Vitality County Championship 2024, Round 11, Day 2, 22nd – 25th August - Live Cricket Streaming, Latest Scores, Match Reports – All Matches

Here are all the latest scores, match reports and news for the Vitality County Championship 2024, Round 11, Day 2, Division 1 and 2 - 22nd – 25th August.

Round 11, Friday 23rd August

 

Division One

Durham vs Nottinghamshire, Division One,Seat Unique, Riverside Ground, Chester-Le-Street.

A fantastic four-wicket return from the evergreen Neil Wagner and a century from Ashton Turner consolidated Durham’s dominant position in their Vitality County Championship clash with Nottinghamshire. 

Wagner was in a league of his own on day two at the Seat Unique Riverside as the experienced left-armer picked up figures of four for 68 on a pitch that has offered little for the bowlers, while Turner finished unbeaten on 114 on his Durham First Class debut. 

The Australian combined with Bas de Leede for a swashbuckling partnership of 134 from 120 balls in the morning session to take Durham to an imposing total of 531 for seven declared. 

Wagner ran through the Notts top order, despite a maiden First Class fifty for Freddie McCann, with the visitors losing five wickets for 26 runs in the afternoon session. 

The Kiwi was well backed up by Callum Parkinson but a defiant fifty from Lyndon James led Notts to 220 for eight at close, with Durham leading by 311 runs.

Durham resumed after an excellent first day on 393 for five, but nightwatchman Parkinson didn’t last long as England man Olly Stone got him LBW for four.

Turner was then joined by de Leede and the pair guided Durham past 450, picking up maximum batting bonus points for only the second time this season. The pair played some lovely shots with de Leede hitting a glorious straight drive for four and the Dutch international got his fifty from 51 balls, his third in Durham whites. 

The elegant Turner then reached his century on his First Class debut for the hosts, with the Australian’s hundred coming from 141 balls. 

The hosts then passed 500, with de Leede and Turner switching to white ball mode as the hosts began to set up a declaration, with the former the aggressor in the pursuit of quick runs.

The Dutch international was then dismissed for 79 off 68 balls after he smashed a Luke Fletcher delivery to long-off and the hosts declared on 531 for seven, with Turner unbeaten on 114. 

Notts’ reply got off to the worst possible start as Ben Slater was bowled by a Neil Wagner beauty for two. 

Skipper Haseeb Hameed and First Class debutant McCann saw the visitors through to lunch. The pair frustrated the hosts after the break as they remained solid in defence and looked to score when they could.

Hameed played a glorious cover drive in Daniel Hogg’s first over to continue his side’s progress and McCann looked the part on debut with the former England Under-19s man playing some lovely cover drives. 

An 81-run second wicket partnership was broken by Wagner, who is also making his First Class bow for the county, as key man Hameed gloved one down the legside to Ollie Robinson. 

McCann got his first County Championship fifty from 62 balls, but his innings ended just one ball later when the youngster was caught behind off the bowling of de Leede. 

Wagner got his third as Clarke pulled a short ball straight to fine leg to leave his side with a mountain to climb.

Wagner continued his incredible spell as Matt Montgomery tried and failed to control a hook shot and it went straight to Alex Lees at leg gully. 

Ben Raine got in on the act as Jack Haynes departed for nine as he chipped one straight to mid-wicket. 

James and Calvin Harrison saw the visitors through to tea without further loss and the pair grinded their way through a difficult period after the break.

James made sure that he dispatched any loose bowling from the Durham attack and he slapped a Raine delivery to the cover boundary. 

Parkinson then got Calvin Harrison LBW for 18 to halt the mini fightback from Notts and the spinner could have had another but Turner dropped James on 28. However he didn’t have to wait much longer for his second wicket as he bowled Stone for 18.

James got his fifty from 122 balls and remained unbeaten on 50 at close, but Durham will be the happier of the sides heading into day three.

 

Nottinghamshire's Freddie McCann said: 

"(on debut match) Obviously it's a very proud moment for myself and my family. At the start of the season I didn't think I'd all three debuts in one season, but I'm very happy with that."

"I'm really pleased now that I've got the backing of everyone, I just though I'd go out there and play my natural game and see what happens."

"Massive credit goes to LJ (Lyndon James), he's shown everyone how to play and was very gutsy, hopefully he can carry on tomorrow."

"The plan is to not look too far ahead, keep things simple and see how things go."

 

Durham's Ashton Turner said: 

"We've put ourselves in a really good position, we assessed yesterday that it was a pretty good wicket, so for our bowlers to be able to come out and make something of the surface makes us feel that we're really driving the game at the moment."

"Sometimes when you get a really good start like we did yesterday with the openers, it's easy to take it for granted and you can find yourself losing wickets. We wanted to consolidate that good start and make it really count."

"Bas played beautifully and scored really quickly which gave us options with the declaration. That's all well and good but you still need to find a way and get 20 wickets and that's our job over the next couple of days."

"(On Wagner) In Test cricket you can quite often get really good wickets and he has been exposed to conditions like that a lot. The best players find a way in all conditions and he's executed his plan beautifully."

Hampshire vs Essex, Division One, Utilita Bowl, Southampton

Jordan Cox reminded Brendan McCullum and the England set-up of his dizzying batting skills with his fourth Vitality County Championship century of the season.

Cox was released by England to play for Essex against Hampshire in the Vitality County Championship clash after not selecting him for the First Rothesay Test against Sri Lanka this week.

He responded with a scintillating 124-ball 141 to double down Essex’s advantage – having been stuck in – after Dean Elgar’s masterful 51st first class century. Both batters now have over 900 Championship runs this season.

After a washed-out day one and more rain on Saturday, this is likely to be a draw – but Essex collected three bonus points to reach the close on 404 for eight .

For everyone present at Utilita Bowl at 10:30 BST, bowling first wasn’t just a choice but the only option.

The pitch was a green colour which suggested that the ball would seam around, and had been under cover for over 24 hours after a washed out day one.

Hampshire captain James Vince could barely conceal his glee when his Essex counterpart Tom Westley picked the wrong side of the coin and he stuck the visitors in.

He gave a shocked look when Westley then told stadium announcer Robbie James he would have chosen to bat first.

It turned out it would have been the correct choice with blue skies above and a pitch which hadn’t sweated up under the covers due to strong winds.

When Kyle Abbott and Mo Abbas were jagging the new ball around, Vince would have felt vindicated, especially when Abbas nicked a ball back into Robin Das’ pads.

Das, opening for the first time in the County Championship having earned his position over Nick Browne and Feroze Khushi following a strong Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign, could hardly have done anything else.

Elgar and Westley simply occupied the crease for the rest of the morning session as the new ball pressure subsided.

Westley, who had soaked up 18 balls before scoring, was dropped at second slip on 27 but otherwise, the captain and opener looked unbreakable.

Elgar said after reaching his 50th red ball ton, against Durham in June, that all centuries “mean the world” to him. This showed little of that wonder, but did demonstrate a workmanlike efficiency; ticking off runs as if they were on a spreadsheet.

His fifty came in 122 balls, his century came in 170 as he began to open up for his third Championship century since replacing Alastair Cook as Essex opener. 

Westley, having put on 144 with Elgar, fell for 64 when he leathered a caught and bowled back at Liam Dawson.

Cox was effervescent from almost the moment he arrived at the crease against an ageing ball. His sixes off James Fuller and Nick Gubbins were the headlines of his aggressive streak and suggested he was making up for lost time following his Appendix operation during the last round of matches.

Having been dropped on 92, he reached three figures in 92 balls, with a straight drive that summed up his endeavours

But at the other end, Hampshire’s grind was rewarded.

Abbott found former international team-mate Elgar chipping to mid off – which ended a 154 alliance with Cox – and removed Matt Critchley’s off stump bail.

Abbas picked up Paul Walter, loose to midwicket, and Michael Pepper, caught at first slip first ball. Simon Harmer was leg before to Dawson as the shadows grew longer.

Essex batter Dean Elgar:

“Jordan is one of the most special cricketers in England at the moment. We are very grateful to have him playing in this game – I guess it is England’s loss they didn’t play him.

“It is our gain to have Coxy around. He’s been in amazing form for us through the whole season. The selection for the Test squad is something that he’s been working towards.

“I’ve realised with myself that time away from the game is really important, especially in a tough season.

“I thought it was necessary to have some time off and luckily the club allowed me to do that and let me go back to South Africa to see my family, visit the bush and do all the things that make me happy – but while knowing I would come back for the last five games.

“There was more invariable bounce with the new ball but we found a way to get through that. The partnership between Westley and myself was important as it allowed us to cash in during the second and third sessions.

“The second new ball did more than the first new ball, which is perfect for us as we have a substantial first innings score.

“We are in a very good position, but we can’t control the weather. We’ve got to believe we can take 20 wickets, with our bowling attack we believe we can achieve that.”

Surrey vs Lancashire, Division One, Kia Oval, London

 

Rory Burns led from the front with a magnificent career-best 227 as Surrey reached a second day 444 for nine declared to take total control of their Vitality County Championship match against Lancashire at the Kia Oval.

Surrey captain Burns was well supported by Ben Foakes, who hit a fine 82, as the Division One leaders and defending champions built a potentially match-winning halfway lead of 240 after bowling Lancashire out for 204 on day one. In five balls’ batting before bad light ruled out the last scheduled 7.1 overs of the day, Lancashire reached four without loss in their second innings.

Burns and Foakes put on 197 for the fourth wicket, with England’s erstwhile Test wicketkeeper eventually out to the second new ball – bowled through a weary-looking flip towards mid on by George Balderson’s medium pace.

Former England opener Burns’ 26^th first-class hundred was his second of the season and his highest score since he made an unbeaten 219 against Hampshire at the Oval in 2017. He batted for seven and a half hours, facing 348 balls and hitting a six and 29 fours.

Dom Sibley, Will Jacks and Sam Curran all missed out in warm sunshine, with batting markedly more comfortable than on the opening day, while India white-ball international Sai Sudharsan also made only six after coming in at 377 for five and at least seeing Burns through to his double-century before edging Tom Aspinwall to second slip.

But Jordan Clark made 25 not out, helping Burns to add a useful 50 for the seventh wicket before Surrey’s captain skied Balderson and keeper Matty Hurst sprinted thirty yards to take a good tumbling catch. Both Tom Lawes and Conor McKerr then came and went for nought, bowled and leg-before respectively to left arm spinner Tom Hartley, sparking Surrey’s declaration.

It was, overall, a chastening experience for a young Lancashire team containing seven homegrown players and with an average age of 25, as Surrey moved remorselessly into a position from which to force a seventh championship win of the season and boost their chances of three titles in a row.

Surrey resumed on 83 without loss and, to Lancashire’s credit, they were initially checked as Sibley fell early for 39, shouldering arms to depart leg-before to a probing Will Williams after adding just two runs to his overnight score.

And they were 97 for two when Ryan Patel, after one resounding pull off Balderson, nibbled at one from the same bowler to edge behind on four.

Jacks, in at No 4 for his first championship innings of the summer, was soon driving Balderson high and handsomely over long off for six, but he was later fortunate to see another mishit lofted drive just make it over the head of a deep extra cover fielder on the short boundary for another maximum.

On 31, however, Jacks drove Aspinwall’s first ball of the day straight into the hands of short extra cover to leave Surrey 149 for three.

But Burns and Foakes saw their side not just through to lunch but well beyond. Between lunch and tea they added 136 in 32 overs of steady accumulation and, towards the end of the session, a burst of legside hitting by the left-handed Burns to the short boundary on the old gasholders’ side.

Burns greeted the reintroduction of Luke Wells’ leg spin by slog-sweeping him for a succession of fours and one six that brought up Surrey’s 300.

And, after tea, they put on another 39 to blunt the second new ball before Foakes fell, after hitting 11 fours from 158 balls, Curran got off the mark by flashing Aspinwall through first slip’s hands but then soon departed for eight when he miscued a pull at Aspinwall to mid on.

Surrey’s double-centurion Rory Burns said: “It is nice in a game that is being played in Graham Thorpe’s memory to get my career-best score.

“Thorpey had a big influence on my career, both as a coach here at Surrey and when I played for England, so it is special to do well.

“It was also very enjoyable batting in a long partnership with Ben (Foakes). We always seem to bat well together and hopefully our stand has helped to set us up for a win in this game.

“I declared to give us eight overs to try to get in among them again in their second innings this evening but the bad light forced us off so that is a bit disappointing. But we have to concentrate on taking ten wickets and try to get over the line in the match, whether there is rain on tomorrow’s third day forecast or not.”

Lancashire fast bowler Will Williams said: “We are a long way behind in the game and we know we have to play some very good cricket from now on to stay in it.

“But we have some very talented players in our batting line-up and a lot of them were disappointed with how it went in our first innings so will be trying to rectify that in this second innings.

“I thought we bowled quite well during today but Burns batted in a very disciplined way and very well so huge credit to him.”

 

Warwickshire vs Somerset, Division One, Edgbaston, Birmingham

Ed Barnard’s five-for lifted Warwickshire into the ascendancy against Somerset on the second day of their Vitality County Championship match at Edgbaston.

After Warwickshire, still looking for their first championship win of the season, extended their first innings to 337, Barnard took five for 54 as the visitors were bowled out for 239.

Michael Burgess (69, 90 balls), Jake Bethell (64, 143) and some aggressive tail-wagging gave the home side a solid total against an attack led by Josh Davey (four for 80) and Craig Overton (four for 88).

Somerset then lurched to nought for two and 65 for five against Barnard and Chris Rushworth (three for 42 in his first first-team bowl since April) before partially recovering through Kasey Aldridge’s elegant 84 (139), supported by James Rew (49, 75) and Tom Lammonby (44, 66).

Warwickshire closed on 27 for one second time round and will be hoping the forecast third-day rain stays away to allow them to try to press home their advantage.

The second day started with a highly entertaining 45 minutes as Warwickshire, resuming on 277 for six, added 60 for four in ten overs. Burgess and Bethell took their partnership to 122 in 29 balls before both fell in five balls. Burgess edged Overton and was superbly caught by wicketkeeper Rew, standing up. Bethell’s middle stump was knocked out by Davey.

At 287 for eight, Warwickshire were in danger of coming in light but the last two wickets clubbed 50 from 40 balls with eight fours and two sixes. Michael Rae struck 28 from 22 before he skied a slog at Overton.

After all the fluctuations, Warwickshire appeared to have finished with a total around par, but it appeared dominant when Somerset’s first five wickets fell in 20 overs. Their reply began in bizarre fashion when Tom Kohler-Cadmore charged at the first two balls from Olly Hannon-Dalby, missing the first and edging the second. When Rushworth knocked out Andy Umeed’s off stump, it was nought for two.

Lammonby and Tom Abell added 36 but Barnard then struck twice as Abell fell lbw offering no shot and Tom Banton edged to Will Rhodes at first slip. Lammonby rose above the top order wreckage to score a polished 44 out of 65 but perished carelessly when he scooped Rushworth to long leg.

Aldridge settled stylishly after a slightly sketchy start to add 87 with Rew and, after the latter edged Rushworth, 49 with Overton before the captain was castled by Hannon-Dalby. When Barnard bowled Davey and had Jack Leach caught at second slip in the space of four balls, Aldridge was 34 runs short of a ton with just last man Jake Ball for company. He acquired 18 of them before chipping a full-toss to extra cover to complete Barnard’s five-for.

Warwickshire soon lost Rob Yates, who fatally edged Overton’s fifth ball, in their second innings but closed very strongly placed, 125 ahead with nine wickets intact, after Alex Davies and Will Rhodes survived until bad light lopped off the last 13 overs.

Warwickshire all-rounder Ed Barnard said:

"We are in a really good position, especially from where we were yesterday at 140 for six. To be 100 ahead with only one wicket down is really pleasing.

"The lads stuck at it really well today. We are still not quite sure of the pitch. At times it feels like it's good for batting but there also seem to be some good balls in there.

"It was great to get a five-for. I feel like I have bowled really well in the last month or so. Like last year I have taken my form from the white-ball comp into the championship  and that's been nice. Hopefully I can get a few runs tomorrow to set the game up.

"Rushy came back in and bowled superbly. He is massive for us. We know the experience and quality he has got and to have him back in alongside Olly - you won't get two better opening bowlers in the country and we are very lucky in that way. It was great to see him back out there looking fit and firing and taking some really important wickets."

 

Somerset all-rounder Kasey Aldridge said:

"It was a tough day. It was a tricky wicket at times, especially with the new ball. There are still definitely balls out there that will get you out so it was a tricky day but I don't think we see ourselves as too far behind in the game. They have got to bat well still. We are definitely not out of the game. We know there will be demons for them from the last game where we chased down 400 so they are going to have to set us a big total and whatever it is we are going to try and chase it.

"As a batter I think you need to be patient on this pitch. In the last couple of years we [James Rew and I] have spent a lot of time batting together. I'm spending a lot of time with him in cricket and outside of cricket so we are becoming very familiar with each other's game and we just try to have a good time together,

"I was probably struggling a little bit before the Lions call up and have been working really hard to get myself into the best place I can. I have been working hard on my batting, bowling and fielding and try my best to get it all right. Sometimes it won't click but I aspire to go quite high in all three formats."

 

Worcestershire vs Kent, Division One, County Ground, New Road, Worcester

Worcestershire Club Captain Brett D’Oliveira made a triumphant return after injury as his side strengthened their grip on the Vitality County Championship Division One bottom two encounter with Kent at Visit Worcestershire New Road.

D’Oliveira struck 97 off 90 balls and his positive approach enabled Worcestershire to seize the momentum and establish a first innings advantage of 276.

It was his first knock since missing the entire Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign to have extensive rehab on a shoulder problem which has troubled him for the past 12 months.

Tawanda Muyeye struck an aggressive unbeaten 80 from 84 balls in reply for Kent to leave them 172 in arrears with eight wickets in hand heading into the third day.

D’Oliveira came in at 201-4 and batted with great freedom on a pitch offering assistance to the seamers.

He received excellent support in two partnerships both worth 85 runs in 16 overs, initially from Adam Hose and then Ethan Brookes who also played fluently in scoring his maiden half century for Worcestershire.

A career best 43 from number 10 Adam Finch then shepherded Worcestershire to batting points.

Rob Jones had batted with great application during the early part of the day to help lay the foundations for D’Oliveira

The Kent attack was generally below par in the helpful conditions, offering up too many ‘four’ balls, but there was satisfaction for debutant Akeem Jordan.

Jordan, who until recently was playing for West Bromwich Dartmouth in the Birmingham and District Premier League, finished with 5-97 from 26.1 overs.

Worcestershire resumed on 137-2 and Jordan struck an early blow for the visitors when Gareth Roderick (63) nicked a delivery which moved away and was caught behind.

Jones looked in good touch and cut George Garrett for four and then turned Jordan off his legs for another boundary.

A square drive to the ropes by Hose at Grant Stewart’s expense eased Worcestershire into a first innings lead.

Jones looked set to complete his second Championship fifty of a challenging season but on 49 he fell to a superb catch by Jack Leaning

He pushed hard at a delivery from Joey Evison and edged to Leaning who held onto the chance at second slip at full stretch away to his right.

D’Oliveira immediately looked to seize the initiative with a succession of boundaries.

He batted in attacking manner not seen on either side previously during the game and dominated the partnership with Hose.

D’Oliveira raced to a 46 ball half century with seven fours.

Hose, himself returning after playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred, provided the perfect foil until he tried to pull Jordan and top edged a catch to fine leg.

Brookes helped D’Oliveira sustain the momentum in completing his fifty off 59 deliveries.

D’Oliveira looked set for his century but on 97 he attempted to cut spinner Matt Parkinson and only picked out backward point.

His 90 ball knock contained 15 fours after another partnership of 85 in 16 overs.

Brookes also fell to Parkinson although he was unfortunate as he attempted a sweep and the ball bounced up onto his elbow and then rolled onto the stumps.

Tom Taylor struck a quickfire 20 before he and Joe Leach went lbw to Jordan and Ogborne respectively.

But Adam Finch ensured a fourth batting point for Worcestershire when he cut Parkinson to the boundary in the 107th over.

The pace bowler lofted Jordan for a maximum over deep mid-wicket before he was bowled attempting another big hit.

Taylor almost broke through in his first over of Kent’s second innings.

Tawanda Muyeye on nought edged just short of third slip and was then dropped at gulley off the next delivery from Taylor.

But the Worcestershire all-rounder was responsible for the first Worcestershire success with the run out of Ben Compton (0).

He pushed Joe Leach gently towards mid off but Taylor pounced to run out Compton at the non striker’s end well short of his ground.

Muyeye decided attack was the best policy and his half century contained one six and eight fours.

But captain Daniel Bell-Drummond, who scored just five in a partnership of 62 with Muyeye, was bowled after offering no shot to Finch.

Jack Leaning then had a let off on 15 when he survived a sharp caught and bowled chance against Brookes.

 

Worcestershire Club Captain, Brett D’Oliveira, who top-scored with 97, said: “Really pleased with how the last couple of days have gone and we are in quite a strong position. It is key we capitalise on that tomorrow.

“The roller has had an effect on the wicket but it definitely does wear off. We felt throughout the day that there were definitely balls in that wicket and it was about trying to stack as many as we can in the right area and hopefully the pitch does the rest for us.

“The key is trying to put those deliveries that do something out of the ordinary to the back of your mind and try and focus on the next ball.

“Runs can be scored on that pitch but it is about worrying about the balls in front of you and not the ones that have gone.

“When I came in, we had them under a little bit of pressure and it was slightly deliberate to try and land a hammer blow with a quick 30.

“It is never great to miss any cricket at all so it has been a frustrating period and it was great to get back out on the field and contribute to the team being in a good position. Hopefully we can capitalise on that tomorrow.

“Agonisingly close to a hundred but only myself to blame really. I have to look in the mirror and swallow that pill really but more pleasing the team is in a strong position.”

 

Kent pace bowler Akeem Jordan, who picked up five wickets on his debut, said: “One thing about our guys is their heads never drop and we always believed that there was something out there and we just kept fighting for it and ended up getting them all out.

“As the day went on, the wicket got easier to score on and we had to keep banging away on a length and at some point the wicket started to assist us, and then it went back flat for the batters and we really had to work hard.

“D’Oliveira made it look so easy because some of the balls were jumping and some were keeping a bit low and he was just flowing. It was good from him.

“I am so impressed by Tawanda Muyeye. I think he is a ‘gun’ player. This is the first time I’ve seen him bat and he is so talented and if he keeps playing like that he could get a really big score tomorrow.

“We have to try and bat as long as possible, try and get a decent lead and then we can try and defend it in their second innings. You never know, cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties.

If we get a decent lead, we may end up coming out on top.”

 

Division Two

Derbyshire vs Glamorgan, Division Two, Incora County Ground,County Ground, Derby

Anuj Dal led a strong Derbyshire batting display to put the home side in a commanding position on day two of the Vitality County Championship Division Two match against Glamorgan at Derby.

Dal made 94 from 135 balls after Harry Came with 84 and Wayne Madsen’s 70 put Derbyshire on course for a big first innings total.

Glamorgan spinner Ben Kellaway took his first wickets in first-class cricket, finishing with 3 for 59, while Mason Crane claimed 3 for 43 as Derbyshire were bowled out for 429, a lead of 261.

Glamorgan were left with a tricky 12 overs to negotiate but they survived to close on 39 without loss, still 222 behind. 

It was a good day for batting with the County Ground  bathed in sunshine which was a good sign for the overnight pair of Came and Madsen who proceeded in untroubled fashion to move past Glamorgan’s modest first innings.

Ned Leonard again offered too much width which allowed Came to settle back into his innings by twice dispatching short balls to the point boundary.

Glamorgan’s attack struggled to impose a measure of control with Madsen reaching his 50 off 88 balls and the stand was worth 130 when Came threw away the chance of a century.

The opener came down the pitch to hit Kellaway back over his head but the bowler leapt to take an excellent catch at the second attempt to claim his maiden first-class wicket.

He soon had a second as Madsen attempted a slog sweep but got under it and skied a simple catch to mid-wicket.

That brought together the former Glamorgan pair of David Lloyd and Anuerin Donald who was intent on taking the attack to the bowlers.

He pulled Dan Douthwaite for six and crunched Kellaway through the covers to move to 28 from only 22 balls before a smart piece of wicketkeeping removed him two overs before lunch.

Donald paddled Kellaway around the corner but Chris Cooke had anticipated the shot and moved across to take a fine catch at leg slip.

Even so, it had been a productive morning for Derbyshire who led by 79 at the interval and they tightened their grip on the game in the second session.

Lloyd was closing in on a half century against his former team mates when Crane got one to spin between bat and pad to take the off stump.

Glamorgan’s hopes of wrapping up the innings quickly faded as Zak Chappell again showed how well he can bat by sharing a stand of 67 from 99 balls with Dal who straight drove Leonard for his sixth four to reach 50.

By tea, the lead was over 200 but rather than give their bowlers a session to go at Glamorgan, Derbyshire batted on for another 18 overs, presumably to give Dal a chance of a century.

Pat Brown stayed with him for 89 balls while another 48 runs were added but Dal fell short when he drove Crane to long off.

That left Glamorgan with an awkward period to get through and Kellaway enjoyed another landmark when he edged Chappell for four to open his account in the first class game after three consecutive ducks.

Chappell should have removed Billy Root in his next over but Donald spilled the chance at third slip and the pair stayed together to provide Glamorgan with some comfort at the end of another challenging day. 

 

Derbyshire all rounder Anuj Dal said: "At the end of the day you are trying to put the team in the best position that you can, it's a bit frustrating, when you bat at seven you don't often get chance to get a hundred but trying to win the game is the priority.

"I pride myself as someone who when I get in I can go big and I like to value my wicket and not give things away too easily but as long as I'm doing a job for the team that's the important thing.

"We looked like we were going to create some chances but hopefully the wicket will create enough chances for us to get 10 wickets. It was nice to see some spin so I'm sure Jack Morley will be in the game come day three and four."

 

Glamorgan spinner Ben Kellaway said: "It was a big day for me, taking the wickets and getting a bit of a spell under my wing to help the team out.

"And then with the bat, it was a bit of a relief to get those first runs, however unconvincing it was and then to get through the day unscathed."

On opening the innings he said: "It's something that's completely new to me and it's something I'll take in my stride and throw everything at it and give it a go. 

"We're a little bit behind but I think with the batting we've got and the way the pitch has maybe gone a bit easier with less seam movement I'd back our boys."

Gloucestershire vs Leicestershire, Division Two, County Ground, Bristol, Bristol

Ben Charlesworth led the way with 105 not out as Gloucestershire produced a determined fightback on the second day of the Vitality County Championship Second Division game with Leicestershire at Bristol.

The 23-year-old left hander notched his second first class century off 164 balls, with 14 fours and 3 sixes, in a Gloucestershire first innings total that had reached 227 for three by the time bad light ended play seven overs early. James Bracey was unbeaten on 34.

Leicestershire had posted 402 all out in their first innings from an overnight 291 for seven. Liam Trevaskis contributed 50 and Tom Scriven 60 off 84 balls, while Zaman Akhter finished with three for 110.

There was bright sunshine over the Seat Unique Stadium for most of the day, but also a blustery wind. Leicestershire added 14 to their overnight total before Ben Green, back on loan from Somerset, was bowled for ten by Akhter off an inside edge and pad.

By the time the second new ball was taken, Leicestershire were 319 for eight. It had barely any effect as Trevaskis went to fifty off 108 balls, with 6 fours, helped by Scriven in a taking the score to 381with a ninth-wicket stand of 76.

Off-spinner Ollie Price ended it by having Trevaskis caught in the covers to earn a third bowling bonus point. But Scriven wasn’t finished and completed a half-century of 78 balls, with his seventh boundary, stroked through extra cover off Price.

It was largely due to Scriven’s efforts that Leicestershire took a fourth batting point. He brought up 400 with a pulled four off Akhter and was clearly looking to hit out when lofting a catch to long-on off Price to complete the innings.

Lunch had been delayed for the fall of the final wicket and Gloucestershire began their reply at the start of the afternoon session. Soon the Leicestershire seamers were finding the pitch as unresponsive as their Gloucestershire counterparts had done as Charlesworth and Cameron Bancroft put together a half-century opening stand in 13 overs.

Charlesworth top-edged a pull shot for six off Josh Hull, but it was one of few false shots as both he and Bancroft settled in to play some delightful strokes. Bancroft was particularly strong through the leg-side and it was a surprise when the Australian edged an attempted cover drive off Scriven to second slip and departed for 39.

At 68 for one, Price joined Charlesworth and made only six before getting a thin edge to an attempted pull shot off Hull and feathering through to wicketkeeper Peter Handscomb. Charlesworth was unbeaten on 42 when tea was taken at 4pm with Gloucestershire 102 for two.

The tall all-rounder soon moved to his half-century at the start of the final session with a flashing square cut boundary off Scriven. He had faced 96 deliveries and hit 7 fours and a six, rarely looking in the slightest trouble.

Fellow left-hander Hammond was also producing some swashbuckling shots as the pair took the score past 150 in the 39th over. They had added 65 in 16.2 overs when Green made an important breakthrough, nipping one back off the seam to pin Hammond lbw for 29.

Charlesworth had a moment of anxiety on 77 when surviving a loud shout for a catch behind off Scriven. But there were to be no nervous nineties for him as two mighty blows cleared the ropes in the same over from left-arm spinner Trevaskis and took him to three figures.

It was a hugely impressive ton from a young player long earmarked for a big future. Bracey leant typically solid support, but with rain forecast for tomorrow morning it may take a supreme effort from one of the teams to force a decisive result on such a bat-friendly surface.

Gloucestershire head coach Mark Alleyne said: “I was really, really impressed by the way Ben Charlesworth batted, particularly coming out of a couple of months of white ball cricket. You always wonder as a coach whether guys can regain their rhythm straight away.

“Ben looked assured from ball one. He left the ball well and didn’t miss out on many scoring opportunities, keeping the pressure on the bowlers. It was a well-constructed innings and he’s unbeaten so hopefully he can go again tomorrow.

“We knew Leicestershire batted deep and I didn’t think we bowled badly this morning. Their total is a good one, but we felt we could go past it when starting our innings and that is still possible.

“The ideal for us tomorrow is to get 450-plus, which would mean maximum batting points and a lead. We are capable of being more consistent with our bowling in the second innings.”

 

Leicestershire’s Tom Scriven said: “We were pleased to get 400 from our overnight position. We thought the ball might nip around a bit as it did on the first morning, but the pitch seems to have flattened out.

“At times going in at number ten can be a bit frustrating because you want as much time as possible at the crease. But it just shows the strength in depth of our batting.
“When we got to 400, I thought that with rain forecast tomorrow there was no sense in trying to grind to 450, so I looked to take the spinner down. It didn’t work, but we had reached our objective.

“It’s a pretty good wicket, but hard to score quickly when the ball gets soft. Perhaps we didn’t always get the rub of the green with the ball today.

“There are still two days to go and we are certainly not going to go into tomorrow thinking we can’t lose. To get a decisive result could be tough, but there is always a chance and the game is certainly not dead.”

 Middlesex vs Northamptonshire, Division Two, Merchant Taylors' School Ground, Northwood

Half-centuries from Sam Robson and Leus du Plooy gave Middlesex the upper hand on the second day of their Vitality County Championship game against Northamptonshire at Merchant Taylors’ School.

Robson enhanced his impressive record at the Northwood venue, which includes four first-class centuries, by grinding out a vital 58 while Du Plooy hit an unbeaten 66 as the home side reached 250 for seven, a first-innings advantage of 43.

However, Ben Sanderson kept Northamptonshire right in contention with figures of five for 58, regaining his status as Division Two’s leading wicket-taker after being briefly displaced by Middlesex captain Toby Roland-Jones.

Northamptonshire were dismissed for 207, with Roland-Jones taking a season’s best of five for 49 – and the visitors’ hopes of restricting Middlesex to a lower total were not helped as Prithvi Shaw shelled a trio of slip catches.

Sanderson and Lewis McManus, who had hauled Northamptonshire out of difficulties the previous evening, did enough to usher the visitors beyond the key landmark of 200 as they extended their partnership to 83.

Sanderson unfurled a pair of classic drives to the boundary off Tom Helm and thoughts of a maiden first-class half-century must have entered the veteran seamer’s mind as he overtook McManus to reach 40.

However, those thoughts were dashed when Henry Brookes bowled Sanderson around his legs and, although debutant Dom Leech cracked a cover boundary to raise the visitors’ 200, Roland-Jones quickly wrapped up the innings by capturing their last two wickets in three balls.

In reply, Middlesex’s opening pair both survived close calls during the hour prior to lunch, although they made it to the interval unscathed on a surface with variable bounce and pace.

With just a single to his name, Robson edged a rising delivery from Justin Broad through the slips, while Mark Stoneman offered a tricky slip chance off the same bowler and Shaw, going low to his left, was unable to hang on.

Sanderson made the breakthrough soon after the resumption, getting the ball to swing and uprooting Stoneman’s off stump for 36, but Robson and Max Holden dug in for an afternoon of laborious progress.

Robson cut the seamers with authority to keep the scoreboard moving and passed 50 from 118 balls with a sweet cover drive for four off leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, whose change of ends then bore immediate fruit as he trapped Holden leg before.

Northamptonshire might have removed Robson as well in the next over, with Shaw – who had also put down Holden – fumbling another opportunity, but Sanderson made amends immediately after tea with two wickets in as many deliveries.

With Robson lbw to one that kept low and Stephen Eskinazi succumbing in identical fashion, Middlesex were suddenly wobbling at 129 for four but a bristling partnership of 72 between Du Plooy and Fernandes was exactly what they needed.

Leech eventually brought the stand to an end with his first Northamptonshire wicket, having Fernandes taken at second slip, but Du Plooy remained to nudge his side into the lead with a crisp off-driven boundary.

However, Sanderson returned with the new ball and promptly claimed two more wickets in quick succession, completing his third five-for of the summer before Roland-Jones launched a late flurry of boundary-hitting.

He took two fours from successive Sanderson deliveries and had just cracked Broad to the fence to earn Middlesex a batting bonus point when the deteriorating light brought play to a close.

Middlesex batter LEUS du PLOOY, who finished 66 not out, said:

“It’s one of those wickets where it’s tough to start. There’s definitely a certain method to playing on it and scoring runs and it’s different to what you might get at Lord’s or Wantage Road.

“We’d have liked to have maybe two or three more wickets still in the bank, but Ro (Toby Roland-Jones) came in at the end and just swung the momentum back on our side.

“Northamptonshire will try and keep us down to within 50-60 of their total and then they’ll feel they’re within reach, we’ve just got to go out again and try to stamp our authority on the game.

“Robbo (Sam Robson) has batted so well there and got us off to the start we wanted, we could easily have been 20 for two or three and it’s a lot tougher then. He and Rocky (Mark Stoneman) saw off the new ball really well.

“Then Nathan (Fernandes) came in there in a high-pressure situation at 129 for four, with the game in the balance and that’s good experience for him.”

 

Northamptonshire bowler BEN SANDERSON, who took five for 58, said:

“It’s an interesting pitch. I’d say it’s probably not ideal either way really because there’s not enough pace on it to feel like you can nick people off, if somebody’s playing with soft hands and it’s not a pitch you can score freely on.

“So it’s finding that happy balance – as a batter, you’re playing late and being very patient on it and just waiting for bad balls to put away.

“As a bowler it’s the same, you’ve got to challenge the stumps and hope the batter makes a mistake and pushes at one and it carries to the slips.

“Lewis (McManus) was good to bat with, he just kept calm and was helping me through it a little bit, so it was a crucial partnership for us at that time, to get some sort of total on the board.

“We can’t plan for rain (forecast for Saturday), we’ve just got to plan that, as soon as we get out there bowling again, knock them over as quickly as we can and get batting.”

Yorkshire vs Sussex,  Division Two, North Marine Road Ground, Scarborough

England’s Jonny Bairstow contributed a combative 57 - his first first-class fifty since last July - as Yorkshire took charge of their Vitality County Championship clash with promotion rivals Sussex after two days at Scarborough. 

Bairstow came in immediately after lunch with Yorkshire 104 for three in reply to Sussex’s 189 all out, the visitors’ first innings wrapped up in the day’s second over.

The 34-year-old shared 90 with fourth-wicket partner Will Luxton, the fledgling batter whose 59 represented his career best score in only his fourth appearance. 

Sussex off-spinner Jack Carson claimed an excellent season’s best five for 83 in 20 overs as Yorkshire were bowled out for 326, a lead of 137, and the Hove county closed their second innings on 26 without loss from 10 overs.

Bairstow’s innings was what Yorkshire and England fans have come to expect, but not without luck as he was dropped on 38 and 51.

The latter was by England team-mate Ollie Robinson as he ran in from mid-on following a top-edge at left-arm seamer Sean Hunt.

Bairstow was quickly into the battle. 

After driving his first ball for four down the ground off Fynn Hudson-Prentice, Robinson thought he had him caught behind on four. It seemed as if the pair had words, as they did again the following ball when Bairstow missed an attempted expansive drive.

The batter stomped down the pitch to talk to his batting partner as Robinson (two for 57 from 21.5 overs) stared.

Both men are aiming to rekindle Test careers which stalled following England’s New Year tour to India.

There was no doubt Bairstow won today’s battle, and Yorkshire, who have had the best of batting conditions, could go on and claim victory in the war with the Division Two leaders over the next couple of days.    

During his afternoon innings, including seven fours and a six in 72 balls, Bairstow successfully drove two boundaries off Robinson, he lofted Hudson-Prentice’s medium pace over mid-on’s head twice and pulled Hunt for six two balls after Robinson’s drop.

While all the focus will be on Bairstow, who last posted a red ball fifty in the final Test of last summer’s Ashes at the Oval in late July, Luxton was just as good but in more watchful fashion during his 130 balls.

The fact he didn’t score in the afternoon’s opening 50 minutes, stuck on 27, indicated that.

There had been some doubt as to whether play would start on time due to a gale-force wind. But it did, and four morning wickets fell.

The first saw Jordan Thompson trap Hunt lbw to wrap up the Sussex innings and claim his third wicket, leaving Tom Alsop unbeaten on 86.

Indian left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat left Yorkshire at 31 for two as Adam Lyth played on for 24 before getting Fin Bean, the other home opener, caught behind.

James Wharton and Luxton shared a dashing 73, with the former pulling Hunt for six.

But Hudson-Prentice limited Wharton’s contribution to 40 when, in the final over of the morning, he had him caught at first slip - 104 for three in the 26th over. 

That brought Bairstow to the crease, and when he departed before tea - lbw to Carson’s off-spin as he played back - he thought it may have been outside the line of off-stump.

Umpire Tom Lungley disagreed, and Yorkshire were 194 for four in the 48th over.

Carson added three more evening wickets as Luxton was bowled, Jonny Tattersall lbw and George Hill caught at mid-on, leaving the hosts at 248 for seven in the 66th over - a lead of 59.

Robinson had Matthew Revis caught in the slips for 34 and Dan Moriarty caught behind to wrap up Yorkshire’s innings. 

Sandwiched in between, Carson bowled a paddling Ben Coad. But Sussex were hurt by a swashbuckling 44 not out with four sixes as Thompson built the Yorkshire lead.

Bad light later cut Sussex’s second innings short by five overs.

Yorkshire batter Will Luxton said

 

“It was nice to be out there and build a bit of confidence, and hopefully I can keep it going in these last five games. 

“The ball was 20 to 20-odd overs old when me and Jonny got together, and it wasn’t doing as much. Batting with Jonny, he’s always going to put the pressure on. It was nice to be out there with him - he’s one of the very best, isn’t he.

“I’ve watched him on TV for so long, so it was brilliant batting with him. He’s was very fired up today, and it was good to see him get some runs. 

“If there’s someone you don’t want to fire up, it’s Jonny. He loves that battle. 

“This morning, if you’d have offered us 130 in front, we’d have said, ‘Yeah’. But we really wanted to be batting until the end of the day.”

 

Sussex off-spinner Jack Carson said

 

“We said at tea, ‘We’ve not been at our best for five sessions’. We hadn’t maybe had some luck, but also we hadn’t made our own luck with the way we played.

“We wanted to go out and leave it all out there for that final session, and I think it was the best session we’ve had. But it’s not been the two days we were looking for so far.

“It was tough batting yesterday. We were probably 50 or 60 short of where we could have been, and again we’ve let them get 50 or 60 too many. But we’re not out of the game yet. There’s two big days and still plenty to play for.

“The pitch has spun, and there’s been a good bit of bounce for seam and spin. It’s definitely a wicket where we should be able to take 20 wickets. 

“I hadn’t got a five-for for quite a few games. It was building up. So it was good to do my job pretty well.

“You have nothing really to lose (bowling at Bairstow). He’s one of the best players England’s ever had, so there’s no shame in him bopping you over your head. That takes away any fear factor or nerves because he’s that good a player. He makes sure you have to be at your best, and it was a good wicket for me to get.”

© Cricket World 2024