Key occasions
Gary Naylor’s county speaking factors have dropped, with a give attention to final week’s engrossing Blast quarter-finals. Needs to be a cracking finals day this 12 months.
Ouch. An insightly dismissal at Chelmsford as Matt Critchley shoulders arms to Luke Fletcher and is shipped on his method for 5 as a nip-backer rattles off-stump. Essex 73 for 3. Luc Benkenstein, son of former South Africa worldwide Dale, heads out to the center for his maiden first-class innings. Fairly a bit driving now on Tom Westley, 26 not in and out respectable nick of late, to get Essex to a wholesome whole.
It’s not getting any higher for Lancs. Ben Raine strikes once more and in fashion. They’re 31 for two at Chester-le-Avenue. “Oh God, Durham are into the tail,” parps HighPeakGeek within the feedback.
Due to Wegie BTL for flagging up a Middlesex contract extension announcement for the redoubtable Toby Roland-Jones. Middlesex are motoring alongside on 136 for 3 towards Gloucestershire, Max Holden mentioning his half-century. That is from the membership assertion:
We’re at this time delighted to announce that red-ball Captain, Toby Roland-Jones, has signed a one-year extension to his contract with the Membership, which can see the talismanic seamer stay at Lord’s till at the least the tip of the 2025 season.
Lancashire’s early struggles will cheer Notts, the facet instantly above them on the desk, who can be additional lifted by a post-lunch breakthrough, Robin Das out for 20, caught by Freddie McCann off Lyndon James’s fast-medium pacers.
If Lancashire do drop, Sussex’s possibilities of changing them proceed to extend. Two early scalps have Glamorgan in hassle at 105 for six.
We now have play in all our matches, with Kent v Hampshire and Durham v Lancashire up and working. We even have wickets in all our matches, with Hampshire, put in, shedding Fletcha Middleton, bowled by George Garrett, and Lancashire, underneath stress within the drop zone, shedding Luke Wells, nicking behind to Ollie Robinson off Ben Raine for a duck. Lancs 14-1, Hants 20-1.
Archie Vaughan has gone. Dan Warrell snaffles up the opener for a tidy 44, caught behind by Ben Foakes. Surrey begin this session with a wicket simply as they did within the morning. Somerset 97-3, and in want of a defining partnership or two this afternoon now.
Proper, whereas the nation’s county cricketers tuck into their scran, I’m about to do likewise. Be happy to hold on chatting under the road, however play properly. Again in a bit.
And you may comply with the conclusion of the Check:
Lunchtime scores
Division One:
Chester-le-street: Durham v Lancashire (Chester-le-Avenue) – no play, rain.
Chelmsford: Essex 40-1 v Nottinghamshire
Canterbury: Kent v Hampshire – no play, rain.
Taunton: Somerset 93-2 v Surrey
Worcester: Worcestershire 77-4 v Warwickshire
Division Two
Leicester: Leicestershire 98 v Yorkshire
Lord’s: Middlesex 117-2 v Gloucestershire
Northampton: Northampts 77-5 v Derbyshire
Hove: Sussex v Glamorgan 91-4
And that’s lunch at Taunton, Somerset 93-2. The house facet can be quietly happy about that, I think, having misplaced a wicket second ball. Archie Vaughan has handled every thing Shakib, Roach and co have thrown at him with composure and talent, advancing to 44 not out. The in-form Tom Abell has prospered alongside him, 27 not out. No devilish flip for Shakib as but. This one is properly arrange.
In the meantime at Leicester, Ben Cox reached 50 whereas throughout him crumbled. Leicestershire’s first innings has lasted exactly a session – 98 all out. 5 for Coad, three for Fisher.
The Leicestershire fightback has juddered to a halt, Tom Scriven (18) offering Ben Coad with a fifth wicket, and Scott Currie perishing swiftly – 67-9 and Yorkshire’s opening batters could have their pads on earlier than lunch. Sussex are again within the ascendancy at Hove too, two fast wickets for Henry Crocombe lowering Glamorgan to 72 for 4, Kiran Carlson nonetheless there on 32.
Essex have misplaced Dean Elgar early too towards Notts, and are 18-1. Their season at actual danger of really fizzling out.
Surrey’s one-off abroad star, Shakib, has bowled 9 overs of spin on the bounce, on a cloudy first morning, in September. However no pleasure for the Bangladesh legend but. Somerset progress to 75 for two, Archie Vaughan on 40.
Some response to Shakib’s freelancing BTL by AlphaJulietCharlie:
Distinct ‘Ringer being launched to the skipper within the automobile park’ vibes, proper there.
Over at New Highway, Worcestershire, who’ve hauled themselves in the direction of security impressively in current rounds, are having a harder time of it towards Warwickshire, toiling at 54-3 with Gareth Roderick, Jake Libby and Hashif Ali all again within the hutch. And Division Two promotion chasers Middlesex have eased alongside to 80-2 towards Gloucestershire. Issues have calmed down a bit in most locations after that gush of wickets within the first 45 minutes or so of play.
In the meantime in Belfast, England’s girls are 77-1 after 19 towards Eire within the second ODI.
They’ve simply bought underneath method at Chelmsford now, Notts having received the toss and opted to discipline. Within the large prime of the desk conflict, Somerset have superior steadflastly to 62-2, Archie Vaughan wanting respectable towards Shakib and Clark on 34 not out. Glamorgan have rebuilt a tad towards Sussex, transferring to 57-2 with Kiran Carlson and Colin Ingram wanting in good contact. And Leicestershire have ROMPED to 47 for 7, with Tom Scriven and Ben Cox deciding to go hell for leather-based in a partnership at the moment value 32.
Extra ridiculousness at Grace Highway: Leics are 19 for 7! Ben Coad has 4, Matthew Fisher the opposite three. 4 of the highest six made geese. Rahane goes for eight. “Ben Coad at the moment returning figures usually seen in horrible college mismatches, or often in grownup cricket when the previous seconds captain “hasn’t performed shortly however desires to show his arm over,” quips FrToddUnctious BTL. My first ever college recreation (for the college that Dan Lawrence would later go to) was one such – we had been bowled out for 30, and the oppo cruised dwelling by 9 wickets. My one grasp at bragging-straws within the playground was that I took our one wicket. We weren’t a cricketing hotbed again then.
No sooner do I reward Lammonby’s assurance than he’s gone, to Jordan Clark’s first ball, dangling his bat a contact at a straightener speared in on the left-hander. Clark discovering severe motion in his first over. Somerset 33-2.
And in case you’re questioning what’s occurring at Chelmsford, Durham and Canterbury, the reply is nothing. No play earlier than lunch on the latter two earlier than lunch, and the covers are nonetheless on in Essex too.
Carnage at Grace Highway. Leicestershire droop to 3 for 4, Ben Coad claims a 3rd scalp as he dismisses Rehan Ahmed, batting up the order at 5. Fairly the rescue job on the shoulders of Ajinkya Rahane now.
Archie Vaughan survives a vigorous attraction for caught behind at Taunton off the parsimonious Dan Worrall. Then it’s Shakib time! The Bangladesh legend’s left-arm spin is launched early doorways, as is the shape right here, and Somerset negotiate it comptetently sufficient. They’ve progressed to 33 for 1. Progress after early setbacks additionally for Worcestershire (35-1 towards Warwicks) and Middlesex (43-1 v Gloucs).
Archie Vaughan is away after a barely scratchy begin towards Surrey’s daunting assault, creaming a sq. cowl drive for 4 virtually as if he was taught it on his dad’s knee. Somerset 14 for 1 with Tom Lammonby wanting assured at No 3 early on.
Unadkat reiterates his value to Sussex with a second dismissal, and a giant one – Sam Northeast sees his off stump cartwheeling behind him. Having been imperious at the beginning of the season, Northeast is on a correct lean trot now. Glammy 21-2. And at Grace Highway, Matt Fisher dismisses the Leicestershire captain, Lewis Hill, to provide Yorkshire a second early wicket. A 3rd quickly follows, Ian Holland bowled by Coad for a duck. Leics 3-3.
“We discuss spinners lacking out on bowling in August these days, however it’s typically the very best a part of the 12 months for openers as properly,” writes Studying Outdated Boy BTL. “They get to battle by way of Spring after which soar straight to Autumn.” We might, if we so select, hyperlink this to the sub-par performances of England’s prime three currently.
The Division Two leaders, Sussex, are additionally into Glamorgan early, Asa Tribe flicking a catch to Daniel Hughes at brief leg off the bowling of the India left-arm fast Jaydev Unadkat, who rejoined the membership final month for the ultimate 5 video games of the season. Glamorgan are 18-1. Sussex’s closest pursuers, Middlesex, have additionally made an iffy begin, shedding Sam Robson for 4, bowled by Ajeet Singh Dale of Glamorgan at Lord’s. Middlesex 7-1.
A daring little bit of order-reshuffling from Somerset: they’ve punted Archie Vaughan (son of and so forth …) in solely his second first-class match however he’s misplaced his fellow opener already. Lewis Goldsworthy’s been castled by a befuddling inswinger from Kemar Roach for a second-ball duck. Somerset 0-1.
Goldsworthy’s not the one batter taking his pads off and flinging his gloves to the dressing room flooring. Leicestershire have already misplaced Rishi Patel fourth ball to Ben Coad and Northants’ Indian opener Prithvi Shaw is a goner for 4 towards Derbyshire, c Donald b Chappell.
The climate has delayed the beginning at Chelmsford additionally.
Some ideas from Wilberforce BTL: “Jack House making his county champs debut for Worcs, can be attention-grabbing to see how he goes, only a pity Worcs misplaced the toss. Jack took loads of wickets within the 1 day cup however a unique problem right here. Nice to see he signed a 3 12 months deal.
“Solely learn Ali Martin’s piece on Mo this morning, nice piece & all the very best to Mo. Kashif Ali like Mo earlier than wanting an excellent county no 3.”
Right here is that Mo piece. He’s left the worldwide scene with a bunch of nice recollections, a private fave is his century at Rajkot in 2016 on the morning of Trump’s election. By no means has cricket’s alluring escapist attraction felt so potent.
Toss information: Somerset win the toss and bat on a clouds-and-sun sort of morning at Cyderabad; Notts determine to bowl at Chelmsford; Warwickshire are having a bowl at New Highway; Yorkshire have put Leicestershire in at Grace Highway; Gloucestershire likewise at Lord’s; Northants opted to bat towards Derbyshire and Sussex have put Glamorgan in at Hove.
Very a lot a bowl-first sort of morning, although you possibly can perceive Somerset taking a punt on batting – they want bonus factors in addition to a win.
Delayed begin information: Rain at Chester-le-Avenue has put again the beginning of Durham v Lancs, they usually’ll should seize one other espresso at Canterbury too:
How they stand:
Division One
1 Surrey P11 Pts 193
2 Somerset P11 Pts 169
3 Hampshire P11 Pts 156
4 Essex P11 Pts 149
5 Worcs P11 Pts 134
6 Warwickshire P11 Pts 132
7 Durham P11 Pts 130
8 Notts P11 Pts 116
9 Lancashire P11 Pts 106
10 Kent P11 Pts 71
Division Two
1 Sussex P11 Pts 177
2 Middlesex P11 Pts 158
3 Yorkshire P11 Pts 157
4 Leics P11 Pts 139
5 Glamorgan P11 Pts 125
6 Gloucs P11 Pts 119
7 Northants P11 Pts 111
8 Derbyshire P11 Pts 104
Preamble
Morning everybody. The pricey previous County Championship – perpetually derided, shunted into unwelcoming corners of the season, and now not even an computerized barometer of England-worthiness – might do with an thrilling denouement this 12 months quite than simply one other Surrey procession. And, fortunately, we now have an opportunity of 1 after Somerset’s win over Durham and the champions’ draw at Trent Bridge put Lewis Gregory’s facet inside attain – 24 factors – of the leaders.
Handily, in addition they meet this week at Taunton, with Somerset buoyant after white-ball successes which have them eyeing an unlikely treble, with locations at Blast finals day and the One Day Cup to look ahead to. Surrey in the meantime have eight gamers lacking on England obligation, with the T20 sequence towards Australia crash-landing straight into the schedule after the Checks towards Sri Lanka have concluded. Surrey although have added to their formidable depth by nonchalantly signing Shakib Al Hasan on a one-match deal, enabling the veteran former Bangladesh captain to get some red-ball cricket underneath his belt earlier than their Check sequence towards India. (It additionally will get him away from the political turmoil of his dwelling nation, by which he has change into embroiled on account of his function as a lawmaker within the occasion of the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.)
Elsewhere, third-placed Hampshire journey to doomed Kent, however the relegation scramble simply above them appears to be like tasty with enhancing Nottinghamshire visiting Essex, whose title hopes had been torpedoed by their shock defeat to Worcestershire, and seventh-placed Durham internet hosting Lancashire in eighth.
We’ll be maintaining a tally of the second tier too, as leaders Sussex host Glamorgan and Middlesex and Yorkshire duke it out for the second promotion slot behind them. Middlesex tackle Gloucestershire at Lord’s whereas Yorkshire go to Leicestershire, who’ve an out of doors probability themselves.
And all of it begins, within the autumnal gloaming, at 10.30, quite extra sensibly than on the Check, which remains to be scheduled for 11am, not that we’ll get a full day’s play on the Oval at this time.
These fixtures in full:
Division One:
Durham v Lancashire (Chester-le-Avenue)
Essex v Nottinghamshire (Chelmsford)
Kent v Hampshire (Canterbury)
Somerset v Surrey (Taunton)
Worcestershire v Warwickshire (Worcester)
Division Two
Leicestershire v Yorkshire (Leicester)
Middlesex v Gloucestershire (Lord’s)
Northamptonshire v Derbyshire (Northampton)
Sussex v Glamorgan (Hove)
