And Gubbins….Hampshire 135-4. This is on Vince now.
And seven balls later, Harmer swipes Holland. 126-3.
At Chelmsford, the first wicket to a seamer in the match! Fuller is grabbed by Harmer off Beard for 18. Holland still there on 37. Hants 126-2, with the total dropping below 200.
After chatting to people at Surrey yesterday , it seems Gareth Batty (and co) have decided to go with Jacks as the spinner – and to be fair, it is working, the team are top of the table. Moriarty has had a few goes in the Blast, but it has been second XI cricket all the way for Virdi – who was one of four teenagers to appear for Surrey in 2017 v Middlesex, alongside Sam Curran, Ollie Pope and Ryan Patel. It has to sting. Surrey played all three spinners late last summer, but that’s a long time to wait on the sidelines.
@tjaldred A penny for Virdi/Moriarty’s thoughts here at the Oval road. Although maybe they’re delighted they’re not bowling on this flattest of pitches…
— Richard Dixon (@drdickdixon) June 28, 2022 Warwickshire lose their second wicket in their quest to meet Northant’s mammoth 451. Chris Benjamin cracks Simon Kerrigan to mid-on. Warwicks 100-2.
Spot on from Katherine Brunt, yesterday:
A wicket at Chelmsford at last! Hampshire stick it out for 45 minutes but Felix Organ loses his stump after a fabulous 65 off 71 balls. Hants 97-1, need 203 to win. The wicket-taker? Harmer of course.
Two wickets at New Road! Neser and Hogan cleaning up Worcester’s tail – Roderick c off Neser for six; Leach c off Hogan for 2. Worcs 166 for eight, a lead of 298.
Daniel Bell-Drummond looked in fine nick yesterday, and The Oval pitch in good shape. There is not reason, in theory, that Kent can’t bat all day. Currently 65 not out in Kent’s 156-2 – just the 517 behind.
And a new ball is needed at Chelmsford as Felix Organ has a massive slog-sweep off Harmer: up in the air and out of the ground! Hants 63-0.
Hampshire survive the first ten minutes and even add another 19 runs. I can’t really believe they’re going to do it against Harmer – but perhaps they’ve supped from England’s cup.
Day 3: start of play scoresDivision One
Chelmsford: Essex 238 and 223 v Hampshire 163 and 35-0. Hants need 264 to win
Bristol: Gloucestershire 337 v Lancashire 226-4
Northampton: Northants 451 v Warwicks 71-1
The Oval: Surrey 673-7dec v Kent 147-2
Division Two
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 551-8dec v Middlesex 106-4
Hove: Sussex 142-3 v Derbyshire 551-8 dec
New Road: Worcestershire 271 and 147-6 v Glamorgan 139
Monday’ round-upWith a bound down the pitch, and a slammed six into the pavilion, Sam Curran had what Tiggers like best – his first hundred in senior cricket, seven years and 120 first-class innings after his debut. He leapt once, twice, rabble-roused his bat towards the dressing-room, kissed his helmet and grinned.
There was time to smash 19 runs off one over from Jacob Duffy before he was bowled by George Linde for 126. Surrey eventually declared on 673 for seven, once Will Jacks had collected the fourth century of the innings – the first time that had happened since 1947. Curran then bowled 2022 run machine Ben Compton in the fourth over, but Kent rebuilt thanks to a half-century from Daniel Bell-Drummond.
In a see-saw game at Chelmsford, Simon Harmer took eight for 46 – the best figures in the 2022 Championship – and then shovelled 61 to plonk Essex into a strong position. But it didn’t go all their way; Liam Dawson took seven for 38 before Felix Organ spanked Harmer for three sixes as Hampshire chased 299.
Sussex’s tricky season continued as Anuj Dal (146no) and Mark Watt jollied Derbyshire past 500 and onto a declaration. Sam Conners removed both openers but Tom Alsop and Mohammad Rizwan (54no) provided some stoicism.
Rain made batting difficult at Wantage Road; while Lancashire still trail Gloucestershire, despite 94 from Keaton Jennings. Mark Stoneman was the only batter to thrive in Middlesex’s reply to Nottinghamshire’s 551-8 declared, which included a century for Lyndon James.
Thirteen wickets fell at New Road as Glamorgan were skittled for 139, Joe Leach taking six for 44, before Worcestershire finished the day on 147 for six, a lead of 279.
PreambleGood morning! It’s Manchester and the dark clouds are hovering. Luckily, there is no match with a sniff of the north in this Championship round. Some interesting words from Ben Stokes for county players to mull over last night.
“These last three games should have sent a message to anyone who wants to play Test cricket for England in the next two or three years at least,” he said.
“It is the manner in which you play, whether that be bat or ball. It wasn’t going to be about stats; it is the manner in which you play.”
Music to Sam Curran’s ears after his rapid maiden century in senior cricket yesterday. The question is, where that leaves players like Burns or Hameed or Sibley, who might have a shout for an opening spot.