Leicestershire gave Surrey a shock at the Oval, defying, not collapsing in the face of 520. Rishi Patel’s 133 not out, his first century in Division One, was a Midlands masterpiece, careful and distinguished, while Jake Weatherald whizz-banged at the other end for 96. Lewis Hill, dropped on five, finished 60 not out as Surrey’s attack toiled away.
Northants squashed Kent under a mighty Doctor Martens, amassing 684 for two, thanks to career-bests 261 from Luke Procter and 153 from Calvin Harrison. The second ball of the morning was four wides, and so it went on, the attack flayed to all four corners of the wind. Nathan McSweeney reached his hundred with a six and Northants’ top four all had hundreds for the first time in history. Kent then subsided to 119 for six, including Zak Crawley for 26.
Ollie Robinson and Jack Carson inched Sussex towards 200 at Hove after they were in deep trouble at 130 for eight. Fynn Hudson-Prentice then ruined the start of Warwickshire’s second innings with three wickets in nine balls, but Rob Yates added an unbeaten, and vital, 75 in a low-scoring game.
Stand-in captain Craig Overton used flair and fortitude to put Somerset in a dominant position at Chelmsford with his highest first-class score of 141. He and Will Smeed (39), who made his first-class debut as an injury substitute three years after retiring from first-class cricket (before having played a game) added 118. Paul Walter and Matt Critchley then both hit half-centuries to move Essex towards parity.
Glamorgan felt the might of the county champions at Trent Bridge, where Fergus O’Neill and Brett Hutton rattled through their remaining six wickets in just over an hour, to leave them naked for 113. Ben Duckett was run out for one, charging down the pitch for a hasty single, but Joe Clarke and Ben Slater batted Nottinghamshire to safety and beyond, a lead of 450 at stumps.
At Chester le Street, Ben McKinney was finally out for 244, the seventh highest score by a Durham player. There was a century too for David Bedingham before the declaration came at 605 for five. Kemar Roach and Ben Raine grabbed three wickets each as Gloucestershire struggled to 168 for eight.
The covers were on and off at Old Trafford, where Derbyshire’s Brooke Guest reached his fifty in sudden sunshine, five overs left in the day, a handful of hardy supporters still buttoned into their seats. Lancashire took only took two wickets all day, and dropped a few catches, but Mitch Stanley thrilled with an aggressive spell after lunch, removing Matthew Montgomery for 46. Captain Harry Came finally fell for 83, bowled by Jimmy Anderson, whose ire had been raised the ball before by four wanton overthrows.
Middlesex’s last four batters hauled them towards 200 at Lord’s. Jake Libby (79) and the 19-year-old Dan Lategan, with a sparky 65, then made batting look easy, before Worcestershire collapsed, losing six for 19 before stumps. Ryan Higgins took four for 53.
Hampshire finished on top of a rainy day at Headingley where Yorkshire lost six for 40, as Kyle Abbott (four for 49) charged through them after lunch.
Good night
Time for Kent and Gloucestershire to hunker down. It may be better in the morning. And time for us to go too, thanks for your company, see you tomorrow!
As the groundstaff pull off the covers at OT, time for me to write up. Fourteen overs left here, restart at 5.45pm. Do keep chatting BTL and keep an eye on Kent – Crawley in the welly boot role, Muyeye the fireworks.
Rain is spoiling things in Div 2. In Div 1:
Paul Walter is glueing Essex back together, 52 not out, in Essex’s 85-3.
Things are ticking along nicely for Notts at Trent Bridge- Clarke 119 not out, Notts 217-3.
Don’t jinx him but Rishi Patel is a boundary away from a hundred at The Oval, Leics 239-2.
Three wickets for Hudson-Prentice at Hove, Warwicks 71-4, lead by 134.
Rain at Headingley, with Hampshire 46-0, lead Yorks by 120.
Covers back on at OT.
Not an ideal start for Kent. Zak Crawley is still there, but he’s lost Ben Compton (6) and Sam Northeast for a duck in his first game back at Canterbury. Kent 27-2, 657 behind.
100 for Joe Clarke
Off just 122 balls. Notts lead already 374 over Glamorgan.
While at The Oval, Jake Weatherald was cut off four short of three figures, caught behind off Topley for 96. Leicestershire 213-1. Rishi Patel 75 not out.
Twenty-three overs from 5.10, say the umps, as the groundstaff pull the covers off at OT.
As the press box twiddle their thumbs waiting for the restart, conversation turns to Red Rum and it turns out he did his first turn as a retired horse with a celebrity appearance at Leigh Cricket Club. Start the video at about 16 mins.
Red Rum: celebrity appearance at Leigh. Photograph: Dave Thompson/PA
It’s throwing it down here at OT but there’s a patch of blue up there somewhere. Think they’ll probably get back on.
Meanwhile, Essex are faltering, Benkenstein and Allison following Elgar back into the pavilion. Essex 53-3, trail Somerset by 144.
Skies are filthy at OT and the groundstaff are pulling on extra covers.
Philip from the office nudges me to report that with McSweeney’s 101, Northants’ top four all make hundreds for the first time in history: Vasconcelos 127, Procter 261 not out, Harrison 153, McSweeney 101 not out. Kent are 7-0 afer three overs.
In Division One:
At The Oval: Jake Weatherald continues to have fun with CC bowlers as Leicestershire put Surrey to the sword – 151-0 from 35 overs.
Yorkshire are all out at Headingley for 177 – four wickets each for Abbott and Baker. Not much to shout about for Yorkshire other than 76 for Lyth and 40 for Revis. Hampshire’s first-innings lead 76.
Somerset are finally out for 348, COverton 141. Three wickets each for Porter, Cook and Snater. And Jack Leach is making mischief in Essex’s second innings, Elgar caught in his first over. Essex 29-1.
At Hove, Sussex all out 204, pumped up by 39 each from Carson and Robinson. Warwicks lead was 263, now a bit more with Warwicks 19-1, Davies c and b Hudson-Prentice 7.
Notts are crushing Glamorgan at Trent Bridge, Slater 64 not out, Joe Clarke 94 not out. Notts 172-2, lead by 338.
A double teapot from Jimmy Anderson after some pantomime fielding brings four overthrows– but next ball he nips out Came for 83. Derbys 152-3.
Luke Procter 240 not out and still going
A quick dart around the grounds: Division Two.
Luke Procter still going at Canterbury, a whopping 240 not out, Nathan McSweeney 78 not out in 643-2.
Rain at Bristol: Gloucestershire 10-1 and a mountain (595) to climb.
Back on at OT: Derbyshrie 138-s, trail by 213.
Lord’s: Worcestershire making a much better fist of their second innings, 102-0, Dan Lategan 64 not out.
Beat this, Derbyshire’s David Griffin has missed three days of cricket this century and nothing since went to see Bruce Springsteen at Wembley at 28 June 2009.
And here comes the rain and the covers.
Flood lights on at OT and the skies menacing. Paul Edwards tells me that Mitch Stanley bowled a superb spell from the James Anderson End this morning. Derbyshire 136-2, Harry Came 71 not out.
James Anderson in familiar flight. Photograph: George Franks/ProSports/Shutterstock
Rain at Headingley
With Yorks 157-7. In other news, I’ve finally found my press pass (under the newspaper) so heading to Old Trafford now, back in ten mins.
Craig Overton is finally out for 141, what a cracking (stand in) captain’s innings. He gets a bottom pat from Will Smeed and a standing ovation from the crowd. Somerset 330-7 and quickly 330-8 as Smeed helps Sam Cook round the corner and into Pepper’s gloves.
Trouble at’ mill, Kyle Abbott slicing through Yorkshire. He’s sent back Lyth (76), Revis and Hill since lunch. Yorks 153-7.
Post-lunch wickets: Kyle Abbott. Photograph: Dave Vokes/Shutterstock
150s for Luke Procter and Calvin Harrison!
Time to poke our head in at Canterbury, where Northampton continue to pile on the pain. Calvin Harrison was finally out for 153, but Procter is unbeaten on 175. Some painful-looking bowling figures, though Muyeye has a respectable 12-2-33-0. Northants 503-2.
Interesting musing on the Australian women’s team captaincy with the World Cup fast approaching.
It seems unlikely that the game at Lord’s will stretch into day four. Middlesex were all out in a hurry for 183, eight runs short of Worcestershire’s total (Hannon-Dalby 4-45). Worcs are now 21-0 in their second innings.
Rain at Bristol
Gloucestershire’s Nos two and three take welcome shelter from the storm, Glos a mere 595 behind Durham.
Jake Weatherald said during the last round that he was finding the lower bounce of English wickets, or at least Grace Road, a tricky adjustment: “It doesn’t suit my square drives and cuts as much. It’s about trying to find different ways to score and put pressure back on the bowlers, which is what I’m probably good at.”
He’s finding The Oval quite kind, at least at the moment – five fours in his 25 not out. Leics 49-0.
A view of play from the pavilion at the Oval. Photograph: John Mallett/ProSports/Shutterstock
Adam Lyth (64) and Matthew Revis (40) have been rebuilding at Southampton after Baker’s burst last night. Yorks, between the showers, 129-4.
Jack Carson batted really well at Grace Road last week and Sussex need him, and Robinson, to graft another hundred or so runs at Hove. Sussex 135-8, still 132 behind Warwicks, who have shared the wickets around. Bamber the pick, 3-32.
100 for Craig Overton
Overton celebrates yesterday’s birthday with a century – his second for Somerset in the CC and very happy he look too. Somerset 270-6.
"It's a very special day"
Belatedly, Ben McKinney’s post-match thoughts from last night, courtesy of the reporter’s network:
“It’s a very special day for me and my family. My dad will be on the phone soon, saying it’s all because of him!
“There was a lot of moisture in the wicket from the readings and we were actually going to bowl first too. It looked as though that would be the right decision.
“You never know until play starts. Getting off to a quick start with the short boundary on one side was good and from their it was pretty much plain sailing.
“Alex Lees is great to bat with. He keeps me grounded and looking to go big, while later ‘Bedders’ came in and made batting look ridiculously easy.
“There is plenty of experience around me and I am still learning. In terms of maintaining concentration throughout a day, it was the best I have played.
“I didn’t know I was the youngest player to make a double hundred for Durham, but if that’s right it’s a great stat and I’ll take it.”
Lord’s: Middlesex 179-9 v Worcestershire 191 stillin play
Overton doesn’t get to his second f-c century, and must lunch on 98 not out. Companion Smeed 17 not out. Somerset 262-6, a cracking recovery from 16-3. Lunchtime scores around the grounds to follow.
Craig Overton has one over to get the three runs he needs for a century. Somerset 262-6.
After dismissing Glamorgan for 113 (four wickets each for Brett Hutton and Fergus O’Neill), Notts are indulging themselves with a pre-prandial implosion. HH follows his 0 in the first innings with 2 in the second, before Ben Duckett is run out heading for an over-eager single. The throw by injury sub Sean Dickson. Notts 9-2.
This is worth a read at lunch – a depressingdeep-dive by Steve Menary and Jack Kerr on how gambling companies linked to pornography access live data from women’s cricket.
Surrey are finally all out for 520 – Jordan Clark last man, caught for 71. I fear here for Leicestershire, but they’ve made it safely through the first two overs: 4-0. May they have swallowed the lessons of the first game against Sussex and restrain their inner bazball – at least to start with.
One of the Essex slip fielders – Harmer I think – has pulled his snood up in such a way that only his eyes are showing. Slow trudge this morning at at chilly Chelmsford. Big-hitting Will Smeed a steady-eddie on his first-class debut, two not out off 20 balls. Somerset 221-6.
Gary Naylor wisely strokes his beard after the first round of games:
The weather in Manchester is frisking around but there’s still play at OT, where Derbyshire have built back after losing a wicket to yesterday’s last ball. Derbyshire 37-1, 314 behind.
Lancashire pair Tom Hartley and Paul Coughlin remove a sign blown on to the field at Old Trafford. Photograph: George Franks/ProSports/Shutterstock
Will Smeed makes his first-class debut
After a semi-epic super-sub trip from Abergavenny. And he is dropped on nought at first slip by Dean Elgar, who fumbles it in the tummy region. Shane Snater slumps back to his mark. Somerset 213-6, lead Essex by 64.
Glamorgan have suffered a major Saturday morning malfunction, stuttering from 81 for four to 91 for eight. Fergus ‘Neill four for 14.
McKinney finally out for 244
At Hove, some action. Two wickets in an over for Ethan Bamber, Haines for 32 and Clark for a three ball duck. Sussex 63-2.
McKinney has just slapped Taylor for two sixes in an over at Bristol. But no more bounty, he is caught off Craig Miles for 244. The seventh highest score by a Durham player, Durham’s youngest double centurion. Nice way to start the season.
100 for David Bedingham!
Sorry about the chaotic start this morning, all tech now working and I will hotfoot it to Old Trafford at lunchtime. Just turned on the (wobbly) stream from Bristol in time to see David Bedingham reach his 17th cenutry for Durham – 126 balls. McKinney still there on 231, records dancing in his head. Durham 507-2.
Weather watch
A delayed start at Headingley, but we have play everywhere else round the grounds. The sun is even shining in Manchester where it was dank and drizzly this morning.
The Met office make no promises: Rain across central and eastern areas soon clearing. Showers following for most, these heavy in Northern Ireland and western Scotland, with a risk of hail and thunder. Windy for all with coastal gales in the west. Temperatures near average.
Essex’s Dean Elgar is wrapped up at Chelmsford. Photograph: Ray Lawrence/TGS Photo/Shutterstock
Friday's roundup: mixed fortunes for England hopefuls
Big Ben McKinney tucked into the Gloucestershire bowlers at Bristol, not even pausing to dab his chin as he forked them all over the ground. Straight as a corn cob at the crease, he showed the threadbare attack no mercy, flaming fours through the covers, on the leg side, pausing only to pancake three sixes on his way to 214 not out.
McKinney and Alex Lees (129) added 305 for the first wicket in just 58 overs. At 21, McKinney is the youngest double centurion for Durham in history – not a bad advert for any England selectors looking for an opener. The home captain, Cameron Bancroft may have regrets after winning the toss and fielding first.
Dom Sibley’s audition for the same spot didn’t go so well against Leicestershire, lbw to Josh Hull for four, but Surrey duo Jamie Smith and Ollie Pope put on their Friday best in an entertaining partnership of 200. Pope nurdled 103, and Smith raced to his second century in successive innings, a grandiose 166 to wipe the winter away.
Ben Duckett, who gave up his IPL contract to prioritise the County Championship, cameoed 25 before being caught to leave Nottinghamshire wobbling at 38 for three against Glamorgan, but a hundred from Jack Haynes straightened things out.
Kent picked up a solitary wicket on a chastening day at Canterbury. The Northamptonshire top three – Ricardo Vasconcelos, Luke Procter and Calvin Harrison – all crunched hundreds.
Derbyshire’s Shoaib Bashir, long arms and longer legs, collected his best Championship haul with four for 76 in front of a good Old Trafford crowd. Marcus Harris, fresh from the Sheffield Shield final, rescued Lancashire from 11 for two with 125.
Rob Key was at Hove, and had three wickets from Sussex’s Henry Crocombe to write in his big black book. He also had the pleasure of a Chris Woakes half-century for Warwickshire. At Southampton, Hampshire’s Sonny Baker whipped the heart out of Yorkshire with three wickets in a high-speed over.
Essex were whistled out for 149, with Somerset soon in similar trouble but for Craig Overton and James Rew. Will Smeed, fresh from 200 for Somerset’s 2nd XI, drove to Chelmsford from Wales to replace Tom Kohler-Cadmore as an injury sub. Sixteen wickets fell at Lord’s in the Middlesex v Worcestershire fixture.
Friday's view from the Oval
Simon Burnton
Midway through its fifth day of action, the first of its second round of fixtures, Ollie Pope became the 11th person to score a century in Division One of the County Championship this season – and five of those play for Surrey. Jamie Smith already has two. The pre-season title favourites may have drawn their opening game but they are looking ominous, in this game and in general, and at stumps were 412 for six.
Things also look ominous for Leicestershire, if in a rather different way, as they settle into the top flight after last year’s promotion. Beaten by Sussex in their season opener, by the second session here, as Smith and Pope cantered towards triple figures, they looked equally underresourced in confidence, ideas and quality. They were buoyed somewhat by a couple of late wickets, if not by glances at the scoreboard.
A crowd of 4,700 assembled at the Oval on a bracingly cold early spring day which felt, mercifully for those with recent experience in the England team, a long way everything but geographically from any kind of Test cricket. Nevertheless, given that Surrey’s top six have all played for their country at the highest level, this game was always going to be parsed for potential international ramifications. The surprise perhaps was that the first person to stake a claim was Leicestershire’s Josh Hull.
Preamble
Good morning! After yesterday’s hundred-fest and Sonny Baker’s three-wicket over, things might be a bit damper today – with cloud and rain lurking. Play (might) start around the grounds from 11am BST. Do join us.
