Sussex win Hove thriller to go top of Division Two
A thrilling finish at Hove made up for four games ending in damp draws. After a stoical seventh-wicket partnership of 87 by Miles Hammond (77) and Zafar Gohar (52), plus some late Zaman Akhter pyrotechnics, Gloucestershire were able to set Sussex 144. Easy on paper, perhaps, but Zafar had other ideas. Short, athletic, with a brisk yet fluid approach to the crease, like a postman from the Royal Ballet, he whittled through Sussex’s top order, who were eager for runs with rain in the air. When Fynn Hudson-Prentice swept and was pinned on the pads, Sussex were wobbling at 115 for six. The serene Cheteshwar Pujara, however, sailed them home. Zafar finished with five for 59; Sussex sit on top of Division Two after three rounds.
Surrey ironed out any creases with a first win of the season, beating Kent by an innings and 37 runs. Kent held up the victory parade till mid-afternoon but four wickets for Dan Worrall and three for Cameron Steel sealed the deal – Steel remains the leading Championship wicket taker with 20. Matt Parkinson was the last man out, for 39, his highest first-class score, and Joey Evison made 53.
No play was possible at all at Wantage Road or Derby and the rain also spoiled things at the Rose Bowl – where Rob Yates was unbeaten on 84 as Warwickshire chased quick runs against Hampshire. Every member of Warwickshire’s top three now averages over 100. Only nine overs were possible at Taunton where Joe Clarke and Will Young’s third-wicket partnership remained unbroken, finally settling on 392.
Durham announced the arrival of Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle to play in the next six Championship games – it will be Siddle’s fifth county. He replaces fellow Victorian Scott Boland, who sustained a heel injury after playing just one match.
And that’s your lot. Thanks for your company as ever, we’ll be back on Friday for round four. Bye!
Final scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 377 BEAT Lancashire 146 and 107 BY AN INNINGS AND 124 RUNS
Southampton: Hampshire 365 DRAW WITH Warwickshire 455 and 205-4
Canterbury: Kent 244 and 203-6 LOSE TO Surrey 543-7dec BY AN INNINGS AND 37 RUNS
Taunton: Somerset 454 DRAW WITH Nottinghamshire 193 and 440-2
Kidderminster: Worcestershire 184 and 272 LOSE TO Durham 244 and 397-5dec BY 185 RUNS
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 167 and 224-6 DRAW WITH Leicestershire 574-7dec
Lord’s: Middlesex 246 and 158-4 BEAT Yorkshire 159 and 244 BY SIX WICKETS
Northampton: Northamptonshire 605-6dec DRAW WITH Glamorgan 271 and 104-3
Hove: Sussex 479 and 144-6 BEAT Gloucesterhire 417 and 205 BY FOUR WICKETS
Sussex beat Gloucestershire by four wickets!
Wisely guided oh great Pujara (44) and Danny Lamb (17)
Hove: Sussex 479 and 144-6 BEAT Gloucesterhire 417 and 205 BY FOUR WICKETS
Updated
Let’s try again. With only 16 needed, and Pujara still there, Sussex have cracked it. I must go to write up for the paper.
And now Hudson Prentice follows the parade.. Pujara taps the non striker’s crease. Zafar 5-44, los 115-6 need 29.
With just 32 needed, I think Sussex have this in the bag. Pujara (34) and Simpson (25) and NOOOO! Simpson is caught at midwicket by a flying fielder.
A purposeful leave by Pujara. Getting gloomy at Hove, and Sussex aren’t using floodlights this year. Gloucs could yet be saved by the gloom.
And then there was one.
Northants draw with Glamorgan
Northampton: Northamptonshire 605-6dec DRAW WITH Glamorgan 271 and 104-3
Northants 15 points, Glamorgan 10
Ooooh, spicy, one keeps very low from Singh Dale. Pujara though, looks an immovable object. Sussex need another 64, six wickets in hand.
Hampshire DRAW with Warwickshire
Southampton: Hampshire 365 DRAW WITH Warwickshire 455 and 205-4
Hampshire 10 points, Warwickshire 13
We’re underway for a final time at Hove, with 70 more needed to win.
Pitch watch
A further inspection at 4pm at Wantage Road. No news yet from a wet Southampton. Expect the plug to be pulled on both soon.
Tea time scores
Chelmsford: Essex 377 BEAT Lancashire 146 and 107 BY AN INNINGS AND 124 RUNS
Southampton: Hampshire 365 v Warwickshire 455 and 205-4 rain
Canterbury: Kent 244 and 203-6 LOSE TO Surrey 543-7dec BY AN INNINGS AND 37 RUNS
Taunton: Somerset 454 DRAW WITH Nottinghamshire 193 and 440-2
Kidderminster: Worcestershire 184 and 272 LOSE TO Durham 244 and 397-5dec BY 185 RUNS
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 167 and 224-6 DRAW WITH Leicestershire 574-7dec
Lord’s: Middlesex 246 and 158-4 BEAT Yorkshire 159 and 244 BY SIX WICKETS
Northampton: Northamptonshire 605-6dec v Glamorgan 271 and 104-3 rain, no play yet today
Hove: Sussex 479 v Gloucesterhire 417 and 156-6
And a fourth! snaffled at second slip. Sussex 70-4, but Pujara still there. Four for Zafar. And that is TEA!
Tom Haines, moment of madness. Charges Zafar, stumped by Bracey. Wheeling celebrations. Sussex 60-3.
Two bits of news.
They’ve taken tea at the Rose Bowl
Glos have not beaten Sussex since 2004 in the Championship. They’re hurrying along at 45-2 off 9.4 overs.99 needed.
Pujara briskly approaches the crease. The umpires tucks a jumper through what looks like a loop on the back of his coat. Very handy that.
And a second for Zafar! Much Glos delight as Alsop is trapped going back and away, readying to cut. Sussex 25-2.
Just one game currently in play- and a wicket has already fallen at Hove, Sussex 17-1. Tom Clark the man out to Zafar for 11.
An inspection shortly at Wantage Road
Man the lifeboats.
Surrey beat Kent by an innings and 37 runs!
All over at last, as Parky gives a third catch to Jamie Smith, after a personal best 39 off 147 balls. Well batted Kent tail. Surrey start to purr.
Canterbury: Kent 244 and 203-6 LOSE TO Surrey 543-7dec BY AN INNINGS AND 37 RUNS
Surrey 24 points, Kent 2
Sussex need 144 to win
The great Gloucestershire resistance comes to an end as Seales grabs two in the over to finish with 4-18. Zafar the penultimate man out for 52. Time for a Tom Price day?
And four more! Swing and pound. The deficit falls below fifty.
Ha! Now four next ball.
Can Arafat survive a full over with the new ball from a steaming Kemar Roach? Having said that, he flicks him up and away off the ankle of his boots for six.
Singh does well to survive four balls from Cameron Steel’s over, but not the fifth, desperately pushing and giving an amazing one handed catch to Jamie Smith at silly mid on .
Rain at the Rose Bowl
Time, perhaps, to put this game out of its misery too.
Glad to see Parkinson is still fan of the long jumper pulled down over the bum.
At Hove, Carson continued his work, sending Goodman on his way two balls after Hammond. A pair for Goodman. Glos 195-8.
And Cam Steel pulls Surrey’s victory close, trapping Garrett lbw despite his elaborate prod forwards. At the other end Matt Parkinson examines his gloves in great detail. Two more wickets left for Surrey to grab, Kent still trail by 73.
And a wicket at Hove! Miles Hammond after 204 balls of concentration, lbw to Jack Carson for 77. Could slip slide away very quickly now. GLos 166-8, lead by 104.
Ooof and there goes Joey Evison, for 53, done by a flawed cut. A wicket for Tom Lawes.
Unfortunately for Kent, the weather looks pretty dandy in Canterbury, but the Parkinson-Evison partnership presses on. Over a hundred balls safely deflected each. The new ball due in eight overs.
Somerset draw with Notts
Average boosting: Young finishes 174 not out, Joe Clarke 213 not out.
Taunton: Somerset 454 DRAW WITH Nottinghamshire 193 and 440-2
Notts 10 pts, Somerset 15
Updated
Derby draw with Leicestershire
Washed away by the rain.
Derby: Derbyshire 167 and 224-6 DRAW WITH Leicestershire 574-7dec
Derbyshire 9 points, Leicestershire 16
Updated
Lunchtime scores
Chelmsford: Essex 377 BEAT Lancashire 146 and 107 BY AN INNINGS AND 124 RUNS
Southampton: Hampshire 365 v Warwickshire 455 and 184-4
Canterbury: Kent 244 and 203-6 v Surrey 543-7dec
Taunton: Somerset 454 v Nottinghamshire 193 and 440-2
Kidderminster: Worcestershire 184 and 272 LOSE TO Durham 244 and 397-5dec BY 185 RUNS
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 167 and 224-6 v Leicestershire 574-7dec rain, no play yet today
Lord’s: Middlesex 246 and 158-4 BEAT Yorkshire 159 and 244 BY SIX WICKETS
Northampton: Northamptonshire 605-6dec v Glamorgan 271 and 104-3 rain, no play yet today
Hove: Sussex 479 v Gloucesterhire 417 and 156-6
Scott Boland ruled out of his spell with Durham - replaced by Peter Siddle
A miserable end to Scott Boland’s spell with Durham, Peter Siddle will join Durham for the next six Championship games.
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Scott Boland. 🤞
— Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) April 22, 2024
A recent foot scan has shown that Boland will now require significant recovery and rehabilitation meaning he has been ruled out of his spell with Durham. pic.twitter.com/YKR9xz7SVZ
Updated
An early lunch at Derby but cricket seems less likely than a family of ducks coming to play, with huge fat puddles on the outfield. Ten minutes till lunch and Kent and Gloucestershire are still there!
And thanks to Romeo for this tweet of the Currie ball:
𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐄'𝐒 𝐓𝐎𝐎 𝐇𝐎𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐄! 🍛🥵
— Leicestershire CCC 🏏 (@leicsccc) April 21, 2024
What a spell this has been from Currie. 3⃣/9⃣ from his 4 overs so far. Home skipper Lloyd is his latest victim, left splayed by a dipping delivery. 😕
DER 79/3
🦊#DERvLEI pic.twitter.com/KeTZPF94xl
Updated
Cricket gear recycling project
Another wicket for Liam Dawson, Barnard caught and bowled for 18. Warwicks 156-3, the lead 246.
And just to give this project a little plug – working on reducing waste, saving carbon and making kit more accessible for all. If you live near Spencer, Rowledge or Frensham CCS, they are still collecting unwanted gear.
Over 90 items of cricket gear collected at the start of Cricket Gear Reuse pilot https://t.co/Cc6MEsbllS at @SpencerCricket - reducing waste & carbon, increasing participation & community @tjaldred @surreycricket @SurreyCricketFd @surreyep @BBCSurrey @BBCSport @UCAROffice pic.twitter.com/I2YvTK9cNj
— martin charter (@mcharter1) April 20, 2024
Round the grounds after the first hour and only three wickets have fallen all morning. Raining now at Taunton, and still no play at Wantage Road or Derbyshire.
Surrey’s Jordan Clark has just dropped a slippery caught and bowled, but Kent are giving a good account of themselves 183-6, Compton the only man out.
Warwickshire are still two down at the Rose Bowl, Rob. Yates continuing his perky start to the season with another fifty. Warwicks 141-2, the lead over Hants 231.
Gloucestershire too showing surprise resistance, 131-6. Zafar and Hammond have put on 51. The lead over Sussex now 69.
Well done Miles Hammond, a fine fifty full of fortitude at Hove, taking Glos from 14-2 to 125-6. No wickets fallen in the first hour. Just another five to survive.
Good morning, Gary Naylor. “I know people get sniffy about the tactic, mainly because it spoils stats (it seems), but shouldn’t Hampshire be lobbing a few in the air now to set up a target of 280 in 50 overs? With the snoredrawfest of the first two rounds pretty much a write-off, I rather hoped captains would be positively disposed towards forcing results. There’s only 11 rounds left after today!”
Someone did mention that we’ll be over half way through by the end of May! Dribs and drabs after that till we start again properly in September. Warwickshire now 109-2, Barnard joining Yates
Thanks to Richard O’Hagan for digging out this link to the Currie knuckleball.
At Canterbury, Matt Parkinson has just driven Kemar Roach for four. Last night he was phlegmatic about his first five-wicket haul for Kent, and quietly cutting about the Lancs set-up:
“I wouldn’t say it was nice (to get his first five wicket haul for Kent) after today. It was more bittersweet. I think it’s been coming out nice all season, it’s just we’ve never been in a position to push the game forward in the first three games. We’ve been on the back foot so it was nice to get five wickets but it was a tough day as well.
“The opening bowlers for Surrey, Worrall and Roach are class aren’t they? They probably showed our young lads how to bowl on there really. They bowled well and when you’re trailing by 300 and you’ve got a sticky 20 over session it’s never fun.”
(On settling in Kent) “I’m loving it but it’s cold isn’t it? I was promised warm weather when I signed the contract, I may have to speak to Paul (Downton) about that but it’s a fantastic group. It’s very different to Lancashire and I’ve loved it. I feel valued, I feel my opinions are valued.
“It is a (young group). That was one of the pulls to come here. I felt Lancashire was an old group I guess and you never quite felt that your voice is heard as much. Obviously here it’s a very young squad and even some of the boys that are older haven’t played a great deal so I guess it’s up to myself and Deebs, Jack Leaning, Joe Denly and Zak when he’s around to help the young lads.”
A shout out to 19-year-old Ronnie McKenna, who kept wicket for Essex yesterday after Michael Pepper picked up a finger injury.
👏 Ronnie McKenna, a product of the Essex Academy, did a brilliant job as our substitute wicket-keeper yesterday! pic.twitter.com/9j6B7SgqKO
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) April 22, 2024
Hampshire get rid of the big one – Davies for 40 to Abbas. Warwicks lead by 152. I wonder what sort of lead they’ll want if they fancy going for a win.
It’s not looking great for Kent. Nick Compton, batting down the order because of a stiff neck, had just become Dan Worrall’s fourth little snackrel of the innings. Kent 139-6, trail by 160, with all the top order back in the pavilion.
While Notts set about compiling more, more and more runs, this is a great spot:
Will Young setting a new 3rd wicket partnership for Nottinghamshire using a Gunn & Moore bat. The previous record of 367 was set in 1903 by William Gunn, the founder of Gunn & Moore, and his nephew John Gunn. https://t.co/GcJluopl5L
— Andrew (@shortflyslip) April 22, 2024
Weather watch
Wet. From the Met: “Cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle across England and Wales. Rain will be heavy at times in the morning, but gradually turn lighter through the afternoon.”
Delayed starts at Northants and Derby but on time elsewhere, I think.
Richard, some Sunday night quotes for you from Derby:
Derbyshire captain David Lloyd: “The way Madsey (Wayne Madsen) and Thommo (Alex Thomson) went about it was superb.
“They showed a lot of fight there, for those two to build that partnership was really good for us. They’ve made a really big effort for us so fingers crossed we can keep going tomorrow whatever the weather is.
“Just for pride you want to bat the day out and put some runs on the board and show some fight and character. It’s been a tough few days for the team and we have to learn a lot from this going forward.”
On the ball from Currie that bowled him he said: “He’s done me there! I thought this is hitting me on the head and it was obviously a knuckle ball and dipped, made me look a right idiot. Sometimes you just have to say well bowled.”
Leicestershire fast bowler Scott Currie said: “There wasn’t too much assistance and I can’t fault the lads at all, I thought they all stuck to it brilliantly and 12 wickets was a just reward.
“We’ll rock up tomorrow and see what’s in front of us. To get sixteen wickets in a day was going to be hard work,,it was all about sticking to what we’ve done so well as a group “
“On his ball to bowl Lloyd he said: “It’s something I’ve worked on over the years, it doesn’t normally dip quite like that but it did today and it’s always nice when you can make someone look a bit foolish but he’s a great player and I’m sure he’ll make myself look foolish on some other occasions.”
I can’t find a clip of that ball anywhere, if anyone does have one up their sleeve, please send it this way.
The dog is in disgrace after coming back from a wet walk, running upstairs, jumping on the bed with the clean sheets and rolling around. Nearly as big a disgrace as I am in with Richard O’Hagan:
”Morning, Tanya. I know that the ECB have no great love for Leicestershire, as evidenced by our not getting a women’s side that would’ve done wonders for cricket in the county, but surely we deserve a mention of our efforts in the freezing cold yesterday?”
Ooops! Apologies Leicestershire and Derbyshire fans. Not quite sure how that happened – sometimes something has to give with a limited word slot, but this time I just had a brain fade!
Sunday's round up
On a day when there was more speculation about Middlesex leaving Lord’s, the club got their first win since relegation, turning over Yorkshire by six wickets. George Hill gathered a stoical 75 as Middlesex were set 158 to win. Despite Ben Coad zoning in on Mark Stoneman’s pads in the first over, the middle order reached the target painstakingly.
At Kidderminster, Durham hurried to their first Division One victory since 2016. Set 458 to win, Worcestershire’s hopes floated away when Jake Libby was caught off Ben Raine, leaving the Pears 135 for six. Paul Coughlin finished with four for 45. Ollie Robinson again caught the eye as he and Graham Clark set up the declaration.
Essex polished their position at the top of Division One with a second win of the season, whistling through Lancashire before lunch to win by an innings. The attack made the most of a pitch that skittled low sometimes, and Lancashire had no reply after losing four top order batters in 16 balls. Jamie Porter took home three for 24, Shane Snater pocketed seven in the match.
Surrey are eyeing victory at Canterbury, after centuries for Dan Lawrence and Dom Sibley were followed by Dan Worrall scything through Kent, his three for 18 including Zak Crawley for four.
A record-breaking stand of 370 between Will Young (156) and Joe Clarke (209) led to a glut of runs at Taunton.
Somerset only took one wicket all day and applauded Clarke and Young off at stumps, new owners of Nottinghamshire’s record for the third wicket, one that had been on the books since 1903.
Glamorgan were pummelled at Wantage Road by an unbeaten double hundred from Northamptonshire’s Indian international Karun Nair, who has found the County Championship very much to his liking.
Sussex’s Ollie Robinson grabbed two wickets in three balls to send Gloucestershire into a spin. Hampshire’s Nick Gubbins and Fletcha Middleton both made hundreds against Warwickshire on a flat pitch at the Rose Bowl.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 377 BEAT Lancashire 146 and 107 BY AN INNINGS AND 124 RUNS
Southampton: Hampshire 365 v Warwickshire 455 and 46-0
Canterbury: Kent 244 and 120-5 v Surrey 543-7dec
Taunton: Somerset 454 v Nottinghamshire 193 and 418-2
Kidderminster: Worcestershire 184 and 272 LOSE TO Durham 244 and 397-5dec BY 185 RUNS
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 167 and 224-6 v Leicestershire 574-7dec
Lord’s: Middlesex 246 and 158-4 BEAT Yorkshire 159 and 244 BY SIX WICKETS
Northampton: Northamptonshire 605-6dec v Glamorgan 271 and 104-3
Hove: Sussex 479 v Gloucesterhire 417 and 81-6
Preamble
Good wet Monday morning! Six games still in play after Essex, Middlesex and Durham wrapped things up yesterday, and plenty more results in the pot if only the weather relents. Brew up, play (possibly) starts at 11am.
