Key events
Tanya’s county roundup
The heady scent of three-day victory filled London’s air as Surrey and Middlesex danced to nine-wicket wins within minutes of each other.
Surrey, the 2022 champions, turned their grip on Warwickshire on the evening of day two into a knockout thanks to a mature innings from Jamie Smith and fearsome bowling from Kemar Roach, leaving them 22 for four at lunch. Only Ed Barnard offered resistance and Surrey needed 11 runs to polish things off. Roach finished with five wickets, Dan Worrall three.
There was high praise for Smith’s 88 from Surrey’s head coach, Gareth Batty: “It’s not his highest score by any stretch but it’s the best I have seen him play, against a very strong attack in difficult conditions… If he keeps playing like that, he will be another one that we won’t be seeing around much, which is a big positive for him and for England.”
Surrey take their place at the top of the Division One table after handing out a thrashing to Hampshire and Warwickshire in quick succession, reinforcing their position as the team to beat.
Middlesex, whose batting had become a cheap joke over the first two games, bounced back with victory over Kent to follow the declaration-and-chase win against Nottinghamshire last week. Despite the best efforts of Ben Compton and Jack Leaning, Kent’s wheels fell off, shortly followed by the electric windows and the windscreen wipers as they lost seven wickets for 22 either side of lunch.
Tim Murtagh, now a player-coach, shoved his 1,000th wicket for Middlesex in his rucksack in the process of picking up six for 42, and 10 wickets in the match. The target of 86 was knocked off with the loss of Mark Stoneman.
Cheteshwar Pujara strode to his seventh century for Sussex in his 12th match. This was a sedate affair early on, but he put his foot down to help Sussex to maximum batting points. A game that looked a certain draw after rain washed out the first day, then sprang into life as Nathan McAndrew winkled out five of Gloucestershire’s batters.
Chris Cooke made another century at the ground where he bashed 191 in Sam Northeast’s record-breaking game last year. He and Michael Neser put on 211 for the eighth wicket, a record for Glamorgan, to make the game safe against Leicestershire.
Durham duly defeated Derbyshire by an innings and seven runs, despite plucky resistance from Matt Lamb, lbw for 99. Matthew Potts captured five for 65.
With last year’s Champions regaining their rightful place at the head of the table, and Sussex trying their best to make a game of it at Bristol (Gloucs 137-5), time for me to write up. BTL remains open, of course.
A hundred for Chris Cooke!
Well played! Rescued Glamorgan from the follow-on and took them into the lead. Grace Road is a happy hunting ground for Cooke, who made 191 here in the Sam Northeast match last year.
Glamorgan have a lead over Leicestershire, which looked very unlikely at 0-1 and even less likely at 225-7. Cook 97 not out, Neser 88 not out.
Just two games left, as rain clouds open in Manchester. The big questions – can Chris Cooke make it to three figures? And can Sussex conjure something from nothing?
Middlesex beat Kent by nine wickets!
Another three-day thrashing, this time in a match where Tim Murtagh bagged his thousandth wicket for Middx. Middlesex, temporarily, go third!
Middlesex 229 and 86-1 v Kent 186 and 128 MIDDLESEX BEAT KENT BY NINE WICKETS
Surrey beat Warwickshire by nine wickets1
Quite the thrashing in less than three days.
Warwicks 150 and 141 v Surrey 281 and 16-1. SURREY WIN BY NINE WICKETS
Back to the top of the table for the 2022 Champs, seven points above Hampshire, with three games played apiece.
Sussex sniff the south-west air and drive on, with three quick wickets just before tea suddenly putting them in the driving seat. McAndrew slurped on a hat-trick .
Make that Burns and Lawes, as the scorecard updates infront of my eyes. A two ball duck for Worrall. The usual opener, Rory Burns now appears.
Surrey need 11 to win!
Warwickshire’s final wicket is a run-out. Five for Roach, three for Worrall. All it needs it for he and Lawes to knock off the runs and Surrey hop to the top of the table.
Tea-time scores
Division One
Lord’s: Middlesex 229 and 61-1 v Kent 186 and 128 Middx need 25 to win
Edgbaston: Warwicks 150 and137-9 v Surrey 281
Division Two
Chester-le-Street: Durham 452-9dec v Derbyshire 165 and 280 DURHAM WIN BY AN INNINGS AND SEVEN RUNS
Bristol: Gloucestershire 105-4 v Sussex 455-5dec
Grace Road: Leicestershire 407 v Glamorgan 376-7
The good news is that Warwickshire, following-on, have made up the deficit against Surrey; the bad news that they are nine down. Barnard, the last man out, for 49.
Things just strolling along gently in the remaining Div 2 games: Glamorgan have avoided the follow-on and are now just 45 runs behind Leicestershire thanks to an unbroken stand of 137 between Chris Cook (77) and Michael Neser (60). Sixteen wicketless overs for Rehan Ahmed, three wickets for Tom Scriven.
Marcus Harris is within a sniff of fifty for Gloucestershire, 99-1. Scrub that, he’s just been run-out for 37. Gloucs 99-2. Hammond joins Bracey.
Five wickets for Kemar Roach
The lights are on at Edgbaston but there is still someone at home (just). Hassan Ali becomes Roach’s latest wicket. Ed Barnard, familiar with hopeless causes, still there on 39. Warwicks 107-8, still 24 behind.
And in other news – what an amazing tale this is:
Robson and Stoneman making Middlesex’s chase look as easy as it should be. They’ve knocked up 22, just 64 needed. Was talking to one of the Middlesex staff last weekend and they were saying they didn’t believe that these batting collapses would continue as people didn’t become hopeless batters overnight – even with the move up to Div One.
Durham beat Derbyshire by an innings and seven runs
So Durham win the race after all. Five wickets for (Ashes-bound?) Matthew Potts, a good effort by Derby’s tail but the damage was done yesterday. Batting bouquets to Matt Lamb, out for 99, and Luis Reece, last man standing in both innings – 56 and 66 not out respectively.
Middlesex need 86 to win
Easy. Right?
Kent all out 128: Murtagh 6-42. Kent’s innings includes five ducks, a patient 38 from Compton and 48 from Leaning, and not much else.
Matt Lamb out for 99
Heartbreak for Lamb, lbw to Raine for 99 having batted for 140 balls. Three sixes in that too. Probably hasn’t saved Derbyshire’s blushes, but possibly their soul. Zak Chappell followed shortly afterwards. Derby 260-7, trail only by 21.
Nice work by Cooke and Neser to avoid the follow-on at Grace Road. Cooke nearing his half century, Glamorgan 296-7. Harris and Dent going merrily along for Gloucestershire in the game at Bristol that seems destined for a draw, 46-0.
Upside down morning: how can Surrey v Warwicks or Kent v Middx be over before the action at The Riverside?
A thousand wickets for Middlesex for Tim Murtagh!
Those digits in full: 53 in T20s, 119 in List A and 828 first-class. Still time to get pick up a few one more, eh Kent? (110-9)
Multiple Murtaghs (5-27) at Lord’s, where the last real line of defence fell shortly after lunch. Compton caught by that man Higgins off Murtagh for 38, shortly followed by Evison for 7 and Stewart for 0. Kent 109 for eight, the lead a pitiful 66.
This is what Romeo referred to earlier this morning BTL – nice quote from Cricket Ireland. Horse, bolted etc.
Sources: An ICC working group has formed to look into the explosion of T20 franchise leagues. Report @ForbesSports
“This is probably the biggest moment in the sport’s history. The game needs to do something. But it might be too late,” Cricket Ireland https://t.co/R8Vpwik9aq
— Tristan Lavalette (@trislavalette) April 29, 2023
Surrey juggernaut on – Warwickshire now 34 for five, as Dan Mousley gives Dom Sibley a third catch at slip. So far only one Bears batter in double figures. Roach 3-13; Worral 2-22.
With Glamorgan just a couple of runs away from saving the follow-on, Derbyshire re-finding their batting mojo, Pujara getting Sussex to max bowling points, Warwickshire in deep trouble, and Kent heading that way, it is time for lunch. I’m going to clean the bathroom, hope your break is more entertaining.
Lunchtime scores
Division One
Lord’s: Middlesex 229 v Kent 186 and 99-5
Edgbaston: Warwicks 150 and 22-4 v Surrey 281
Division Two
Chester-le-Street: Durham 452-9 v Derbyshire 165 and 218-5
Bristol: Gloucestershire 18-0 v Sussex 455-5dec
Grace Road: Leicestershire 407 v Glamorgan 256-7
And a second catch for Sibley, and a second wicket for Roach. Sam Hain gone for three. Warwicks’s innings quickly unspooling: 22-3.
At The Riverside, Parky comes off after a wicket-less spell. They’ve all been wicketless today for the Durham bowlers.
Now Alex Davies trudges back, caught off Worrall – this could be short and not so sweet. Warwicks 14 for two.
The bell tolls, softly, for Warwickshire, as Kemar Roach, 3-33 in the first innings, persuades Yates to send a sweet edge to slip. Warwicks 14-1.
A hundred partnership at Durham – rags to riches there, Derby 189 for five.
And Sussex have declared! After passing 450 and collecting maximum batting points with four balls to go. Sussex 455-5dec- some handy big hitting from Hudson-Prentice at the end.
Some cute quotes from Grace Road yesterday:
Eddie Byrom: “It was nice to put on a good partnership with Marnus. I hadn’t really batted much with him before. You have to be on your toes because he is a little bit edgy with his running and stuff, you have to be ready for quick singles.
“Tomorrow is going to be a fighting day for us, that’s for sure. We just have to keep in the game as long as possible. Timm (van der Gugten) is a capable batter to come in as a nightwatchman and we still have some batting to come, so let’s see how we go tomorrow.
“And Sam (Northeast) is still there. If he does anything like what he did last year, then we could be okay.”
[Reader, he didn’t. He’s just been out for 40, but the deficit is somehow still 182 – things seem to be going very slowly].
And Rehan Ahmed: “I was more frustrated with the way I got out than missing out on the hundred. For me, I don’t really look at hundreds and fifties for myself, it’s more about how important the runs are to the team.
“Peter and I put together a good partnership but even going out at 170 for five, there’s a lot of confidence in the team at the moment, so we always felt there was more to come.
“We’ve worked very hard over the winter as a group, with Tich (James Taylor) as well on the batting, and hopefully it is paying off.
“There was a bit of bounce in the pitch for me and hopefully there will be a bit of turn tomorrow. If it doesn’t turn on day three, there’s something wrong!”
Surrey all out, the first innings lead 131
Smith didn’t make three figures, out going for a big hit, caught at deep backward square leg for 88. Surrey ticked along at a good pace this morning, adding 70 in less than an hour. Warwickshire now have an awkward spell before lunch.
In Div one: Kent moving onwards, upwards even, at Lord’s. Ah, but Leaning has just lost his wicket, caught off Higgins for 48. Compton still there, on 31, off 107 balls. The Kent lead 44 – I’d have thought they want to get it to 200 at a minimum. Kent 87-3.
And Surrey are batting like the champs they are at Edgbaston. Dan Worrall has become Rushworth’s third victim, but Jamie Smith is still there on 88. Surrey 281-9, the lead a dangerous 131 in a low-scoring game. Time for Smith to get a wriggle on, with Kemar Roach his only ballast.
Let’s stroll merrily round the grounds, first the second division:
Smooth progress for Derbyshire this morning after yesterday when the wheels fell off and the doors imploded. Fifty for Matt Lamb and 18 for Luis Reece, who saved most blushes in the first innings. The partnership now 71, 162-5, still 125 runs behind.
Pujara still there at Bristol, speeding up, now 138 from 231 balls. Carter 38 not out. Sussex 392-4 and with 7 overs left to get as many batting points as possible.
Sam Northeast, at the site of his record-breaking quadruple century last year, is still batting at Grace Road, but he’s running out of partners. Glamorgan 211-6, still 46 behind the follow-on target.
Play at Edgbaston
The rain has abated in Birmingham, and this is what the Warwickshire groundstaff get for their efforts.
First ball of the day goes straight back past the bowler for four 👌
Tune in to the Live Stream from Edgbaston ⤵
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) April 29, 2023
A site for sore Sussex eyes: 117 and counting, Cheteshwar Pujara. Sussex 339 for four.
Everything about Cheteshwar Pujara’s record for Sussex is silly, but a conversion rate of 0 fifties and 7 hundreds is ridiculous
— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden) April 29, 2023
Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy
Round Two of the RHF trophy today – eight regional teams in a 50-over competition working towards the final on September 24. Northern Diamonds are the reigning champs. For more detail, I recommend listening to Raf’s podcast.
TODAY’S FIXTURES
Central Sparks v Northern Diamonds
South East Stars v Southern Vipers
Sunrisers v The Blaze
Western Storm v Thunder
A reminder from the fantastic Googly Fund that they still have some funding available to help social cricket or new groups who fancy giving the game a go. Do spread the word and get in touch if you are looking for help.
Loved these pics from @east_raintoncc last night of new players giving cricket a go, and we’re delighted to have played a small part in it. If you or your club or team are interested in doing something similar, please do get in touch, we have more funds available @tjaldred https://t.co/dm4oHsKUlJ
— The Googly Fund (@googlyfund) April 29, 2023
I think we can safely now say that Ben Compton is not a one-season wonder. Averaging 71 in 2023, he is now propping up Kent’s batting again. He and Jack Leaning have pulled Kent away from the disaster that was the double-Murtagh at the top of the innings, currently 51-2.
A hundred for Cheteshwar Pujara!
Sussex’s run-eating captain moves smoothly to three figures. A sedate, but vital, effort: 191 balls, 13 fours and a six, and his seventh hundred for Sussex in just his 12th match! Not a bad overseas signing. Sussex 309-4 (England U-19 James Coles stumped Bracey off Zafar, for 74)
The floodlights are on at The Riverside and Brydon Carse, he of three wickets and a century, has the ball. Will Derbyshire make lunch?
Covers on in Birmingham.
I take that back, it is raining at Edgbaston.
I think we are starting on time round the grounds.
A slow Saturday? Barney will wake you up. “Test cricket has enriched and ennobled the current generation of England players. And it is pretty close to tipping point. Death may well be looming beyond the lines, however this thing is sliced. It doesn’t have to be surrender too.”
On Andrew Strauss’s exit and the fate of the Hundred:
Friday’s round-up
Woke up. Padded up, twice. Faced seven balls. Got a pair. Such was poor Billy Godleman’s day, as Derbyshire drove at speed towards certain defeat against Durham after being bowled out for 165 in 34.3 overs then, following on, had lost four wickets with 70 on the board. Matthew Potts and Ben Raine cantered to three wickets each in the first innings, Brydon Carse grabbed two to go with a maiden first-class century. It was only a 10th-wicket partnership of 68 between Luis Reece (56) and Sam Conners that hauled Derby into three figures. That came to an end when Matt Parkinson, on loan from Lancashire, had Conners stumped going for a dirty swipe.
Marnus Labuschagne collected his first Glamorgan fifty of the year at Grace Road. It was twitchy at times but contained some delicious drives, as he and Eddie Byrom guided Glamorgan away from losing David Lloyd to the second ball of the innings. Earlier, Leicestershire had passed 400, with both 18-year-old Rehan Ahmed, and Peter Handscomb, falling in the 90s. Ahmed cover drove the first ball of the day for four, he and Handscomb made an endearing couple chewing the cud between overs in matching green helmets, one rangy like a leek, one cuddly like a peach. Timm van der Gugten snatched six wickets.
They finally got on the pitch after lunch at Bristol, after a first-day washout. It was slow-going, Tom Alsop made 67 for Sussex, putting on 100 with Chesteshwar Pujara, who was composing a slow symphony.
In Division One, Tim Murtagh deadheaded Kent’s second dig by dismissing Zak Crawley and Daniel Bell-Drummond with the first two balls of the innings. Ryan Higgins had earlier helped Middlesex to a first-innings lead of 43. There were four wickets for Wes Agar. And Surrey built a first-innings lead against Warwickshire.
Scores on the doors
Division One
Lord’s: Middlesex 229v Kent 186 and 40-2
Edgbaston: Warwicks 150 v Surrey 211-8
Division Two
Chester-le-Street: Durham 452-9 v Derbyshire 165 and 92-5
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Sussex 302-4
Grace Road: Leicestershire 407 v Glamorgan 164-5
Preamble
Good morning! It’s a day heavy with the lime green of spring, as we start day three of this final April round of games. We had action everywhere, at least in part, yesterday: with Derbyshire nearly down and out, and things rattling towards a conclusion at Lord’s. More sedate progress at Bristol, where the weather put a dampener on things; Glamorgan are fighting to avoid the follow on at Grace Road and Surrey are slowly pulling away from Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Lots to watch and listen to, but first – coffee.