Photograph: Gavin Ellis/TGS Photo/Shutterstock
Roundup: Harmer's hot streak keeps Essex in title hunt
With Chelmsford tacky-hot, Essex kept their title hopes alive after shellacking Middlesex’s batting for a second time. Simon Harmer dusted off yet another five-fer, notching up 50 wickets for the sixth time in seven seasons. Debutant Umesh Yadav shovelled up three.
Tom Kohler-Cadmore and James Rew merrily slapped 107 to give Somerset hope at the Ageas Bowl, before Liam Dawson (4-85) had Rew caught behind. Former England Under 19 captain Tom Prest removed Kohler-Cadmore, his maiden first-class wicket, and with that the stuffing was gone and Hampshire collected their sixth Championship win.
At The County Ground, Lancashire’s Luke Wells took a career-best five for 25 as Northants slipped to their fifth innings-defeat of the summer.
Durham can touch and taste Division One after wrapping up victory against Sussex. Matt Parkinson swiped eight wickets in the match – praised by the Durham captain Scott Borthwick as “like a boomerang, he just keeps coming back.” Durham need just five more points to secure promotion.
At North Marine Road, Yorkshire won their second Championship game of summer. Dom Bess grabbed four wickets and Matthew Revis three as Wayne Madsen tried to biff Derbyshire to victory, cracking Bess for 22 in an over before falling for 93.
That's it!
Eight games, eight results: Surrey float on top of Division One, Durham cruise on in Division Two. But Essex aren’t out of it yet. Thanks for your good company these past four days. I’ll see you at Old Trafford on Sunday. Good night!
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
The Rosebowl: Hampshire 308 & 303-3 dec BEAT Somerset 137 & 316 by 185 runs.
The County Ground: Lancashire 524 BEAT Northants 232 and 266 by an innings and 26 runs
The Oval: Surrey 396 BEAT Warwickshire 161 and 138 by an innings and 97 runs.
Chelmsford: Essex 304 and 319-7dec BEAT Middlesex 179 and 147 by 297 runs
DIVISION TWO
Chester-le-Street: Durham 505-9dec and 57-3 BEAT v Sussex 266 and 295 by seven wickets.
Grace Road: Leicestershire 204 and 168-2 BEAT Gloucestershire 159 and 212 by 8 wickets
New Road: Worcestershire 284 and 145 BEAT Glamorgan 170 and 179 by 80 runs
Scarborough: Yorkshire 297 and 520-9dec BEAT Derbyshire 247 and 293 by 277 runs.
Essex beat Middlesex by 297 runs!
Chelmsford: Essex 304 and 319-7dec BEAT Middlesex 179 and 147 by 297 runs
Sewn up with six minutes – and a day - to spare. Simon Harmer tucks another five-fer into his breast pocket.
All done bar the dusting – Essex nine down with two and a bit overs left of the extra half hour.
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Six men now round the bat…
Harmer returns….and immediately Hollman is caught, trudging off, head bowed, bat under armpit. Middx 113-7.
Another wicket at Chelmsford – this time Critchley the man with the golden arm. John Simpson must accept a second lbw in the game. Essex 97-6.
Farewell ponytail
Hottest news of the day:
More big cricket news: Rory Burns is cutting his luscious locks for charity pic.twitter.com/mvupy0aoNc
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) September 6, 2023
Hawks beat Pirates to win the Disability Premier League Final!
Victory by eight wickets and with two overs to spare, thanks to an unbeaten 83 from player of the match Calum Flynn.
“I think the DPL has been really good this year,” said Flynn. “It’s one of those tournaments where we’ll really see the development in four and five years’ time, when the lads and ladies start getting into international squads. In terms of instant success we’re getting there but in three, four or five years’ time, who knows where this could go. The money the ECB have put into it, and the backing they’ve given us, has been excellent.”
Adam Rossington fluffs a stumping against Ryan Higgins off Harmer, no respite the other end either as Sam Cook, suncream smeared across his cheeks, zips in. I’m going to start writing up, but will pop back as the wickets tick down at Chelmsford, with Middlesex 69-5, 376 short of victory.
Missed this yesterday – congratulations Warwickshire!
𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿-𝟭𝟴𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲 🏆
— Warwickshire CCC 🏏 (@WarwickshireCCC) September 5, 2023
Warwickshire’s Under-18s have been crowned national champions – just days after the Under-14s triumphed in their final.
🐻#YouBears
Shadows stretching at Chelmsford, as Harmer spits one out of the dust. Four men drool round the bat.
Holden angles the bat and sends the ball nicely into the giving gloves of Rossington. Middx 55-5. Yadav 3-11.
Yadav looks like an athlete…good luck Middle
Zac Crawley to captain men's ODI team in series against Ireland
Zak Crawley (Kent – Captain)
Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire – Vice Captain)
Sam Hain (Warwickshire)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Craig Overton (Somerset)
Matthew Potts (Durham)
Phil Salt (Lancashire)
George Scrimshaw (Derbyshire)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Luke Wood (Lancashire)
The squad includes three uncapped players: Sam Hain, Jamie Smith and George Scrimshaw. Before the squad was finalised, the selectors consulted with the first-class counties, and weighed their ambitions in the run-in to the end of the LV= Insurance County Championship season.
Tea-time scores
DIVISION ONE
The Rosebowl: Hampshire 308 & 303-3 dec BEAT Somerset 137 & 316 by 185 runs.
The County Ground: Lancashire 524 BEAT Northants 232 and 266 by an innings and 26 runs
The Oval: Surrey 396 BEAT Warwickshire 161 and 138 by an innings and 97 runs.
Day three: Chelmsford: Essex 304 and 319-7dec v Middlesex 179 and 42-4 Middx need 403 to win
DIVISION TWO
Chester-le-Street: Durham 505-9dec and 57-3 BEAT v Sussex 266 and 295 by seven wickets.
Grace Road: Leicestershire 204 and 168-2 BEAT Gloucestershire 159 and 212 by 8 wickets
New Road: Worcestershire 284 and 145 BEAT Glamorgan 170 and 179 by 80 runs
Scarborough: Yorkshire 297 and 520-9dec BEAT Derbyshire 247 and 293 by 277 runs.
Stoneman’s stonewalling is over – as Critchley holds on at third slip. A second for Yadav. Middlesex 42-4 and that’s tea. Scores to follow – with everything wrapped up apart from the north London agony at Chelmsford.
And back at Chelmsford, a first Essex wicket for Umesh Yadav. No rest for Middlesex in the heat: 42 for three. Stoneman hangs on, six runs in 46 balls.
Hampshire beat Somerset by 185 runs
The Rosebowl: Hampshire 308 & 303-3 dec BEAT Somerset 137 & 316 by 185 runs.
Four wickets for Dawson and a fifth win for Hampshire. Somerset seem far from the nearly men of a few years ago.
As Dom Bess polishes his four-wicket haul, some news on Dan Moriarty – thank you Richard Spiller.
”You asked about whether Dan Moriarty was back at Surrey. Yes, he is playing for the second team this week against Somerset at Taunton Vale.”
I see that Surrey side also includes Amar Virdi; and the Somerset side Thomas Rew – a wicketkeeper like his brother.
And a second for Harmer….this time Cracknell lbw for 12. Essex 26-1. Stoneman not looking too handy against Cook either…
While over at the Rose Bowl, Somerset are nine down and Liam Dawson has three, six in the match, plus a century. Hampshire storming to victory but too late for cigars.
After “bucket-hands” GBH drops a catch, he makes amends by tempting Robson with his second ball, only for Dan Lawrence to drop-and-roll at leg slip.And do it starts, Middlesex 24-1.
Peter Handscomb signs a two-year deal with Leicestershire
Funny old world if Middlesex go down and Leicestershire go up.
…and he starts with a no ball. Maybe this won’t got the way we all think it will go, Middlesex.
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Essex declare and Middlesex need 445 to win.
Jamie Porter has the ball in his hand…
Yorkshire beat Derbyshire by 277 runs!
Scarborough: Yorkshire 297 and 520-9dec BEAT Derbyshire 247 and 293 by 277 runs.
That was quick, the last three wickets -puff- gone for three runs. Bess finishes with four, Revis with three. ( Just noticed, no Moriarty. Has he briefly returned to Surrey?) . A fourth defeat for Derbyshire (only Gloucestershire have more), though a small bow of acknowledgement is due to Wayne Madsen and Harry Came at the top of the order; Anuj Dal and Zak Chappell at the bottom.
Derbyshire now just a slip from down and out as Conners swiftly follows Chappell, out for one.
Fifty for Matt Critchley – with the commentators naming him the best Essex signing since Ronnie Irani. One for your pinboard, Matt. As a boy he played Lancashire age-group cricket (thank you cricinfo) but failed to win an academy place ahead of Matt Parkinson (off to Kent) and Rob Jones (off to Worcestershire). As Adam Rossington follows Walter back to the pavilion – Essex 285-6, the lead a more than necessary 410 over Middlesex.
Walter has a biff and de Caires, a slip of a man, has ten! He’s had two sensational performances this year with the ball – seven against Hampshire now ten against Essex!
"It was a struggling day and a struggling week"
You have to feel for Luke Procter:
“It was a struggling day for us and a struggling week. We’ve not played some good cricket to be honest.
“We’ve only got three batting points all year. We’ve struggled all year with the batting, and it just hasn’t been good enough. We’ve got to get better.
“It’s not for lack of effort. Everyone’s putting in, but it just hasn’t been coming off.
And a wicket at Chelmsford – maybe we will get to the sticky end tonight. The bowler – the inescapable Josh de Caires.
Apologies, getting from a to be took longer than I’d envisaged. A few hopes of survival have whistled away since lunch. At the Rose Bowl, batter of the season, James Rew, has been out to spinner of the season Liam Dawson. And at Scarborough, a seventh wicket as Alex Thompson is safely collected behind the stumps.
Time for a stretch, and a nibble. Back soon and, in the meantime, some reading:
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 308 and 330-3dec v Somerset 137 and 202-4 Somerset need 300 to win
The County Ground: Lancashire 524 BEAT Northants 232 and 266 by an innings and 26 runs
The Oval: Surrey 396 BEAT Warwickshire 161 and 138 by an innings and 97 runs.
Day three: Chelmsford: Essex 304 and 206-3 v Middlesex 179
DIVISION TWO
Chester-le-Street: Durham 505-9dec and 57-3 BEAT v Sussex 266 and 295 by seven wickets.
Grace Road: Leicestershire 204 and 168-2 BEAT Gloucestershire 159 and 212 by 8 wickets
New Road: Worcestershire 284 and 145 BEAT Glamorgan 170 and 179 by 80 runs
Scarborough: Yorkshire 297 and 520-9dec v Derbyshire 247 and 206-6 Derbys need 365 to win
And then there were three.
Both Somerset and Derbyshire four down in their quest to bat out the day while Sir Alastair bats sublimely Essex have hit pre-lunch slump, losing both Tom Westley (47) and Sir Alastair (84) with the addition of just four runs. Only the one Championship hundred for Cook this year – while Critchley has picked up two and Lawrence and Westley three. Intrigued to see how Lawrence does at The Oval – who is waiting in the wings to take his place at Chelmsford?
Durham beat Sussex by seven wickets!
Chester-le-Street: Durham 505-9dec and 57-3 BEAT v Sussex 266 and 295 by seven wickets.
Now just five points needed to secure promotion, though if Leicestershire don’t beat Sussex next week, Durham will be in Division One next year without lacing a boot.
🤝👋#ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/w71MclIGIw
— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) September 6, 2023
Three wickets for Jack Carson at CLS, Jones, Borthwick and Bedingham not a bad trio, but just a quick slip in the Durham march.
Re Sir Alastair and his plans for the next few summers: my eyes and ears on the ground (thank you Martin) says that the understanding is that SAC will sit down at the end of the season, as he does every year, and discuss with Anthony McGrath what happens next. The vibes are 50/50 as to whether he waxes down the bats one last time. Currently 82 not out from Essex’s 178-1 – the lead over Middlesex 308. We could really do with this match getting a wriggle on as CCLive will not be in attendance tomorrow.
Lancashire beat Northants by an innings and 26 runs!
The County Ground: Lancashire 524 BEAT Northants 232 and 266 by an innings and 26 runs
All over with just 50 minutes on the clock. Career-best figures of five for 25 fo Luke Wells and his friendly part-time leg spin. Five defeats for Northants in what has been a summer horriblis.
Calculator problems for Afghanistan, and their head coach Jonathan Trott – who were unaware of the NRR calculations that would have give Afghanistan a chance of qualifying for the Asia Cup Super Fours.
We were never communicated those calculations. All we were communicated was that we needed to win in 37.1 overs. We weren’t told what the overs in which we could get 295 or 297. [That we could win in] 38.1 overs was never communicated to us.
Durham need 57 to win!
No record-last stand at The Riverside, as Parky persuades Fynn Hudson-Prentice into an unwieldy up and at em. Ollie Robinson (that one) swipes down the stumps. Four wickets for Parky – eight in the match – and a season that started so miserably finishes with a flourish.
Northants lose 7, 9, 10 in a flash. Four to Luke Wells. First for the early-bird coach home and the naughty-boy bath.
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Another half century for Sir Alastair!
Rolling back the years, rolling out the runs. Another half century as he and Tom Westley build the lead against Middlesex – now 258.
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And a wicket at Scarborough, where the sun shines on a knowledgeable crowd who’ve continued to turn up despite the complete non-event (points-wise) of the match. Guest snaffled off Coad, for 20.
An early wicket at the Rose Bowl – that man Abbas again, the indomitable Sean Dickson has to turn on his heel for 63. Somerset 106-3.
Harry Brook – the story continues…
Tuesday's round-up
It took Surrey just 15 minutes to draw a line through Warwickshire and cement their place as sparkling favourites for the Championship title.
“Our desire is certainly there in our dressing room,” said Rory Burns, 22 points fresh in the captain’s pocket. “We love playing four-day cricket for Surrey.” That won’t have come as a surprise to Warwickshire, whose batting was decimated in what was a must-win game for them to stay in the running. Dan Worrall snaffled two more wickets to add to Monday’s haul to finish with five for 25, eight for 59 in the match.
At a parched Chelmsford, Surrey’s nearest rivals Essex also made hay. Josh de Caires had time to pick up a career-best eighth wicket before Jamie Porter tightened the laces on his boots and set off. At 25 for four, Middlesex’s innings resembled congealed scrambled egg, but Max Holden and Ryan Higgins restored some sensibility. Porter finished with six for 34, his third five-fer in a row, collecting 50 wickets for the year. There was just the one wicket for Simon Harmer. Sir Alastair Cook then stroked Essex to a useful lead.
Leicestershire, for so long the butt of the joke, kept up their push for promotion after beating Gloucestershire by eight wickets, thanks to a calm partnership of 161 between Colin Ackermann and Lewis Hill. Worcestershire comfortably beat the promotion challengers Glamorgan, despite the best efforts of Billy Root (84).
With the sniff of Division One in their nostrils, Durham took the extra half-hour to try to wheedle out Sussex, but couldn’t quite finish the job. Bas de Leede threw in three wickets to go alongside his maiden first-class century, with Matthew Potts and Matt Parkinson also gathering three apiece. There were three Sussex half centuries – Ollie Carter, Chesteshwar Pujara and Fynn Hudson-Prentice – as they tackled their forlorn task.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 308 and 330-3dec v Somerset 137 and 102-2 Somerset need 400 to win
The County Ground: Northants 232 and 211-5 v Lancashire 524
The Oval: Surrey 396 BEAT Warwickshire 161 and 138 by an innings and 97 runs.
Day one: Chelmsford: Essex 304 and 104-1 v Middlesex 179
DIVISION TWO
Chester-le-Street: Durham 505-9dec v Sussex 266 and 263-9
Grace Road: Leicestershire 204 and 168-2 BEAT Gloucestershire 159 and 212 by 8 wickets
New Road: Worcestershire 284 and 145 BEAT Glamorgan 170 and 179 by 80 runs
Scarborough: Yorkshire 297 and 520-9dec v Derbyshire 247 and 65-1 Derbys need 506 to win
Preamble
Good morning! As the Indian summer bakes on – 27 degrees this afternoon here in Manchester- pieces of the Championship puzzle have started to fall into place. Surrey look uncatchable, Durham are soon to be, Worcestershire and Leicestershire to arm-wrestle for promotion. Five games still in play, though not for long at Chester-le-Street, where Durham need just the one Sussex wicket. The batters of Somerset, Northants and Derbyshire have long days ahead – so eyes right to Chelmsford, where it is only day three and Essex are building a more-than useful lead to keep a theoretical chance of chasing Surrey. Play starts at 10.30am – see you here!
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