Key events
Arrive at Headingley to see a stocky figures stalking off.
Christian Ryan messages from Melbourne: “Let’s go YJB. 300 by tea.”
Ali Martin
Morning from Edgbaston (he says, sheepishly, after getting diverted yesterday). An intriguing day ahead if the rain stays away. The last two pitches here have thrown up plently of wickets early on but from none for two, Glamorgan pushed against that notion yesterday and have a very handy first innings total on the board (341-8) with a bit more to add, potentially. Kudos to centurion Ben Kellaway, and OHD for being so magnanimous: “[BK] made it look easy. He stands still, and he plays straight. He played brilliantly.”
As an aside, one of the more incongruous sights this week has been Jonathan Trott walking around Edgbaston with a daffodil on his chest, having done a bit of coaching work with Glammy these past couple of seasons.
Apologies for tardiness, I was inputting in yesterday’s blog and couldn’t work out why it wasn’t loading…hotfooting it to ground now.
The biscuit I was given with my coffee this morning in a lovely Hyde Park cafe was a Bourbon. Is the Lotus finger now dead?
Yesterday’s round-up
Jonny Bairstow gave the crowd who clicked through the chilly Headingley turnstiles a treat, with his first century as Yorkshire captain.
There was a buzz of anticipation at the first chance to watch Joe Root, Harry Brook and Bairstow bat together this year. Applause as warm as a cinnamon bun greeted Root after Matt Revis elaborately left a ball that arrowed into his stumps. Root was just warming up with back-to-back boundaries when he was lbw for 44 to Matthew Fisher, now in Surrey colours but bowling well at his old stomping ground.
Fisher also sent back Brook, who twinkle toed down the pitch and flurried a cheap catch behind. A Headingley tut hung in the air. But Bairstow didn’t disappoint, with an old-time six into the Western Terrace, adding an unbeaten 241 with fellow centurion Adam Lyth.
James Rew, fresh from England selection, was back in the middle order for Somerset, and back to form with 86 against Sussex, accompanied by 70s from Toms Lammonby and Abell; while Ben Kellaway, a surprise omission from the Lions squad, lodged a languid 139 for Glamorgan, rescuing them from nought for two against Warwickshire.
Nineteen-year-old Ben Dawkins shimmied to 181 not out against Durham, a maiden first-class century, as, together with Sam Northeast (141) Kent made the most of a generous Beckenham pitch.
At Southampton, Nottinghamshire’s Josh Tongue purred towards the first Test, always threatening, once knocking Nick Gubbins to the dirt. But it was Fergus O’Neill who had Hampshire in deep trouble, removing the top four.
Northamptonshire’s Ben Sanderson (five for 47) didn’t help Gloucestershire’s struggles; Daniel Lategan and Matthew Waite rebuilt after a Worcestershire middle-order collapse at Southport and Derbyshire’s Ben Aitchison pocketed a five-fer against fragile Middlesex. Leicestershire’s Jake Weatherald and Sol Budinger ate Essex for brunch before the bowlers fought back.
Score on the doors
Chelmsford: Essex 10-1 v Leicestershire 333
Southampton: Hampshire 152-6 v Nottinghamshire
Taunton: Somerset 335-5 v Sussex
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Glamorgan 341-8
Headingley: Yorkshire 362-4 v Surrey
Division Two
Bristol: Gloucestershire 154 v Northamptonshire 37-3
Beckenham: Kent 385-4 v Durham
Southport: Lancashire 28-0 v Worcestershire 270
Lord’s: Middlesex 177 v Derbyshire 106-4
Preamble
Hello and happy Saturday morning. It’s a patchwork sunny and cloudy morning in Leeds, where Jonny Bairstow thrilled the crowd with his first hundred as captain. He, and Adam Lyth, can go bigger and better this morning, unless Surrey find something piquant from the pitch.
Play starts at 11am here, and around the grounds. We’d love your company.
