Aspinwall steals the show as Lancashire pull away
The Blackpool tower peered over the wall of Stanley Park, curious for the England Test captain’s batting return. But, despite being greeted by warm applause, the England Test captain’s batting return was a brief one – 16 balls – before getting an outside edge to Nathan Lyon and being scooped up at second slip for two.
Lyon – sunglasses, long sleeves, huge shirt – finished with four for 59, but had to share the limelight with the 20-year-old Tom Aspinwall, bowling for the first time in Championship cricket. Aspinwall, who has turned out for England Under-19s, stalks to his mark like a man chasing down a supermarket manager, but it was the testing spells he sent down, running in from the South End, that stuck in the memory of those watching from the sunny banks, drifting through the pages of dog-eared paperbacks and picking up a 99 from the ice cream van.
Aspinwall’s first wicket, Colin Ackermann, was plucked out of the air by Keaton Jennings. The next four he collected in 27 balls after tea, including David Bedingham for a brilliant 101, his third century of the season. Aspinwall led Lancashire off, grinning broadly and holding the ball high in his right hand, saying afterwards he was “a bit shell-shocked” to be bowling to Ben Stokes, alongside Lyon.
Durham’s post-tea collapse left them with a first-innings deficit of 121. They needed something special and it came in a tumbling catch by Matthew Potts off Stokes, clinging on as he landed with a thud. Stokes thought he’d got a second, but the umpire disagreed, and he grew increasingly frustrated as Lancashire eased into the distance.
Elsewhere, Gloucestershire knocked up their highest first-class score, 706-6 declared, to the backdrop of Arron Banks, the co-founder of Leave.EU, declaring an interest in overthrowing the board of the club. Graeme van Buuren, the captain, picked up the third century of the innings, before Leicestershire folded despite a half century from Rishi Patel.
A century from Mark Stoneman put Middlesex in a good position against Glamorgan and a determined 77 from Tom Alsop gave Sussex a lead of 149 against Yorkshire.
In Division One, Che Simmons, “the next Jofra Archer”, had a scorching first spell in first-class cricket with Warwickshire – 6-2-10-3 – to rip through the Essex middle order.
There were four wickets for Nottinghamshire’s Ollie Stone at Trent Bridge, but Liam Dawson (95) and Keith Barker (74) gave Hampshire a first-innings lead; Surrey rubbed Worcestershire’s noses in the dirt, Lawrence 86 not out, the lead 427.
After play, Tom Aspinwall talked about how amazing it was to be bowling alongside Nathan Lyon and to Ben Stokes “a bit shell-shocked really!” What a fabulous day he had – may there be many more. And that’s it from me, from a beautiful Blackpool evening.
Jim will steer the blog tomorrow – I think he’s at The Oval to examine the juggernaut’s wheels. Have a lovely evening, good night!
Updated
Close of play scores
Chelmsford: Essex 162 v Warwickshire 397 and 43-5
Stanley Park: Lancashire 357 and 91-2 v Durham 236
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 235 and 33-1 v Hampshire 276
Taunton: Somerset 554 v Kent 108-5
The Oval: Surrey 213 and 342-5 v Worcestershire 128
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 170-2 v Northamptonshire 422
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 183 v Middlesex 303-6
Grace Road: Leicestershire 133-5 v Gloucestershire 706-6 dec
Hove: Sussex 150 and 194-7 v Yorkshire 195
In Div 2: rain at Sophia Gardens; Derbyshire 125-2, Guest 60 not out, against Northants; Leicestershire, oh dear, 82-3 in the face of a mountain – two to Middleton; and Sussex fighting back, 150-5, lead Yorks by 95.
Do keep chatting below the line.
Right, time for me to write up with Durham, nine down, facing a deficit of more than a hundred.
Elsewhere, Essex in deep trouble, 144-7; scores are level at Trent Bridge – Barker gone for 74, Dawson 74 not out. The rain has relented at Taunton – Kent 21-1, 533 behind Somerset. And Surrey march on, the lead 313.
And that’s the five-ferfor Aspinwall! He’s patted and hugged like everyone’s favourite dog and leads Lancs off the pitch, to huge applause, holding the ball up in his hand.
And another for Aspinwall – what a first bowl in first-class cricket! Potts loses his stumps to one that kept low.
Fifty for Jamie Smith at The Oval – the Surrey lead 288.
Keith Barker having a big heave-ho in his first match of the season, 67 not out, 52 of them in boundaries. Dawson a more measured 65 not out. Hampshire 219-5 trail Notts by 16.
Smith and Lawrence continuing to feast, Surrey 189-4
AND ANOTHER at Blackpool, Aspinwall, a sharp one, turns and generously delivers the ball to second slip. A four-ball duck. Three wickets for Aspinwall. Durham have now lost three for seven since tea.
And another! Clark parks his legs infront of Lyon. Durham 220-7, 136 behind. Four for Lyon.
Make a cup of tea, hear a clunk, then a roar, Bedingham bowled by Aspinwall for 101! The second ball after tea.
Teatime-ish scores
Chelmsford: Essex 115-6 v Warwickshire 397
Stanley Park: Lancashire 357 v Durham 213-5
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 235 v Hampshire 189-5
Taunton: Somerset 554 v Kent 8-1
The Oval: Surrey 213 and 173-4 v Worcestershire 128
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 85-1 v Northamptonshire 422
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 183 v Middlesex 281-4
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Gloucestershire 706-6 dec
Hove: Sussex 150 and 123-3 v Yorkshire 195
A huge roar from Nathan Lyon, umpire examines his fingernails.
A third century of the season to David Bedingham, pulls off his helmet and grins, his dark hair stuck to his head with exertion. Durham 203-5.
And from The Oval, earlier, maiden first-class wickets for the SACA’s Yadvinder Singh. Surrey’s lead now 239.
A moment to remember 🙌#CountyChamp #CricketTwitter @SACAUK https://t.co/BcAO6yXCk2 pic.twitter.com/QL1UFOjq5r
— Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) May 18, 2024
Bedingham leaps through the nineties with a six off Balderson, over the wall and into who knows where. Now on 98….
Hannon-Dalby continuing the carnage, Pepper gone for 10 – Essex 84-6.
I fear for Worcestershire at The Oval, Lawrence and Smith now in and firing.
And Gloucestershire have finally declared on 706-6, their HIGHEST FIRST CLASS SCORE, Webster 44 not out. Tea being taken (not with Aaron Banks).
Updated
And at Chelmsford, Che Simmons “the new Jofra Archer” has been scything through the Essex middle order – sending off Westley, Brown and Critchley in three overs. Not a bad little first, first-class spell: 6-2-10-3.
𝗪𝗮𝗿𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮 🎓
— Warwickshire CCC 🏏 (@WarwickshireCCC) November 20, 2021
Good luck to Tazeem Ali, Sinel Gunarathne, Rory Haydon, Amir Khan, George Maddy, Tommy Rex, Hamza Shaikh, Mohammed Umar Shaikh, Che Simmons, Kai Smith. 🤝
📝 https://t.co/NcZNgWQ5Yx
🐻#YouBears pic.twitter.com/tPBAGypj8S
In the other Division One games: rain at Canterbury, four balls after Crawley was sent on a way for a duck; Surrey having a wobble, Burns (70) and Foakes out in consecutive overs – Surrey 126-4 – the lead 215; Hampshire’s middle order wobbling – three for Stone – Hants 137-5. 97 behind Notts.
Bedingham now 81 here in Blackpool, as he and Clark embark on the rebuild – first aim the follow on. Durham 169-5.
In the party Division:
Gloucestershire have amassed their second-highest total of all time: 656-5. After centuries for Bancroft and Charlesworth, there has been 72 for Ollie Price,92 for Bracey, 94 not out for van Buuren and 77 extras. Declaration, surely, after van Buuren reaches 100.
Sussex recovering, but have just lost Pujara for 33. 80-3, lead Yorkshire by 35.
Stoneman out for 129 at Sophia Gardens, but, at 240-4, the Middlesex lead is already 59. Two wickets for James Harris.
A wicket for Sanderson, Derby 44-1, 378 behind Northants. Three catches for Aneurin Donald, 102 for Rob Keogh.
Right, now that’s over, lets meander round the other grounds, plucking at the lilac and the dog-eared paperbacks. A hearty round of applause for Nathan Lyon, as he comes to field down by the rope.
Stokes out for 2!
And Lyon gets his man! Stokes pokes, and Bruce collects at second slip. Stokes strolls off replaying the shot he should have played. Durham 145-5, 212 behind.
BA Stokes c Bruce b Lyon 2@NathLyon421 🐐
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) May 18, 2024
Watch LIVE on #LancsTV! 💻➡️ https://t.co/ZHgOA5iQIh
🌹 #RedRoseTogether https://t.co/nsEJ23wusw pic.twitter.com/0CwSBT4Ngt
Updated
Stokes not afraid of a quick single. Aspinwall beats Bedingham now, and tumbles in his follow through, completing a forward roll.
Quite a challenge for young Aspinwall, who marches back to his mark with great purpose. Beats Stokes from around the wicket, tempted him.
Enter Ben Stokes!
Off the mark with a single from Nathan Lyon, close fielders a-prowling.
Fifty for Bedingham here at Stanley Park; a top-edge falls through the hands of the fielder on the rope as he lands.
And there goes Robinson! He turned Lyon out of a huge puff of dust but only into the stretched hand of Bell at forward short leg! Robinson gone for a duck, a second wicket for Lyon. Cracking catch.
And, with almost 40 mins having ticked on since lunch, a breakthrough at Blackpool – Ackermann gone, Aspinwall the man, his first first-class wicket, Jennings a smashing long-limbed catch at slip. Enter, the other, in-form, Ollie Robinson.
And Zak Crawley goes first ball – a woebegone start to the summer. Kent 8-1.
From the incomparable Sharda Ugra:
An important piece by Sharda Ugra in this year's @WisdenAlmanack https://t.co/KwOs5XTE7x
— Lawrence Booth (@BoothCricket) May 17, 2024
Really enjoyed Nathan Lyon’s first ball of the afternoon – a deep lbw appeal - the disappointment at being turned down so deep that he remained down on one knee for enough time to cut all the crusts off all the sandwiches.
Lunchtime scores
Chelmsford: Essex 10-0 v Warwickshire 397
Stanley Park: Lancashire 357 v Durham 78-2
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 235 v Hampshire 61-3
Taunton: Somerset 545-9 v Kent
The Oval: Surrey 213 and 50-0 v Worcestershire 128
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire v Northamptonshire 409-8
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 183 v Middlesex 170-1
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Gloucestershire 527-4
Hove: Sussex 150 and 18-2 v Yorkshire 195
A quick squizz around the grounds, with ten minutes till lunch – Saqib still steaming in from the buttercups on the south bank here at Stanley Park.
Burns and Sibley pushing Surrey along at the unplayable Oval – Surrey 32-0; Essex 6-0 after bowling Warwicks out just short of a fourth batting point; two wickets for Ollie Stone at Trent Bridge, Hants 57-2; and Somerset a mammoth 531-9.
In Div 2: a century for Rob Keogh in Northants’ 400-7; Stoneman close to a century at Sophia Gardens, Middx 166-1, just 17 behind Glamorgan; Gloucs 511-4 and counting and Sussex, oh dear, 16-2 in their second innings. Clark and Haines both gone, Pujara to the rescue.
Saqib is back from the South End, testing Bedingham. But he doesn’t like the last ball, I don’t know why, and throws his arm out in annoyance.
Durham doing well to survive this Lancashire pressure – smart bowling from Lyon and Balderson – as Bedingham hoops Balderson through midwicket and over the rope for four.
Yorkshire all out, with a lead of just 45 over Sussex. Sean Hunt 4-64.
And Mark Hopper has a bone to pick with Gloucestershire’s new possible overlord: “He might be able to influence the political direction of the country, but Aaron Banks isn’t very good at PDFs is he?”
Another wicket at Chelmsford – though Barnard is still there on 144 – a second for Harmer, to go in the pot with three catches. It feels like Essex have had unexpected problems with finishing sides off this season.. my wifi isn’t letting me launch anything to double check but maybe against Durham?
And another! Nathan Lyon this time, long sleeves, huge shirt, persuades Bedingham to edge to first slip. Durham in a spot of bother at 34-2 in the sun.
And a change of bowling does it – but it isn’t Lyon! Balderson gets Lees with his fifth ball after replacing the energetic Saqib Mahmood. Durham 34-1.
Nathan Lyon just whistled through an eventful first over. Last night, Keaton Jennings said how much Lyon was looking forward to getting his hands on the ball after watching Callum Parkinson gets some grip and turn.
Thanks to Romeo BTL for pointing out this, um, unexpected development with Gloucestershire.
— Arron Banks (@Arron_banks) May 17, 2024
Arron Banks, the Brexit backer, wants to get involved at embattled Gloucestershire https://t.co/jDRujAn0WY
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) May 17, 2024
Good morning Tim Maitland! And thank you for watching atThe Oval:
"Surrey’s English-Australian Dan Worrall just completed his fivefer with wickets in successive deliveries then finished the Pears innings with his third wicket of the over.
”He got Joe Leach with the classic rope-a-dope: a full pitched delivery edged behind with zero footwork after a succession of short pitched balls. He then knocked back the top of number ten Ben Gibbon’s off stump, which - to use a Cantonese saying - was playing piano to a cow.
”Yadvinder Singh resisted for two deliveries, then nipped the third to Foakes.
”He’s available for England if, for instance, they happen to find themselves in need of a skilled pace bowler.”
Indeed! It seems ludicrous to say this, given Anderson’s longevity, but I’d assume that at 32, he’d be considered too old.
And for anyone thinking of going to Taunton next week, confirmation that Stokes will be playing for the visitors, Durham.
“Is,” writes Iain Noble, “this a record? Nine ‘caughts’ in the Lancs 1st dig and only Will Williams preventing a complete set for Durham.”
One for the hive mind.
And in more David and Goliath news – and thanks to Vish for pointing this out – Worcestershire lost their last three wickets in one Worrall over, for 0 runs.
Apologies, a few wifi issues here this morning. Lees has clipped Will Williams for three fours though and Durham have travelled along nicely to 18-0.
Meanwhile, at The Oval, Worcestershire have fallen under the Surrey wheels – all out 128, Dan Worrall 6-22; and Notts are also all out, James stranded on an unbeaten 106: Abbas 4-49, Abbot 3-39.
Around the grounds: maximum batting points for greedy Somerset, though Pretorius has now gone for an entertaining 19; Snater makes the long-awaited breakthrough at Chelmsford – Burgess for 108, and a hundred for Lyndon James at Trent Bridge! And a delayed start at grey Hove, with play due to start at 11.45.
Around the grounds: maximum batting points for greedy Somerset, though Pretorius has now gone for an entertaining 19; Snater makes the long-awaited breakthrough at Chelmsford – Burgess for 108, and a hundred for Lyndon James at Trent Bridge! And a delayed start at grey Hove, with play due to start at 11.45.
A tour of the ground brings the evocative scent of coconut sun lotion and the wicket of Saqib Mahmood, caught having a huge heave-ho for 46, a third wicket for Matthew Potts. Lancashire all out 357.
Updated
This morning, I saw a group of Newfoundland dogs dressed as punks being taken for a walk along the seafront. At Stanley Park, the spectators are gathering, caps, rucksacks, newspapers, coffee. Out in the middle, Ben Stokes, in shorts and t-shirt, is bowling.
Saturday's round-up
Ben Stokes had not played a Championship match for two years. He had not bowled properly since the Lord’s Test last year, excluding that cameo wicket-with-his-first-ball five-over spell during England’s fifth Test innings defeat to India in Dharamsala in March. Blackpool’s amphitheatre might not match the majesty of the Himalayas, but it was good enough for Stokes on his comeback, pounding with increasing vigour across the Stanley Park clod.
From soon after the start of play, Durham winning the toss and fielding against Lancashire, Stokes caught the eye. There he was at mid-off, touching his toes and running through his bowling action, all leonine hair and racehorse physique. There he was talking to Paul Coughlin at the top of his mark, dispensing advice and providing expert ball-polishing skills. There he was, throwing himself after the ball with the carefree joy of someone not coming back from a serious knee operation.
And there he was, suddenly at the top of his mark, that familiar gait, picking up two wickets along the way, with some occasional turf-kicking thrown in. There was huge appreciation from the crowd that Stokes was there, his run-up close enough to the boundary rope that the hot-dog seller next to the scoreboard could have taken an order. Stokes wasn’t the only England bowler in action.
Matthew Potts charged in with vigour, all demonstrative arms and legs, like a giant bounding puppy, trying to catch the eye of the ECB scout prowling the boundary. Potts picked up two wickets, Ben Raine three, while Keaton Jennings made 115 and Saqib Mahmood, also eyeing up an England return, a counter-punching 40 not out in one of Lancashire’s better batting performances of the season, as they closed on 350 for 9. But it was Stokes’s return that dominated close of play thoughts: it was “mint”, said Raine, to have him back in the Durham dressing room.
Elsewhere, Surrey picked themselves up from 15 for four, thanks to half-centuries from Dan Lawrence and Ollie Pope, but still subsided to 213 all out. Dan Worrall and Kemar Roach then almost ran through Worcestershire on a 17-wicket day at the Oval.
Centuries for Ed Barnard and Michael Burgess saved Warwickshire from a precarious position against Essex at Chelmsford; Lyndon James’s unbeaten 92 played a similar role for Nottinghamshire against Hampshire. Mohammad Abbas finished with four for 36.
There were punchy centuries for James Rew and Tom Banton as Somerset took Kent to the cleaners. Marnus Labuschagne was out for 23 on his Glamorgan return, one of four wickets for Middlesex’s Tom Helm; while George Bartlett and Rob Keogh steadied Northants with seventies in Derbyshire.
Ben Charlesworth made a rollicking maiden century and Cameron Bancroft his second in a row as Gloucestershire raced along against Leicester at Grace Road. Yorkshire rattled through Sussex, only to be rattled through in return – Joe Root (67) the only man to pass 26. Jofra Archer, meanwhile, was bowling for Sussex’s second XI.
Updated
Scores on the doors
Chelmsford: Essex v Warwickshire 308-6
Stanley Park: Lancashire 350-9 v Durham
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 212-9 v Hampshire
Taunton: Somerset 440-7 v Kent
The Oval: Surrey 213 v Worcestershire 112-7
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire v Northamptonshire 297-5
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 183 v Middlesex 62-0
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Gloucestershire 385-2
Hove: Sussex 150 v Yorkshire 176-7
Updated
Preamble
Good morning from Blackpool, where everything in the garden is lovely.
