Key events
The second new ball is due this morning at The Oval, where Rishi Patel’s century has been vital in Leicetershire’s stout resistence.
“It was a good challenge today and I enjoyed it. Jake Weatherald’s intent at the top of the order is incredible and that took a lot of pressure off me.
“We had a really good partnership and everything begins to get a bit easier once that happens. Surrey have a good bowling attack, with a lot of good balls in them, so we had to be patient too but it is a lovely pitch to bat on and at a big ground like this it is nice to do well.”
Leicestershire gave Surrey a shock at the Oval, defying, not collapsing in the face of 520. Rishi Patel’s 133 not out, his first century in Division One, was a Midlands masterpiece, careful and distinguished, while Jake Weatherald whizz-banged at the other end for 96. Lewis Hill, dropped on five, finished 60 not out as Surrey’s attack toiled away.
Northants squashed Kent under a mighty Doctor Martens, amassing 684 for two, thanks to career-bests 261 from Luke Procter and 153 from Calvin Harrison. The second ball of the morning was four wides, and so it went on, the attack flayed to all four corners of the wind. Nathan McSweeney reached his hundred with a six and Northants’ top four all had hundreds for the first time in history. Kent then subsided to 119 for six, including Zak Crawley for 26.
Ollie Robinson and Jack Carson inched Sussex towards 200 at Hove after they were in deep trouble at 130 for eight. Fynn Hudson-Prentice then ruined the start of Warwickshire’s second innings with three wickets in nine balls, but Rob Yates added an unbeaten, and vital, 75 in a low-scoring game.
Stand-in captain Craig Overton used flair and fortitude to put Somerset in a dominant position at Chelmsford with his highest first-class score of 141. He and Will Smeed (39), who made his first-class debut as an injury substitute three years after retiring from first-class cricket (before having played a game) added 118. Paul Walter and Matt Critchley then both hit half-centuries to move Essex towards parity.
Glamorgan felt the might of the county champions at Trent Bridge, where Fergus O’Neill and Brett Hutton rattled through their remaining six wickets in just over an hour, to leave them naked for 113. Ben Duckett was run out for one, charging down the pitch for a hasty single, but Joe Clarke and Ben Slater batted Nottinghamshire to safety and beyond, a lead of 450 at stumps.
At Chester le Street, Ben McKinney was finally out for 244, the seventh highest score by a Durham player. There was a century too for David Bedingham before the declaration came at 605 for five. Kemar Roach and Ben Raine grabbed three wickets each as Gloucestershire struggled to 168 for eight.
The covers were on and off at Old Trafford, where Derbyshire’s Brooke Guest reached his fifty in sudden sunshine, five overs left in the day, a handful of hardy supporters still buttoned into their seats. Lancashire took only took two wickets all day, and dropped a few catches, but Mitch Stanley thrilled with an aggressive spell after lunch, removing Matthew Montgomery for 46. Captain Harry Came finally fell for 83, bowled by Jimmy Anderson, whose ire had been raised the ball before by four wanton overthrows.
Middlesex’s last four batters hauled them towards 200 at Lord’s. Jake Libby (79) and the 19-year-old Dan Lategan, with a sparky 65, then made batting look easy, before Worcestershire collapsed, losing six for 19 before stumps. Ryan Higgins took four for 53.
Hampshire finished on top of a rainy day at Headingley where Yorkshire lost six for 40, as Kyle Abbott (four for 49) charged through them after lunch.
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 149 and 131-3 v Somerset 348
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 279 and 284-9 v Glamorgan 113
The Oval: Surrey 520 v Leicestershire 350-3
Hove: Sussex 204 v Warwickshire 267 and 154-5
Headingley: Yorkshire 177 v Hampshire 251 and 93-2
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 168-8 v Durham 605-5dec
Canterbury: Kent 119-6 v Northamptonshire 684-2dec
Old Trafford: Lancashire 351 v Derbyshire 235-3
Lord’s: Middlesex 183 v Worcestershire 191 and 200-7
Preamble
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Good morning! Rain is skitting about Manchester this morning – the good news is the grass looks very lush, not so promising for events at Old Trafford. Lots of interest around the grounds today, and things may get polished off at Chelmsford, Trent Bridge, Hove, Durham and Canterbury, where Kent are in a particular pickle.
Play starts at 11am, grab a brew and join us.
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