Tanya Aldred's county roundup
Haseeb Hameed’s first opportunity to captain in Championship cricket proved tricky, Nottinghamshire hampered as both Brett Hutton and Jake Ball left the field at the Oval clutching various parts of their body. Things had started well with Rory Burns out to the second ball of the day, and again with Surrey 70 for four, but a steady innings from Ben Foakes and big hitting from Jordan Clark – who cracked his first century of the year – left the champions in a strong position.
Casey Aldridge and James Rew kept Somerset in the hunt at Taunton, coming together after a familiar top-order fumble, this time at the hands of Hampshire’s Kyle Abbott who grabbed four for 20 and a run-out. Somerset rested some key players before the Blast Finals Day but Dom Bess returned on a short-term loan from Yorkshire.
Matt Parkinson, on loan to Durham before moving to Kent, took three wickets at the Riverside to haul back Gloucestershire, including a ripper to remove James Bracey’s off stump. There were half‑centuries from Chris Dent and Miles Hammond. Kent were dismissed for 171 by Warwickshire, who were already in touching distance by stumps. Kent’s blushes had been saved by a late-order swashbuckle from Grant Stewart.
It was a carefree day’s batting for Sussex against Derbyshire at Hove, Tom Clark top‑scoring with 96 and Ollie Carter passing 50 for the third match in a row. Meanwhile Northamptonshire meandered to 219 all out against Middlesex.
At New Road, Finlay Bean and Adam Lyth knocked up 154, Yorkshire’s highest opening stand for six years, before the weather intervened. Worcestershire dropped three catches.
As The Oval groundstaff tart up the pitch for tomorrow, the flags on the pavilion still flapping away, pigeons tucking into grassy delights, time for me to go. Rain still playing its hand in July, but plenty to keep an eye on – from Jordan’s Clark century, to the orgy of runs from Sussex and Kent’s wobble at Canterbury. Thanks from me and from Kyra – till tomorrow – bye!
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Canterbury: Kent 171 v Warwickshire 155-2
Blackpool: Lancashire v Essex 12-1 rain
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex 23-0 v Northamptonshire 219
Taunton: Somerset 196-5 v Hampshire
The Oval Surrey 339-8 v Notts
DIVISION TWO
The Riverside: Durham v Gloucestershire 280-6
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Leicestershire no play today, rain
Hove: Sussex 376-7 v Derbyshire
New Road: Worcestershire v Yorkshire 154-0 rain
Just popping back quickly with Richard Spiller’s email
“Jordan Clark’s maiden ton was at The Oval too - for Lancashire.”
And just in time too, as he walks off, caught behind off the new ball, with 107 under his belt.
Key event
As Clark approaches a game-changing hundred at The Oval, I’d better disappear to write up for the paper. Do keep chatting BTL.
Talk of Nick Compton BTL, when you have a moment read this empathetic interview with Don McRae.
There is only one game currently in progress in Division Two, at Hove, where Sussex have galloped away to 306-5. Clark a 168 ball 96; Haines a 96-ball 86 and Carter a 121-ball 56 not out. Thomson 3-69.
A final look around the grounds before I write up:
Sixteen overs to be bowled at Blackpool where Essex have been preserved in aspic at 12-1 since this morning.
Warwickshire have lost Davies and Rhodes, but Yates potters on (37). Warwicks 112-2 -59 behind Kent.
Northants 177-6, a useful partnership of 42
Oooof and here at The Oval, Brett Hutton is walking off again to warm applause after trying to bowl and first falling over, then pulling up just before delivery. The big man finally admits defeat. Surrey 262-6.
And Somerset 177-5, the young pairing of Rew (70) and Aldridge (43) pulling off a rescue act.
Surrey collect just their fourth batting point since mid-May. Surprising n’est pas for the Division One leaders?
Missing Parky (made for social-media) moments? Here you are -
A fantastic delivery from @mattyparky96!
— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) July 10, 2023
The @DurhamCricket bowler finds some turn and removes James Bracey#LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/I39ZjGlLc0
Thanks Kyra, brilliant to have a different eye here on CCLive! Did I mention that Foakes had been out? A fourth catch for Moores. Foakes an unshowy 46 that held together a sticky patch in a way that might be useful elsewhere. Surrey 229-6. Hutton back on the pitch.
Incredibly, only one hundred has been made at The Oval in the Championship this year – Pope’s beauty against Hampshire. It isn’t, my learned friend next to me in the press box says, the batsman’s paradise it used to be.
Updated
Hi Kyra here, as we go into the final session of the day, I will be leaving and Tanya will be taking over for the last entries of the blog. What an exciting morning and afternoon we’ve had of cricket though, and hopefully many more to come!
Tea-time ish scores
DIVISION ONE
Canterbury: Kent 171 v Warwickshire 69-0
Blackpool: Lancashire v Essex 12-1 rain
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex v Northamptonshire 144-6
Taunton: Somerset 102-5 v Hampshire
The Oval Surrey 200-5 v Notts
DIVISION TWO
The Riverside: Durham v Gloucestershire 257-5
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Leicestershire no play yet today, rain
Hove: Sussex 247-4 v Derbyshire
New Road: Worcestershire v Yorkshire 142-0 rain
Round the grounds: rain still at Blackpool, Sophia Gardens and New Road.
Division One
Kent hauled themselves to respectability from 95-8, thanks to Grant Stewart and Matt Quinn. But 171 all out looking meagre as Warwicks race to 65-0.
Northants wobbling in the face of TRJ and Higgins: 144-6.
Play at Taunton, but Umeed a fourth wicket for Abbott. Now Aldridge must rebuild with Rew (29): Somerset a proceed-as-normal 98-5.
Updated
Notts’ bowlers falling to pieces in the July sunshine. James completing Hutton’s over after he had to leave the field clutching bits of body. Jake Ball also injured out. Leggie Calvin Harrison taking the Pavilion End.
Midway though an over Brett Hutton leaves the field, holding the back of his hamstring. Lyndon James to finish the over. Notts have been without Jake Ball since this morning. Steven Mullaney not playing. Surrey 193-5 #BBCCricket
— Dave Bracegirdle (@bracecricket) July 10, 2023
Thanks Kyra! Clarks leans back and slams a pie from Hutton through the covers for four: 36 of his 43 runs in boundaries the BBC man tells me.
We’ve just had the pleasure of speaking to a member of the crowd, here at The Oval. Max told us his thoughts on the Foakes situation. He said straight away that he “thinks he should be in the England team” and that “Foakes should get in somehow.” Max also told us that having watched him a fair amount this summer he can see that “He’s pretty consistent for Surrey ….like now he’s just holding the innings together … he’s a crucial player”. So should Foakes come back for the next Test at Old Trafford?
Clark on 29 has already overtaken Foakes in 30 balls, Surrey 168-5.
Hi Kyra here again. Back at The Oval, the sun is shining and the game is in full swing! All eyes are on Foakes wearing number seven this afternoon. With the crowds getting ever so slightly depleted here since lunch however, the atmosphere still stays strong!
Updated
Dancing around Division Two. Rain at New Road where grizzled and fresh, Lyth and Bean, have put on 142. And still no play at Sophia Gardens.
Sussex have lost another – Coles a second for Thomson, for 14 – but still fizzing along, 197-3 v lost-their-mojo Derbys. And Gloucestershire, led by Chris Dent’s 75, are 178-3. South African Roelofsen the new man at the crease.
Updated
Jacks has a rush of blood, fizzing up the pitch to Paterson, edges, hesitates for a moment, checking the catch has carried to Moores, but has to stroll off: Surrey 130-5, after a partnership of 60 with Foakes.
The more powerful Jacks outscoring Foakes, racing along to 34 to Foakes’ 14. Surrey 124-4, rebuilding, rebuilding.
South overpowers north in the T20 quarters:
No luck on my call (not a euphemism), so back to the cricket. The Sussex runaway train has been halted, Haines gone for 86, Alsop for 9: 181-2.
Foakes, long sleeves buttoned to the wrist, elegant as a parasol, number 7 on his back, watches calmly from the non-striker’s end. Surrey 91-4. Please excuse me for ten minutes while I make a work call.
Rain in the west: no play at Blackpool, Sophia Gardens and Taunton.
Kent, alas, are 91-7. Pillar of stability Muyeye is back in the pavilion, Evison has joined him.
A post-prandial email lands gently in the box.
“Pleased to see Sussex motoring along in third in Division 2,” writes Paul Griffin, “vindicating their shock decision to drop rookie batter Steve Smith a few weeks ago after he failed to exploit Glamorgan’s ingenue spinner Marnus Labuschagne. But I wonder what will become of them.”
Updated
Tasty vegan steak for lunch courtesy of The Oval’s excellent kitchen, even tastier shot for Foakes to get off the mark. He’s going to get a hundred, isn’t he. Isn’t he? Surrey 81-4, picking up the pace sine lunch with Jacks and Foakes at the crease.
We’re off to grab some lunch, with Sussex and Yorkshire skitting into run heaven. Back shortly!
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Canterbury: Kent 77-5 v Warwickshire
Blackpool: Lancashire v Essex 12-1 rain
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex v Northamptonshire 71-2
Taunton: Somerset 74-4 v Hampshire
The Oval Surrey 70-4 v Notts
DIVISION TWO
The Riverside: Durham v Gloucestershire 94-2
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Leicestershire no play yet today, rain
Hove: Sussex 150-0 v Derbyshire
New Road: Worcestershire v Yorkshire 128-0
Updated
Surrey! A second for James – Latham lbw to a full one on the stroke of lunch. Surrey lose three for four, and they trot back to the pavilion with the Champs 70-4 at sandwiches.
With ten minutes till lunch, Kent and Somerset’s batters have had the worst of the morning. Kent 72-5, including two for Rushworth and a run-out. Muyeye, 37 not out, can only regard the mess. And a third wicket for Abbott at Taunton: Umeed, in his first red-ball game of the year, and Rew rebuilding the roof. Somerset 74-4.
🚨🚨🚨 SACA skipper Andy Umeed signs a professional contract at Somerset. The deal sees the opening batter contracted to the end of 2023.
— SACA (@SACAUK) July 22, 2022
Andy becomes our second graduate to progress to the professional game and we wish him the very best of luck! 👏https://t.co/huCaVhRHAF pic.twitter.com/njGIVlA9fo
Thanks Kyra and thanks for the welcome BTL! I told her you were a friendly bunch. That breakthrough just before lunch brings in the talented Jamie Smith, who, ah, is out before he has a chance to get in, a tip-top catch behind the stumps from a nip backer by Lyndon James. Enter BEN FOAKES. Surrey 67-3.
From observing the game from the Vauxhall End, I have to say the precision both these bowlers and batters use is amazing to watch. To have such accuracy and ease when bowling or batting is very admirable.
Surrey have just lost Dom Sibley for 34: now 66-2.
As the Notts player Hutton starts to bowl, one can’t help but notice the magnificent background and architecture that The Oval provides the players and fans alike. A truly momentous ground for the home of Surrey County Cricket, with the two towers and British Flag standing over us, it really does feel like the players are performing for the world to see !
The suns just starting to reappear for us here in the Oval this afternoon, along with a nice breeze, which is perhaps a welcome change for the Surrey and Notts players, after the recent run of rain and humidity this past week.
Thank you Tanya, great to be here. The atmosphere here is great, and it is so good to see so many people , from children to adults, all watching the cricket and soaking in the ambience the Oval has to offer !
Right, I’m now going to put my feet up and hand over to Kyra for a while. Her number one sport is athletics –– but she’s enjoying The Oval’s Monday morning ambience.
Before I hand over to Kyra, a quick look around the grounds.
Here at The Oval, four slips waiting as Paterson rumbles in. Latham taps the ball away and wanders away to do some gardening. A strong wind billows the flags. Surrey a pedestrican 32-1.
At Canterbury, Chris Rushworth has struck, Compton the unlucky man, caught for nine. Kent 25-1.
Raining still at Blackpool, Essex 12-1.
Northants have lost Vasconcelos, whose season hasn’t quite slipped into gear this summer. A wicket for Higgins, Northants 33-1.
Somerset, bravely choosing to bat against Hampshire, may regret their decision. The usual early wickets: two to Abbott’s bowling arm, one, a run out, to Abbott’s throwing arm. Somerset 41-3.
In Division Two: no play yet at Sophia Gardens; a wicket for Potts at the Riverside, Gloucestershire 41-1; and carefree batting for Sussex (63-0 v Derby) and Yorks (53-0 v Worcestershire).
Tawanda Muyeye in full flow at Canterbury, where Kent are 19-0.
Beautiful from Tawanda, four runs 🏏
— Kent Cricket (@KentCricket) July 10, 2023
LIVE STREAM & Match Centre ➡️ https://t.co/g1noeVffFi pic.twitter.com/o2tF3its6e
I saw this story about the ECB trying to bring forward the date when Muyeye – Wisden’s schools cricketer of the year in 2020 – will be eligible for England, after arriving in the UK as an asylum seeker.
Rain at Blackpool, Essex 12-1. Rain still at Sophia Gardens. Could be a day for brollies up and down – this is the Met Office’s best guess:
“After a mostly fine start, it will quickly cloud over with rain across the southwest, moving northeast during the day. Some heavy showers expected across Scotland. Breezy, especially in the southwest. Warm in the east but cooler in the southwest.”
We’ve got a delayed start at Sophia Gardens, elsewhere only two wickets have fallen as I type – Rory Burns here at The Oval, Surrey 13-1, and Nick Browne, done by Bailey/de Grandhomme at lovely Stanley Park – Essex 8-1.
Updated
In lovely news for those who have followed his career since he was wet behind the ears, the Notts captain today is Haseeb Hameed, with Steven Mullaney injured.
Updated
Not the start the Champions were hoping for, while people cleared their throats and rifled for their sandwiches, Rory Burns lbw to Hutton second ball. Surrey 0 for 1.
Updated
Is this the start of a beautiful homecoming?
"Somerset is a County that will always be close to my heart and I’m excited to have the opportunity to return to the Club where my cricketing journey began"#WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/xTsNfu4N8Z
— Somerset Cricket 🏏 (@SomersetCCC) July 9, 2023
I’ve got Kyra Sethna-Mcintosh with me today, on a Guardian internship, and she will take over the blog a little bit later. Out on The Oval field, the mowers are pushed to and fro, to and fro, and the groundstaff dust the wickets.
DIVISION TWO TABLE
1 Durham (8) 131
2 Leicestershire (8) 95
3 Sussex (8) 94
4 Worcestershire (8) 84
5 Glamorgan (8) 84
6 Yorkshire (7) 68
7 Gloucestershire (8) 60
8 Derbyshire (7) 51
DIVISION ONE TABLE
1 Surrey (played 8) 129
2 Essex (8) 106
3 Hants (8) 103
4 Warwicks (7) 93
5 Lancs (7) 88
6 Somerset (8) 88
7 Nottinghamshire (8) 78
8 Kent (8) 72
9 Middlesex (7) 51
10 Northants (7) 39
Preamble
Good morning! The morning after the weekend before, with both the women’s and men’s Ashes alive, we return to the main event – summer County Championship frolics.
Lots has happened since Surrey lost to Lancashire in the last round, just to throw a few doughnuts in the air – Dom Bess is on loan with… Somerset, Paul Nixon has come to an agreement with Leicestershire, leaving Grace Road after five and a half years and Jamie Overton plays his first red-ball game of the year.
Time to grab a coffee at a sun-dappled Oval, where Notts face a Surrey side determined for victory after that defeat by Lancs. Back shortly.
Fixtures
DIVISION ONE
Canterbury: Kent v Warwickshire
Blackpool: Lancashire v Essex
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex v Northamptonshire
Taunton: Somerset v Hampshire
The Oval Surrey v Notts
DIVISION TWO
The Riverside: Durham v Gloucestershire
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Leicestershire
Hove: Sussex v Derbyshire
New Road: Worcestershire v Yorkshire
Updated
