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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
James Wallace

Lancashire beat Kent, Yorkshire beat Gloucestershire – as it happened

There could be a tight finish at Bristol.
There could be a tight finish at Bristol. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images

That’s yer lot from me for the day, thanks for your company, comments and cricket chitter-chatter. A pleasure as always.

Join our writers for round three of the County Championship next week.

‘Till then, goodbye and goodnight.

Roundup: Brave Compton’s epic twin tons not enough to rescue Kent

All good things must come to an end. Eventually. 462 minutes and 340 balls were chalked up in a second innings at the crease for the Kent opener Ben Compton before lissom seamer George Balderson managed to get a ball to zip on the four‑day‑old Canterbury wicket. It was suddenly, inexplicably, all over.

The 28-year-old Kent batter, another rung in of the esteemed Compton dynasty, was fresh off scoring 104 not out in a 394-minute first innings effort. Passing 14 hours spent at the crease meant Compton took the mantle for the most time spent with bat in hand across a County Championship match but in the end it was not enough to prevent his side from suffering a 10-wicket defeat at home to Lancashire. Matt Parkinson sent yet another message to the England selectors by snaring seven wickets in the match with his assorted box of spinning tricks.

James Bracey scored a classy 177 for Gloucestershire at Bristol, including a thrilling match-up with Yorkshire’s Haris Rauf. The Pakistani pacer clonked Bracey on the helmet twice but the keeper-batter was unperturbed, Bracey helping himself to consecutive pulled sixes off Rauf in a rollocking passage of play after lunch, two consecutive meaty blows landing in the nearby flats. Nevertheless, a final target of 211 runs was comfortably chased down thanks to 65 from Dawid Malan and an unbeaten half-century from Harry Brook.

Glamorgan ran out seven wicket victors against Nottinghamshire, Marnus Labuschagne hitting a first 50 of the campaign and Kiran Carlson’s emphatic swivel pull for six off James Pattinson bagging the points in some style for the Welsh side.

The two other matches that reached a fourth day ended in post-tea handshakes. Sussex and Derbyshire’s batters made the most of a shirt-front wicket at Derby, three men making double centuries in the match; Shan Masood, Tom Haines and Chetashwar Pujara.

At Chester-le-Street, an overnight declaration from Durham was neutered by Leicestershire’s batting, only two wickets falling in the day, Ackerman and Evans not out as palms were offered at the end.

More heavy scoring then in the second-round of the County Championship, though not all in winning efforts. Ben Compton can comfort himself with the fact he has scored three centuries in his first three appearances at the crease. The last man to do so could certainly play. He went by the name of Brian Charles Lara. The West Indian great got four in four, in 1994.

Updated

Thanks for all your comments Below the Line. I’ve enjoyed reading them throughout the day, particularly those of you referring to Ben Compton as ‘The New Comp Dog’.

What a start to the season he has had.

So another round of the County Champo is in the can. It was largely a case of runs, runs and more runs. But not all were enough to force a victory.

Back soon with some reaction.

Yorkshire beat Gloucestershire by six wickets

Harry Brook (56) and Harry Duke (17) saw the visitors past their target of 211 after Dawid Malan’s earlier 65.

Updated

Yorkshire beat Gloucestershire by six wickets

Just breaking off from the write up to say that...

I’m off to write up for tomorrow’s paper with all results in apart from Gloucs v Yorkshire at Bristol, that one looks to be heading to the northern side but you just never now. Keep your eyes peeled for me won’t you?

Back in a few shakes of me quill.

It's a DRAW between Durham and Leicestershire too

Meanwhile in Derby it’s a draw in the runs fest against Sussex

Pujara still there at the end on 201*

Malan goes for 65! But is it too little too late for Gloucestershire? Yorkshire need 50 runs and have six wickets up their sleeve.

Lancashire beat Kent by 10 wickets!

Malan goes to fifty in Bristol

Here’s the end of Compton:

Yorkshire lose one!

Compton falls in Canterbury! An astonishing match for the opener is now over as he falls lbw to Balderson for 115. There’ll be many stats to reel off but Compton’s 462 minute stay at the crease is over and Lancashire will secure the victory in a short while, they need just 34 runs to win.

Updated

Yorkshire have put pedal to metal after tea in Bristol and have moved on to 105-2. Malan (37) and Hill (36) are the crease and well set. There are 28 overs left in the day and the visitors need 100 runs to win. Exciting eh!

Time for Tea

Here’s how things stand as the kettle whistles away:

Bristol: Yorkshire are 54-2 and need another 157 runs in the final session in order to secure victory over Gloucestershire.

Canterbury: Ben Compton’s battling century has ensured Lancs will have to bat again... but for how long? The target is currently 19 runs but Kent still have a solitary wicket left in the hutch.

Derby: Runs glorious runs. Cheteshwar and Tom Haines. Sussex’s lead stretches to 123 as their wicketless day continues, they currently sit pretty on 454-2.

Chester-le-Street: Durham and Leicestershire still amble towards a draw. The foxes need an unlikely 257 runs with eight wickets remaining.

Trent Bridge: Glamorgan have triumphed over Notts, coming out on top by seven wickets.

Straight outta Compton... some Ben Compton bat stattage courtesy of the Wisden guys:

In a soon to be losing cause almost certainly but this has been a gritty innings from Ben Compton. He’s faced 316 balls and batted for over 430 minutes. Kent have a lead of eight runs.

It’s all happening now... Lancs are within one scalp of a win too.

Glamorgan beat Nottinghamshire by seven wickets!

A comprehensive win for the Welsh side! Marnus even has time to rack up a fifty. Kiran Carlson finishes the game off in fine style and ends on 47*.

Updated

Bowled him! Yorkshire lose their second wicket and are 30-2 with 180 runs still needed. James Wharton sees his timbers sent tumbling from a fast in-ducker from Ajeet Dale. The bails tracing across the Bristol outfield like a couple of beige coloured party streamers.

Updated

Nearly curtains at Trent Bridge:

Shot!

Here is that Qadri wicket, Lancashire on the verge of victory:

The sands are slowly shifting...

In Canterbury - Hamidullah Qadri’s three and a quarter hour stint at the crease has come to an end, he’s been bowled by Hasan Ali for 77. Kent are still 23 runs shy of making Lancashire bat again.

In Bristol - Yorkshire have lost Adam Lyth, Matt Taylor getting the first breakthrough for Gloucestershire. Yorkshire are 21-1 and need a further 191 runs from 46 overs.

At Trent Bridge - Marnus Labuschagne and Kiran Carlson are shepherding Glamorgan towards victory over Notts. They are 147-3 needing just 19 more runs for an away win.

Updated

I’m off in search of some Easter Lunch scraps to have as a late lunch. All work and no scran make Jim a... etc etc. Back soon. I’ll have a beady eye on Canterbury, Bristol and Trent Bridge as the matches there simmer away.

Shot Marnus!

Kent are hangin’ in there:

Things are bubbling up nicely around the grounds. How are fans feeling this Easter Sunday afternoon? I’m enjoying the mixture of optimism and pessimism tussling away in the comments below the line.

We interrupt this broadcast to bring you some BREAKING NEWS...

James Bracey is teeing off in Bristol! He’s hit three sixes and a four off Haris Rauf since lunch including two back-to-back sixes pulled away into the flats overlooking the ground. But then he is OUT! caught driving uppishly into the covers off Steve Patterson. The Yorkshire players go to shake his hand as he departs the crease as the last man out.

Gloucs all out for 359.

60 overs left in the day for Yorkshire to get 211 runs.

Back after the break and Glamorgan are seemingly headed for victory...

Updated

Here’s a bit of lunchtime reading to set gnashers chomping:

Fab knock this, I can see you BTL touting the lad for England. A double ton in April never does any harm.

Lunch Updates

SCORES ON THE DOORS

DIVISION ONE

Bristol: Gloucestershire lead Yorkshire by 184 runs with two second-innings wickets remaining. James Bracey, despite taking another blow to the lid from Haris Rauf, has moved on to 153* off 313 balls.

Canterbury: Lancashire need just three more Kentish wickets for the win. Ben Compton is providing some dogged resistance for the home side, the opener is still there on 51* off 222 balls.

DIVISION TWO

Derby: It is a run fest at Derby as Sussex move on to 357-2. A mammoth stand between double centurion Sam Haines (203*) and Cheteshwar Pujara 97* have given the south coast side a slender lead of 26 runs.

Chester-le-Street: Durham and Leicestershire seem to be heading towards a draw unless the midlanders can score a glut of runs in the North East this afternoon. The foxes are currently 71-1 with Sam Evans well set on 35*. Needing a distant 324 more runs to win.

Trent Bridge: Glamorgan are on top against Notts. Marnus Laboooshayne is at the crease on 8*, the visitors are 52-2 at the break with 114 runs needed to secure victory.

Stop. Luncheon time.

OUCH! Bracey is sconned for the second time in this innings by Haris Rauf. The batter ducked into a short ball and it him right on the badge. There’ll be a stoppage for concussion tests, thankfully he looks ok.

20 minutes ‘til Lunch. I’ll have a scour of the grounds and begin writing up the interval updates.

Haris Rauf wheels away in celebration in Bristol believing that he has nicked off James Bracey on 149...BUT umpire Alex Wharfe is utterly unmoved. And therefore so is Bracey, who looked pretty nonchalant throughout. But then, he is one shy of 150. CRIPES. Bracey then gets a leading edge to Rauf that balloons just shy of the wicketkeeper, Bracey thinks about scampering a single to bring up his ton-and-a-half but is sent back by Shaw and has to scrabble for his ground. And there it is! A confident pull shot brings the batter of Gloucester his 150. Tip of the cap, sir.

Updated

Well, first up, this: EXCITING. Glamorgan are currently 37-0 and breezing towards victory over Notts.

I’m back. What did I miss?

I’m off for a virtual wander around the grounds and to type up a piece for the paper. You’ve all got my back for a bit yes? Gimme a shout if exciting stuff starts to happen...

There were two games wrapped up yesterday of course. A nail-chomper at Taunton as Essex overcame Somerset by a solitary wicket and a drubbing at The Oval as Surrey did a number on James Vince’s well touted Hampshire side. Not a bad grab this:

To Trent Bridge - Nottinghamshire only have one wicket left now, Michael Hogan making a mess of Brett Hutton’s timbers this morning. If Glamorgan snaffle that final wicket soon they’ll have a very gettable chase in the final dig.

James Bracey made his second sprightly ton of the season yesterday. He’s still at the crease in Bristol and looking in very good on the pull and cover drive. He had a bit of a shocker last summer for England and was written off by some, it is nice to see him back in the runs and putting his name in the mix again.

To Canterbury and Matt Parkinson is bowling Lancashire to victory, but will anyone from England ever take notice?

Shout out to Derbyshire who have started the season with much promise. I am of course an icily neutral observer but as my home county I do have a soft spot for the perennial underdogs. They look to have pulled off the signing of the 2022 season with Shan Masood too. But like I say, no favouritism here. Heck no.

The 11am bell tolls...

and we have play around the country!

News from Chester-le-Street - Durham have declared

They’ll need ten Leicestershire wickets, the foxes will need to get an unlikely 395 runs to secure a win.

Updated

“Good morning Jim and all BTL.”

G’ morning ‘OneDayMaybe’ and all BTL

“Hopefully, Lancashire will wrap up the game today, and early please, but as an aside it would be nice to see some of the “underdogs” do well today: if Glamorgan can upset the pre-match expectations v Notts and Sussex can avoid one of their “England style” collapses and steer themselves to a draw.”

There are five games still in action and it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that each will see a result. Girding loins for some down-to-the wire, action later on today.

Batters beware in round three...

SCORES ON THE DOORS

DIVISION ONE

Bristol: Gloucestershire lead Yorkshire by 104 runs with four second-innings remaining (James Bracey 112*)

Canterbury: Kent trail Lancashire by 165 runs with four second-innings wickets remaining

DIVISION TWO

Derby: Sussex: trail Derbyshire by 53 runs with eight second-innings wickets remaining (T Haines 164*)

Chester-le-Street: Durham lead Leicestershire by 394 runs with eight second-innings wickets remaining (Michael Jones 108)

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire lead Glamorgan by 147 runs with two second-innings wickets remaining (Ben Duckett 95)

Play will begin at the ding-dong of 11am, bear with me whilst I post the scores on the doors.

Updated

Preamble

Hello and welcome to the final day of round two of the County Championship. Tanya is having a well deserved break on this Easter Sunday after three days of sterling work in sunny Bristol.

It’s a rest and rotation policy here at Guardian & Observer CC and so it’s me, Jim, to keep you updated on happenings around the shires in the games that are still being contested, hotly or otherwise.

Please do get in touch, alert eyes and ears very much welcome, fling me an email, whang me a tweet @JimboCricket or get your scrawl on Below THAT Line.

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