County Championship roundup
Three nerve-jangling finishes pushed this June Championship round into the final hour. At the Rose Bowl Hampshire won a thriller thanks to Liam Dawson, who threw the bat with abandon for 67, after Yorkshire had induced an attack of the collywobbles by reducing Hampshire to 103 for six, chasing 197. The win leaves Hampshire sniffing Surrey’s coat-tails, only three points behind the leaders.
A barnstorming innings from Luke Wells carried Lancashire to a pitch-perfect run chase at Warwickshire. Set 329 in just over a day, Lancashire got there with 24 balls to spare. But it was not without incident: Keaton Jennings and Josh Bohannon both fell in one over from Olly Hannon-Dalby but Wells and Rob Jones took them within sight of the line.
Twelve wickets fell at Sophia Gardens, as Glamorgan wobbled chasing 141 in 43 overs against Sussex. An easy-looking chase quickly smelt differently at nine for three but Sam Northeast and Kiran Carlson carried them home.
Surrey remain unbeaten in all formats after an unexpectedly tense final day at Taunton. Lewis Gregory’s unbeaten 110, well supported by 42 from Peter Siddle, had given Somerset a breath of a chance, leaving Surrey to chase 193. After a steady opening partnership between Rory Burns and Ryan Patel, Surrey lost regular wickets, supersub Kasey Aldridge taking four for 61. Will Jacks skipped to a boundary-laden 62 before Jordan Clark hit the winning runs.
There were grins galore at Canterbury as Kent notched up their first victory of the Championship season, after it proved impossible for Gloucestershire to escape the folly of their Monday night collapse. Despite a couple of dropped catches the visitors could post a target of only 88 and Kent eased home. Jacob Duffy took eight wickets on his Kent debut, saying: “I was actually hanging around on holiday in Bristol ... so it just worked out beautifully.”
Durham and Worcestershire shook hands at Riverside after nearly 1,300 runs and no second-innings wickets.
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Jonny speaks:
I’d better start writing up for the paper, leaving Hampshire on the brink of victory. The force with the batting sides at Sophia Gardens and the Edgbaston too: Lancs need 60 and Glamorgan 57.
Surrey beat Somerset by 3 wickets
Close but no cigar:
Surrey 382-9 and 195-7 BEAT Somerset 180 and 394 and Surrey by three wickets
Twenty past five on day four and three games still in the running: Glamorgan, 57-3, need 84. Lancashire 250-4, need 79. Hampshire 157-6 need 40.
Durham draw with Worcestershire
Hands shaken on a matche where nearly 1300 runs were scored.
The Riverside: Durham 642-7dec and 102-0 v Worcestershire 550
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At Taunton, Somerset are on a late charge... just three wickets needed, but Surrey only need 14 runs. Clark and Joverton at the crease so things will be decided quickly.
A hundred for Luke Wells
A superb innings, taking Lancashire’s total needed down to two-figure territory.
Hashim Amla has been out before I’d clocked that he was in, lbw to Siddle for 9. Surrey taking it down to the wire, needing 39 to win, five wickets left.
Stern words needed by the Hampshire captain, but unfortunately he’s already been out, getting a slither of an edge to Duke behind the stumps. Hampshire 103-6, still need 94. Please disregard everything I said about Yorkshire’s bowling attack. Two for Bess, two for Patterson, two for Thompson.
Can Glamorgan out-Leicestershire Leicestershire? Currently 9-2 chasing another 132. Byrom and Ingram, the two first-innings centurions, both out.
Tea-time scores
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 410 and 89-4 v Yorkshire 428 and 178. Hampshire need 117 to win.
Canterbury: Kent 564 v Gloucestershire 438 and 213. Kent need 88 to win.
Taunton: Somerset 180 and 394 v Surrey 382-9 and 128-3. Surrey need 65 to win.
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 292 and 327-9 dec v Lancashire 291 and 167-4. Lancs need 162 to win.
Division Two
Chesterfield: Derbyshire 229 and 222-4 v Middlesex 251 and 196. Derbyshire win by six wickets
The Riverside: Durham 642-7dec and 51-0 v Worcestershire 550
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 494 v Sussex 376 and 258. Glamorgan need 141 to win
Grace Road: Leicestershire 440 and 99 v Nottinghamshire 548-9. Notts win by an innings and nine runs
Counter to the dry Yorkshire statement, here are some kittens and rainbows from Northants and David Willey.
“The best journey takes you home.” Willey said.“Wantage Road is home. I grew up playing on the outfield, behind the stands and in the groundsman’s shed.
“When I think back to my first introduction to cricket, I think of Northants.
“Northants supported and nurtured me in my younger years and gave me the opportunities to achieve my childhood dreams.
“During the 7 years I’ve been away, I have continued to watch the club closely and found myself celebrating their successes. I always hoped at some stage in my career I would find my way back and I’m excited that the time is now!”
Willey was recently chosen by Northants supporters as the club’s greatest ever T20 player.
“It’s brilliant to be able to confirm the signing of David Willey,” said chief Executive Ray Payne, “and to bring him back to Northamptonshire. It’s a significant move that makes our ambitions for the professional squad really clear.”
”
Kent need 88 to win. Even Kent, surely, can do this and notch up their first Championship win of 2022. They’re taking tea at Canterbury - Gloucestershire 213 all out, a terrific 104 runs added by the last three wickets. Phillips last man out for a top-scoring 59.
Can Surrey mess up from 99-3 - 94 to win? Nah... but Somerset super-sub Aldridge has grabbed two. Geddes and Jacks building for victory.
Hampshire had an early wobble but Gubbins and Vince have steered HMS Red Trousers to calmer waters: 50-2, 147 to win.
A statement from Azeem Rafiq:
— Azeem Rafiq (@AzeemRafiq30) June 15, 2022
It is possible that Glamorgan will implode later this afternoon. Keeping an eye on events at Sophia Gardens (where Sussex are currently 232-8, a lead of 114 (Carter 83, Rawlins 57).
Fifty for Luke Wells, Lancs 113-4.
And at The Riverside, Durham are starting an afternoon of demonstration batting. Can Ravindra make a century in the second innings to have the most astounding one-match CC record of all time? Durham 2-0, lead Worcs by 94.
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David Willey will return to Northants at the end of the season
Willey moved to Headingley from Northants for 2016, much to Northants’ fans’ dismay, and he will be welcomed back at his home club with open arms.
Yorkshire’s interim managing director of cricket, Darren Gough, said: “The Club was keen to keep Dave at Headingley, but unfortunately were unable to match Northants’ offer.
“We proactively engaged with Dave on his return from the IPL at the end of May, but were not able to make an offer until our new Board were in place. Since our first cricket strategy meeting with the new Board, we have begun negotiations on a number of contracts with players and look forward to making some exciting announcements in the coming weeks.
“Everyone at Yorkshire would like to thank Dave for his time at the Club and wish him all the very best for the future.”
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Things have been developing interestingly:
Yorkshire have been all out for 178, leaving Hampshire to chase 197.
Philips (34) and Higgins (30) have inched Gloucestershire to a lead of 47.
Surrey are wasting no time - five fours for Ryan Patel, and a six and a four for Rory Burns: 57-0 off ten overs. Just 136 needed to beat Somerset.
And if Lancs’ situation wasn’t dicey enough, Dane Vilas has been run out after Liam Norwell deflected a Luke Wells’ shot onto the stumps. Lancs 97-4 still need 232. Time to settle?
Update on Yorkshire investigation
From the ECB: Yorkshire County Cricket Club and a number of individuals have today been charged following an ECB investigation into racism and other allegations at the Club and its handling of those allegations.
“The charges arise from alleged breaches of ECB Directive 3.3 (conduct which is improper or which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any cricketer into disrepute) and the ECB Anti-Discrimination Code.
An independent panel of the Cricket Discipline Commission will hear the cases in due course.
The ECB’s investigation has been thorough and complex, with the allegations covering a significant period of time and a number of witnesses and other individuals coming forward to share their own experiences and allegations. The ECB is grateful to all those who have taken the time to speak with the investigating team.
In matters of this nature, our normal practice is not to identify individuals charged at this stage. This decision is taken on a case-by-case basis. It is however standard practice for the CDC disciplinary panel to publish its decisions and written reasons in full following the hearing.
There will be no further comment until the hearing has taken place and the decisions published. We currently expect the hearing to take place in September or October 2022.
Lunchtime scores
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 410 v Yorkshire 428 and 168-8.
Canterbury: Kent 564 v Gloucestershire 438 and 142-7.
Taunton: Somerset 180 and 394 v Surrey 382-9 and 21-0. Surrey need 172 to win.
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 292 and 327-9dec v Lancashire 291 and 87-3. Lancs need 242 to win.
Division Two
Chesterfield: Derbyshire 229 and 222-4 v Middlesex 251 and 196. Derbyshire win by six wickets
The Riverside: Durham 642-7dec v Worcestershire 497-9
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 494 v Sussex 376 and 183-5
Grace Road: Leicestershire 440 and 99 v Nottinghamshire 548-9. Notts win by an innings and nine runs
Wickets, wickets. At Edgbaston, where Lancashire’s top order are stuttering: Croft joins Bohannon and Jennings in the pavilion, caught for 11. Lancs 53-3, need another 276. And at Taunton, where Peter Siddle - and actually Marchant de Lange, for a two ball duck - fall to Daniel Worrall. Surrey must chase 193 to win.
Good with mushrooms?
Some serious doner meat here https://t.co/GCev7r98Ko
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) June 15, 2022
And in Division Two: Sussex have a tentative lead of 32, but only five wickets left. Oli Carter has complemented his first-innings 185 with fifty not out.
And at the Riverside, Worcestershire are still 21 runs short of the follow-on. Worcs 472-8.
Let’s have a quick look round the grounds:
In Division One:
Yorkshire have scrapped to a lead of 149, two wickets left, three wickets each for Barker and Abbot. Yorks 131-8
Gloucestershire have lost Chris Dent for a patient 32, and they’re still 20 runs behind Kent, with only four wickets left. Though, because of the multiple night-watchmen sent in yesterday, the tail should provide some fight. Hammond 41 not out.
A century for Lewis Gregory at Taunton! He and Peter Siddle have stretched Somerset’s lead to 170. If they could scrape another fifty runs..?Somerset 373-8.
And at Edgbaston, Oliver Hannon-Dalby has destroyed Lancashire’s early hopes. Jennings gone for six, Josh Bohannon’s form disappearing with the changing seasons, lbw for a duck. Lancs 33-2, need another 292 to beat Warwickshire.
There’s been a wicket at The Riverside, Ed Barnard for 128, Paul Coughlin pulling off a caught and bowled. Worcestershire still need another 30 to avoid the follow on, with two wickets in hand.
No wickets yet this morning at either Taunton (lead 142) or Canterbury, where what-happened! Gloucestershire are still 40 runs behind.
Oh dear, Yorkshirerrrrr. Now Thompson must go, grabbed like a bit of rogue dandelion fluff by James Vince at slip, off the first ball of Brad Wheal’s over.
And Dom Bess follows, for 15. A third for Abbot. Yorks 124-7, a lead of 142.
Bad tidings for Yorkshire fans as another wicket falls at The Rose Bowl. Yorkshire’s batting at full strength is the best in business; the bowling not so much. With a lead of just 128, and only four wickets left, I think this is Hampshire’s to lose.
Apologies in advance, this is going to be something of a light-touch blog. But I will try my best to keep on top of events and please just holler if I’ve missed something, either BTL or by whistling an email over. Toast time.
A long shot but... the Guardian writer, and my lovely friend, Emma John has long been planning a cricket game in memory of her mum. The rail strike has thrown a rather large spanner in the works. If you are free next Thursday, can get to Long Marston in Buckinghamshire, and fancy a fun game of cricket, please get in touch (or email me and I’ll pass the message on).
I've organised a cricket match in memory of my Mum next Thursday 23 at 4pm, at Long Marston CC in Bucks, but the rail strike means we're an entire team short of players. This is an SOS for anyone of any ability who fancies a fun T20 knockabout followed by a free BBQ!
— Emma John (@em_john) June 15, 2022
Tuesday's round-up
The Leicestershire jalopy juddered to a wheel-spinning defeat at Grace Road after they followed their highest score of the season with being bowled out for 99.
The defeat, by an innings and nine runs, was their fifth of the season. Nottinghamshire’s Liam Patterson-White (the left-arm spinner with the most Championship wickets) took four for 15. Tom Moores, 81 not out, had guided Notts to a lead of 108 until he was hit under the chin and forced to retire. Leicestershire’s second innings never got going, and when Hasan Azad was caught for 34 the rest folded quickly.
There were twin centuries from Brett D’Oliveira and Ed Barnard for Worcestershire at Durham’s Riverside. Barnard, who has been linked with a move to Warwickshire at the end of the season, reached his 50 with a straight drive, and was undefeated on 116 at stumps.
Shan Masood came within a pinch of 1,000 runs for the season, as he once more swept on his batting cloak, and led Derbyshire to victory as they chased down 219 at Chesterfield. Middlesex, who had suffered a second‑innings collapse of seven wickets for 101, could only rue their chances as they dropped Masood twice before finally dismissing him for 98.
Somerset defied the odds after building a second-innings lead of 117 against Surrey at Taunton thanks to Lewis Goldsworthy and Lewis Gregory.
It was all go at Canterbury, as Jordan Cox and Jack Leaning made centuries, Tom Price took a hat‑trick and Jacob Duffy put Kent in the driving seat with four for eight before stumps. Gloucestershire, in their second innings, are 37 for five and still 89 runs behind.
Alex Davies made a hundred against Lancashire, his former club, as Warwickshire set them 329 to win while Sussex lost early wickets at Sophia Gardens after Glamorgan’s tail wagged alongside Eddie Byrom’s career-best 178. Three late wickets for Keith Barker put Hampshire in a good position against Yorkshire.
Start of play scores
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 410 v Yorkshire 428 and 101-5
Canterbury: Kent 564 v Gloucestershire 438 and 37-5
Taunton: Somerset 180 and 319-8 v Surrey 382-9
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 292 and 327-9dec v Lancashire 291 and 5-0
Division Two
Chesterfield: Derbyshire 229 and 222-4 v Middlesex 251 and 196. Derbyshire win by six wickets
The Riverside: Durham 642-7dec v Worcestershire 431-6
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 494 v Sussex 376 and 89-3
Grace Road: Leicestershire 440 and 99 v Nottinghamshire 548-9. Notts win by an innings and nine runs
Preview
Good morning! As Jonny Bairstow leaps off the front page of the newspapers, there is still business to attend to in the County Championship. Two games were over in three days: Notts beating collapsability Leicestershire in a blink and Masood-insipired Derbyshire easing to victory over Middlesex.
Of the remaining matches, only the one at The Riverside looks a sure-thing draw. Somerset could yet spring an unlikely surprise at Taunton, there’s all to play for at Sophia Gardens, Gloucestershire’s late-evening balsa wood impression has added jeopardy at Canterbury, and two intriguing matches play out at The Rose Bowl and Edgbaston.
Jonny Bairstow on the front page tmrw https://t.co/4jfvvMacVn
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) June 14, 2022
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