much CCLive! loves the Kookaburra ball. Here is Josh Tongue talking to the ECB’s reporters’ network last night.
“It helps [prepare for the Ashes]. I was in the Lions last year and have bowled out there as well. It is about getting used to a different ball to the Dukes. It gets soft early so it is crucial to get as much out of it early on.
“I think it is about mixing it up in terms of using the crease. I have tried to do that quite a bit. I started fairly straight and then came wider. I feel from my past perpendicular, I feel like the ball coming in is going to be my mode of dismissal with the Kookaburra.
“You have to have a plan going forward and try and stick to it as much as possible. I’ll try and dry up the pressure and then pick up the wickets.
“In Australia there was more pace in the wickets when I used it. Here in the UK we’ve had good weather but the pitches have gone very dry. Once it goes soft there isn’t much lateral movement at all.
“I just try to hit the pitch as hard as I can, which I also do with the Dukes ball when it gets flat and softer.”
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An ode to Ethan Brookes, and more, from Worcestershire’s Gareth Roderick last night:
“It ebbed and flowed throughout the whole day with different teams on top at different times but thankfully, due to Ethan’s two fine innings and Khurram’s bowling in the first innings, we find ourselves going into the final day in a decent position.
“Ethan is striking it beautifully at the moment so long may it continue. We’ll just tell him to keep on doing what he’s doing.
“There looked like there was some indifferent bounce for a period when we were batting this afternoon so hopefully we can be on the benefiting side of that situation tomorrow.
“I was pleased to get some runs. I don’t feel in great form but I am battling away and it was nice to contribute and let’s hope it helps lead us to a victory. We just need to find eight good balls tomorrow and hopefully we can start well and make some inroads in the first hour.”
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A lovely picture on the top of this (lovely) piece from OT yesterday.
Thursday's round up
James Coles’ unbeaten 99 is likely to be in vain at Hove, where Sussex are still 55 behind Essex, with three second-innings wickets left.
Tom Hartley, fresh from a career-best 130 for Lancashire, rattled through Gloucestershire at Cheltenham to finish with six for 116 – figures bettered only on his remarkable Test debut at Hyderabad. Ben Charlesworth’s dismissal for a charming 160, stumped dawdling down the pitch to Hartley, started a collapse of seven for 85.
Ethan Brookes’ six hitting salvo boosted Worcestershire for the second time in the match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, while at Scarborough, Surrey’s Dom Sibley – in action against Yorkshire – became the first man to 1,000 Championship runs this summer, pipping Saif Zaib by 15 minutes.
Northants were forced to follow-on against Middlesex at Merchant Taylors’ school, despite Zaib’s 82, which made him the first batter at the club to make 1,000 runs since Ben Duckett in 2016. Ryan Higgins grabbed four first-innings wickets, two in the second, to leave Northants looking to the skies for salvation.
Rehan Ahmed once again reigned at the County Ground, though not before Leicestershire’s Luis Reece collected career-best match figures of 11 for 120 . Ahmed then took all four wickets to fall in Derbyshire’s second innings.
Kent made a much better stab of their second innings against Glamorgan, thanks to Harry Finch and Grant Stewart; while Tilak Varma’s century kept Hampshire on the scoresheet against Nottinghamshire. Josh Tongue, who replaced Brett Hutton at the start of the day, went wicketless.
Scores on the doors
Southampton: Hampshire 367-6 v Nottinghamshire 578-8dec
Taunton: Somerset 250 and 89-5 BEAT Durham 145 and 190 By FIVE WICKETS
Hove: Sussex 204 and 245-7 v Essex 504
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 184 and 55-2 v Worcestershire 333 and 243
Scarborough: Yorkshire 517-6dec v Surrey 338-4
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 189 and 98-4 v Leicestershire 398 and 236-9dec
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 327 and 25-2 v Kent 155 and 360
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 381 and 98-0 v Lancashire 557
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex 625-8 dec v Northamptonshire 261 and 64-3
Preamble
Good morning! The sun is out in Manchester, which bodes well for the Test, though the Met office warns of cloud and patchy rain that may float down from Scotland during the day. Eight games remain in the Championship and only two – at Southampton and Scarborough - seem certain to be draws. Lots to look forward to, play starts at 11am.
