Key events
Tawanda Muyeye ruled out Kent v Lancs match with concussion
After a mid-pitch collision between Muyeye and Ben Compton yesterday as they both ran blind, Muyeye has been ruled out of the rest of the game with delayed concussion.
Monday’s round-up
It was one of those soul-soaring autumn days in the East Midlands, trees like overripe broccoli, skies huge and blue. On the bright green benches of Grace Road, a man filled out the crossword, while the County Championship resumed for its final three-round act. Nothing is decided, not even next season’s schedule – to be voted on later this month – with a choice of a 13-game two-division playoff compromise or the status quo.
Leicestershire, the runaway stars of Division Two, are in touching distance of promotion for the first time since 2003, but this was one of their more forgettable days. They are without Rehan Ahmed (England), Ben Green (Somerset), Liam Trevaskis and Tom Scriven (injured) and Gloucestershire were able to make merry – with a stylish hundred for Graeme van Buuren and half-centuries from Ben Charlesworth, Miles Hammond and James Bracey. Giant fast bowler Josh Hull collected three wickets, but was banned from bowling for the rest of the innings after sending down two beamers, along with 11 no balls. Ben Mike limped off the field as the shadows lengthened, though spirits lifted when van Buuren was lbw to the day’s penultimate ball.
Surrey are chasing their fourth successive Championship title, but were nibbled out without a bonus point at the Oval, despite half centuries from Ryan Patel, Ollie Pope and Rory Burns. Tom Lawes then had Warwickshire in a pickle with three for six, but Ed Barnard and Will Young steadied the ship.
Early season flavour of the month, Ben McKinney, showed why England are so smitten, with a mature and stylish 121 for Durham in the relegation scrap at Chelmsford, helped by a 94 from Alex Lees. Five late wickets rejuvenated the Essex bowlers.
Another young talent, 21-year-old Asa Tribe, calmed troubled Glamorgan waters with an unbeaten 181 at Northampton, his second century of a breakthrough season.
A tricksy Hove pitch first puzzled Hampshire, dismissed for 226 despite 71 from Ben Brown, then Sussex. Kent suffered a spectacular collapse against Lancashire, with five wickets for Mitch Stanley and three for Tom Hartley. Toby Roland-Jones grabbed six wickets against Derbyshire, his best of the season, while Gareth Roderick (61) and Tom Taylor (40) rescued Worcestershire from a calamitous 86-7 against rampaging old boys Dillon Pennington and Josh Tongue. A thunderstorm truncated the day at Taunton, where Tom Kohler-Cadmore thrashed 76 against old club, Yorkshire.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex v Durham 316-8
Taunton: Somerset 155-3 v Yorkshire Rain
The Oval: Surrey 246 v Warwickshire 132-4
Hove: Sussex 42-3 v Hampshire 226
New Road: Worcestershire 182 v Nottinghamshire 46-1
DIVISION TWO
Canterbury: Kent 293 v Lancashire 19-0
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Gloucestershire 382-7
Lord’s: Middlesex 12-0 v Derbyshire 283
Northampton: Northants v Glamorgan 367-6
Preamble
Good morning! The sun shines over the Attenborough Tower once more as we prepare for day two at Grace Road, and around the grounds.
