Rothesay County Championship 2025 – Round 2 Day 1: Live Streaming, Scores & Match Reports (April 11–14)

Surrey vs Hampshire, Rothesay County Championship 2025, Division One 

By Bruce Talbot, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Surrey opener Dom Sibley carried his bat for the sixth time in his career and made an unbeaten century to rescue the champions against Hampshire on day one of their Rothesay County Championship match at the Kia Oval.

The 29-year-old was unbeaten on 100 when Surrey were bowled out for 253 after being put in. Hampshire lost Fletcha Middleton (5) to a fine ball from Dan Worrall which nipped back to hit middle stump in the second over of their reply, but Mark Stoneman and Nick Gubbins took them to 55 for one from 16 overs at stumps, 198 behind. 

Hampshire have lost their last four games at The Oval and haven’t won there for 17 years, but their attack justified skipper Ben Brown’s decision to bowl first on a typical Oval pitch that started with a good covering of grass.

Their seamers shared eight wickets with Brad Wheal (4 for 64) the pick of their attack, but they couldn’t remove Sibley. He carried his bat five times for former county Warwickshire and only Geoff Boycott (8) has now batted through a completed innings in the County Championship more times since the Second World War.

Sibley offered one sharp chance on 54 which was put down by Toby Albert at short leg, but otherwise he accumulated with typical patience and determination. There was some assistance throughout the day for Hampshire’s seamers, but they were aided by some poor shot selection too. Surrey will feel their total was under-par for the conditions.

Sibley lost his opening partner Rory Burns in the second over when Wheal found just enough seam movement and the Surrey captain edged to second slip. Kyle Abbott then picked up Ollie Pope (14) who edged a delivery he might have ignored to first slip.

The most aggressive stroke play of the day came from Jamie Smith, whose 39 off 35 balls included seven fours, three of them lashed in one over from the New Zealander Brett Hampton. Smith had helped Sibley take the score to 96 when he upper-cut Wheal to third man and Sonny Baker parried the ball just inside the boundary rope before completing the catch. Hampshire confirmed it had been their morning in the last over before lunch when Ben Foakes (14) played on to Abbott.

Wheal got just enough away movement to defeat Dan Lawrence’s loose drive and leave Surrey 129 for five, but Sibley found a useful ally in Ryan Patel for much of an absorbing afternoon session. They added 68 in 29 overs for the sixth wicket before Patel mis-timed a pull off Hampton and lobbed up an easy catch to mid-off in the penultimate over before tea.

In a rare show of aggression Sibley calmly swatted Liam Dawson over the wide long on boundary but at the other end Jordan Clark (3), Matthew Fisher (8) and Kemar Roach (4) fell cheaply after tea and when last man Dan Worrall came out Sibley was still 15 runs short of his century.

Another six, this time off Wheal over square-leg, took him into the 90s and with Worrall, who has made two fifties in his career, looking comfortable at the other end Sibley duly reached the 23rd hundred of his career before taking the acclaim of a crowd of 5,639.

He batted just shy of six-and-a-half hours, faced 217 balls and hit nine fours as he became the first Surrey batter since Burns in 2017 – also against Hampshire – to carry his bat.

Surrey opener Dom Sibley said: “it was one of my most satisfying hundreds. There was a bit of moisture in the surface early on and their attack kept coming at us. Someone like Kyle Abbott on that surface was quite challenging. So to see that through, then accelerate towards the end and get over the line was a nice feeling. Unfortunately we only got one wicket but we’ll look to come back tomorrow fresh and try to make inroads. We’re going to have to be really patient because the wicket has hardened up a bit in the sunshine.” 

Hampshire bowler Brad Wheal said: “It turned out to be a decent day for us in the end. In the morning we took four wickets but we probably let them score a bit too quickly. We pulled it back well after lunch, showed patience and were rewarded after tea, and to only lose one wicket when we batted was really positive. The wicket was a bit two-paced but probably suited me as someone who tries to swing the ball. It’s just nice to be contributing and doing my job. I didn’t feel 100% today but it still came out nicely.”

Hudson-Prentice turns the tide as Sussex fight back at Hove by Aaron McNicholas

Late heroics from Fynn Hudson-Prentice reduced Somerset to 62/5 at the end of day one to give Sussex hope at a first victory in their return to Division One.

The 29-year-old produced a magnificent spell in the golden evening rays, taking 4/13 to drag his team back into contention. Two wickets in successive balls dismissed opener Sean Dickinson and sent Tom Abell on his way for a golden duck, as the home crowd roared in appreciation, demanding more.

The imposing figure of Tom Banton arrived in the middle, fresh off the back of scoring a record breaking 371 in the first round of the County Championship. Yet he too was deceived and caught in the slips after contributing only six runs.

Hudson-Prentice's second lbw followed not long later, striking nightwatchman Josh Davey flush on the pad, leaving Tom Lammonby as the last top order batter remaining to source a comeback tomorrow.

It had looked like the game was slipping away from Sussex, even with a last wicket partnership of 52 hindering Somerset’s bowling momentum. Paul Farbrace’s side had finished on 294 all out after conceding several soft wickets over the course of the afternoon.

Somerset seamer Lewis Gregory had pounced early on against opening batter Tom Haines, bowling the left hander and sending the bails spiralling into the air, to leave Sussex 27/1. The home side then recovered, looking settled for the majority of the morning session, reaching 127/1 before the break.

A string of left-handed batters struck confident runs and looked relatively untroubled by a Somerset attack missing veteran seamer Craig Overton. Daniel Hughes looked set to get his first fifty this summer and Tom Clark seemed certain to continue his fine form after hitting a commanding knock of 140 last time out against Warwickshire.

Fans enjoying the sunshine and a longer lunchbreak will have missed the unfortunate collapse that followed. Within five overs from the resumption of play, Sussex found themselves 142/5 and well on the back foot.

 The dismissals included Daniel Hughes and Tom Clark both being removed on 49, unable to reach their half centuries. The pair had batted competently for the opening session, forging a partnership of over 100 runs.

Gregory spearheaded the afternoon attack in a session that saw seven wickets fall. The 32-year-old seamer dismissed dangerous middle order batters Tom Alsop and James Coles cheaply to leave Paul Farbrace’s side scrambling for runs late in the day.

As the innings progressed, Sussex hopes were pinned on captain John Simpson. Fine Strokeplay edged the skipper close to another fifty after his magnificent first innings 181 not out last week. A lower order cameo from Jack Carson, who scored 30 from 44 deliveries provided support before the young spinner was out done by experienced off break bowler Jack Leach.

Not long after, the curse of the half century struck again, and Simpson was sent trudging back to the clubhouse for 47. A powerful last wicket blitz from tailenders Sean Hunt and Jayden Seales made the scoreline more respectable for Sussex. Dominating strikes sent fours careering to the boundary ropes, frustrating the bowlers. Ultimately, Somerset captain Gregory stepped in once more to splinter Sean Hunt’s stumps and deprive Sussex of a second batting point. The seamer was the pick of the bowlers for the away side, finishing with figures of 4/90 and seemingly pushing the game in his side’s favour.

Somerset faced a perilous 19 overs to close out the day but suffered an early loss when Archie Vaughn fell to a tremendous catch from James Coles at third slip, off the bowling of Seales. Pressure built and chances came. Hunt and Sussex felt especially aggrieved when an appeal against Tom Lammonby fell on deaf ears.

A last bowling change introduced Fynn Hudson-Prentice who demolished a strong Somerset batting outfit to seize the advantage from a dramatic opening day’s play.

 Somerset will be satisfied with their bowling display. Wickets were spread amongst the bowlers with Gregory ending on figures of 4/90 and Aldridge looking effective once again, taking 2/50 in his 10 overs. The all-rounder had produced one of his finest performances for Somerset in their opening match, claiming seven wickets and continued his rich vein of form.

Sussex will rue missed batting opportunities after having three strong batters give away their wicket when well-set. However, concerns will begin brewing over the form of Tom Haines, who has been dismissed for 17, 34 and 14 in his first three innings this season. The Sussex academy graduate has not played in the top tier before and will be desperate to prove he can produce at the highest level.

Despite that, a tremendous effort in the closing stages has seen Sussex claw their way back into the driving seat and they will do everything in their power to maintain that advantage across day two. Although the seamers enjoyed the pitch today, eyes will turn to top spinners Carson and Leach, as the Hove pitch deteriorates into the third and fourth days. A tight tie packed with drama shows no signs of slowing down in a mesmerising first day back in Division One at Hove.

Sussex all-rounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice said: "An eventful day is the easiest way to describe it. It was a weird wicket, and were a bit 50-50 as to do at the toss. We decided to bat but it was still seaming around in the afternoon. We got off to a bit of a flier then they bowled beautifully in the afternoon session to take seven wickets and then we got as great last wicket partnership which gave us a big lift. They were very good but we knew if we got it right we could hit back because it was still doing a bit when they batted but we hit our lengths. I worked hard this winter, changed a couple of things and it seems like it has worked in terms of getting more consistent shape and swing away from the right-handers."

Day 1: Sussex 294, Somerset 62/5, Sussex lead by 232 runs

By Paul Weaver, ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay.

A late burst of wickets from support bowler Fynn Hudson-Prentice gave Sussex an unlikely advantage over Somerset at Hove.

Somerset had already lost Archie Vaughan, well caught by James Coles at third slip off Jayden Seals, when Hudson- Prentice replaced Sean Hunt at the Cromwell Road end and promptly took four wickets – including two with his first two deliveries - to leave Somerset reeling at 62 for five at the close

Hudson-Prentice struck first ball when he had Sean Dickson caught, again by Coles.  And with his next ball the bowler had Tom Abell lbw.  Hudson-Prentice struck again in his next over when he had Tom Banton caught behind.  And finally he had Josh Davey lbw to give himself figures of four for 13 in four remarkable overs.

Somerset had taken seven Sussex wickets in the afternoon session to take control of the first meeting between these two sides in  the county championship for ten years.

Sussex lost six wickets for 53 runs in just 17 overs overs, subsiding from 127 for one to 180 for seven.  But then a recovery – led almost inevitably by John Simpson - guided the home side to a total of 294 and a single batting point. And Sussex were ahead in the match by the end

The Somerset bowlers would have settled for the Sussex total at lunch, when the home side were 122 for one.  But having dominated proceeding between lunch and tea they might have hoped for something much better.  As it was, a stand of 53 between Simpson (47) and Jack Carson (30), who hit four fours and a straight six off Jack Leach, and a last wicket partnership of 52 between Sean Hunt (33) and Jayden Seals (21 not out) guided Sussex to a respectable total.  Daniel Hughes and Tom Clark were the joint top-scorers, with 49 apiece, while the most successful Somerset bowler was their captain Lewis Gregory, with figures of 4-90, though he took some punishment from Hunt when he returned at the sea end at the end of the innings.

Each side went into their second match of the season after a run-drenched draw.

Sussex chose to bat first, perhaps encouraged by the news that Somerset’s key overseas signing, Matt Henry, was still in New Zealand, and also by their opponents’ decision to rest Craig Overton ahead of key matches against Hampshire Surrey and Essex.

But opening bowler Davey and Lewis Gregory still posed problems on a  pitch which still offered plenty of bounce and generous seam movement, and Sussex – also without important fast bowlers Ollie Robinson and Henry Crocombe, through injury - were fortunate to lose only one wicket before lunch.

The one wicket to fall  was that of Tom Haines, who was bowled through the gate by Gregory after striking three fours in his 14.

But it all changed after the break.  Clark edged Migael Pretorius behind without addition.  Then Tom Alsop, out first ball in his first innings at Edgbaston last week, managed just one better before he was caught low down by Kasey Aldridge at second slip.  When Hughes was then lbw to Pretorius Sussex had lost three wickets in ten balls.  Coles made just one, before he was caught behind of Gregory to make it 142-5 before a stand of 38 between Simpson and Hudson-Prentice led to a Sussex revival.  But Hudson-Prentice’s best part was yet to come.

Day 1: Yorkshire 425-8 v Worcestershire, Headingley

By Graham Hardcastle, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Former England batter Dawid Malan scored a classy 98 through the heart of the day as Yorkshire enjoyed a healthy start to their Rothesay County Championship clash with Worcestershire at Headingley.

Malan contributed 12 fours and a six in 133 balls to a close of play 425 for eight from 96 overs. He steadied a brief home wobble after lunch which included Jonny Bairstow being unfortunate to be caught behind for seven.

An Adam Finch short ball seemed to brush Bairstow’s stomach rather than his glove on its way through to wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick, though umpire Mark Newell viewed it differently. The home captain cut an astonished figure as he left the field.

At that stage, Yorkshire were 179 for four in the 48th over, including opener Adam Lyth’s 67. Worcestershire made an errant start with the ball but improved, though not enough to turn the day in their favour. New Zealand quick Jacob Duffy mirrored his side’s day. He improved markedly to finish with three wickets. 

George Hill also contributed 63, while four other seamers struck once apiece. 

This is a clash between a Yorkshire side who lost their opener at Hampshire last weekend and a Worcestershire side who batted out the final 200 overs for a draw at Somerset.

Worcester captain Brett D’Oliveira opted to bowl first on a green-tinged pitch with good pace and carry, but they were slow starters as the hosts reached 49 without loss after 10 overs.

Lyth shared 55 with opening partner Fin Bean, who was caught at third slip off Tom Taylor for 19. 

Left-hander Lyth then shared 68 through to early afternoon with second-wicket partner James Wharton, whose eye-catching 44 saw him drive handsomely and take four fours off one Taylor over.

Worcestershire tightened up as the morning progressed and eroded Yorkshire’s position of strength during the first half of the afternoon, the White Rose falling from 123 for one in the 35th over to 179 for four in the 48th.

Wharton edged Duffy (three for 114 in 18 overs) behind - undone by extra bounce and away movement - before Lyth miscued an expansive pull at Matthew Waite’s bustling seam to deep backward square-leg.

And when Bairstow fell controversially to Finch, Worcestershire had an opening.

However, they encountered Malan in dominant form, including a slog-swept six over deep midwicket off Kashif Ali's leg-spin.

By then, Malan - in only his second first-class match since July 2023 having opted to step away from the red-ball game for a year - had reached his fifty off 66 balls.

Yorkshire have some quality batters on their books, including the likes of Joe Root and Harry Brook, who will likely feature at some point during the opening two months of the county summer. 

But when Malan is on song, he is a match for any of them. He just makes batting look so easy.

That six came in the over before tea, where he reached at 75 not out in 270 for four. 

Hill edged a swish at Ben Allison behind in the early stages of the evening before the part-time off-spin of Jake Libby ousted Will Luxton, caught at deep midwicket on the slog sweep for 25, with the total on 339 in the 80th over.

Duffy then had Malan caught at second slip with the second ball of the 82nd over, the first with the new ball, as Yorkshire fell to 345 for seven. 

The same bowler also trapped Dom Bess lbw, but Waite was still the standout Worcester bowler with figures of one for 53 from 15 overs. 

If those late wickets provided any doubt over the direction of the day, Jordan Thompson swayed things very much in Yorkshire’s favour with a quick-fire 48 not out from 43 balls. He dominated an unbroken 65 stand for the ninth wicket with Ben Coad (22). 

Yorkshire batter Dawid Malan said: 

“A little bit disappointed. To get that close (to a century) and fall just before is obviously a bit frustrating, especially when we went nowhere for the last 10 or 12 overs and didn't really rotate the strike enough. 

“I thought Worcester bowled really well in that period and created chances and got themselves back in the game.

“But I think being put in on day one and being close to 400, 400-ish has been a really good day for us.

“I've hit the ball really well since I've been back. I had a good two or three-month break and have done a bit of work with the coaches here. 

“I think we were bowling as well (had Yorkshire won the toss). 

“We'd left a lot of grass on because we wanted to make full use of that, and we knew the weather was going to be good and probably get drier and slower. So to try and get the first use of it, I think, was the idea, from my understanding, listening to the talks around. 

“At the moment, it seems like a good toss to lose. But it depends how we bowl in the first innings.”

Worcestershire assistant coach Kadeer Ali said: 

“A little bit disappointing. Having won the toss today, as a bowling unit we didn’t quite get our lengths right. We were probably on the shorter side a little bit initially.

“Then, when we did go up and try to swing that ball, we were a little bit full. As we know at Headingley, if you miss your lengths you’ll get punished. That’s exactly what’s happened today.

“I thought they (Taylor and Allison during second half of morning) bowled beautifully after that. It showed that winning the toss and bowling was the right decision. 

“As a bowling unit, we needed to keep it nice and simple and hit a good length. In patches we were good. We just didn’t do it for long enough.”

Durham-  343/7   (96.0)

Bonus points so far: Durham- 2    Warwickshire- 2 

Report supplied by Thomas Ridley, on behalf of ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Ben McKinney’s excellent unbeaten century gave Durham the edge on day one of their Rothesay County Championship clash with Warwickshire.

Durham had the worst possible start when they lost Alex Lees in the first over, but they recovered well with McKinney leading the charge and he was well supported by Emilio Gay and the fortunate David Bedingham, who was dropped twice on his way to making 58. 

The Bears then took the initiative thanks to double-wicket bursts from Michael Booth and Taz Ali either side of tea, but Matthew Potts joined McKinney at the crease and made an unbeaten half-century to take Durham to 343 for seven at close.

McKinney impressed on tour with England Lions over the winter and he’s brought that form with him to the county scene. The tall left-handed opener saw out some tough periods but he remained calm and composed throughout the day to pick up his third First Class ton. 

This century, when others around him struggled, will likely prompt further calls for the opener to be in the reckoning for a senior international call-up and England Test skipper Ben Stokes was among the spectators as he steps up his recovery from injury at Chester-le-Street. 

Durham won the toss and elected to bat at the BANKSHomes Riverside, but the decision didn’t look a good one when Ethan Bamber bowled Durham skipper Alex Lees for a six-ball duck. 

McKinney and Gay settled the nerves for the hosts, with the former producing a booming shot through the covers which went for four. Gay, who made a pair against Nottinghamshire in the season opener, then got in on the act with a lovely punch through backward point for four. 

The hosts continued to tick along nicely through the two left-handers. McKinney showed a good balance of attack and defence amid some tight Warwickshire bowling, but he launched a Rob Yates delivery for four to keep the scoreboard ticking over. 

However, Booth picked up a much-needed wicket soon after as Gay edged a delivery behind to keeper Kai Smith for 41. But that brought last year’s top Division One run-getter David Bedingham to the crease and he looked in good touch from the off as the South African international picked up a boundary with the first delivery he faced.

McKinney and Bedingham resumed after lunch and they continued to combine well as the former reached 50 off 93 balls to kickstart his season.

Warwickshire then missed two huge chances to get rid of the dangerous Bedingham, as the South African was dropped twice, both from the bowling of Bamber, with Smith and Yates the culprits for the visitors. 

The drops were proving costly for Warwickshire as Durham talisman Bedingham reached his half-century from 88 balls, but Booth removed him for 58 after he trapped the South African in front.

McKinney continued to impress as he plundered a Booth ball through the covers for four but Ollie Robinson didn’t last long as Booth got his third scalp of the day when the wicketkeeper picked out Ali at extra cover for 12. 

Ali then got himself into the wickets with two in quick succession as Colin Ackermann holed out to the legside boundary for 18 after tea and he then bowled ex-Warwickshire man Will Rhodes for a three-ball duck.  A third wicket in seven balls then came for the visitors as Ben Raine was bowled for four by Sri Lankan international Vishwa Fernando. 

Despite the chaos at the other end, McKinney remained calm and composed and reached his century from 186 balls after a nervy period in the 90’s where Potts had the bulk of the strike.

Potts supported McKinney well and produced some lovely shots as well including a cut shot for four from a Fernando delivery. McKinney then heaved a Bamber ball over the legside boundary for six to pass his career best score and just before close Potts passed 50 for the fourth time in his First Class career.

Warwickshire bowler Michael Booth who picked up three wickets said: 

"It wasn't a bad, bad day. I started well in the first spell, the second one I got rewards and you take those."

(On Bedingham wicket) "It 100 % was a good wicket to pick up, it was nice to get him out. He is one of the best batsmen in the County Championship I think, so it was good to get that wicket."

"Our captain actually said he was happy to lose the toss, he didn't know what to do. He said if we bowl first there'll be enough in it and if we bat first we'll cash in. I think it was a good toss to lose."

"I'm happy with my performance, I'll take them as they come."

(On Bamber form) "Bamber joined us from Middlesex this year. It's been so good to work with him and get them nuggets of experience from him."

"Hopefully tomorrow we get the last few wickets and will be batting before lunch, but if it comes to the worst then it's just after lunch. That's the plan."

 

Durham centurion Ben McKinney said: 

"It was amazing. It's so nice to score runs here in front of your own community and fans. It was a lovely wicket and I just want to continue in the morning."

"Last week we played good cricket, we played a good team. We actually took good confidence going into this game. It's probably a better batting wicket which I knew as soon as I got out there so you've got to cash in on good wickets and hopefully it starts to do something different on days three and four."

"When the likes of David Bedingham and Emilio (Gay) come in and when you've got Leesy on form as well, you've got these people who can take the pressure off you if you are under pressure. I though at times I was with pretty straight fields and a pretty slow wicket but when you have experienced players coming in even Pottsy at the end, it's amazing."

"We had full confidence that we were going to get 350 and we're close to that. It's a good wicket so every run is crucial and scoreboard pressure will be a thing especially if we get out to bowl and get two or three early ones."

Ben McKinney walks off the BANKSHomes Riverside outfield alongside Matthew Potts after they finished unbeaten on 143 and 53 respectively. 

 

Day 1: Nottinghamshire 328-8 v Essex.

By ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Nottinghamshire began their Rothesay County Championship meeting with Essex as early leaders of Division One following last week’s opening round of the campaign. They immediately faced deep trouble, however, after being asked to bat at Trent Bridge.

But Kyle Verreynne, who flew in from South Africa only three days before, would finish with a superbly cussed, unbeaten 111 and Lyndon James made 45, as the home side fought back in the afternoon sun from 78-5 to 167-6.

Vigorous batting either side of tea from the Australian Fergus O’Neill, with 42 from 60 balls, plus staunch support from Farhan Ahmed then helped them to a final 328-8.

In his five career innings for Nottinghamshire, Verreynne has now made 359 runs for only once out but was dropped on 33 off Sam Cook who, watched by England Cricket Director, Rob Key, bowled beautifully throughout and deserved better than two for 37 from 21 overs.

From nine overs apiece by lunch, Jamie Porter had posted two for 12 and new-ball partner Cook two for 17 during a morning of Essex dominance. Their decision to insert on a pitch with no more than a little early grass was presumably based on the hope that, if there was any assistance to be found, it would be on the first morning.

The notion was vindicated when for the first 50 minutes Notts played more with the age of the bat than the middle. Commanding rigorous control, Porter and Cook conceded only nine runs from the first ten overs, Porter having both Slater LBW for one and Haseeb Hameed caught behind for a 21-ball duck.

Joe Clarke, from nowhere, suddenly then launched Porter for a straight six before, whipping across the line, he was LBW to Cook next over for 16.

An overseas third seamer would have been invaluable for the visitors but Shardul Thakur, Essex’s pre-season signing, had made a late switch in March to the India Premier League and it took the return of Cook to halt a 47-run recovery when Freddie McCann, in two minds pulling at a bouncer, returned a catch for 26.

After Jack Haynes felt for a widish ball and edged Shane Snater behind next over for 23, Notts tottered at 78-5 before surviving four more maidens to the interval.

At last periods of fluency arrived on resumption. Against the change bowlers the sixth-wicket pair were particularly harsh on 20-year old Noah Thain in just his sixth full Championship game.

He was to conceded 73 in all from 13 overs in the day, including 16 extras from no-balls. When Cook had relieved him to bowl a third spell, Verreynne’s flashing drive at his third ball flew hard to second slip where Simon Harmer was unable to hold on.

Escaping on 33, Verreynne had earlier, on seven soon after lunch, seen a leading edge off Porter just fall between two offside fielders. Unfazed, the small, gritty ‘keeper reached his determined fifty from 116 balls 15 minutes from tea shortly after James had falled to the Zimbawean Snater when a violent bottom-edged cut cannoned into his stumps.

O’Neill also survived a chance on 31 to second slip, off Thain, straight after tea as 76 were added in 14 overs either side of the interval before, in four balls, he stayed fatally back to be LBW to Matt Critchley and Brett Hutton came and went, pushing forward and edging Snater behind.

Mature resilience through 18 overs from 17-year old Farhan Ahmed on a now placid pitch let Verreynne get from 70 to a hundred in 196 balls at which point he was immediately put down at first slip off Snater when 103. The unbeaten 79-run stand will resume with Ahmed on 30.

JAMIE PORTER, Essex new-ball bowler

"I'm obviously feeling a bit sore after bowling 22 overs after two back-to-back innings against Surrey in the last game but we've taken wickets on what's turning into a good pitch so the match position is good, I think"

"There was a bit in the pitch in the first session and then it flattened out as it often does here at Trent Bridge. It's obviously disappointing to everyone when catches go down but we've all been there and everyone's dropped one in their time. I still think that getting them eight down on what looks like becoming a batting pitch keep us well in it

It's now all about getting down to our work again with a relatively new ball tomorrow and going on from there"

KYLE VERREYNNE, Notts batsman 111 not out

"I'm very happy to reach three figures, coming back to Nottinghamshire after three games last year. We were in some trouble when I came in today  (74-4) so I think this hundred probably meant a bit more to the team than the one I managed at the back end last year.

It's been great to keep playing Test cricket (for South Africa) this winter. I think you're forces to get better pretty quickly at that level. Playing for the Proteas has done me a great benefit.

I hope all you guys will be supporting us when we play Australia in the Test World Championship Final here at Lord's in June! Obviously we'd like to play more Test cricket than we're scheduled to. But that's how it is. We have to get on with it"   

By Richard Latham, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay.

Cameron Bancroft marked his first appearance as Gloucestershire captain with a century to lead his side to a formidable 368 for three on the opening day of the Rothesay County Championship Second Division game with Glamorgan at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol.

The 32-year-old Australian hit 163, off 267 balls, with 19 fours and 2 sixes, sharing a second-wicket stand of 230 with Ollie Price, who contributed a patient 101, as the visitors were made to rue their decision to bowl first under cloudless skies.

The only wicket-takers were Ned Leonard, who struck twice, and Shoaib Bashir, although Zain ul Hassan and Timm van der Gugten were commendably economical as spectators basked in warm sunshine.

Bancroft, who only flew into the country to start his third spell as a Gloucestershire player on Wednesday, rode his luck somewhat in the morning session when the Glamorgan seamers bowled without much fortune.

On two, he survived a huge appeal for a catch behind off Asitha Fernando and having moved to 33 edged the same bowler fractionally short of the diving Kiran Carlson at third slip. A greater escape came on 48 when wicketkeeper Chris Cooke failed to hold a difficult one-handed chance wide to his right off ul Hassan.

Those moments apart, Bancroft relished the unseasonable weather, producing an array of sweetly-timed shots. He and Ben Charlesworth gave Gloucestershire a solid start with a stand of 62 before Charlesworth, on 19, aimed a big drive at Leonard and nicked through to Cooke.

It was Glamorgan’s only success of the morning session as Bancroft went to fifty with a back-foot punch through the off side off ul Hassan to collect his eighth four and Price provided careful support in taking the score to 100 for one off 27 overs at lunch.

Glamorgan turned off-spinner Bashir in the afternoon session, but Bancroft greeted him with a glorious square-driven boundary and later a straight six as the England player’s first four overs went for 30 runs.

Price had contributed 28 when the century stand with Bancroft was brought up. His partner moved to 99 with two fours through the off side off van der Gugten and two overs later a scampered single off Leonard took him to a 31st first class ton off 166 balls, with 13 fours and a six. The innings had also taken Bancroft past 11,000 first class runs.

When Leonard opted to bowl short with six fielders on the leg side, the Aussie top-edged a pull for his second six, then made room for a four through the covers. All the while Price was accumulating steadily before reaching a half-century off 140 balls, with 7 fours.

It was 225 for one at tea, with Bancroft on 119 and Price 57. It was the latter who pressed the accelerator with a flurry of boundaries at the start of the final session to move into the nineties.

The 23-year-old then cracked successive fours off Bashir to move to his fifth first class hundred off 220 balls, with 15 boundaries. Two balls later he lost concentration and was pinned lbw on the back foot to make the score 292 for two with the second new ball about to become due.

It was taken immediately, but did little to dampen Gloucestershire’s day as Bancroft and Miles Hammond batted positively, Hammond cracking 5 fours in no time to ensure there was no respite for the tiring Glamorgan bowlers.

Bancroft progressed to 150 off 259 balls, having extended his boundary count to 16 fours and 2 sixes, before a tired looking waft at a wide ball from Leonard saw him caught behind.

His innings had occupied six hours and 26 minutes. Hammond was unbeaten on 37 at the close of a largely one-sided day.

By Richard Latham, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Gloucestershire centurion Ollie Price said: “Cameron Bancroft just continued with the impact he had when he wasn’t captain. No one was in any doubts what he would bring to the role because he is such a high class operator.

“It was straight off the plane and into the runs. Batting with him is great because he is calm, occupies the crease and is so clinical. His innings was a great watch because he was striking the ball so cleanly.

“Every batter wants to make a good start to the season so I was delighted to get to three figures. Taking 20 wickets on that pitch will be a challenge for us as a team, but we are ready to meet it.”

 

Glamorgan head coach Richard Dawson said: “It was a tough day for us. We decided to field first because we know the pitches here tend to do most for the bowlers on the opening day and we did create opportunities in the morning session.

“The wicket flattened out as the ball went softer, but the bowlers stuck to the task well. I thought Zain ul Hassan bowled particularly well without any luck, while Ned Leonard struck early and towards the end, having run in hard all day.

“We have to forget the scoreboard when we bat and concentrate on the fact that there are runs to be made as games develop here.”

Division Two: Middlesex 222 all out. Kent 172 for six.

Kent fought to 172 for six on day one of their Rothesay County Championship match with Middlesex at Canterbury, trailing by 50 at the close on a day when 16 wickets fell.

Jack Davies’ unbeaten 47 was the highlight for Middlesex, as they scratched their way to 222 all out. Nathan Gilchrist took three for 43 and debutant Kashif Ali, occasionally wearing a Dennis Lillee-style headband, claimed three for 60, but Davies’ ninth-wicket partnership of 63 with Blake Cullen was already looking crucial as Middlesex ran through Kent’s top order.

England’s Zak Crawley continued to struggle as he went for a fourth ball duck, lbw to Toby Roland-Jones and Cullen took three for 51 to help reduce Kent to 79 for six before Harry Finch and Grant Stewart rallied the home side, finishing unbeaten on 49 and 46 respectively.

Kent had prepared a lime green wicket for the benefit of Keith Dudgeon, who’d taken eight wickets in the rout of Northants, but even though he was injured in training on Thursday they had no hesitation in choosing to bowl.

Dudgeon was replaced by Kashif, while Middlesex drafted in Stephen Eskinazi in place of Sam Robson.

A crowd of over 1,200 watched a morning session that was played out to a constant chorus of groaning from the home fielders, with almost every delivery troubling the batters.

Nathan Fernandes made just four before Gilchrist sent his off stump cartwheeling and Stewart then cleaned up Eskinazi for 14 in almost identical fashion.

Leus Du Plooy ground out 25 before charging down the wicket to Kashif and getting caught behind. Middlesex, however, made it to 89 for three at lunch.

Gilchrist then took charge getting Ryan Higgins in the second over of the afternoon, caught behind for 14, before he strangled Max Holden for 26.

Ben Geddes skied Jas Singh to Joey Evison at backward point for 13 and Zafar Gohar was bowled by Kashif for 11, playing on middle, when the ball pitched on off and hit.

Roland-Jones went in almost identical fashion. He was put down twice by Ben Compton at short-leg in the 45th over, only to lose his off stump to Kashif’s final delivery.

That left Middlesex on 150 for eight, but Cullen and Davies responded with a stand that was only broken when Singh bowled the former off-stump for 33.

The next ball to Henry Brookes was nearly caught by Finch but ended up flying through the slip cordon for four. Brookes, however, added just another single before he nicked Stewart to Jack Leaning.

The suspicion that 222 might be a useful score deepened when Roland-Jones hit Crawley plum on the knee-roll of his back pad. Daniel Bell-Drummond then went for six, shouldering arms to Ryan Higgins.

Tawanda Muyeye went for a combative 29, nicking Cullen to Eskinazi at first slip, but Leaning lasted just three balls before Brookes had him caught behind.

Joey Evison drove his first ball from Cullen for four and was caught behind off the next and Ben Compton was strangled for 32 to the same combination.

At that point it looked like the hosts might subside for under three figures but Stewart led the counter-attack, hitting Roland-Jones back over his head for six and edging Kent closer to parity by stumps.

Middlesex’s Jack Davies said: “Obviously it’s not an easy wicket to bat on so it’s just nice contribute in any way I can. Hopefully we can finish with a first innings lead and go from there.

“Quite a bit’s going on (on the pitch) to be fair, the energy the seamers have put in, they’ve got out., they’ve reaped their rewards. There’s been some swing in the air, but mainly there’s grass on the wicket, it’s seaming around a bit. 

"If we bowl well in the morning we should have a lead and we’ll go from there. It’s a lively bowling partnership on that wicket and we’ll go again tomorrow morning. It’s not going to last four days!”

Kent’s Adam Hollioake said: “It’s a proper shoot-out, isn’t it? Every over there was a highlight, either a boundary or a wicket or a couple of wickets or a couple of boundaries, so it was great for the crowd here and there was beautiful weather as well, so everyone got there money’s worth.

“It was almost identical to the wicket up at Northants. That may have had something to do with what we requested beforehand because the way that played up there suited our style of play. It’s an exciting wicket, I had supporters coming up to me and saying ‘wow, that was so great to watch.' There was pace and bounce but if the batters wanted to play their shots there was enough pace in it for them to do that, so there were boundaries, fours, wickets. It was an exciting day’s cricket.

“Kashif could have had seven and I think we went past the bat 30 times in that session. Every third ball was going past the edge. It was really exciting and all the bowlers could have had more. I felt we bowled well.

(On being 79 for six) “You’re aware of the situation but they’re also professional athletes. You try not to get caught out by the scoreboard. I think Grant Stewart and Finchy at the end played the situation beautifully. They hung in there and I think at the end of the Middlesex were more glad to get off the pitch than us.

(On Dudgeon) “It’s a massive blow because obviously he was our player of the match up at Northants. This wicket would have suited him perfectly. It’s devastating to lose him but also that’s professional sport. I likened it to a shoot out and it’s like a soldier. We’ve lost one but unfortunately that’s sport. We’ll just have to wait and see how serious it is, but obviously on this pitch he would have made a big difference.”

 

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

A superb century by Saif Zaib and a vital 92 from James Sales helped put Northamptonshire into the strong position of 355 for five against Lancashire after being put in to bat on the opening day of this Rothesay County Championship Division Two match at Old Trafford.

It proved to be an excellent day with the bat for the visitors as Lancashire’s attack, featuring West Indies’ pace bowler Anderson Phillip for the first time this season along with loan signing John Turner, were made to work hard on a wicket not offering the bowlers much assistance.  

Luke Procter made 64 and shared a century partnership for the third wicket with Sales during the first half of the day, and the latter then forged another excellent 97-run alliance with Saib Zaib for the fifth either side of tea.

Zaib reached his fourth first-class hundred from 149 balls (1 six, 14 fours) just before the close, ending the day unbeaten on 111 after forging another good partnership of 99 with Lewis McManus (40 not out).

After two poor batting performances last week against  Kent, Northamptonshire must have feared a potential repeat when they were 54 for two just an hour into the opening day, seamer George Balderson having Ricardo Vasconcelos caught behind for 16 and George Bartlett falling lbw for the same score to a searing yorker from overseas quick Phillip during a lively early spell.

Visiting skipper Procter, who produced a typically calm and unhurried innings, found an ally in Sales and the pair staged a superb fightback either side of lunch with a mixture of solid defence and a number of attractive drives. Procter, who reached 5,000 runs for Northamptonshire in all forms of cricket during his innings, was the first to go to his half century from 107 balls with Sales taking a brisker 78 balls to arrive at the same landmark in a 104-run partnership across 29 overs.

It was loan signing Turner, handed his Red Rose debut cap at the start of play by James Anderson – before the news of Anderson’s impending knighthood broke – who made the breakthrough for Lancashire midway through the afternoon. The England fast bowler had made a tentative start earlier in the day but produced a much better sustained effort during his second spell and was rewarded when Procter gloved a leg side delivery to wicketkeeper Matty Hurst for 64. Balderson backed that up by trapping Rob Keogh lbw for a duck in the next over to leave the visitors on 159 for four.

The day was in the balance at that point, but Sales and Saib Zaib responded with a good, positive partnership that added 75 in 17 overs by tea, with Zaib becoming the third Northamptonshire batter to post a half century soon after the break from 70 balls.

Just when a third first-class career century beckoned Sales departed eight runs short to an injudicious shot, aiming to hit Tom Hartley over the top but picking out Marcus Harris at wide mid-on instead.

Zaib, who pulled Phillip over square leg for six, and McManus negotiated the rest of the day – and the arrival of the new ball – in some comfort to finish the day strongly and leave Northamptonshire in excellent shape going into day two.

John Turner, Lancashire said:

“The pitch offered quite a bit up top and we were hopeful that it would continue throughout the day, but obviously it flattened out a bit. We stuck at it well, I thought. The bowlers kept on running in, kept on asking the right questions, and kept on challenging the batsmen.

“I think we just needed to dry up the runs at the same time, make life a bit uncomfortable for them. We went to the short ball plan a few times and that didn't get us any wickets necessarily, but it did get the questions into the batsman's mind.

“We have to just keep plugging away and being consistent on one length. It's not quick by any means, but it's quick enough to score some runs. And there are enough balls in there that keep you interested. If you hit the deck hard, something will happen eventually.

“It's great to be here, see the environment and get the opportunity to play some red ball championship cricket. I haven't done a lot of that recently or throughout my career really. So it's about just trying to play as much as I can to progress my career.”

Saib Zaib, Northamptonshire said:

 “Yeah, it's an amazing feeling (scoring 111 not out).

“I feel like we've put ourselves in a nice position in the game. It's always nice to get a hundred and contribute to the team and hopefully we can do it for the next few days.

“After the previous game against Kent, talking to the head coach Darren Leeman, he was saying that he wanted the batting unit collectively to step up and make amends for what happened against Kent. It’s not a bad way of doing it.

“It's one of the great cricketing cliches about building partnerships, but it proved it today; one century partnership, a couple of 90 partnerships, one of which is unbroken.

Hugely disappointed for James (Sales) to get out for 92 but he played beautifully. He's an exceptional player.”

By Jon Culley, ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay

Day 1: Leicestershire 423/9 v Derbyshire.

Half-centuries from Sol Budinger, Ian Holland, Peter Handscomb and Logan Van Beek helped Leicestershire reach a commanding 421 for nine after Derbyshire had asked them to bat first on the first day of their Rothesay County Championship match in Leicester.

The East Midlands rivals are both looking to build on winning starts to their Division Two campaigns. Derbyshire, who beat Gloucestershire at home last week, bowled well at times but found their errors punished ruthlessly by aggressive Leicestershire batting.

Leicestershire, victors at Glamorgan in the opening round, built partnerships right  down the innings, with all-rounder Van Beek, the Netherlands international making his debut, impressing at No 8. New Zealand’s Blair Tickner took two wickets on his return to Derbyshire.

Budinger set the tone for Leicestershire from the start, with two of his first five balls faced finding the boundary, the outfield as fast as it is in midsummer as the current run of sunny weather continued.

He had an unfamiliar opening partner in Rehan Ahmed, who took the place of the injured Rishi Patel at the top of the order as Leicestershire chased a modest target to win their opening match at Cardiff last week, continued in the role with Patel nursing a dislocated thumb.

Given that Ahmed shares Budinger’s positive approach, there was a promise of runs in abundance if things went their way and at 26 without loss after four overs Derbyshire skipper Wayne Madsen might have already been wondering whether bowling first had been the right choice, even with plenty of grass on the pitch.

Zak Chappell provided some reassurance immediately by bowling Ahmed, who drove loosely, but there was no more joy for Madsen’s bowlers until the penultimate over before lunch and the end of Budinger, who had been pretty impressive until, as can be his downfall, he played one shot too many.

You could hardly blame him. Until that moment, he’d given the treatment to virtually everything even a tad short or wide and profited to the tune of 15 boundaries in a run-a-ball 81. But this time the ball from Martin Andersson, only just into the attack for the first time, perhaps climbed a little more than he anticipated outside off stump and the contact he made was enough only to deflect it into the gloves of wicketkeeper Brooke Guest.  After 19 first-class matches, 87 remains Budinger’s highest score.

His demise at 129 for two, following a 103-run partnership with Holland, prefaced a more rewarding afternoon for Derbyshire’s bowlers, with testing spells from Tickner, Luis Reece and Zak Chappell bringing breakthroughs after Holland had completed a 98-ball half-century.

Tickner, back with Derbyshire after a family illness last year prompted an early return to New Zealand, hurried one through to have Lewis Hill leg before for 24; Reece, who had been twice close to dismissing Handscomb in single figures, had Holland caught at gully for 74; and Chappell, back on the ground where he began his career, bowled Patel’s replacement, Louis Kimber.

But Handscomb, who flashed one edge off Reece almost through second-slip Madsen and promptly dropped another just short, settled down alongside Ben Cox to guide Leicestershire to tea and beyond.

The captain and wicketkeeper added 97 for the sixth wicket before Derbyshire, with the new ball four overs away, made an important breakthrough as Handscomb, almost out off a thick edge to slip two balls earlier, was bowled by David Lloyd’s off-spin, one wicket bringing another as left-arm spinner Jack Morley had Cox leg before for 49.

But any Derbyshire hopes of making short work of what remained in the Leicestershire innings were thwarted by Van Beek and Ben Green, who added 64 although Van Beek had some good fortune when the delivery from Reece that came back to bowl him on 33 was signalled as a no ball.

Tickner had Green caught at long leg and the persevering Reece had Ben Mike leg before but Leicestershire were not to be denied a fourth batting point and may yet claim a fifth.