Key events
A belting round, from Gumbs to Leach, leaves a tantalising table. Kent and Northants, still locked in a battle for the second promotion place, will meet at Wantage Road on Thursday, while leaders Notts travel to third-placed Edgbaston. Join us for that and much more in four days’ time.
Thanks for your company as always. Have a lovely evening. See you soon.
Next week’s games – starting Thursday
Division One
Chelmsford: Essex v Surrey
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Hampshire
Hove: Sussex v Somerset
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire
Scarborough: Yorkshire v Leicestershire
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire v Middlesex
Chester-le-Street: Durham v Gloucestershire
Northampton: Northamptonshire v Kent
New Road: Worcestershire v Lancashire
Division Two table
1 Durham 169
2 Kent 139
3 Northants 135
4 Worcestershire 115
5 Middlesex 102
6 Derbyshire 102
7 Lancashire 84
8 Gloucestershire 41
Division One table
1 Notts 135
2 Somerset 133
3 Warwickshire 130
4 Glamorgan 110
5 Sussex 108
6 Yorkshire 108
7 Essex 107
8 Surrey 94
9 Leicestershire 91
10 Hampshire 75
Final scores
Southampton: Yorkshire 173 and 301 BEAT Hampshire 197 and 238-10 by 39 runs.
Grace Road: Leicestershire 151 and 257 BEAT Glamorgan 152 and 214 by 42 runs
Taunton: Somerset 469 and 103-2 BEAT Essex 158 and 412 by eight wickets
The Oval: Nottinghamshire 184 and 306 BEAT Surrey 162 and 183 by 145 runs
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 161 and 206-9 BEAT Sussex 156 and 207 by one wicket
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Durham 283 and 295-6dec BEAT Derbyshire 156 and 84 by 338 runs
Cheltenham: Worcestershire 267 and 281-2 BEAT Gloucestershire 150 and 395-7 by eight wickets
Old Trafford: Northamptonshire 284 and 298-4dec BEAT Lancs 137 and 129 by 316 runs
Merchant Taylors’ School: Kent 350 and 254 BEAT Middlesex 249 and 309 by 46 runs.
Worcestershire BEAT Gloucestershire by 8 wickets
Cheltenham: Worcestershire 267 and 281-2 BEAT Gloucestershire 150 and 395-7 by eight wickets
At a canter.
Hundreds for Libby and Lategan
Apologies for being late to this, I was waylaid by ill-advised celebrations in Derby. I see Dan Lategan has nearly carried Worcestershire all the way – just out for 144 (163 balls). And Jake Libby has a hundred too (140 balls). Worcs need just 22.
Carse handcuffed by police outside nightclub prompting ECB investigation
Brydon Carse was handcuffed by police in Derby on Saturday as he became the latest England cricketer to become involved in a late-night incident.
A brief video on social media shows the fast bowler being apprehended by several police officers outside a nightclub as he celebrated Durham’s County Championship win over Derbyshire.
However, Carse, who has been included in England’s squad for the second Test against Pakistan at Lord’s starting on Thursday, was not arrested and released without charge.
“We are aware of an incident which is reported to have taken place in Derby last night, and are currently investigating,” a statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board said. “We will provide a further update when possible.” PA Media
And then there was one. Time for me to cycle home at tea and pick up Worcestershire’s progress there. Back shortly.
Tea time scores
Southampton: Yorkshire 173 and 301 BEAT Hampshire 197 and 238-10 by 39 runs.
Grace Road: Leicestershire 151 and 257 BEAT Glamorgan 152 and 214 by 42 runs
Taunton: Somerset 469 and 103-2 BEAT Essex 158 and 412 by eight wickets
The Oval: Nottinghamshire 184 and 306 BEAT Surrey 162 and 183 by 145 runs
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 161 and 206-9 BEAT Sussex 156 and 207 by one wicket
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Durham 283 and 295-6dec BEAT Derbyshire 156 and 84 by 338 runs
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 150 and 395-7dec v Worcestershire 267 and 110-0 Worcs need 169 to win
Old Trafford: Northamptonshire 284 and 298-4dec BEAT Lancs 137 and 129 by 316 runs
Merchant Taylors’ School: Kent 350 and 254 BEAT Middlesex 249 and 309 by 46 runs.
Somerset BEAT Essex by eight wickets
Tom Westley’s lollipops ease Somerset towards victory, and Lammonby drives the winning runs off Simon Harmer. Hugs in the middle
Somerset 22 points, Essex 2 points. Somerset lurk on the shoulder of Notts now, just two points behind.
Taunton: Somerset 469 and 103-2 BEAT Essex 158 and 412 by eight wickets
Yorkshire BEAT Hampshire by 39 runs
Adam Lyth with the vital last wicket and Yorkshire paddle sharply away from the relegation zone. Hampshire slip to bottom of the table.
Southampton: Yorkshire 173 and 301 BEAT Hampshire 197 and 238-10 by 39 runs.
Five for Dom Bess
Abbot shuffles backwards as if trying to escape the incoming tide and Bess pins him on the pads. Bess goes careering away and Hants are nearly done.
Hampshire nine down, 40 needed
A second for Harmer at Taunton, Goldsworthy didn’t last long, trotting down the pitch and came a cropper. Somerset 70-2 need 32.
A crucial wicket at Southampton – Andrew Neal, finally, after a two-hour 39. A fourth wicket for Dom Bess. Ooof it is tight – 43 needed, two wickets to get. Jack joins Abbott (22).
More on the pitch at Grace Road, Leicestershire coach Alfonso Thomas:
“On the pitch, it depends where the criticism is coming from. It was prepared exactly the same way as the pitch against Yorkshire, and no one complained about that. The only difference this time was that because of the circumstances leading into the game – we had a film crew here for a couple of days and then we had a One-Day Cup Semi-Final – we probably couldn’t the same moisture level that you could have had, it was a bit drier than it could have been.
Josh Thomas sweeps but not purely, top edges and is caught for a quick fire 31. Job done I’d say. Somerset 59-1, need 43. Harmer the wicket taker.
Worcestershire have had a good start to their chase at Cheltenham as well, 49-0, need another 230 to beat Glos. Tie memories…
Thanks to Anthony Gibson for the information that Harmer’s 0-124 in the first innings were the worst figures of his County Championship career.
Somerset need 102 to beat Essex
And so far so good for Thomas and Lammonby, Somerset 15-0 as the Taunton seagulls cry. Harmer has opened the bowling with Cook. In his prime I’d have bet on him to bowl Somerset out, but is it unfair to say that seems less likely today?
News from the Grace Road pitch
The Reporters’ Network are saying that match officials, led by referee Ian Ramage, have asked the ECB’s Pitch and Grounds Advisor Andy Mackay, to carry out an inspection of the Grace Road pitch, which normally happens only if the pitch is marked as below average or worse, and there are concerns about its preparation.
“There were a number of occasions that the ball leapt off a good length, striking batters – and in one instance the Glamorgan wicketkeeper – on the gloves or helmet.”
Northants BEAT Lancashire by 316 runs!
Stanley plays on, Calvin Harrison picks up a second. It leaves debutant Walkden the highest human scorer on 22, behind Extras. Lancashire return to the drawing board once more. Onwards and upwards for Northants, Division One in sight.
Song and bat thumping from the Northants dressing room, silence from the other.
Old Trafford: Northamptonshire 284 and 298-4dec BEAT Lancs 137 and 129 by 316 runs
Applause as Lancashire avoid their heaviest defeat by runs in their history. That’s what sitting in the Manchester sun for too long does to you.
Yorks chip away – Felix Organ now gone, spooning to mid-on for an adhesive 15. But Andrew Neal is still there on 26. Hants 200-7 need 78.
A ninth wicket falls at OT, Noman caught at leg slip for three. Lancs 108-9, extras the top scorer.
Once Northants have wrapped things up at OT, there’s tension building at Southampton (Hants need 91, three wickets left); intrigue at Taunton (Essex lead by 89 on a spinning track, 9 wickets down) and I was going to say gentle meanderings at Cheltenham but Gloucestershire have just declared – Worcs need 279 to win.
They’re back on in bright sunshine at OT. Calvin Harrison has the ball. Debutant Walkden and Noman Ali the batters.
Kent beat Middlesex by 46 runs!
And that’s that! Two in two for Parkinson (2-22), and a team bowling performance by Kent- three for Singh, two for Quinn and Dudgeon and one for Milnes. Cracknell high and dry on 65.
Merchant Taylors’ School: Kent 350 and 254 BEAT Middlesex 249 and 309 by 46 runs.
A crucial wicket on the prarie. Parky the man, Tom Helm having a swipe and caught by DBD on the offside. Middx 309-9.
Should (ahem) Lancs lose this game it will be only their fifth defeat to Northants at OT, and the first time Northants have beaten Lancs here since 1999.
Lunchtime scores
Southampton: Hampshire 197 and 179-6 v Yorkshire 173 and 301 Hampshire need 99 to win
Grace Road: Leicestershire 151 and 257 BEAT Glamorgan 152 and 214 by 42 runs
Taunton: Somerset 469 v Essex 158 and 394-7
The Oval: Nottinghamshire 184 and 306 BEAT Surrey 162 and 183 by 145 runs
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 161 and 206-9 BEAT Sussex 156 and 207 by one wicket
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Durham 283 and 295-6dec BEAT Derbyshire 156 and 84 by 338 runs
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 150 and 360-6 v Worcestershire 267
Old Trafford: Lancashire 137 and 106-8 v Northamptonshire 284 and 298-4dec Lancs need 340 to win
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex 249 and 300-8 v Kent 350 and 254 Middx need 56 to win
Leicestershire BEAT Glamorgan by 42 runs!
Fabulous stuff! Not dead yet. A second win of the season for the Foxes. Five wickets for Ian Holland as Toole edges behind to Tattersall. A second win in consecutive games to boot.
Grace Road: Leicestershire 151 and 257 BEAT Glamorgan 152 and 214 by 42 runs
Lancs make it to lunch, Leicestershire have to get through another over of Ian Holland.
An extended morning session at Grace Road too, as Leicestershire finally winkle out Chris Cooke for 33, lbw Holland, and now Crane too! The scales suddenly tip: 44 needed, one wicket in hand.
They’re playing an extra 15 minutes here at OT to see if Northants can wrap it up. Lunchtime scores elsewhere to follow.
And another one down at OT, a breath before sandwiches, a wicket for Harrison in his second over, Balderson caught at short leg. Lancs 99-8
Five wickets for Jack Leach!
Somerset are slowly winkling those pesky Essex men out, though Harmer and Snater have added 20 and hung around for 10 overs. Careful patient bowling by Leach. Essex 390-7, lead by 79.
Whether lunch or the new ball come more quickly for Leicestershire, they need something. Just 54 needed now by Glamorgan, three wickets in hand, Crane and Cooke still there. Should Leicestershire win, Surrey will find themselves in even more of a relegation scrap.
Joe Moores out obstructing the field
Oh dear. Poor Moores instinctively puts his hand out and catches the ball after chopping it into the ground. He drops it almost as soon as it falls into his glove, in horrible realisation of what he’s done, but it is too late.
Carlson out for 99
What an innings. Carlson must be in the top division of cricketers to have not quite made it for England. He has carried Glamorgan to not quite touching distance, throwing distance, but with Crane and Cooke together victory is possible. Glam 193-7 need 64.
Young Joe Moores stands in the middle of the pitch all alone as Northants celebrate a second wicket in six balls. First Shetty is lbw to Sanderson, then Flintoff flays a short ball from that man Procter to deep backward square. Lancs 80-6.
Hello Tim Maitland!
“What the hell do Australia gain pushing out their Dad’s Army one more time for the Bangladesh series? They must know that they have a crisis looming with Steve Smith 37, Alex Carey 34, Pat Cummins 33, Mitchell Starc 36, Nathan Lyon 38 and Josh Hazelwood 35 reaching an age where the cost of adult diapers, Werther’s Originals and barley sugar could make touring financially unviable.
“It’s not as if the “youngsters” in the side – Travis Head 32, Marnus Labuschagne 32, – are going to be around long enough to babysit the new generation of players Australia are going to have to blood all at once, are they?
“You’re probably beginning to wonder what relevance this has to your lovely County Cricket Live Blog, so let me ask now is a player like Nathan McSweeney better served playing Metro Bank One Dayers and a County Championship game against a Lancashire side seemingly determined to prove it’s one of the worst in the country for Northants (no criticism intended, I grew up there), or were the games in Darwin and Mackay a chance to prove that he’s more than just Jasprit Bumrah’s bunny?
“McSweeney, at 27, did all he could do to show he was worth another shot by captaining Australia A and scoring 226 not out in the only unofficial test against England Lions last winter but won’t get another shot because Australia A’s next game is until next September in India.
“And if McSweeney didn’t deserve a go against Bangladesh, surely a couple of other names familiar to County Cricket would have benefited more from the experience – Jhye Richardson 29, last seen in May with Yorkshire, or Fergus O’Neill (barely out of kindergarten at 25) who’s been ripping up trees for Nottinghamshire – than wheeling out the creaking joints of Starc, Cummins et al to firstly underperform and then equally as embarrassingly prove that they’re out of Bangladesh’s league inside two days.
“It’s just confusing that Cricket Australia on the one hand don’t seem to be investing in the Australia A set up while a generation of stars are qualifying for their bus passes and yet did nothing to take this opportunity to give them test match experience. The only excuse I can find for them is, given that it’s taken them 23 years to get round to giving Bangladesh a Test series in Aus, maybe they don’t have much experience of selecting teams to play the less-competitive nations?”
Good question.
A nice opportunity for Rocky Flintoff and Arav Shetty here at OT. There’s something abour Rocky, the high elbow, the little adjustments, the way he walks and cricks his neck, which are just like his dad. He made 60 something and a hundred in the one-day cup, so he’s got form on the board.
“Whether this game will be as finger-nail biting as the Sussex/Warks game is to be seen, but it’s intriguingly poised,” writes Mike Daniels from the Grace Road scorebox.
“Much for Glamorgan depends on their pocket dynamo Kiran Carlson, who impresses every time I see him. Both sides need the win for very different reasons but I can’t pick a winner at the moment. Should be fun.”
Glamorgan are currently 164-6, need another 93. Carlson still there on 94.
Bohannon, averaging 19.52 this season, pushes forward defensively but it’s a zinger from Luke Procter who, along with James Anderson, is only remaining player from Lancashire’s 2011 Championship winning side still on the pitch.
Fact of the day from Paul Edwards: Procter, who was a qualified electrician, considering a plumbing career, and training as a hairdresser when at OT, has just signed a new two-year contract with Northants which will take him to 40.
It’s looking terminal for Middlesex, who have lost du Plooy (40) and quickly afterwards Gohar (1). 217-7 they need a nominal 139.
And after 45 minutes, Northants get the breakthrough here at OT, Bailey losing his off stump to Guthrie. Lancs 51-3.
Poor Matt Critchley, snaffled at second slip off Jack Leach for 94. Essex 341-4 lead by 30. Somerset will have to get wriggle on here or this game is going to drift away.
A drop at OT, Saif Zaib can’t hold on at slip to an edge from Bailey. Lancs 37 for two.
An early wicket at Merchant Taylor’s School, where Kent must have half an eye on events at Old Trafford. Higgins the man to go, bowled Matt Quinn. Middx 200-5, need another 156. du Plooy 38 not out.
Arrive at Old Trafford, where the press box is not optimistic. Nor, it seems, was Steven Croft last night: “We’ve been out-skilled today again with bat and ball, are behind in this game as well, and tomorrow we’ve got to come back and show what we’re about.”
Durham coach Campbell hails Potts and co
Durham coach Ryan Campbell giving diamond quotes as usual: “If there’s anyone around the country who doesn’t think that boy can play Test cricket they are absolutely crazy because that pressure he brought along with his ability to nip the ball both ways and never miss the spot is outstanding.”
And on Ben McKinney’s 140: “That’s probably Ben’s best innings that he’s played for Durham because we were none for one, the ball was nipping all over the shop and he showed his ability to knuckle down and be disciplined outside the off stump but if you gave him anything he was ruthless.
“There’s another young kid who’s out there for England at some point, I’ve now doubt that he’ll be coming.”
And on Ben Stokes: “I’m a cricket fan and it was a sad day when he decided to retire. When he said ‘I’m going to go back and play for Durham’ my ears sparked and the way he’s bounded into the room and he’s dragging every young fellow with him and trying to make them better it’s hard not to just go ‘wow!’
“In this game both with the bat and ball it’s the Ben Stokes we know and he is the recruit of the year for us and now I guess I’ve got to try and work out a way how I’m going to contract him for next year!”
Round-up: Stokes and Potts demolish Derbyshire
Durham showed why they are 50-league-boots ahead at the top of Division Two with a crushing display at Derby. Where to start with such a thrashing? The glorious 140 from Ben McKinney, eight match wickets for the magnificent Matthew Potts or some entertaining humpty and five wickets for the still irrepressible Ben Stokes?
Derbyshire lost their remaining wickets quickly on a sunny morning, which gave Durham a chance to gather runs of their own. Alex Lees fell to Ben Aitchison’s first ball, but from there the tap was open. McKinney was majestic, rifle-shots flying to the rope, 15 fours and six sixes in all.
Half-centuries from Will Rhodes and a coconut-shying Stokes kept the scoreboard firing at the other end until Durham declared with Derbyshire set 423 to win. It was all over in less than a session as an almost unplayable Potts fired out three, and Stokes collected three more in his first over, later felling Brett Randell with a brutish bouncer (who went off after a second concussion check and didn’t bat again). Stokes collected two more and Derbyshire sloped away, after the largest defeat by runs in their history.
Olly Stone’s match figures of 10 for 94 detonated Surrey at the Oval. The last Notts bowler to take 10 against Surrey at their home was Harold Larwood in 1936, and Stone proved almost as potent. Only Ollie Pope, last man out for 111, could hang about as Surrey were crushed by 145 runs.
Warwickshire won a thriller against their title-chasing rivals at Edgbaston, but only just. Their one-wicket victory over Sussex came as Chris Woakes and Olly Hannon-Dalby played out 13 dot balls before Woakes scrapped the winning runs. Earlier, Tom Haines had stood tall with 67 against fabulous bowling, leaving Warwickshire to chase 203. Sean Hunt grabbed five wickets but Vansh Jani and Dan Mousley took Warwickshire most of the way and Woakes did the rest.
Things are tight on a dry pitch at Southampton where Hampshire need another 172 to beat Yorkshire, with seven wickets in hand. Yorkshire’s tail added vital runs, with 30s from Jonny Bairstow, batting down the order because of a finger injury, and George Hill. Then Hampshire struggled to build impetus against a disciplined attack and a slow outfield.
Essex toughed it out against Somerset thanks to a rearguard 105 from Charlie Allison, and 76 from Matt Critchley, as they finished with an unlikely lead of three runs after following on. Somerset, without Lewis Gregory who slipped and bruised his hip in Essex’s first innings, plugged away without much reward.
Division Two promotion hopefuls Northants swarmed over Lancashire, dismissing them for 137, then setting 446 for victory thanks to a hundred from Ricardo Vasconcelos. Lancs then collapsed to 24 for two. Kent, also with Division One ambitions, are in a good position at Merchant Taylor School. They set Middlesex 356 to win, thanks to 50s from Tawanda Muyeye and Ben Compton, before Ekansh Singh plucked out the Middlesex top three before stumps.
Gloucestershire fought back at Cheltenham with half centuries from Ollie Price and Miles Hammond; while Sheridon Gumbs’ 93 put Leicestershire in a hopeful position against Glamorgan.
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Scores on the doors
Southampton: Hampshire 197 and 106-3 v Yorkshire 173 and 301 Hampshire need 172 to win
Grace Road: Leicestershire 151 and 257 v Glamorgan 152 and 126-5 Glamorgan need 131 to win
Taunton: Somerset 469 v Essex 158 and 314-3
The Oval: Nottinghamshire 184 and 306 BEAT Surrey 162 and 183 by 145 runs
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 161 and 206-9 BEAT Sussex 156 and 207 by one wicket
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Durham 283 and 295-6dec BEAT Derbyshire 156 and 84 by 338 runs
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 150 and 248-3 v Worcestershire 267
Old Trafford: Lancashire 137 and 24-2 v Northamptonshire 284 and 298-4
Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex 249 and 186-4 v Kent 350 and 254 Middx need 170 to win
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the final day of this August round of games. It’s a beautiful morning in Manchester, sunny with a hint of autumnal bite (and very active squirrels), so no meteorological mercy in sight for Lancashire in their battle for survival against Northants. It was a great day’s cricket yesterday around the grounds, with three results – a nail-biter at Edgbaston won by Warwicks, alongside old-fashioned thumpings for Surrey and Derbyshire at the hands of Notts and Durham. Lots more to look forward to today, do join us.