Vitality County Championship 2024, Round 14, Day 2, 17th - 20th Sept, Live Streaming, Latest Scores, Match Reports All Matches Division 1 and 2

Here are all the latest scores, match reports and news for the Vitality County Championship 2024, Division 1 and 2 - Round 14, Day 2, 17th - 20th Sept.

Division One

Hampshire vs Worcestershire, 61st Match, Vitality County Championship Division One

Nick Gubbins equalled his first-class best before Ethan Brookes scored a scintillating maiden Vitality County Championship century but couldn’t prevent a hefty Hampshire lead.

Gubbins shone to reach 201 as Hampshire picked up maximum batting points in their improbable title charge, before Mo Abbas ran rampant to leave the visitors 61 for five.

Worcestershire's Brookes and Gareth Roderick countered in a flurry of sweeps and high-quality batting to put on 196, with scores of 132 and 94 individually to confirm their side's safety in DIvision One.

But Liam Dawson claimed his fifth five-wicket haul of the summer to boast a 189-run first-innings lead, however Hampshire did not enforce the follow-on – instead closing the day on three without loss.

Dawson and Gubbins began the day by setting a new fifth wicket partnership record for Hampshire against Worcestershire – beating the 209 between Jim Bailey and Neville Rogers in 1946.

The stand reached 220 before Dawson advanced, swatted and skied Tom Taylor to Adam Hose, to begin a hair-raising 10 over spell where Hampshire attempted to reach 450, while losing regular wickets.

Gubbins continued his reign and reached the second double century of his career in 315 balls with a powerful strike through the leg side.

But around him, Surrey loanee Amar Virdi took advantage of the aggression to pick up his first professional five-for since 2021.

Tom Prest chipped to midwicket to give Taylor his fourth, before off-spinner Virdi got one to turn sharply to pin James Fuller, found Felix Organ slogging to deep midwicket and Kyle Abbott leg before when going back.

It was left to Abbas to clip off his legs to the boundary to reach 450 and a fifth batting point before he left Gubbins unbeaten when he edged to second slip.

Worcestershire’s response continued the wicket rush as Abbas produced one of his spells where he has the ball on a leash.

Jake Libby was done between bat and pad to a ball that nipped in and took the top of the off stump, before Kashif Ali tried to cover his stumps but edged to first slip.

The Pakistan international produced another teaser by holding one outside off stump for Rob Jones to nick off, before adding an Adam Hose lbw after lunch to leave Worcestershire 30 for four.

Dawson began his haul with a smart piece of field movement to switch Fletcha Middleton from short leg to short mid off, before some extra bounce saw Brett D’Oliveira glove one to the re-placed Middleton.

Roderick had weathered the storm from his end and found a bullish Brookes keen to score quickly – his second time past fifty in 52 balls has he quickly zoomed ahead of his top-order partner’s scoring rate.

With Dawson, and Felix Organ, in operation for much of the innings, Brookes took to sweeping to survive and score.

He played 44 variations on the shot during his innings. It brought him 13 boundaries and 71 of his runs.

His century came in 128 balls and was celebrated with great gusto on and off the field, as he and the increasingly attacking Roderick broke a 124-year record for the sixth wicket for the Pears versus Hampshire – eventually ending on 196.

By getting to 250, tied with their three bowling points, Worcestershire secured their Division One status for another season.

But that positivity melted into a sticky collapse – with the last five wickets falling for 16 runs.

Roderick was leg before to Organ – who wrestled things back after an expensive opening few overs to only go at sixes in the face of jeers from spectators – before Dawson took over.

Brookes died by the sweep when he picked out deep square, Logan van Beek and Virdi were lbw before the innings ended with Joe Leach pouched at slip.

Without Roderick and Brookes’ stand, the next highest partnership was worth 31, and only D’Oliveira scored more than four runs.

Hampshire’s didn’t make them go again, and Hampshire openers Middleton and Toby Albert went through six overs unscathed.

Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson:

“It is nice to contribute again but first and foremost we are in a really good position.

“I thought we batted with really good intent in our innings with the way Gubbins and Vince played, and that allowed us to bat again now as there is a lot of time left in the game.

“We were always aiming to go for 450 and full batting points and thankfully that came off and scored quickly enough to be able to do that.

“Roderick and Brookes batted really well. They attacked the spin and didn’t let me and Felix settle. We expected it to spin more but it was hard to defend and put us under pressure. But thankfully we got the breakthrough and bowled them out for 273.

“There is so much time left in the game, the weather is good and we batted quickly enough that we felt like batting again was the right option. It gives out bowlers a bit more rest and hopefully the pitch deteriorates more as the game goes on.”

 

Worcestershire all-rounder Ethan Brookes:

“It is nice to tick the first one off. It was really free-flowing batting with Rodders – he made it really easy for me as we were in a tough situation where we could have been bowled out for 120 or so.

“He said to play a few shots, I’m good playing spin so that was a good message to come in to, and the freedom allowed me to score quickly, get the momentum back towards us and ended with me getting a hundred.

“I grew up playing the sweep. I played a little bit of hockey at school to get that natural movement but I also worked hard at it as a youngster at Warwickshire.

“I think it is one of my strengths. It can be a little bit nervy playing it as it is a high-risk shot but I feel more confident playing a reverse sweep than a defensive shot. It is something that came off today.

“They bowled really well up front with two great seam attack bowlers, but Rodders showed it is a good wicket to bat on when you are in. There’s definitely nip with the new ball but it slowed down a little bit and got flatter, but it is still taking spin – whoever comes out on top will do so through spin.

“The boys are buzzing with [having Division One safety confirmed]. We are a little bit behind the eight ball in this game but we will do everything we can to win this game.

“The boys are very excited but that is done now, we have to have a big finish in the County Championship – we want to finish in the top six.”

Kent vs Nottinghamshire, 62nd Match, Vitality County Championship Division One

Kent were once again fighting to save a match in the Vitality County Championship, reaching 85 for no wicket in their second innings against Nottinghamshire at Canterbury, still 123 behind at stumps on day two.

Tawanda Muyeye was unbeaten on 55 and Ben Compton was 22 not out when bad light stopped play with seven scheduled overs remaining.

Notts were all out for 433 early during the morning session, Nathan Gilchrist finishing with four for 101, but Farhan Ahmed then claimed four for 37 as Kent were dismissed for 225 in their first innings.

Joey Evison was the highest scorer, hitting 76 against his former side, while the second biggest contribution came from the extras column with 43.

Kent were forced to follow on and the seven bonus points the visitors have stockpiled mean that even if the hosts pull off an improbable win here, Notts would need just a single point from their final fixture next week at home to Warwickshire to ensure Kent go down – and if Lancashire beat Somerset, Kent will be relegated regardless of what happens on the final two days.

The visitors began day two on 393 for six and Luke Fletcher had moved to 22 when he played an elaborate leave shot against George Garrett, who clipped a bail.

Rob Lord survived a strong first ball appeal for caught behind but was lbw in the next over to Nathan Gilchrist, who then sent Ahmed’s off stump cartwheeling for two.

Dane Schadendorf was the last man to go when he holed out to Akeem Jordan and was taken by Daniel Bell-Drummond, who sprinted to long off.

Kent’s reply was just five balls old when Compton was adjudged lbw to Fletcher for four and Muyeye went for 10 when he flicked Fletcher to Lord on the square leg boundary.

It was 60 for two at lunch and Bell-Drummond went soon after, caught by Schadendorf off Lyndon James for 28.

Joe Denly edged Lord to Schadendorf for five and it nearly got worse for Kent when Freddie McCann put down Evison when he was one after he’d edged James.

Jack Leaning went for 26, trying to fend off a short ball from Lord that he gloved to Schadendorf.

Ahmed took a wicket with his first ball, getting Harry Finch caught at short leg by Jack Haynes and at that point the game looked like it might be over in two days, let alone three but Jordan made a game 23 in a partnership of 63 with Evison before he was lbw to Ahmed.

Ahmed then got Parkinson for a 28-ball duck after a sharp catch at short leg by McCann and an already interminable-seeming afternoon session was prolonged when Jacob Duffy bowled Nathan Gilchrist for four with last scheduled ball before tea.

Evison eventually holed out to Ahmed and was caught by Ben Slater on the deep cover boundary, forcing Kent were forced to follow on for the sixth time this season, but not for the first time this campaign they made a better fist of it second time around.

Muyeye sped to 50 from 49 balls but with the light deteriorating, play was abandoned at 6.06pm.

Nottinghamshire’s Farhan Ahmed said: “We’re definitely happy, all the lads put in a good performance in their first innings and hopefully we can get some more wickets tomorrow and put them under some real pressure.

“It’s unbelievable (the fielding) there were two half-chances and I was lucky they grabbed them so I’m happy. There’s some assistance in the pitch, some bounce and a bit of turn. There’s a bit of a mix so hopefully we’ll come back tomorrow and take some more wickets.

“It was very crucial that everyone gets on form and especially tomorrow hopefully everyone chips in and we can make a good fight of it. Fletcher was unbelievable and Dane is an unbelievable keeper as well. I played some twos cricket with him as well and he’s always performed so I wasn’t surprised.

“It’s very important (to take early wickets) but we still feel that if we take one at any stage we can take two or three so it’s about building dots up and building some pressure and hopefully we can get some wickets then. The plan was always to enforce the follow on because it’s not easy to win a four day game, so when you get a chance to win you have to enforce it.”

 

Kent’s Joey Evison said: “It’s been a tough day overall I guess. Not the worst day because that last session was really crucial. For me, batting out there I was just trying to keep the runs ticking over really, trying to keep out the good ball and keep putting their bowlers under pressure as well. We want to try and win this game as much as possible now and runs are really vital for us so whoever was batting with me it was just about, keep ticking the scoreboard over.

“They bowled really nicely, I thin Lyndon was the pick of their bowlers, he got the ball swinging laterally which was quite a handful at times. Then obviously Farhan bowled nicely as well, but that last session ahs kept us in it really and we’ve still got a lot of hope in the changing room.

“Cricket’s a funny game and it can change as quick as that really. Tomorrow’s first session is crucial and it could go either way really but having been made to follow on we couldn’t have asked for much from the openers really. Compo and T played exceptionally well. All I’ve ever wanted is to bat in the top six and I fell like I’ve been a bit inconsistent really this season. At times I’ve shown glimpses of what I can do and today, having been dropped on two. It’s funny how when your luck’s in your lucks in and I feel like I had that luck today, which I needed because I’ve had a couple of low scores in the last month or so and I’m happy to contribute to the team today.”

Lancashire vs Somerset, 63rd Match, Vitality County Championship Division One

 

Lancashire’s batters made title-chasing Somerset work for every wicket on the second day of the Vitality County Championship match at Old Trafford and had built a formidable 292-run lead at close of play.

Josh Bohannon’s 60 and Luke Wells’ unbeaten 78 enabled the home side to finish on 298 for seven in their second innings of a match both sides desperately need to win, Lancashire to preserve their hopes of avoiding relegation, Surrey to stay in touch with Surrey at the top of the table.  

The difference between the first day’s play and the second was immediately apparent during a morning session in which Lancashire scored 90 runs in 27 overs for the loss of only two wickets.

On a pitch that had dried out and lost much of the greenness, bowlers had to work harder for their successes and the only batsman dismissed in the first hour was the nightwatchman, Will Williams, who was leg before wicket to Craig Overton for seven in the third over of the morning.

Harry Singh then added  85 for the third wicket with Bohannon, who batted beautifully to make 60 off 76 balls. However, it was indicative of the problems Bohannon has encountered this season that his half-century was only his fourth innings over fifty in 22 Championship innings.

None of which diminished Somerset’s joy in the penultimate over before lunch when the Lancashire batsman tried to pull a ball from Kacey Aldridge but only succeeded in diverting it via the toe of the bat to Tom Abell in the gully.

On the resumption, Singh and Rocky Flintoff defied Lewis Gregory’s bowlers for 50 minutes until Singh thin-edged a catch to James Rew off Brett Randell to give the New Zealander his first wicket for Somerset.

Singh had faced 142 balls during his 260-minute innings of 30 but his patient resistance was not copied by Matty Hurst, who hit three breezy fours in 19 runs before attempting to drive Randell and nicking a catch to Overton at second slip.

In the next over, Flintoff was bowled by Jack Leach’s arm-ball for 27 but Wells and George Bell  saw their side through to 214 for six at tea, when Lancashire’s lead was 208. And on the resumption, Wells and Bell extended their seventh-wicket stand to 83 before Bell was bowled for 23 when trying to pull a ball from Gregory that kept low. 

Wells went on to emulate Bohannon’s feat in passing fifty for only the fourth time this season but his strokeplay was impressive, most noticeably when he hit three off-side boundaries in one over from Gregory. 

And the day ended with Lancashire in the ascendant. Wells was unbeaten on 78 and Somerset’s fielders appeared aggrieved that George Balderson had not been adjudged run out on five when apparently run out by Overton’s throw from slip. The visitors had earlier been penalised five runs for fake fielding. 

 

Steve Kirby. Somerset’s bowling coach, said:

We’ve got a big job to do tomorrow. We know that, but everybody stuck to their task today and Lancashire have gone at less than three an over in 96 overs.

We hoped to bowl Lancashire but you can only play what’s under your feet and you have to take your hat off to the way Lancashire have batted today. They played the ball a lot later and they showed a lot of steel and a lot of fight.

On another day, we’d have had the rub of the green but the way we’ve gone about our business all year has been incredible and there’s another big scrap ahead of us tomorrow. There’s a lot of time left in this game.

We just have to keep taking our opportunities. As far as the five penalty runs are concerned, you can’t slide. That’s the rule and we have to get on with it.

It’s going to be difficult in the morning but I think the heavy roller has played a big role. The pitch has become more placid. The spite and the nip isn’t there any more.

 

Josh Bohannon, Lancashire batter, said:

“That was a brilliant day. It’s what we’ve been after all season. The fight we showed yesterday has carried into today’s performance. That momentum has carried into today’s performance.

“The bowlers got us back into the game and the fight we’ve shown as a batting group can ultimately help us get into a position to win this game. It will do the individuals in our group a world of good that they’ve done it against a really good attack on a pitch that still offered something for the bowlers today.

“They bowled really well and at times we’ve learned over the summer to absorb and put pressure back on. I feel today was a good example of that. Wellsy at the back end of today had to absorb at first and then we saw the free flowing batting come out from him tonight.

“The position we’re in is nothing to take lightly. We’ve had a good day today but tomorrow we’ve got to come again with the same mindset and get as many as we can and give ourselves something to bowl at.”

 

 

 

 

Surrey vs Durham, 64th Match, Vitality County Championship Division One

 

Ryan Patel’s career-best 134 guided Surrey to 415 and the vital advantage of a 153-run first innings lead against Durham at the Kia Oval.

And Dan Worrall then had nightwatchman Callum Parkinson superbly held by Conor McKerr at third slip from the first ball of Durham’s second innings as, in two overs’ batting, they finished on 1 for 1.

Patel, who batted for just short of five hours in a crucial anchor role before being caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary, took the game away from Durham in an eighth wicket stand of 92 in 19 overs with Tom Lawes.

The pair began by attacking the second new ball, quickly tilting the balance of a previously hard-fought day sharply towards Surrey, the Vitality County Championship leaders and favourites for a third successive title.

And Lawes, the richly-talented 21-year-old all-rounder, struck a six and six fours in a confident 58, only his second first-class score above fifty and also a career-best.

If they had taken their catches, however, Durham might have put themselves into a strong position – especially as Patel was the main beneficiary of their largesse when he was dropped on 19 and 70.

For 26-year-old Patel, who faced 183 balls and hit three sixes and 14 fours, it was a fifth first-class hundred and his second of the season, while Tom Curran also survived two edges into the slip cordon early on in an 81-ball stay for 22 and Rory Burns was dropped on 43 soon after the start of the second day’s play.

Durham, despite their fielding lapses, performed creditably with the ball to make run-scoring hard work for Surrey until Patel and Lawes pulled away.

Surrey resumed day two on 52 without loss, in reply to Durham’s first innings 262, and Burns – after adding just three to his overnight 40 – was spilled in the slips off Daniel Hogg.

Dom Sibley helped Burns take their opening stand to an excellent 87 before, on 26, edging slippery seamer Bas de Leede low to first slip while Burns had reached 55 when he was bowled by a magnificent delivery from Barbadian paceman Chemar Holder.

A mini-collapse continued, with Surrey losing three wickets in five overs as Dan Lawrence (6) followed up one glorious cover boundary by pushing at a ball from De Leede and, like Sibley, snicking low to David Bedingham at first slip.

But, from 110 for three, Patel and Ben Foakes steadied the innings with a partnership of 47 – with Foakes needing on-field treatment after being hit on the hand by Hogg.

On 17, however, Foakes was adjudged to have feathered a catch to keeper Ollie Robinson and the impressive De Leede, who finished with four for 106, struck again when he fired in a yorker to hit Sam Curran (8) on the boot and win an lbw appeal that left Surrey 169 for five.

Tom Curran began aggressively but saw one edge off Holder burst through Bedingham’s hands at first slip and run away for four and then another fail to be taken due to Robinson initially going for the ball but then leaving it to a surprised Bedingham.

After that, Curran concentrated on supporting Patel in a partnership that eventually realised 63 before being squared up by a fine ball from left-arm spinner Parkinson that clipped his off stump.

Then came perhaps the key moment of the day when Patel, on 70, hooked a short one from De Leede straight to deep square leg where Stanley McAlindon, a substitute fielder, got in a tangle and allowed the ball to fly through his hands and over the rope for six.

Patel, who had earlier survived on 19 when James Minto failed to hold on to a skimming drive at Parkinson at short mid-wicket, then extra cover drove De Leede’s next ball for four to go to 80 and, in the next over, back-to-back boundaries by Jordan Clark off Parkinson took Surrey into the lead.

Clark made 22 before pulling Holder to deep square leg but Patel, with further legside sixes off Hogg and Minto, was then joined by Lawes in what could well be a match-defining partnership.

McKerr skied Minto to Robinson on 10 to give the 16-year-old left-arm quick a maiden first-class wicket and last man Worrall (6 not out) stayed to ensure Surrey a fourth batting bonus point and until Lawes, ironically given Durham’s previous missed catches, was quite brilliantly held by a diving Alex Lees at long off as Minto finished with two for 78.  

 

Warwickshire vs Essex, 65th Match, Vitality County Championship Division One

Essex completed a crushing innings-and-40 runs Vitality County Championship win over Warwickshire inside five sessions at Edgbaston.

Warwickshire’s top order was blown away by the visiting seamers on the second morning, just as it had been on the first, to set up the most commanding victory for Tom Westley’s side.

After Essex took their first innings to 232, thanks to Shane Snater’s 69 (72 balls), to secure a lead of 154, Warwickshire floundered to three for four and then 38 for six against superb bowling from Jamie Porter (six for 36) and Sam Cook (three for 36). Danny Briggs (51, 48) offered some resistance but Warwickshire, who looked a beaten side from ball one, were all out for 114 to follow their 78 all out in the first innings.

Essex will face Division One leaders Surrey in their final game of the next week full of confidence from successive heavy victories. Warwickshire, still looking over their shoulders at the relegation zone, must reboot – and hope seamer Chris Rushworth recovers from injury – before their last game against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

The entire match was a tale of Essex domination and Warwickshire disarray and the story was encapsulated by the day’s first 35 minutes. After the visitors resumed on 189 for nine, last-wicket pair Snater and Porter extended their partnership to 60 in 14 overs. On a pitch which brought 19 wickets on the first day, Warwickshire at times deployed nine boundary fielders for Snater while Porter, with a first class batting average of 5.82 was untroubled. Further abetted by loose bowling and misfields, the pair eased Essex’s lead upwards before Craig Miles uprooted Snater’s middle stump.

It was a wretched micro-session from Warwickshire which prompted their supporters to offer a few ribald thoughts from the stands - but things then went from bad to worse as their second innings hit three for four after 34 balls.

The excellent Cook trapped Rob Yates lbw and plucked out the off-stumps of Will Rhodes (for a duck in his last innings as a Warwickshire player at Edgbaston) and Hamza Shaikh. Porter had Sam Hain caught at second slip from an inside-edge on to his pad.

The procession continued when Ed Barnard edged Porter to wicketkeeper Michael Pepper, who kept superbly standing up to the seamers, and captain Alex Davies, having hewn 12 runs from 71 minutes, fell lbw to Snater to make it 38 for six.

Briggs and Michael Burgess added 71 in 15 overs either side of lunch, the former striking 11 fours in an attractive half-century, but after Briggs edged Porter behind the end came quickly. Porter completed his five-for when Burgess (28, 66) was caught by Paul Walter at long on and rounded off the rout with the scalp of Rushworth, caught at mid off.

Division Two

Derbyshire vs Middlesex, 49th Match, Vitality County Championship Division Two

Middlesex are on track for the win they need to keep their Vitality County Championship promotion challenge alive going into the final week of the season after maintaining their dominance over bottom-of-the-table Derbyshire.

Having bowled Derbyshire out for 173 on Tuesday, Middlesex replied with 358, opener Mark Stoneman making a superb 115, Josh De Caires matching his career-best 80 and Max Holden posting 68 despite a dry, turning pitch that saw six wickets shared among Derbyshire’s spinners and 17-year-old fast bowling prospect Harry Moore impress with three for 73 in only his second first class match.

Needing 186 to make Middlesex bat again, Derbyshire lost two wickets in the first five overs of their second innings and another from the last ball of the day to close on 74 for three after 19.2 overs. 

A win here would be worth 22 points to Middlesex, who started the week 15 points behind second-placed Yorkshire. However, after last week’s defeat by Gloucestershire at Lord’s took matters out of their own hands, they need other results to go their way, while their own campaign ends with an away fixture against Division Two leaders Sussex.

Middlesex banked maximum bowling bonus points on day one and had looked well placed at 125 for one overnight to push for a full set of batting points.

That they were able to take only three of the five on offer was largely down to a morning session that saw Derbyshire’s spinners claim four wickets, while the best part of 36 overs yielded only 82 runs.

From 162 for one, four wickets fell for 45. Holden, who shared a 162-run stand with Stoneman, was first to depart, bowled behind his legs by the on-loan Lancashire left-arm spinner Jack Morley, who would finish with three for 76. 

Stoneman played magnificently, completing a chanceless hundred from 170 balls, having hit 17 fours, but could little influence events at the other end as Leus Du Plooy - returning to his former patch for the first time since move - was struck in front by off-spinner Alex Thomson, who then bowled Ryan Higgins middle and leg with one that turned sharply. 

David Lloyd, the Derbyshire captain, joined in for the last over of the session and was rewarded from his third delivery bowling off spin as Jack Davies edged to second slip.  

After lunch, another sharply turning ball ultimately did for Stoneman, who lost his middle stump to Thomson at 234 for six, before De Caires and Luke Hollman mounted a counter-attack, although one helped by Wayne Madsen, at slip, dropping De Caires on 21 off Morley.

It was after that let-off that runs began to flow more readily against the second new ball, De Caires and Hollman ultimately adding 74 - 53 of them after De Caires’s escape. 

Their partnership was ended when Moore, the 17-year-old England Under-19 who is exciting Derbyshire’s coaching staff, beat Hollman for pace, following up by having Toby Roland-Jones caught off a top-edged hook.

Moore picked up his third when Ethan Bamber’s edge was taken diving to his right by ‘keeper Brooke Guest before De Caires was leg before to Morley attempting a reverse hit.

Roland-Jones, with figures of five for 34 in the first innings, quickly had Derbyshire in trouble at 16 for two after Harry Came and Guest were leg before to balls well pitched up, before Madsen and Mitch Wagstaff - in as a concussion replacement for Luis Reece - decided to meet attack with attack and added 42 in four overs before Middlesex took steps to regain control.

Hollman’s leg-spin ended their partnership with what became the last ball of the day, having Wagstaff caught behind. 

The absent Reece batted and bowled on day one but subsequently complained of feeling unwell, which was put down to a delayed reaction following his involvement in a minor road accident last weekend. The protocols around replacements require the stand-in to be a like-for-like player. As a left-handed, top-order batter, 21-year-old Wagstaff qualifies on one of those counts, but as a leg-spinner rather than a seamer was not permitted to bowl.

 

Middlesex centurion Mark Stoneman said:

“Unfortunately, before the last game I was told I was being released at the end of the season. I’ve had a lot of support from the boys over the last couple of weeks so it is good to come in and put in a performance in this game and put a score on the board for them.

“It is frustrating but I’ve missed out when the other guys have cashed in on a number of occasions. You live and die by your numbers and I guess mine have not been good enough overall.

“But I want to finish the season on a high. My enthusiasm for the game is as high as it has ever been, so it is good to be able to make a score here.

“In this match, after the way that our seamers got the the ball to respond on that surface in the first innings, we knew it was not going to be easy but myself and Max came to the conclusion that we should back ourselves, take on the bowlers when they did miss and keep out the bad balls as best we could.

“Once they brought the spinners on we knew we needed to play the long game and try to put some wear into those guys with spin taking more of a hold and establish as big a lead as we could.”

 

Harry Moore, who took 3 for 55, said:

“The lads played really well at the end. It was unfortunate to lose a wicket at the end but it is not easy out there.

“I’m really grateful to get the opportunity to be playing here and the way I ran in today, to get a few wickets is always nice. I enjoyed the Hollman wicket in particular. When you knock someone’s middle stump out it is a great feeling.

“I’ve worked really hard with the bat over the winter. When I was out with my back injury I used that time to knuckle down with the bat and I was pleased to contribute in the first innings here.

“It was a disappointing result at Northants on my debut but it is all good learning experience.  Pat Brown and Zak Chappell and the other guys have been great and helping me and I often turn to them when I have questions and I can’t thank them enough for the advice they give me.

 

Glamorgan vs Yorkshire, 50th Match, Vitality County Championship Division Two

Yorkshire took a significant step towards a return to Division One by taking control of this game, despite a late fightback from Glamorgan’s tail in saving the follow-on.

Matthew Fisher and Ben Coad took four wickets apiece to dismiss the Welsh County for 239, a first innings lead of 122. Glamorgan’s highlight was Colin Ingram’s 82 making him the highest run scorer in County Championship cricket so far this season.

Adam Lyth and Finlay Bean had a century opening partnership to extend Yorkshire’s lead to 238 with two days of the contest remaining, both notching half centuries to close on 116-1, Lyth LBW to James Harris just before the close.

A victory would put second placed Yorkshire in a strong position to return to Division One after a two year gap, with leaders Sussex facing third placed Middlesex in the final round of matches.

Yorkshire’s opening bowlers Ben Coad and Matthew Fisher exploited the overcast conditions that faced Glamorgan’s batsmen before lunch.

In that time those two bowlers were able to swing the match firmly the way of the visitors picking up six wickets with two spells each.

Glamorgan skipper Sam Northeast is a good man to get early as he is capable of getting big scores once in, Coad delivering with one which came back and pinned the opener LBW.

Kiran Carlson nicking off first ball, and Ben Kellaway going in similar fashion for four, were both undone by classy away swing bowling, Fisher getting Carlson caught George Hill in the slips and Coad claiming the wicket of Kellaway caught behind by Jonny Bairstow.

However Asa Tribe and Chris Cooke both contributed substantially to their own downfalls throwing the bat at wide swinging deliveries, Tribe caught Lyth at second slip and Cooke pouched by Bairstow.

Fisher claimed his fourth wicket with what turned out to be the final ball of the first session, pinning Tim van der Gugten LBW.

All the time Colin Ingrams was watching on from the other end, finding none of the demons which troubled his partners. He moved past the mark which made him the top run scorer in county championship cricket so far this season on his way to 82.

Off spinner Dom Bess had to wait for a chance to bowl, but when it came he grabbed the all important wicket of the South African, clean bowled looking to cut a ball which was not quite there for the shot.

Mason Crane’s 29, in a partnership of 63 with Ingram, still left Glamorgan 40 short of the follow on target, however James Harris and Andy Gorvin saw them past that mark with surprising ease, in a partnership of 67.

The return of Coad ended the innings, trapping Harris LBW for a well made 40 and then clean bowling debutant Ben Morris to earn a lead of 122 on the first innings and a total of six bonus points. Glamorgan were all out for 239, having been 37-4 and 98-6.

Yorkshire’s opening pair of Lyth and Bean were generally untroubled as they extended the lead to comfortable territory, before Lyth was dismissed just before the close as they look for a declaration some time tomorrow.

 

Yorkshire bowler Ben Coad, who took four wickets: “We had a great day there, we would have liked to knock the tail over a bit quicker, but we are very happy to have got early wickets and have a 120 lead. It is a decent wicket so to bat like we did in the first innings and get that lead today is a great couple of days.

Glamorgan batsman Colin Ingram, who scored 82: “It didn’t go to plan, losing six wickets in the first session and then it was a tough old scrap for us back into the game. I thought the guys in the lower order showed some resilience, there was some nice partnerships and unfortunately we could not make the new ball work for us this evening.”

Gloucestershire vs Sussex, 51st Match, Vitality County Championship Division Two

Zafar Gohar claimed his 300th first class wicket in taking six for 76 as Gloucestershire bowled out Sussex for 311 on the second day of the Vitality County Championship match at Bristol.

But the left-arm spinner’s efforts could not prevent the Division Two leaders taking a commanding first innings lead of 202, Jack Carson top scoring with 71 and sharing a seventh-wicket stand of 112 with skipper John Simpson, who made 61.

By the close, Gloucestershire had posted 140 for three in their second innings and still trailed by 62. Chris Dent was unbeaten on 61, having battled away for 157 balls, while Miles Hammond hit 41.

The day began with Sussex 149 for four and already 40 runs ahead. With the pitch expected to offer increasing turn, Gloucestershire opened with Gohar from the Pavilion End and he struck his first blow with the total on 161, bowling James Coles for 46 attempting a reverse sweep.

With 19 more runs added, another Sussex player perished to an injudicious shot as Henry Crocombe went to hit Gohar back over his head and skyed a catch to mid-on. Simpson also went on the attack early, striking the Pakistan spinner over long-on for six before settling down to build a potentially winning lead with Carson.

Neither looked in much bother. A Carson clip of his toes for four off Tom Price moved the score to 250 shortly after the second new ball had been taken and in the same over the Sussex all-rounder reached a 76-ball fifty, with nine boundaries.

At lunch, the scoreboard read 259 for six, Sussex having added 110 runs during the morning to lead by 150. Carson was unbeaten on 56 and Simpson 34 not out. 

The afternoon session saw Simpson produce an exquisite cover drive for four off Price before a quick single took him to a half-century off 96 deliveries, with 5 fours and a six. He and Carson had extended their side’s lead to 183 when the latter dragged a wide ball from Gohar onto his stumps, having increased his boundary count to 13.

Eight more runs secured a second batting point. But it proved a disappointing maiden first class innings for debutant Bertie Foreman, who had made just two when bowled through the gate by a turning delivery from Gohar.

With the confidence of four wickets to his credit, Gohar then had Simpson caught behind pushing forward and pinned last man Jaydev Unadkat lbw to notch his 300th first class victim in a career stretching back 11 years. But Sussex could feel well satisfied with a lead of over 200 on a dry surface starting to fulfil pre-match predictions.

Gloucestershire openers Dent and Joe Phillips knocked 43 off the deficit with few alarms, Dent striking Carson over long-off for six. But the off-spinner had turned his first delivery of the innings sharply as a warning.

It was Unadkat who broke the partnership with his fifth wicket of the match, trapping Phillips on the crease and dismissing him leg before for 21. By tea, Gloucestershire were 53 for one from 18 overs, with Dent unbeaten on 22, and looking set to make a fight of it.

Those hopes suffered a blow early in the final session when Ollie Price, on 11, fell to a reflex slip catch by Tom Haines, who stuck out a left hand to hold the sharpest of chances after the Gloucestershire man had advanced down the pitch to aim an attacking blow off Carson.

At 59 for two, the hosts still trailed by 143 runs. Under clear late afternoon skies, Dent and Hammond set about putting their team back in the game.

Dent, who only recently returned to Gloucestershire’s red ball team after a lengthy absence battling anxiety, gave a reminder of the form that has brought more than 11,000 first class runs, moving to a 126-ball half-century, with 7 fours and a six.

Hammond looked equally comfortable and had faced 75 balls, hitting 4 fours, when tempted by a ball from Carson tossed up outside off stump and edging an attempted drive through to wicketkeeper Simpson. The stand of 79 with Dent in 26.1 overs had given Gloucestershire hope.

 

 

Sussex all-rounder Jack Carson said: “It is tantalising being so close to the finishing line and achieving our objective and we are not used to being in that position. But we have been talking about it for two years and it is brilliant to be this close.

“A couple of quick wickets in the morning and we will be right on top. It will be about putting the ball in the right areas consistently because you would think the pitch will turn more as the match continues.

“I was pleased with the way I batted and very disappointed to get out. It was a good partnership with Simmo (John Simpson) and he has been playing unbelievably well. It makes things easier for me having him out there keeping me calm.

“The ball is not turning big, but it is straightening and most pitches help get it off the straight more as games go on. I would back our lads to chase whatever needs to be chased in the final innings, but we want it to be as few as possible.”

 

Gloucestershire left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar on reaching 300 first class wickets: “I knew I was on around 290 going into the game, but wasn’t aware of the exact number until it was announced to the crowd after my sixth wicket today.

“I am very happy and thankful about my achievements in first class cricket. I am hoping to stay fit and take a lot more wickets in the future.

“We are a bit behind in the game still, but I am hopeful that we can build a lead tomorrow and if we can get them chasing 150 or so in the final innings I would take that.

“Chris Dent is a legend of Gloucestershire cricket. He seems to be in the right place right now, well on the road to recovery, and it will do him so much good to be out there scoring runs for the team again.”

 

Northamptonshire vs Leicestershire, 52nd Match, Vitality County Championship Division Two

James Sales hit an excellent career-best 135 as Northamptonshire piled on the runs on day two of this Vitality County Championship match against Leicestershire at Wantage Road.

The Northamptonshire youngster made the most of his recent elevation up the order, stroking 16 boundaries in over four hours at the crease, facing 197 deliveries in an innings of real maturity. While he was dropped on 86 and 121 off two rare false shots, his innings was notable for his fluency, placement and timing. It stood in contrast to his maiden first-class ton in April, scored against the kookaburra ball on a docile pitch which had offered little for the Middlesex attack.

Sales and Rob Keogh (49) extended their overnight partnership to 117, before runs kept flowing during Sales’ stand of 131 off just 134 deliveries with a resourceful Saif Zaib. Stroking a run-a-ball 71, Zaib garnered most of his runs from the sweep and reverse sweep as he put the spinners to the sword, a wayward Rehan Ahmed taking the brunt of his offensive.

Leicestershire seamer Ian Holland, who found some inswing with the second new ball to end Sales’ innings, helped wrap up the Northamptonshire tail to finish with figures of four for 53 as the hosts were bowled out for 383 to take a first innings lead of 180.

When Leicestershire replied, Northamptonshire tied them down, runs coming at a pedestrian rate with legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal finding plenty of turn. The Indian international claimed two wickets as Leicestershire closed on 69 for four still trailing by 111.

Earlier Sales, 21, quickly got into his work, driving Sam Wood through the covers for four and dispatching him down the ground as he reached his half-century off 82 balls. He smashed Rehan over long-on for four, but otherwise manoeuvred the ball into the gaps nicely, driving sweetly and playing a delicate late cut.

Despite nursing a bad back, Keogh provided good support, twice pulling Rehan over long-on before he was trapped lbw, struck on the back leg as he went back to a full delivery from the England legspinner.

Zaib got off the mark first ball, cutting Ahmed square for four and sweeping Liam Trevaskis effortlessly behind square. Proving an ideal partner for Sales, he ran sharp ones and twos to keep the scoreboard ticking over and the pressure on the fielders.

Sales survived his first false shot when Louis Kimber put him down at short cover off Trevaskis, the fielder injuring his hand in the process. Undeterred, Sales reached his century shortly after lunch by slapping Rehan through the covers for his 13^th boundary as he and Zaib plundered 86 off the first 10 overs after the interval.

Zaib meanwhile was tucking into some increasingly loose bowling from Rehan, sweeping with ease as he brought up his half-century off 55 deliveries before pulling a half-tracker square for six. At the other end, Sales benefited from another drop in the covers off Trevaskis, responding by smashing the bowler down the ground for four.

But both batters departed in quick succession to spark a mini Northamptonshire collapse, four wickets falling for 21 in 6.1 overs. First Zaib was trapped lbw as he played another sweep, to give Sol Budinger his maiden first class wicket. Then, when Leicestershire took the new ball, Holland swung one back in to bowl Sales as he attempted to drive.

Justin Broad was next to go when he pushed at one from Holland and was well caught by a diving Rishi Patel at first slip. Next Ben Sanderson was denied the three runs he needed for 1,000 career first-class runs when Holland trapped him lbw without scoring.

A counterattacking Lewis McManus extended Northamptonshire’s lead as he took on the new ball clubbing five boundaries in a knock of 27 before becoming the sixth lbw casualty of the innings, Holland claiming his fourth wicket. Wood then wrapped up the innings by demolishing Jack White’s stumps.

White struck immediately with the fifth ball of Leicestershire’s reply. Budinger, top scorer in the first innings, fell without scoring when he played inside the line of one which hit the top of off-stump.

Patel (35) and Holland (11) found scoring tough going, accumulating at just 1.5 an over. Holland was eventually stumped off Chahal as he advanced down the wicket.

With Keogh unable to bowl due to his back injury, Northamptonshire turned to Zaib to bowl his slow left-armers and he soon accounted for Patel when he flicked a half volley on leg stump straight to Sales at short midwicket. Leicestershire quickly lost another when Rehan danced down the wicket to Chahal, missed and was stumped by McManus.

Leicestershire captain Lewis Hill said: “That second half of the afternoon session we bowled really well. The new ball came and we executed really well and got six wickets for 43. So that was a fantastic effort to come back after not such a good session in the morning and the first half hour after.

[On batting against Chahal] “It’s a good challenge out there. It is spinning, but we’ll come back tomorrow and do the same.

“We asked for some fight from the guys after yesterday and that’s a good start today, but there’s a lot more to do.

[On facing Chahal this evening] “It’s up to the individual how to play him because of that stage of the game, it’s nearly the end of the day, I think you have to try and knuckle down and reassess overnight and go tomorrow. We’ll have a chat in the morning and see how we’re going to approach it.

 “You just never know [what can happen]. We’ve got two high-quality spinners in our team as well, so if we can get ahead, we’ll see what they can do on this pitch.

“We were definitely disappointed we didn’t pick up more wickets early this morning. We had good bowling conditions and we probably didn’t quite execute as well as we wanted to. But on the flip side of that, after the first half hour after lunch, we showed a lot of fight and got those six wickets.

[On picking the team up after the Yorkshire defeat and being out of contention for promotion] “It’s always an interesting part of the season this. We would love to have won last week and still be challenging, but you have to play for your pride. You’re still playing for Leicester, you have to play for the badge and you can’t give up because there’s a million people that want to do this job and you can’t give up for the last six days of the year. So, everybody’s fighting. They showed that today and hopefully they can come back tomorrow and give it another crack.

[On Sam Wood’s maiden first class wicket] “I thought the game he played before at Cardiff, he bowled very well there as well, but unfortunately didn’t pick up the wicket. So, it’s nice for him to get his first one and hopefully many more to come.”

Northamptonshire centurion James Sales said: [On being out of the first team for three months] “It’s been a difficult year for me personally, but good now to get an opportunity again. I missed out last week [against Derbyshire] on a few runs, so to really make a decent score this week was very nice.

“The coaches told me, we’re going to give you a go at four, see how you get on, just go and play like you play 2s cricket. That’s all I’ve tried to do really, take it game by game, ball by ball and just try building scores.

“I felt like we played spin very well last week [against Derbyshire], so last week’s wicket did help for this game. I just kept to my plans really, kept playing straight, hit with the spin.

[On batting with Saif Zaib who made a run-a-ball 71 and Rob Keogh who score 49] “I think I was on 97 and didn’t face a ball for three overs, so I was just a bit like, come on Saif! Both top quality players and it was great to bat with both of them. It was a bit of a shame about Rob and his back, not many ones or twos out there, so I had to try and deal in boundaries where I could. I enjoyed batting with both of them.

“My parents both rocked up at lunch when I was on 90, they were hiding at the back, so they popped out and gave me a little thumbs up, so it’s always nice. I’m sure my Dad [David Sales] enjoyed it, had a few beers to celebrate, I think. I’ll go home now and see how they are. He’s already told me I played a poor shot to get out, so next game, I suppose!

“I think the plan is to keep building the pressure, keep them around twos, two and a half [an over], then keep constantly taking wickets throughout.

[On the social media and fan support for him as a local homegrown player] “I see bits and bobs [on social media]. Obviously, when it’s going well for you, fans get behind you, when it’s not, it’s a completely different story, so you’ve just got to try and stay level-headed. That’s where I probably messed up a bit earlier in my career, getting like too big of an ego, thinking I should be playing when I probably shouldn’t be. Yeah, when fans are backing you, it's really nice. I feel like we’ve got a good fan base here, so it’s really good when they’re behind you.”

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