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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Emma John at the Oval

Hampshire in control against Yorkshire: county cricket – as it happened!

Surrey Warwickshire (Geopolitical Entity) Hampshire Yorkshire Oval Scarborough
Surrey celebrate after taking the wicket of Chris Benjamin of Warwickshire.
Surrey celebrate after taking the wicket of Chris Benjamin of Warwickshire. Photograph: Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images for Surrey CCC

And just like that… the day is over. Time for this debutant to head home and drink some electrolytes, before rejoining the action tomorrow. Thanks for the warm welcome, and I’ll see you all back here in the morning!

Day one roundup

Rain brought an early close at Scarborough where Yorkshire took on Hampshire in Division One, but it didn’t dampen the efforts of either Mohammad Abbas or Kyle Abbott as they set the home side’s batting card alight. Yorkshire were 33 for six before a rescue effort from Will Fraine and Dom Bess – the only batters to reach double figures – put on 116 runs. Both men fell before close of play, and Yorkshire resume today on 158 for eight.

Seven of Warwickshire’s top eight made it into the 20s, but only Dom Sibley and Nathan McAndrew made it out of the 30s against Surrey at the Oval. There were three wickets for Conor McKerr, and Jamie Overton and Tom Lawes took two apiece as they restricted the visitors to 240 for eight.

The beachy Costa-del-wicket at Chelmsford told you what Essex were planning if they won the toss. Sure enough, they batted first against Somerset and Jack Leach was bowling before lunch. Alastair Cook and Nick Browne put on a hundred for the opening partnership, and Browne spread his first century since April across a patient five hours, helping his team to 281 for three at stumps.

Half-centuries from James Bracey and Ryan Higgins helped Gloucestershire to recover from 167 for five to 317 against Northamptonshire at Cheltenham. Higgin brought up his punchy 50 off 79 balls with a boundary off Rob Keogh, although the off-spinner had the last word, trapping him lbw next ball. Northants were 30 without loss at the close.

Thirty-five overs at Old Trafford were just enough for Navdeep Saini to prove why he was a brilliant signing for Kent, nipping out Luke Wells and Rob Jones in successive deliveries on his way to three for 45. Lancashire finished 112 for four.

Fifteen Division Two wickets fell at New Road, where Dillon Pennington’s opening spell left Derbyshire 14 for five, and only Anuj Dal’s dogged half-century could get them to 130, before Worcestershire had troubles of their own against the seamer Sam Conners, ending on 141 for five.

At the Riverside Alex Lees and Michael Jones put on an unbroken opening stand of 132 for Durham in the 44.5 overs they managed between rain delays against Middlesex.

Updated

Bad light has stopped play at New Road, and encroaching deadlines will stop play here at the blog for a while. I’m told this is traditionally the point in the day where Tanya disappears off to write her round-up, so I will follow her example and do the same. Back in a bit.

Northants are chomping down on the Gloucestershire tail at Cheltenham, with three wickets in the last seven overs and Zafar Gohar, who was dropped off James Sales by Tom Taylor, has finally succumbed to the same bowler in his very next over, hooking straight to Simon Kerrigan. Gloucestershire now 317 for 9.

Captain Croft has got Saini’s next ball away for a single, so no hat-trick this time. Lancashire now 100 for 4.

…but we’ll have to wait for the climax, because his two wickets came at the end of this over. What a brilliant cliffhanger this is. The India fast bowler isn’t messing about, is he? A five-for on his Kent debut last week, and now this.

Oh hello, Navdeep Saini’s on a hat-trick…

https://twitter.com/KentCricket/status/1551603562538586113

Seven overs. That’s how long Nick Browne was stuck on 99 at Chelmsford. I don’t imagine it’s any kind of record but it’s got to feel like eternity while you’re out there, no? Especially if it’s your first sniff of a century since the opening game of the season, back in April.

Happily, he finally ran a three off Peter Siddle to bring up his century in an innings that has now lasted five hours and 228 balls. Essex currently 235-3 and Somerset have taken the new ball, much good may it do them.

Ah, cricket. You’re up, you’re down. Ryan Higgins smacks a four off Rob Keogh at Cheltenham to reach his half-century off only 79 deliveries - then Keogh has instant revenge, trapping Higgins lbw with his very next ball.

Sussex have just announced their squad for their Division Two match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge tomorrow – Tom Alsop has to sit this one out after receiving a mild concussion last week, and Steven Finn is being rested.

Oli Carter (wk)

Tom Clark

James Coles

Bradley Currie

Fynn Hudson-Prentice

Sean Hunt

Dan Ibrahim

Aristides Karvelas

Archie Lenham

Ali Orr

Cheteshwar Pujara (c)

Delray Rawlins

Ollie Robinson

It’s finally teatime at Old Trafford! Time to crack out the Eccles cakes*. Kent have managed to get in 24 overs against Lancashire, who are now 76-2, with captain Steven Croft recently arrived at the crease to support Luke Wells.

*This isn’t some sort of regional stereotyping by the way, just a genuine personal love of pastry that contains mincemeat. And yes, I do take mine with a slice of cheese, since you ask.

A fifty partnership for Jack Haynes and Kashif Ali at New Road, rescuing Worcestershire from 23-3, after they’d lost two wickets in two deliveries. They haven’t fallen down the same scree slope as Derbyshire did this morning.

Anyone else heard about the new film that’s been made of Mithali Raj’s life story, Shabaash Mithu? I spoke to a friend in India last week who has seen it and really enjoyed it. Fingers crossed it will be coming to a UK streaming service soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLd_ZeEe9pc

Updated

That’s Durham and Middlesex done for the day. The rain picked back up over tea and apparently it ain’t going anywhere. Durham finish the curtailed day 132-0 off 44.5 overs, and Michael Jones is 78 not out, with 56 of those coming in boundaries. Alex Lees has played the quiet companion role to perfection, and will resume tomorrow on 48 not out.

As Tom Lawes and Jamie Overton return to bowl after tea here at the Oval let’s take a moment to applaud Warwickshire for their contribution to the living wage campaign:

Updated

Somerset have taken a wicket on the stroke of tea, Matt Renshaw dismissing Dan Lawrence for 35. And Worcestershire have lost three in consecutive overs at New Road, where they’re now 23-3 and 13 wickets have gone down in the day. Visiting fans soon to start Googling “things to do in Worcester on a Wednesday”.

Tea-timeish scores

DIVISION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex 166-3 v Somerset

Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 231-5 v Northamptonshire

Old Trafford: Lancashire 32-1 v Kent

The Oval: Warwickshire 140-4 v Surrey

Scarborough: Yorkshire 158-8 v Hampshire

DIVISION TWO

Chester-le-Street: Durham 132-0 v Middlesex

New Road: Derbyshire 130 v Worcestershire 23-1

Ah, Will Fraine has gone at Scarborough. So now Dom Bess is Yorkshire’s high-scorer, with 67 not out off 103 balls. He and Fraine are the only two players in the side to have reached double figures, with the score now 158 for 7. And Lancashire have just lost their first wicket against Kent, Keaton Jennings nicking off to Zak Crawley at slip for 14, the score 24-1.

It’s been a while since I’ve read a piece about the things that Yorkshire get right rather than things they’ve got wrong. But here’s a really thoughtful long read by Jo Harman of Wisden Cricket Monthly asking how the county keeps producing such strong batting talent, decade after decade.

Bad news for groundstaff:

The agonies are over for Derbyshire: all out in 51.1 overs at New Road. You wouldn’t normally call a score of 130 “serviceable”, but in this instance, given that they were 14-5 at the end of the eighth over, it does do some kind of job. Even if that job is just making everyone feel less embarrassed about themselves.

Pakistan’s Muhammad Hasnain has taken his maiden wicket for Worcestershire as Derbyshire lost their ninth wicket. At least Anuj Dal’s made it to his half-century at the other end, a phenomenal achievement in the circumstances.

Will Fraine and Dom Bess have now put on 100 runs since the fall of the last Yorkshire wicket at 33-6. Fraine has batted three hours for his half-century, and Bess has gone to his own 50 off only 83 balls, with his seventh boundary.

Rain at Chester-le-Street now, where the players come off with Durham 132-o against Middlesex. Does anyone else feel differently about rain since last week’s heatwave/heat emergency/heatbomb? I’ve never felt so friendly towards it.

Dom Sibley is out for 43 here at The Oval, Ben Foakes gratefully accepting his slivered edge off Tom Lawes. Warwickshire 101-3. At Worcester, Derbyshire have gone eight wickets down, after Ben Aitchison was caught behind off Ed Barnard, who now has his third. Anuj Dal is currently 44 not out, which is Derbyshire’s highest score ahead of captain Leus de Plooy’s 38 and Aitchison’s 24. Do you want to hear the other scores? Yes, yes you do. They’re 0, 1, 2, 0, 0, 0, and 4 not out.

Miles Hammond, who scored 169 last week against Hampshire, is out to Tom Taylor. Meanwhile Kent have won the toss and will bowl when play finally gets underway at Old Trafford.

Devon Smith, Andre Fletcher and Junior Murray are among members of a 20-man Grenadian squad watching play here at The Oval. The team, a mixture of former stars and emerging young talent, is on a promotional tour of the UK under the aegis of the Grenada Tourism Authority and the Grenada Cricket Association and they played Beddington CC yesterday and they’re up against Northamptonshire’s 2nd XI tomorrow…

Essex lose their first wicket on 105, and Alastair Cook has been dismissed by Peter Siddle for the third time in three innings against Somerset! Captain Tom Westley quickly follows, caught at first slip by Lewis Gregory off the bowling of Craig Overton, and Essex are 110-2.

Updated

I’ve had an email! From Tim Castle! “Emma, I see you’re racking up the wickets ‘on dayboo’, as Saint Richie used to say. Well done!”

Tim, I didn’t realise that this was part of the remit - I will keep doing my best to cause mayhem. Mischief managed!

Durham have just brought their hundred up against Middlesex, Michael Jones has reached his half-century, and Alex Lees has just scored the first six of the game off Tom Helm. All this after stand-in captain Toby Roland-Jones won the toss and chose to bowl. Captaincy, eh? Always easier from a distance.

I’ve been informed that Jamie Overton is back on the field here at The Oval (can I be honest, I hadn’t noticed that he’d gone off, I’m going to blame Derbyshire and Yorkshire’s combined meltdowns for that one. Melts down?). It seems that the Younger Twin had treatment on his finger after fielding a ball from Chris Benjamin, and I feel his pain, having received quite a few Hurty Fingers as a result of my own, ill-timed, fielding recently. Anyone else out there had any good cricketing injuries recently?

Rain news: there was a sprinkling at Cheltenham over lunch so it’s going to be another 10 minutes before they’re back out (2pm resumption). And the players will be back out at Old Trafford at 3pm, providing there’s no more, you know, Mancunian weather. (Sorry Manchester.)

Congratulations to Yorkshire, who brought up their collective half-century in the 24th over. Will Fraine, currently top-scoring with 24 off 73 deliveries, took seven runs off that Ian Holland over. Score now 54-6.

Lunchtime scores

DIVISION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex 83-0 v Somerset

Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 112-2 v Northamptonshire

Old Trafford: Lancashire v Kent no play before lunch, early lunch taken

The Oval: Warwickshire 71-2 v Surrey

Scarborough: Yorkshire 33-6 v Hampshire

DIVISION TWO

Chester-le-Street: Durham 77-0 v Middlesex

New Road: Derbyshire 57-7 v Worcestershire

And that’s lunch. Give me half a second and I’ll bring you the scores round the grounds.

Meanwhile Derbyshire seem determined that they’re not going to be outdone by Yorkshire’s collapse. They’re now seven down against Worcestershire, Ed Barnard adding 2 for 7 to Dillon Pennington’s 4 for 18.

Whichever Yorkshire deity is responsible for coastal weather has taken pity on the home team at Scarborough. They were 33 for 6 against Hampshire with Kyle Abbott the latest to pick up a couple of wickets when the squall blew through… an early lunch is being taken and you can only imagine it’s going to be a pretty quiet one.

Ryan Patel drops Dom Sibley at third slip! Which is especially nice of him, given that Sibley is almost certainly going to nick his opener’s spot when he returns to Surrey next year. But Surrey rally in the next over, Chris Benjamin caught at slip off Conor McKerr. Warwickshire 65-2.

Here at the Oval we’ve had out first wicket – followed by our first sight of light drizzle. A wicket that pleasingly involving the bowlers at both ends – Alex Davies caught Jamie Overton, bowled Tom Lawes, for 23.

Here are the details of the independent review into racism within Cricket Scotland that we’ve been waiting for since yesterday. We knew it wasn’t going to be good – not when the entire board resigned. It seems to echo a problem we’ve heard a lot in cricket over the past couple of years: “The reality is that the leadership of the organisation failed to see the problems.”

And apologies that I haven’t mentioned the Durham v Middlesex game before now, but honestly, Alex Lees and Michael Jones have been getting along just fine without me so I’ve left them to it. They’ve just brought up their 50 partnership, Durham 53-0.

Make that five down for Yorkshire! Matthew Waite is caught at third slip by Joe Weatherley off Kyle Abbott for 4. Anything Derbyshire can do, they can do, er, worse?

It’s not just New Road where wickets are tumbling. Yorkshire are 25-4, and Mohammad Abbas has taken three of those for just seven runs.

Meanwhile, Gloucestershire have trotted along to 61-1 at against Northants at Cheltenham, and Essex are an eminently sensible 39-0 off 102 balls after winning the toss at Chelmsford.

And Lancashire and Kent have spent the morning playing card games, or Candy Crush, or reading multi-volume sci-fi novel series – whatever it is cricketers do when it rains these days.

There’ll be no play before lunch at Old Trafford, say the umpires, and an early lunch will be taken at 12.30pm. Which always makes me think: aren’t they just going to start eating their sarnies now anyway? Or do professional cricketers have more restraint than the rest of us? I mean, if someone even mentions lunch, I start getting hungry. I’m hungry even typing this.

But first this: Derbyshire are really having a time of it against Worcestershire. Dillon Pennington has been on fire in his opening spell, completing a second two-wicket over of the morning to leave the visitors 14 for 5… They’ve recovered slightly since then. They’re now 24 for 5. Mohammad Hasnain has just taken over from Joe Leach but I’d wager Pennington’s not coming off any time soon.

Just seen that the Cricket Scotland racism report has been released although I haven’t managed to navigate the website to find more than the official responses to it from the interim CEO, Gordon Arthur. More when I can figure it out…

Here’s Gary Naylor with his review of last week’s matches, and the records they delivered…

Derbyshire are now 4 for 3 at New Road, where Dillon Pennington has taken two in three balls…

Updated

Second and third wickets of the day! Yorkshire’s George Hill is lbw to an inswinger from Keith Barker that homes in on his pads like a tracking beacon. And five balls later, Mohammad Abbas bowls Adam Lyth.

First wicket of the day!

Derbyshire are 0-1 at New Road! Harry Came is out lbw to an in-ducker from Joe Leach off the last ball of the first over.

Updated

A pathetic fallacy at Old Trafford, where the clouds are crying at Tanya Aldred’s absence from this blog.

David Payne is also back from injury (hip) for Gloucestershire, who have won the toss at Chelmsford and will bat against Northants.

Happy news from Scarborough: Ben Coad is going to play his first match of the season against Hampshire after his return from long-term injury.

Essex have won the toss at Chelmsford and will bat first. Which, when you see this pitch, is no kind of a surprise at all. Get ready for Harmerball.

FYI, Simon Harmer has 226 wickets at Chelmsford at 17.48, including 21 five wicket-hauls.

Updated

Surrey have won the toss and will field. And everyone looks so jolly about it.

Fixtures

DIVISION ONE

Chelmsford: Essex v Somerset

Cheltenham: Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire

Old Trafford: Lancashire v Kent

The Oval: Surrey v Warwickshire

Scarborough: Yorkshire v Hampshire

DIVISION TWO

Riverside: Durham v Middlesex

New Road: Worcestershire v Derbyshire

Preamble

Well hello hello! Today’s CCLive is coming to you from The Kia Oval, where Surrey will be taking on Warwickshire in Division One.

No one wants to hear the pilot on their plane coming over the tannoy and telling them that this is their maiden flight. But I’ve got to be honest with you: this is my CCLive debut, so if you experience any turbulence today, you’ll know who to blame. A fixtures list will be with you imminently, just as soon as I’ve found the switch that turns the engine on.

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