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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Tanya Aldred

Shorter sessions played as extreme heat hits county cricket – as it happened

Gloucestershire Hampshire Surrey Essex
Will Young is caught behind by Lancs keeper Dane Vilas at Northampton.
Will Young is caught behind by Lancs keeper Dane Vilas at Northampton. Photograph: Andy Kearns/Getty Images

County Championship day one roundup

On the UK’s hottest day in history, the County Championship entered a new era. All around the grounds – except at Taunton, where rain brought afternoon refreshment – the mercury hovered around 39C.

Four teams took up the offer from the England and Wales Cricket Board of amended playing hours, with Gloucestershire and Hampshire (at Cheltenham) and Northamptonshire and Lancashire (at Northampton) playing three sessions of 90 minutes, ending at 4.30pm.

“It sort of reminds me a bit of playing in Dubai or Abu Dhabi or something like that,” said Northamptonshire’s new captain, Will Young, after his team notched up 210 for seven, led by Rob Keogh. “Like a really dry heat with that hot wind coming across the ground.” Washington Sundar took four Northants wickets on his Lancashire debut.

At the 150th Cheltenham cricket festival, Felix Organ batted all day for 93 not out as Gloucestershire toiled in the field against Hampshire, with bowling duties split eight ways. Meanwhile events at the Oval swung one way then another, as Essex were reduced to 91 for six and then fought back magnificently against Surrey. That was thanks to a thrilling hundred from Adam Rossington, who jiffied Kemar Roach for three legside sixes, while Daniel Worrall gathered a superb six for 56.

It was a day for batting at the County Ground in Derby, where Ben Duckett danced to 237 and Haseeb Hameed a career-best 165 as weary Derbyshire went through their paces against Nottinghamshire, dropping a couple of chances on the way. Middlesex’s puzzling decision to bowl first against Sussex did not pay dividends at Lord’s where MCC members, allowed to remove their jackets – but not their ties – watched Tom Alsop and Cheteshwar Pujara make hundreds.

Elsewhere, Tom Abell skipped to his third Championship century of the season for Somerset at Taunton against Yorkshire, while at Edgbaston, Kent crumbled to 165 all out as Oliver Hannon-Dalby went on the rampage before Sam Hain propped up Warwickshire’s similarly fragile lineup.

Updated

The first six of the day at Derby comes at ten to six: timing is (almost) everything. Right, I’d better write up - hope you’re all doing ok out there in this broiling world.

Double century for Ben Duckett!

Fantastic effort - especially in this heat: batters and wicketkeepers actually more at risk than anyone else on the field because of all the extra equipment they wear. What a good season he’s had, bubbling under the radar and averaging over 80. Notts 375-1.

A hundred for Adam Rossington!

Fantastic rebuilding effort by Essex from 91-6, currently 262-9.

s
Adam Rossington, 100 not out. Photograph: Paul Dennis/TGS Photo/REX/Shutterstock

Updated

Nottinghamshire are playing in a different relm to everyone else - are they in a strange temperature vortex? No, it is currently 36 degrees in Derby, down from 39. Notts 353-1, Hameed 139, Duckett 183. Derbyshire have trudged through 80 over, but not yet taken the new ball.

Gloucesters’s Ollie Price:

“It was very hot and the decision to restrict play was understandable in the circumstances. Of course, we’re used to two hour sessions, but I think shortened sessions definitely helped us as the fielding team today. It was great to get my first wicket and James Bracey showed great athleticism to keep hold of the ball and not let it get away.”

Here is that quick work in all its glory:

Close of play at Northampton

The County Ground: Northants 218-7 v Lancs

Fifty for Sam Hain as Warwickshire rebuild nicely - 87-3 just 78 behind Kent’s blink and you’ll miss it effort.

Four wickets for Washington Sundar on his debut for Lancs - Northants 214-7, 54 for Keogh, and an unbeaten fifty for McManus. One over left of today’s play.

Well done Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Lancashire and Northants (four overs left) for a very sensible decision.

It touched 38 degrees at Chelteham today, where Felix Organ finished unbeaten on a very impressive 93. Eight bowlers used by a weary Gloucestershire. Wishing ice baths and cold drinks for them all.

Close of play score at Cheltenham

Cheltenham: Gloucestershire v Hants 203-2


Safe to say that is that Navdeep Saini is having an up and down day. In the blue corner, a wicket. In the grey corner, the 34 runs he’s conceded in three overs, including noballs.

Fifty for Tom Abell at Taunton, where the rain hasn’t impeded his progress. Bartlett at the other end has 31, and with the in-form Goldsworthy and Rew to come, Somerset’s batting line-up looks sturdier than it has for a while.

Updated

Teatimeish scores

DIVISION ONE

Cheltenham: Gloucestershire v Hants 178-2

The County Ground: Northants 165-5 v Lancs

Taunton: Somerset 136-2 v Yorkshire

The Oval: Surrey v Essex 194-6

Edgbaston: Warwickshire 61-3 v Kent 165

DIVISION TWO

The County Ground: Derbyshire v Nottinghamshire 281-1

Lords: Middlesex v Sussex 192-2

I should have mentioned that Pujara - who has just reached fifty - is captaining Sussex after Tom Haines broke his hand in the last round.

Catch of the day

Busy times at Edgbaston - no-one fancies being out in the Birmingham cauldron. Warwickshire 50-3 in response to Kent’s 165. Single figures all the way apart from Sam Hain’s four boundaried 25. A wicket apiece for Henry, Milnes and Navdeep Saini.

Updated

He’s still with us!

Pujara and Alsop looking top notch at Lord’s. Sussex 179-2. Middlesex, who did actually plump to field after winning the toss, look on the tired side.

Hope poor Matthew Potts is doing ok - thanks for alerting me BTL. What a shame on his ODI home debut.

And hot weather memories from 1995 that now almost feel quaint. If only governments had known what was predicted and acted at the time, eh.

Thinking of our roving correspondent perched somewhere high up at The Oval. Are you ok Gary? Essex are 165-6, Harmer and Rossington proving a decent rebuilding team, partnership of 75.

A hundred for Haseeb Hameed! A hundred for Ben Duckett!

Galloping along while others struggle. Notts 237-1, Ben Slater cursing his luck in the dressing room.

I asked Ali about OHD, who he’s seen at lot at Edgbaston. “He’s a lovely guy and basically the ultimate club man. Throws himself into everything possible to promote the Bears. Helped run a food storage and distribution hub at Edgbaston during lockdown and also spent a lot of it calling elder members for a chat, keep their spirits up etc.”

Big love CCLive love then, to Oliver Hannon-Dalby.

Kent all out 165 - leaving their bowlers to grind through the hottest hours of the day. OHD 6-40, Brookes 3-56.

d
Happy hunting ground: OHD at Edgbaston on the hottest UK day ever. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

Lancashire winkle out a couple more of Northant’s stubborn batters - Gay and Proctor both back in the pavilion courtesy of Will Williams. Northants 121-4.

It does seem really cruel that humans can be so good at something, but their body so ill adapted to it. Here’s to a rapid recovery for Mark Wood.

A wicket at last at Cheltenham - with just ten minutes to go until tea. Holland lbw to Zak Chappell for 48.

And thanks to Billy Mills, for this:

Updated

Henry Brookes joins in Warwickshire’s demolition job - Kent 142-7, Billings the victim, for 33.

KP has a pop. And possibly, a point.

Great little story:

Rotten luck for Mark Wood

A sensational sixth for Ollie Hannon-Dalby! Kent lose Jamie Cox for 48 and the score-card is double-barrelled loveliness for Warwicks fans. Kent 131-6.

Cricket in the north east, 2022.

Hmmm, extreme heat tactics?

Notts are scoring at quite a lick, 139-1. Hameed 74 not out, Duckett 43 not out. And thank you to Alan for this advice for doggy friends.

Essex and Kent are neck n neck in the hottest day massacre: Essex 107-6 - a second for Kemar Roach, and Kent 113-5.

While we took our ice baths, they’ve been playing since 1.10pm at Cheltenham and Northampton. Felix Organ has reached his fifty, in Hampshire’s good start, 102-0. And Vasconcelos has joined Will Young back in the pavilion - caught off Luke Wood for 23, Northants 77-2.

Oh, and it is raining in Somerset.

I’m just off to put my head under the cold tap- back shortly.

Lunchtime scores

DIVISION ONE

Cheltenham: Gloucestershire v Hants 79-0

The County Ground: Northants 63-2 v Lancs

Taunton: Somerset 99-2 v Yorkshire

The Oval: Surrey v Essex 91-6

Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Kent 96-5

DIVISION TWO

The County Ground: Derbyshire v Nottinghamshire 115-1

Lords: Middlesex v Sussex 68-1

As the day stills, Somerset have lost a second wicket - Matt Renshaw for 43, lbw to Matthew Waite. Somerset 89-2

Can Critchley and Rossington hold off the Surrey attack - hang on that means Cook is out, Jovertoned for 29 - until lunch? Essex 91-5.

Jordan Cox and Sam Billings showing the top order how it’s done. Kent 96-5. What a peculiar international career Sam Billings has had - he always seems very jolly about it though.

Ben Stokes plays his final ODI at Durham today - enjoy him while you can. The ECB have actually flogged their best asset out of the game. Tim de Lisle is watching:

Lunchtime scores (for the games playing reduced hours)

DIVISION ONE

Cheltenham: Gloucestershire v Hants 79-0

The County Ground: Northants 63-2 v Lancs

In Division Two, Notts and Sussex have both lost a wicket but are progressing largely without issue. Hameed approaches his fifty at Derby, Notts 85-1. And at Lord’s, Sussex 60-1 as Clark and Alsop rebuild.

Re decisions, umpiring and batting today - extreme heat does affect decision making as well as causing physical symptoms. The non-sweating Sir Alastair seems unaffected though, 25 not out in Essex’s 54-4.

Paul Walter succumbs to the short ball and gloves to leg slip! Worrall 3-13, Essex disintegrating, 54-4.

An hour in and as the temperatures keeps heading northwards, Hampshire sitting pretty - 56-0. Northants are recovering after the early loss of Young - 38-1. New look Somerset have lost Lammonby for four but Renshaw and Abbot rebuilding - 62-1.

A noon wicket at The Oval - where Tom Westley has just been bowled by Dan Worrall - and Dan Lawrence follows him next ball, also lbw. Not been his season this year, he trudges off, his average 26. Paul Walter avoids the hat-trick.

Kent, pausing for breath, 45-5. OHD 5-15.

It wasn’t to be for Zak Crawley, who decides to use pad instead of bat and becomes Hannon-Dalby’s fifth scalp of the morning. Kent 43-5.

Washington Sundar’s Lancashire debut in the Championship has a happy start - as he winkles out Will Young with his second ball. Well gathered by Dane Vilas behind the stumps. The demoted-by-his-own-hand Vasconcelos 22 not out: Nothants 29-1.

Kent’s top-order duly melting in the heat. Ollie Hannon-Dalby, 4-15 off five. Ducks for Denly and Leaning. Zak Crawley - this is your up and at ‘em.

Anyone know why the dog refuses to drink from the water bowl but will lap from my cupped hands?

Make that 28-3. Kent’s batsmen keen to return to the cool of the dressing-room. This time Joe Denly for a duck, a third for Hannon-Dalby.

Round the grounds in the first half hour: just four wickets to fall - two of them at Edgbaston where Kent are 28-2. Ben Compton caught early, for just four, and a second for Hannon-Dalby when he traps Bell-Drummond for 10

Nick Brown snaffled behind by Ben Foakes off Kemar Roach, also for 10, Essex 28-1 at The Oval, and Ali Orr, on the back of his century against Leicestershire, is lbw to Tim Murtagh for 7. Sussex 18-1.

This is what will cause county championship fans to join the revolution.

This is dedication from Gary Naylor! Please keep us updated and stay cool. With apologies to England’s leading run-scorer...the only two people I know who allegedly don’t sweat are Alastair Cook and Prince Andrew.

Thanks to Romeo for pointing it out - a change of the playing hours also at Northants v Lancs.

Warwickshire win the toss and....are having a bowl????

Let’s hope they look less disgruntled than South Africa’s women did last night.

As far as I can tell, no other clubs have chosen to reduce the hours of play - so 11am-6pm at Taunton, Northants, The Oval, Edgbaston, Derby and Lord’s and 11am-4.30pm at Cheltenham.

Championship tables

DIVISION ONE

Surrey 165 (9)

Hants 150 (9)

Lancs 137 (9)

Essex 118 (8)

Northants 103 (8)

Yorks 101 (8)

Warwicks 95 (9)

Kent 90 (9)

Somerset 72 (8)

Gloucs 55 (9)

DIVISION TWO (each team has played nine games)

Notts 159 (9)

Middx 138

Glam 137

Worcs 127

Derby 124

Durham 111

Sussex 93

Leics 66

News from Northampton where Will Young has been installed as Championship captain for the rest of the season . Ricardo Vasconcelos has stepped down to focus on his game.

Ali on Ben Stokes and cricket’s relentless quest for more.

For reference-(admission, I wrote the tweet but it is just a summary of the Hit For Six report published in 2020)

And in altogether happier news - I haven’t managed to catch any of this yet, but it looks superb.

Fixtures

DIVISION ONE

Cheltenham - Gloucestershire v Hampshire

The County Ground - Northants v Lancashire

Taunton: Somerset v Yorkshire

The Oval: Surrey v Essex

Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Kent

DIVISION TWO

The County Ground: Derbyshire v Nottinghamshire

Lords: Middlesex v Sussex

Preamble

Good morning! Hope you’ve got shade and water, wherever your are, as we head into the unknown- record-breaking heat in the UK. Nonetheless, the County Championship goes ahead - with seven games - all in the southern half of the country.

The ECB has given clubs special dispensation to limit play today. If both sides agree, they can plump for three 90 minute sessions - with at least one drinks break per session. The umpires can stop play at any time if they are worried about player safety. Any lost time will be made up on days two, three and four when the temperatures return to normal. Gloucestershire and Hampshire have signed up - not sure about any other clubs yet.

The travel chaos meant I couldn’t make it down to Cheltenham today - if you are out on the grounds, please drop me a line to tell me what it is like out there. If you haven’t melted.

Updated

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