County roundup
A thunder and lightning 88 from Ethan Brookes took Worcestershire to within sniffing distance of victory on a morning of high drama at Chelmsford. Starting the day needing 110, with four wickets in hand, Worcestershire quickly lost three, which stung Brookes into an astonishing array of hitting, finding the rope even with every Essex fielder stationed on the boundary.
But with 28 needed, and just after flaying Porter over fine leg for his seventh six, Brookes palmed the ball in the air and Porter threw himself into a caught and bowled down in the dust. Brookes put out a questioning arm and a fired-up Porter briefly looked as if he was going into the ring. But the umpire gently intervened, the finger was raised and handshakes followed. It was Essex’s first win of the season.
At Canterbury, what had been a plodding final day blew up spectacularly after Kent tripped up during a nominal chase of 413 in 41 overs. Tom Price rattled through the top order with four for 33 and, at 97 for six, Gloucestershire smelt blood. But an unbeaten 54 from Zak Crawley, and staunch support from Grant Stewart, took Kent home.
Middlesex beat Glamorgan by nine wickets at Lord’s, despite stoical batting from Chris Cooke and Ned Leonard. The players wore black armbands and the flags were lowered in memory of the late umpire Jeff Evans.
Elsewhere, the weather flattened the chances of a result. At Old Trafford, play only got under way at 4.30pm, with Leicestershire trying to squeeze seven wickets out of a session, even putting boundary patrollers in the stands to ensure the ball got back to the middle quickly. But Marcus Harris and Josh Bohannon guided Lancashire to safety in a partnership of 79.
Rain, bad light and the deadpan bats of Ed Barnard and Olly Hannon-Dalby thwarted Nottinghamshire’s hopes of victory against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
An unbeaten 86 from Jonny Bairstow ensured Yorkshire’s innings didn’t collapse at Chester le Street, against a Durham side without their injured seamers Paul Coughlin and Brendan Doggett. Afternoon rain added a full stop to the match. Surrey continued their uneasy start to the season, the champions drawing their third match in succession. Sussex’s Tom Haines and Dan Hughes were able to bat their way to handshakes after Surrey had lost seven for 100 in the morning session, the left-arm spinner James Coles finishing with five.
Sean Dickson and Tom Abell batted Somerset to a draw against Hampshire.
And that is that, for round three. Well done Zak Crawley and bad luck Gloucestershire.
Thanks for your company over these last four days – have a lovely bank holiday evening. We’ll be back on Friday for round four. Bye!
Final scores
Chester le Street: Durham 427 DRAW WITH Yorkshire 307 and 277-6
Chelmsford: Essex 179 and 317 BEAT Worcestershire 202 and 266 by 28 runs
Southampton: Hampshire 336 DRAW WITH Somerset 184 and 163-2
Hove: Sussex 435 and 132-0 DRAW WITH Surrey 490
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 and 181-6 DRAW with Nottinghamshire 367
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 307 and 202-3 DRAW WITH Northamptonshire 500-8dec
Canterbury: Kent 393 and 116-6 DRAW with Gloucestershire 472 and 333-5dec
Old Trafford: Lancashire 263 and 90-3 DRAW with Leicestershire 491-8dec
Lord’s: Middlesex 470-9dec and 59-1 BEAT Glamorgan 199 and 329 by nine wickets
Kent DRAW with Gloucestershire
And breathe!
Canterbury: Kent 393 and 116-6 DRAW with Gloucestershire 472 and 333-5dec
Kent 14 points, Gloucestershire 16.
Updated
And then there was one. Five overs left at Canterbury, four wickets needed, but Crawley still there.
Warwickshire DRAW with Nottinghamshire
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 and 181-6 DRAW with Nottinghamshire 367
Warwicks points, Notts
Middlesex BEAT Glamorgan by nine wickets
Lord’s: Middlesex 470-9dec and 59-1 BEAT Glamorgan 199 and 329 by nine wickets
Middlesex 21 points, Glamorgan one
Kent suddenly six down…
With Middlesex close to victory at Lord’s, Zak Crawley putting together a Kent reaguard to defy Gloucestershire and the rain looking like it has defeated Nottinghamshire, time for me to write up. Do chat on below the line.
Players off for bad light and suspect that is that ... lots of oohs, a few ahhs ... but no genuine chances produced during that mini session. And as I type this, there is mizzle to boot. Stick a fork in this one.
Lancashire DRAW with Leicestershire
Lancashire’s blushes saved by the weather and, lately, Harris (34) and Bohannon (45) .
Old Trafford: Lancashire 263 and 90-3 DRAW with Leicestershire 491-8dec
Lancashire 11 points, Leicestershire 15
Updated
Crawley has found some more reliable company in Joey Evison. Kent 80-4.
Update from Lord’s (thank you Romeo)
”Covers coming off at Lord’s. I don’t think there been much rain at all, if any. Only strip (hover) and run-ups were covered. Still looks pretty dark, mind.”
It is also dark at Old Trafford, where the floodlights are not yet on and the close fielders are breathing down Bohannon’s neck.
Hampshire DRAW with Somerset
Another win for the weather.
Southampton: Hampshire 336 DRAW WITH Somerset 184 and 163-2
Hampshire 13 points, Somerset 11
The rain continues to fall at Lord’s.
And we have some Rehan Ahmed from the Jimmy Anderson end.
Lights now on at Edgbaston and unless there is a dramatic turn of events in the next 10 minutes or so, this one is heading for a draw. Great to see Josh Tongue haring in (even if the red socks are bugging me) but OHD is very much his equal so far. Sixty balls of defiance so far from the big man.
YJB speaks after the draw with Durham:
“Really pleased to get out of that the way that we did. Obviously, losing the toss we would have had a look to bowl as well. We actually went alright there.
“We left a few out there (first innings), and a few softer dismissals. As a group, we’ll look to improve on that. I think that’s a fairly easy fix, if I’m honest. There’s a lot of talent within the group.
“They put us under pressure. For two of their guys to get 150, it’s exactly what Division One cricket is about. It’s probably the biggest difference between that and Division Two - when a teams’s on top, they don’t let you off. And that’s a lesson we can learn as a group.”
Another one slips between Cox’s gloves, Bohannon again, and it feels like the air has left the balloon.
And a fourth for Tom Price! This time it’s Jack Leaning. Suddenly this is looking very spicy for Kent. Time for a Hollioake pep talk.
Sussex DRAW with Surrey
And the champions start the season with three draws. Sussex one win and two draws.
Hove: Sussex 435 and 132-0 DRAW WITH Surrey 490
Surrey 15 points, Sussex 14.
At Canterbury, Kent have lost another – Muyeye, a third for Tom Price. Crawley still standing tall on 23. Kent 48-3.
Leicestershire have posted spare bodies in the stands to throw back the ball to the bowler as quickly as possible.
We think there are 16 people in Old Trafford to see Cox drop Bohannon, on 10, off Holland.
Durham draw with Yorkshire
Chester le Street: Durham 427 DRAW WITH Yorkshire 307 and 277-6
Durham 15 points, Yorkshire 13 points
Here come the umpires, black armbands on their left arms, in memory of Jeff Evans. Leicestershire too. Holland has the ball. Four slips. And a caramel egg from Paul Edwards.
Seven overs gone at Edgbaston and just the one run off the bat of Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who could easily have run three after a crisp straight drive. First time watching Farhan Ahmed in the flesh for me and it’s quite the spectacle, the young offie standing at the top of his mark legs apart like a baseball pitcher about to wind up on the mound, before skipping in with good energy and getting some excellent purchase on the ball.
And while the rest of the country takes tea, things have got underway at Edgbaston. Time for me to cycle to OT for the denouement. Back shortly.
Kent’s chase of 413 already looks green about the gills – Tom Price has removed both Ben Compton and Daniel Bell Drummond in the six overs possible before tea. Kent 8 for two.
Tea time scores
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham 427 v Yorkshire 307 and 277-6 rain stopped play
Chelmsford: Essex 179 and 317 BEAT Worcestershire 202 and 266 by 28 runs
Southampton: Hampshire 336 v Somerset 184 and 159-2
Hove: Sussex 435 and 132-0 and v Surrey 490
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 and 163-6 v Nottinghamshire 367
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 307 and 202-3 DRAW WITH Northamptonshire 500-8dec
Canterbury: Kent 393 and 8-2 v Gloucestershire 472 and 333-5dec Kent need 405 to win
Old Trafford: Lancashire 263 and 16-3 v Leicestershire 491-8dec no play yet today
Lord’s: Middlesex 470-9dec and 16-1 v Glamorgan 199 and 329 Middx need 43 to win, rain stopped play
We have a 4.30 start at Old Trafford
If the rain stays away. There will be 24 overs for Lancashire to survive.
They take an early tea at Lord's
…with 43 needed for a Middlesex win. The hover cover chugs into place.
Tom Haines is well on the way to his second century against Surrey of the match, 68 not out of 128-9. Rob Key is probably on the stream right now. Though on the back of his century yesterday, Rehan Ahmed could be a Bazball choice if they decide not to go with Crawley. Interesting to see if he bowls later at OT, he didn’t in the first innings but we think he had a sore finger.
Middlesex are going out swinging, with rain on the way. And lose their first wicket, Max Holden, having a heave-ho at Leonard, caught by Northeast. And on come the floodlights.
Stronger whispers of a restart at 4.30 at Old Trafford. The groundstaff are mopping with purpose.
Restart at Edgbaston at 3.45
With 36 overs remaining. Nottinghamshire, you’ll remember, need just four wickets for victory.
The sun has been spotted in the Manchester area.
Middlesex need 59 runs to beat Glamorgan
And that’s the end of the Glamorgan innings, Bashir hooking Brookes into the hands of Toby Roland-Jones for one.
There are currently three games still going: at Lord’s, where Middlesex need one wicket and then 58 runs before the rain catches up with them.
At Canterbury, where Gloucestershire lead by 407. Another wham-bam half century for van Buuren. Time for a declaration?
And at Hove, where Haines and Hughes are going through the motions.
Rain stops play at Chester le Street
And with Bairstow stranded on 86, the covers come on.
A 3.30pm start in Birmingham
Official news at Edgbaston is a 3.30pm start if no further rain. Keen to see if Oliver Hannon-Dalby can make his maiden first-class century. Just 100 runs short as it stands
Now Leonard, who attempts a hot-headed, off-balance, reverse-sweep at Gohar – possibly not the coach’s shot of choice. Goes for a neat 47. Glam 352-9.
There’s a wicket as Ackermann breaks through in the north east – Revis gone for 40. Durham 272-6. And in London, relevantly to a result. This time it is Chris Cooke who must trudge home, lbw for 49 to Brookes (the other one). Middx 321-8, a lead of 50. Enter Shoaib Bashir, for his final innings before he returns to Taunton.
Looks quite bleak at CLS, tall floodlights shining like emaciated angels. YJB has a restrained (by his standards) 83 from 147 all, Yorks lead by 147 runs. Rain is due soon.
News from Edgbaston
I’ve heard a whisper we might start in an hour.
Derbyshire draw with Northants
The County Ground: Derbyshire 307 and 202-3 DRAW WITH Northamptonshire 500-8dec
Northants 16 points, Derbyshire 12
Chelmsford brouhaha
Jamie Porter “He [Brookes] was within his rights to question the wicket, but I was 100 per cent certain I’d taken it. I’ve never claimed a catch that wasn’t clean in my career, not that I’ve been in that position too often. But I’m 100 per cent certain it carried and the umpire at point confirmed it. He’s [Brookes] obviously disappointed because he felt like he deserved to be on the right end of that result, and I agree the way he played he did deserve to be on the winning side. But that’s the way it goes.”
A diplomatic Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson: “It was a remarkable innings from Ethan. It just showed the skill level he has and the ability. It was amazing to watch from a position where for love and money it didn’t look like we were going to get so close. For him to produce something like that should give him a great deal of confidence.
“The coaching staff here have known Ethan for a long time so when he left Warwickshire we knew there was something there. He got his maiden first-class hundred against Hampshire last year on a spin-friendly wicket was also an am amazing innings, and very similar to that in the tempo he played. We believe we’ve got an exciting cricketer.
“I thought there were incredible measurements in his innings. Yes, he did throw the kitchen sink at a few but the way he conducted himself and the fact Jacob [Duffy] faced so few balls was real testament to an intellect cricketer, someone who knew how to go about it. You talk about throwing caution to the wind, I think there was an element of freedom about how he went about it. He’s an excellent cricketer.
“I thought the first half an hour, Ports and Snates bowled exceptionally well and gave us absolutely nothing and put us under a lot of pressure and picked up the wickets through that. This morning we were really hopeful, we pride ourselves on being able to bat all the way down and we thought we had an opportunity, we knew it would be hard work, but we had an opportunity to get over the line.”
Updated
Apologies about the post-lunch delay, slight technical hitch. The news from Old Trafford is, that although it is still draining, they’re are hopeful of a start at 4pm.
There are umpires out in the middle at Edgbaston but their brollies are up. It’s a tricky one, as the rain is still spitting and so it’s not like the drying process has started. Equally, the forecast is a bit better this afternoon and Nottinghamshire might only need half an hour, an hour maybe, to get the job done.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham 427 v Yorkshire 307 and 232-5
Chelmsford: Essex 179 and 317 BEAT Worcestershire 202 and 266 by 28 runs
Southampton: Hampshire 336 v Somerset 184 and 158-2
Hove: Sussex 435 and 14-0 and v Surrey 490
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 and 163-6 v Nottinghamshire 367 no play yet today
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 307 and 202-3 v Northamptonshire 500-8dec no play yet today
Canterbury: Kent 393 v Gloucestershire 472 and 233-3
Old Trafford: Lancashire 263 and 16-3 v Leicestershire 491-8dec no play yet today
Lord’s: Middlesex 470-9 v Glamorgan 199 and 269-7
Surrey are all out for 490 , a pocket stuffed with batting points. Five wickets for James Coles. Sussex’s openers building up their appetite with handful of pre-lunch overs.
A little more on the nearly-hero of the hour. Allrounder Brookes, 23, made the less-travelled Warwickshire to Worcestershire move in the winter of 2023 in search of more first-team opportunities.
Mark Robinson, then the Warwicks coach said: “Everyone at Warwickshire couldn’t be happier for Ethan with his move where hopefully he will get the game time his talent deserves.
“His chances with us have been limited but he has been a model professional and the type of person everyone at the Club wants to succeed.
“He’s a great lad and a top team man and I know he will take those excellent traits to Worcester with him.”
Updated
Essex beat Worcestershire by 28 runs!
A controversial end to a thrilling chase – Brookes given out caught and bowled to a sprawling Porter. Brookes put out a questioning arm and for a second it looks as if Porter is going to nut him. But the umpire gently intervenes and gives the catch the nod. Handshakes all round. What a sensational 89.
Updated
Yorkshire are chugging along at CLS, waiting for the rain to fall. The new ball has just been taken, the lead 79. An unbeaten half century for YJB.
Somerset lost Lammonby this morning, but Abell and Dickson (73) have taken Somerset into a tentative lead at Southampon.
Surrey are seven down at Hove, with a lead of 31.
At Chelmsford: Duffy has survived an over from Shane Snater, who (fun fact) is Jason Roy’s cousin.
Updated
A strange sight at Chelmsford, with every fielder on the rope….they go for the second run and a diving Brookes just beats the throw. And his reward is to be hit amidships next ball by Porter. We must leave him briefly, rolling on the ground, to see what’s happening elsewhere in Division One.
Updated
And on he goes: Brookes pulls, a stylish low whisk between deep square leg and fine leg for four. Then a straight six back over Shane Snater’s head. Forty-four needed. Make that 40 with four byes…Westley stops Snater at the top of his mark and points around the field. Tall Paul joins in…
Apologies, there is, of course, another Division Two game: at Lord’s, where TRJ picked up an early wicket, a filthy Kiran Carlson given out caught behind. But, since then, Cooke and van der Gugten have added another 34 runs. Glamorgan are 51 behind, six down.
And Brookes heaves Harmer once more – this time, they think, into the river.
Brookes still going – Harmer, clonk, six'; Rajitha, hoof, four Worcs need 55 more..
A couple of quick wickets at Hove – both to Jaydon Seales. Foakes removed for 60, Ryan Patel for 24. Surrey lead by four runs.
Rajitha gets his man, Allison for a duck, but now, nine wickets down, Brookes is on the attack – two successive sixes off Rajitha keeps the dream alive.
Around the grounds: in Division Two, there is only one game in town, Kent v Gloucestershire at Canterbury. Ollie Price and Miles Hammond are continuing their work, Glos 154-2, a lead of 233 runs. A declaration mid afternoon- weather permitting?
As well as Porter, the tall, rangy Rajitha is now causing some trouble at Chelmsford. Not sure how long Allison and Brookes will be able to stick around.
And a text-book slip catch to the tallest of those three slips, Paul Walter. Tom Taylor is tempted by one waving at him just outside off stump. A fifth wicket for the excllent Porter, Worcs 192-8.
…Worcestershire have already lost a wicket, and unfortunately for them it was Matthew Waite, a fourth wicket for Porter. The bowlers are in shirt sleeves, the keeper up the stumps, the three slips neatly arranged in height order.
Ali reports from Birmingham, where it is “pissing down”. It isn’t currently raining in Manchester, but is very soggy – think pile of newspapers accidentally left out in the rain by the newsagent. Rain too at Derby. Elsewhere, however…
Free entry at Chelmsford
Last day of the Easter holidays fun? Could be a cracking couple of hours.
Delayed starts ..
at Derby, Old Trafford and Edgbaston.
I’m not sure if Amit is still here, but I read your comment yesterday after work. Thank you for the pointer! For those, who like me, had missed this story: Vaibhav Suryavanshi made his debut for Rajasthan Royals earlier this week. At 14(!) he was already the youngest player to ever feature in the IPL but soon trumped that by hitting Shardul Thakur over extra cover for six first ball. He thumped 34 from 20 balls, in Rajasthan Royals two-run defeat by Lucknow Super Giants.
Read more here. I can’t actually find the youngest Championship player, but Rocky Flintoff and Farhan Ahmed were both 16 when they made their debuts. Wiki suggests it could have been Charles Young , who was 15 when he played for Hampshire against Kent in 1867.
RIP Jeff Evans:
Glamorgan County Cricket Club are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former First-Class Umpire, Jeff Evans. His passing will be marked with a minute's silence before play today at Lord's.https://t.co/0UQ2SChaJu pic.twitter.com/pUWN3ee75S
— Glamorgan Cricket 🏆 (@GlamCricket) April 21, 2025
Sunday's round up
Surrey teammates Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence gave the Hove faithful an Easter treat with hundreds of a deliciously attacking hue. Pope’s 102 was his first Championship hundred for two years, and his first away from The Oval for eight. Lawrence survived one fluffed catch and flayed six sixes in his 92-ball century.
An awful last half‑hour of the day left Lancashire in deep trouble against Leicestershire. Set eight overs to survive, the steady Old Trafford pitch turned toxic track in the hands of Ian Holland and Logan van Beek. Keaton Jennings was bowled off his second delivery. Anderson Phillip, who only landed in Manchester just over a week ago, found himself once more walking out as nightwatchman– for the third innings in four. Nine balls later he was walking back. Michael Jones soon found his off stump dancing behind him. In the end, 16 for three felt like a lucky escape.
Earlier, Tom Hartley had wheeled through 44 overs as Leicestershire ticked along to 491 for eight declared, a lead of 228. Peter Handscomb’s 142 not out punished the tired bowlers, after Rehan Ahmed skipped to his second first‑class hundred.
Ben Compton’s 178 ushered Kent towards safety at Canterbury. Gloucestershire then built a lead of 191 in their second innings before the light dipped. At Lord’s, Glamorgan chances of survival shrank thanks to two wickets in two balls from Middlesex’s Toby Roland‑Jones. Migael Pretorius (five for 64) and Tom Lammonby (three for 26) restricted Hampshire’s first‑innings lead, and Sean Dickson’s undefeated 55 kept Somerset alive.
Worcestershire were set 295 to win at Chelmsford, but Essex picked away, with three wickets for Jamie Porter. The tail must find 110 today on a hybrid pitch. Nottinghamshire need four wickets to beat Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Northamptonshire declared on 500 for eight at Derby, with a century from Saif Zaib and 150 from Luke Procter. Yorkshire rattled through Durham, taking the last nine first‑innings wickets for 126 – after Alex Lees had made 172 and Emilio Gary 152.
Updated
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham 427 v Yorkshire 307 and 132-4
Chelmsford: Essex 179 and 317 v Worcestershire 202 and 185-6 Worcs need 110 to win
Southampton: Hampshire 336 v Somerset 184 and 103-1
Hove: Sussex 435 v Surrey 390-3
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 and 163-6 v Nottinghamshire 367
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 307 and 202-3 v Northamptonshire 500-8dec
Canterbury: Kent 393 v Gloucestershire 472 and 112-2
Old Trafford: Lancashire 263 and 16-3 v Leicestershire 491-8
Lord’s: Middlesex 470-9 v Glamorgan 199 and 186-5
Weather watch
A downbeat Met office: “A rather cloudy start to the day, with outbreaks of rain across western parts. Rain moving eastwards through the day, followed by sunshine and showers. Some of the showers will be heavy at times, with hail and thunder.”
Preamble
Good morning from a damp Manchester. Overnight rain and drizzle in the air does not make for happy Foxes. But there is still time…
With Nottinghamshire and Essex, as well as Leicestershire, still chasing wins, there is much to play for. Points means prizes (maybe). Play is due to start at 11am, pull your umbrella from under the stairs and join us.
