Key events
RIP Jeff Evans:
Sunday’s round up
Surrey teammates Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence gave the Hove faithful an Easter treat with hundreds of a deliciously attacking hue. Pope’s 102 was his first Championship hundred for two years, and his first away from The Oval for eight. Lawrence survived one fluffed catch and flayed six sixes in his 92-ball century.
An awful last half‑hour of the day left Lancashire in deep trouble against Leicestershire. Set eight overs to survive, the steady Old Trafford pitch turned toxic track in the hands of Ian Holland and Logan van Beek. Keaton Jennings was bowled off his second delivery. Anderson Phillip, who only landed in Manchester just over a week ago, found himself once more walking out as nightwatchman– for the third innings in four. Nine balls later he was walking back. Michael Jones soon found his off stump dancing behind him. In the end, 16 for three felt like a lucky escape.
Earlier, Tom Hartley had wheeled through 44 overs as Leicestershire ticked along to 491 for eight declared, a lead of 228. Peter Handscomb’s 142 not out punished the tired bowlers, after Rehan Ahmed skipped to his second first‑class hundred.
Ben Compton’s 178 ushered Kent towards safety at Canterbury. Gloucestershire then built a lead of 191 in their second innings before the light dipped. At Lord’s, Glamorgan chances of survival shrank thanks to two wickets in two balls from Middlesex’s Toby Roland‑Jones. Migael Pretorius (five for 64) and Tom Lammonby (three for 26) restricted Hampshire’s first‑innings lead, and Sean Dickson’s undefeated 55 kept Somerset alive.
Worcestershire were set 295 to win at Chelmsford, but Essex picked away, with three wickets for Jamie Porter. The tail must find 110 today on a hybrid pitch. Nottinghamshire need four wickets to beat Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
Northamptonshire declared on 500 for eight at Derby, with a century from Saif Zaib and 150 from Luke Procter. Yorkshire rattled through Durham, taking the last nine first‑innings wickets for 126 – after Alex Lees had made 172 and Emilio Gary 152.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham 427 v Yorkshire 307 and 132-4
Chelmsford: Essex 179 and 317 v Worcestershire 202 and 185-6 Worcs need 110 to win
Southampton: Hampshire 336 v Somerset 184 and 103-1
Hove: Sussex 435 v Surrey 390-3
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 and 163-6 v Nottinghamshire 367
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 307 and 202-3 v Northamptonshire 500-8dec
Canterbury: Kent 393 v Gloucestershire 472 and 112-2
Old Trafford: Lancashire 263 and 16-3 v Leicestershire 491-8
Lord’s: Middlesex 470-9 v Glamorgan 199 and 186-5
Weather watch
A downbeat Met office: “A rather cloudy start to the day, with outbreaks of rain across western parts. Rain moving eastwards through the day, followed by sunshine and showers. Some of the showers will be heavy at times, with hail and thunder.”
Preamble
Good morning from a damp Manchester. Overnight rain and drizzle in the air does not make for happy Foxes. But there is still time…
With Nottinghamshire and Essex, as well as Leicestershire, still chasing wins, there is much to play for. Points means prizes (maybe). Play is due to start at 11am, pull your umbrella from under the stairs and join us.
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