This looks good. If you have or know a child from a state school background in Surrey, point them in the direction of Twenty20 Community Cricket. They are looking for a ‘state school superstar’ from boys in years 4–6 and girls in years 7–9 . The winners will get a full bursary place at the Twenty20 Community Cricket academy.
The competition consists of a skills assessment (bowling accuracy, catching consistency, shot selection, agility and athleticism) and then a hard-ball match. For more details and to register, see here.
Sunday's round-up
Sabastian Sawe may have crossed the marathon finishing line in under two hours, but things were more sedate a couple of miles away at the Oval where Dom Sibley escorted Surrey towards parity and beyond. He spent nearly 20 minutes on 99 before reaching his first hundred of the year, though shortly afterwards was the unlucky recipient of a Sam Cook cracker. Dan Lawrence leapt to an entertaining 125. Surrey finished with a lead of 63 and Essex saw off the final nine overs of the day. Surrey had promised free entry to any marathon runners but there was no sign of medals.
Worcestershire duly bulldozed Kent, an innings-and-two-run flattening at New Road. Kent needed 231 to avoid an innings defeat and were soon in the soup at 38 for three, Tom Taylor (5 for 56) the destroyer. Zak Crawley dug in, but was eventually out, driving, for 31. Chris Benjamin (77) and Keith Dudgeon (41) could not quite force Worcestershire to bat again. Kent are yet to pick up a batting point, and have lost Ben Compton with a dislocated finger.
Joe Root purred into action at Headingley, in his first runout of the year. However, it was a surprise when he nibbled at Henry Crocombe and was out for 96. Sam Whiteman collected his maiden century for Yorkshire, who inched to a lead of nine. Sussex then lost two evening wickets.
Haseeb Hameed (115) and Ben Duckett (93) propped up Nottinghamshire as they followed-on against Warwickshire. Duckett’s dashing 93 was his second half-century of the game.
Matthew Potts reeled through Lancashire’s top order, leaving them 72 for six, but two Durham old boys, Michael Jones (72) and Paul Coughlin (100) manned the lifeboats. Durham need 336 to win.
Winless Gloucestershire can sleep on the chance of breaking their drought after forcing Derbyshire to follow-on at The Racecourse Ground.
On a featherbed at Cardiff, it was Leicestershire’s turn for batting practice, with only four wickets falling all day.
The County Ground: Derbyshire 281 and 117-3 v Gloucestershire 498
Riverside: Durham 295 v Lancashire 370 and 260-9dec Durham need 336 to win
New Road: Worcestershire 447 BEAT Kent 196 and 249 by an innings and two runs.
Preamble
Good morning! It’s another beautiful one, lilac blossoms and stick-gathering birds. After Kent were rolled over yesterday, all eyes on Chester le Street, Derby and Trent Bridge, with the others looking likely to drift towards draws.
