Tanya Aldred's roundup
The Northamptonshire batting van arrived at the crease only to be met with banana skins, buttered bats and a desire to get back to the pavilion. A final total of 56 all out was distinguished by a single double-figure score, Saif Zaib’s 29.
Keith Barker, who had been stranded on 38 after Hampshire were dismissed for 367, pocketed four for 12. There were two wickets apiece for Mohammad Abbas and Ian Holland, plus a comedy run-out to start proceedings when Hassan Azad was out without facing a ball.
It was the lowest score at the Rose Bowl. Rain wiped out much of the afternoon, but Northants were able to start their follow-on, whereupon Hassan Azad completed a pair.
Steve Smith made 89 in what will probably be his final innings for Sussex, a third lbw decision in as many innings as he shuffled to off stump. But the plaudits went to the 19-year-old James Coles, who glided to his maiden first-class century as Sussex built a 358-run lead over Glamorgan, bolstered by Ollie Robinson biffing three successive fours off Michael Neser before being caught.
The Kent debutant Arafat Bhuiyan grabbed four Surrey wickets as the 2022 Champions pinched a first-innings lead of 84 – thanks to some tail-end hitting by Sean Abbot and Gus Atkinson. Zak Crawley, 31 not out at stumps, then had to watch as Kent lost three wickets in the day’s final minutes.
Worcestershire’s second innings started almost as catastrophically as their first, 2 for 2 after 11 balls, but they were saved any further blushes when rain stopped play just after six o’clock. Leicestershire had earlier been dismissed for 180 – five wickets for Joe Leach and four for Matthew Waite, who hurried the tail along nicely with a three-wicket over. Worcestershire need another 245 on a capricious pitch.
Matt Montgomery cartwheeled to an unbeaten 130 at Trent Bridge, for Nottinghamshire against Essex, while at Bristol, Ajaz Patel took five wickets, and Matthew Potts two, to give Durham the upper hand. Somerset were on top at Lord’s after Matt Henry took 5 for 45. Middlesex were bundled out for 175 before following on.
A day to remember for James Coles and Matthew Montgomery, one to forget for Northamptonshire. That’s all from me, enjoy your Friday night!
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 367 v Northamptonshire 56 and 50-2
Lord’s: Middlesex 175 and 81-1 v Somerset 404
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 326-5 v Essex 298
The Oval: Surrey 362 v Kent 278 and 80-4
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 255-9 v Durham 445
Hove: Sussex 481 v Glamorgan 123 and 118-1
New Road: Worcestershire 83 and 26-2 v Leicestershire 173 and 180 Worcs need 245 to win
I’ve just remembered it is early deadlines on a Friday. With Kent, Middlesex and Worcestershire all worth watching from behind the sofa, I’d better dash off some words. Do keep things trucking BTL.
Middlesex follow-on...
…after being bowled out for 175, five wickets for Henry and a run-out to complete the set. A plucky 39 from TRJ hauled them from the depths of 119-7.
Worcestershire’s start isn’t ideal: 2-2 after eleven balls. Azhar Ali completes a pair.
Surrey all out 362
The deficit is just 84 and Kent are still in the game. Until they bat, phar, phnar. Come on Zak Crawley.
A century for Matthew Montgomery!
He signed a three-year contract extension at the end of last year, and it is paying dividends for Notts – now 102 not out, and he’s escorted Notts just 33 runs short of Essex – 265-3.
Gus Atkinson muscles three sixes in a row for Surrey to collect a 42-ball fifty. Surrey’s lead 76 thanks to Atkinson and Sean Abbott who smashed a 88-ball 78 before being caught off countryman Agar.
Abbott was last week called up the pre-Ashes training camp along side Michael Neser. You sense why.
Worcestershire need 271 to win!
Wash my mouth out, but I feel this is unlikely.
Leicestershire all out 180, with five wickets for Leach and four for Waite.
Ashes honours even at Hove:
Four, four, four, out!
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 19, 2023
Ollie Robinson went after Michael Neser at the end of the @SussexCCC innings#LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/U2tePHjyAI
Doing no-mow May. Ok, possibly no-mow January, February, March and April as well. The grass is desperate to grow in the flower beds rather than the stubborn bald patch in the lawn which was just on a length when the kids were younger and enthusiastic about being in the garden after school.
Leicestershire’s late order batting has come rather unstuck – three in Matthew Waite’s over as the Foxes lose three for one. Leics 179-9, Rehan Ahmed still there on seven.
Andrew Radd tries to make a silk purse out of 56 all out:
Fun fact - well, sort of. Every member of the@NorthantsCCC team dismissed for 60 at Northlands Road in 1908 - the County's previous lowest 'away' total against @hantscricket before today - was born in Northamptonshire, including captain 'Tim' Manning #bbccricket pic.twitter.com/75ZsHE6n7N
— Andrew Radd (@oldmanradd) May 19, 2023
Tea-time-ish scores
DIVISION ONE
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 367 v Northamptonshire 56 rain
Lord’s: Middlesex 158-7 v Somerset 404
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 208-3 v Essex 298
The Oval: Surrey 296-8 v Kent 278
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 98-1 v Durham 445
Hove: Sussex 469-9 v Glamorgan 123
New Road: Worcestershire 83 v Leicestershire 173 and 160-5
Northants (temporarily) saved by the rain:
Current scene at HQ ☔️
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) May 19, 2023
WET pic.twitter.com/Wa7UvZMA0T
Eyes turn to Trent Bridge, where Notts are making batting look easy. A 92-run partnership between Matthew Montgomery and Joe Clarke, 200-2 and just 98 runs behind Essex. Simon Harmer only has 15 wickets this season.
They’ve taken tea at the Rose Bowl, cracking Northants team talk I imagine.
James Coles is finally out at Hove, for 138, Sussex 410-7. While Surrey are fast catching up Kent, with Abbot and Lawes the irritating tail-enders.
Updated
Northants 56 all out - the lowest total at the Rose Bowl.
Stumps akimbo, as Jack White plays and misses. Barker 4-12, Abbas 2-20, Holland 2-10.
Wisden’s editor is concerned.
Northamptonshire totals this season: 117, 331, 198, 120-3, 149, 63, 255, 311-8, 158, 72 and now 31-7. What on earth is going on?
— Lawrence Booth (@BoothCricket) May 19, 2023
At The Oval, Joey Evison spoils the Arafat Bhuiyan four-wicket run, as Jordan Clark falls for eight. Time for some big bashing from Abbott (28 not out).
North of the river, Middlesex are 114-5, but Simpson and Higgins have added 47 for the sixth wicket. Three for Henry, two for Gregory.
Make that number nine at The Rose Bowl – as double-figure man Saif Zaib is caught for 29. Northants 59-9.
Super catch by Liam Dawson, scooping a poke up just before it hit the grass at second slip. Northants eight down. Buckingham shrugs off for 5. Saif Zaib, 25, has nearly half the runs and the only man in double figures. Northants 51-8.
One, two, three, FOUR wickets for Arafat now on debut! Against the champions as well. Surrey 197-6, still trailing Kent – KENT! – by 81 runs.
11:00 - 0 wickets in County Championship Cricket.
— Kent Cricket (@KentCricket) May 19, 2023
12:25 - 2 wickets in County Championship Cricket.
Here's his second!
LIVE STREAM & Match Centre ➡ https://t.co/G5jpcA1eIB pic.twitter.com/nCFP5vSz7B
Saif Zaib showing the rest of the Northants line-up how its done. Eases to 17 not out, of 41-7 and suddenly three figures looks a possibility.
In other news, Michael Vaughan returns to the BBC to commentate on the Ashes:
Shall we see how Northants are doing? OH DEAR. 27-7. Barker 4-5; Abbas 2-19. Keogh gone.
A two-card Australian trick in the slips as Labuschagne parrys upwards and Neser snaffles the rebound. Oli Carter walks off for 28. Sussex 331-6.
A third wicket for Arafat Bhuiyan at The Oval! He adds Ben Foakes to his high-class three-card trick. Surrey 180-5.
A hundred for James Coles!
A drive through the covers and a huge bear hug from Oli Carter. He pulls off his helmet with a big smile and acknowledges the crowd. Well played
No hat-trick for Matt Henry, bur he didn’t have to wait too long for his third wicket: Holden for 17. Middx 48-3.
It doesn’t rain but pours for Northants, where Ricardo Vasconcelos has joined the unhappy band back in the dressing room. A second wicket for Barker. Northants 19-4. Keogh surveys the wreckage.
The Manchester rain has now made it to Bristol and New Road where we have delayed starts. The good news is that it came and went fairly quickly up here.
The players make their way back after sandwiches, with Keith Barker miserly, James Coles eyeing up a milestone and Matt Henry on a hat-trick.
Keith Barker's opening five overs against Northamptonshire:
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 19, 2023
5 maidens
0 runs
1 wicket
Brilliant from the @hantscricket bowler!#LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/qte6VZ4fmz
Time for a sandwich, back shortly!
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 367 v Northamptonshire 18-3
Lord’s: Middlesex 23-2 v Somerset 404
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 102-1 v Essex 298
The Oval: Surrey 152-4 v Kent 278
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 66-1 v Durham 445
Hove: Sussex 295-5 v Glamorgan 123
New Road: Worcestershire 83 v Leicestershire 173 and 148-5
Key event
Two in two for Matt Henry at Lord’s, first he removes Mark Stoneman’s leg stump, then he has Stevie Eskinazi caught behind first ball. Middx 22-2.
Thanks to Romeo for digging out this article on the talented James Coles, who with ten minutes till lunch is on 93. The new ball is in Michael Neser’s hand.
At Lord’s, Ryan Higgins finished with four, and Tim Murtagh with three, in Somerset’s 404 all out. Stoneman and Robson so far seeing off Coverton and Matt Henry. 17-0.
Notts are 93-1, losing only Haseeb Hameed for 13 this morning – caught A Cook, bowled S Cook.. Ben Slater a busy 51 not out.
Gently switch the radio off, and close the door Northants fans. 10-3. Emilio Gay Abbassed for nine.
Oh dear, now Sam Whiteman trudges back at the Rose Bowl, lbw to Keith Barker, who has bowled three overs, three maidens Northants 8-2.
The rain has hit Manchester.
In Division One, Surrey are being surprised by Kent. Now 131-3, a second wicket for debutant Bhuiyan, Jamie Smith cheaply. Sibley still there, with a fifty under his belt.
The Northants wicket procession has started, as the clown car breaks down immediately.Not something they needed against Hampshire. Azad seems to have been run-out without facing a ball.
Instant impact in the field from @masoncrane32 😮💨 https://t.co/H1wYRHMoPs pic.twitter.com/GyCLp33Ooe
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) May 19, 2023
Steve Smith is out for 89!
LBW! He shuffles to off, is hit midway down the pad, and turns in disbelief as the umpire sends him on his way. James Harris, what a scalp. Sussex 274-5
Three lbws in three innings. Don’t think county umpires should expect Christmas cards from Steve Smith pic.twitter.com/yOYhiX8o2I
— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) May 19, 2023
Updated
Round the grounds in Division Two:
At Hove, Sussex are making hay. Fresh-faced James Coles, with 78, has his highest first-class score. He was Sussex’s youngest debutant during the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy, aged just 16. He’s also played England U-19 cricket. What a time to do it at the other end from Steve Smith, who just hooks a fat one from James Harris for six over the clock tower and out of the ground. He moves to 89. Sussex 274-4.
Gloucestershire are wobbly, at 16-1 chasing Durham’s 445. and three wickets have fallen this morning at New Road: Davey, Davis and Ackermann, all to Joe Leach. Leicestershire 115-5.
Hampshire all out 367
Barker stranded, 38 not out. 45 extras. Four wickets for Jack White. Right, Northamptonshire.
A wicket for Matthew Potts, called up to the Test team against Ireland and the second leading wicket-taker in Division Two. Dent lbw for 8 and Gloucestershire with a mid-morning worry, 10-1.
Arafat Bhuiyan takes a first Championship wicket, and it is a good one! Ollie Pope is caught for 34 at the ground where he averages nearly a hundred. Surrey 109-2.
Smith pings James Harris, joyously, and with perfect placement through the covers for four. He plays and replays the shot. Sussex 252-4, Smith 77, Coles 68.
Durham fall just short of a last batting point, but you can’t complain about 445 strapped in the first-innings satchel. Gloucestershire’s Chris Dent is in a hurry, off the mark with two fours, Gloucs 8-0.
“Good morning Tanya from sodden North Italy.” Lovely to hear from you Finbar Anslow and glad you are safe.
“Just a few weeks ago we were praying for rain after a dry Summer became a dry Winter and we actually had water shortages in January and February. Now Piedmont is well and truly drenched and just a couple of hundred of kms to the South it’s a disaster.”
“On the subject of rain do you think the draw points system might be unfair on counties which have a wetter climate? For example Lancashire and Somerset? And please could you explain the dynamics of Somerset’s non declaration?”
It was a messy business last Sunday. It seems the two sides couldn’t agree on setting a target for Lancashire to chase, so Somerset just batted on. The thing I didn’t quite understand is why Somerset didn’t just set their own target, as difficult as they wanted, and leave it up to Lancashire to chase, or not.
Glamorgan let Smith slip through their fingers! Smith edges Michael Neser, but first slip Timm van der Gugten can’t hold on. Meanwhile ,19 year old James Coles gloriously strokes Neser through the covers for four. All this is happening to the excited chatter of a thousand school children let into Hove today.
Updated
At his playground, The Oval, Ollie Pope passes 4,000 first-class runs for Surrey, in the same week he is announced official England Test vice-captain. If the suspicions are true that Ben Stokes won’t play in the Ireland Test, Pope will become the 82nd man to captain England in Tests.
Ollie Pope is the 100th Surrey player to pass 4000 First Class runs for the Three Feathers 👏
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) May 19, 2023
🤎 | #SurreyCricket https://t.co/guz8chNKid
At Trent Bridge, Notts are getting off to a flier, as Ben Slater pulls the day’s third ball for six, Has strokes four, and so it continues. And the wicket deluge continues at New Road, nightwatchman Josh Davey caught at slip. Leicestershire, 75-3.
No delayed starts, and off we go!
If you haven’t come across them before, Sporting Memories do outstanding work helping older people and those living with dementia through the power of sport and reminiscence.
Ex Essex and England cricket captain Graham Gooch was our guest speaker at Sporting Memories yesterday morning! 🏏@EssexCricket | @lbbdcouncil | @daggerstrust
— Dagenham & Redbridge ⚔️ (@Dag_RedFC) May 19, 2023
A lovely obituary of a cricket lover by his son, Simon. Rest in peace Mike Rines.
Thursday's round-up
Ollie Robinson squeezed the Ashes klaxon, trapping Marnus Labuschagne for just one at Hove. He was one of four wickets for Robinson as Glamorgan disintegrated for 123. But there were more treats in store for those who’d made the trip to the south coast.
Shortly before half past six, Labuschagne pulled at the cuffs of his shirt sleeves and sent down two overs of his legspin at Steve Smith. His Australia teammate was not tempted, and moved with characteristic twitch and scratch to an unbeaten 68. Smith also watched with interest as Michael Neser, vying for a late baggy green call-up, dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara for his first Sussex duck.
Six Test bowlers were dotted across the scorecards at Lord’s, where Middlesex spent the day chasing the ball. Two early wickets had left Somerset vulnerable, but George Bartlett bounced to his first century of the year, and Tom Abell 77, as they put on a brisk third wicket partnership of 183. Tom Kohler-Cadmore, advertising his best Bazball credentials, got off the mark with a six into the pavilion and added 68 in 60 balls.
Hampshire’s James Vince tucked his napkin in and got stuck into the Northamptonshire bowling, as he had at Wantage Road last month. This time he got within a contented belch of his hundred, before being caught after propping forward to Rob Keogh for 95. Around him, Liam Dawson made an unbeaten 55 and there were forties from Fletcha Middleton and Ben Brown.
On a flat Bristol pitch, Graham Clark made his first hundred for six years as Durham’s batting express steamed onwards against Gloucestershire, knocking up almost 400 runs in a day. There were four wickets for Zafar Gohar.
Twenty-two wickets fell at New Road on a day of swinging balls, unpredictable bounce and nervous batting. First Leicestershire were bowled out for 173; held together only by a late-order 30 by Chris Wright and a fifty from Colin Ackermann. Wright, warmed up, then filleted Worcestershire with five wickets for a sneeze, as they were bowled out for 83.
Kent made Surrey sweat over their last wicket at The Oval, as Joey Evison and Michael Hogan added 82 in 14 overs and even collected a batting point. Unexpected riches from an unpromising 118-7. At Trent Bridge, Alastair Cook knocked up 72 in Essex’s 298, with three wickets for Nottinghamshire’s Stuart Broad.
Three South Asian Cricket Academy graduates made their Championship debuts on Thursday – Zaman Akhter (Gloucestershire), Arafat Bhuiyan (Kent) and Zain Ul-Hassan (Glamorgan).
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 331-6 v Northamptonshire
Lord’s: Middlesex v Somerset 325-6
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 13-0 v Essex 298
The Oval: Surrey 88-1 v Kent 278
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Durham 393-9
Hove: Sussex 221-4 v Glamorgan 123
New Road: Worcestershire 83 v Leicestershire 173 and 66-2
Preamble
Good morning! and welcome to Steve Smith edges towards a century day. The forecast is for cloud and rain, sometimes heavy, but the expectations are heavier.
It was a busy Thursday, in which 22 wickets fell at New Road, Durham sped along in what has become the expected way, Kent made Surrey sweat, a little, Sir Alastair kept Essex in the game at Trent Bridge, Somerset made the most of Lord’s and James Vince’s Hampshire got on top of Northants. Celebratory morning coffee for George Bartlett and Graham Clark for their centuries.
But, first thing, eyes turn to Hove, where Smith starts the day 68 not out, against his Australian team-mates Michael Neser and Marnus Labuschagne.
Updated
