The real Manchester spring closed in at Old Trafford, the floodlights warming up as someone pulled the curtain on the sun. Northamptonshire , delighted with the turn of events, just as Lancashire came out to bat, picked away at the red rose. With five overs left, Marcus Harris, who had batted like a prince for his 43, turned a half-volley from Raphy Weatherall off his ankles straight to Justin Broad at midwicket.Middlesex had the best of the Division Two game at Canterbury, which is zipping along at a perky pace. Steve Eskinazi’s 57 plus an unbeaten 73 from Ben Geddes, dropped a couple of times along the way, helped them to a second innings lead of 226, with four wickets in hand. First-innings parity had looked in sight for Kent , but they fell just short when Kashif Ali was run out for 17. Yorkshire captain, Jonny Bairstow, declined to enforce the follow-on as they ten-pinned through Worcestershire at Headingley on a pitch that gave some joy to the faster bowlers. Worcestershire had made sedate progress through the morning, only to lose lost eight wickets for 46 in 25 overs after lunch, Yorkshire’s slip-cordon catching with velcro hands.Essex closed 46 runs in arrears against Nottinghamshire , with Matt Critchley unbeaten on 50 and another half-century for Paul Walter, run-happy at the top of the order while Dean Elgar is on paternity leave with twins.Sussex spun Somerset on a dime at Hove, a first Division One century from Tom Haines giving them a lead of 339 at stumps. Haines reached 99 with a straight six, his century with four sent back down the ground with a flourish. Somerset had recovered from 79 for seven thanks to an eighth-wicket partnership of 110 between Lewis Gregory and James Rew, who was stranded on 80 after Somerset lost their last three wickets in 15 balls. Sean Hunt finished with a career-best five for 48.Surrey a first-innings lead at the Oval. Hampshire were indebted to a fizz-bang 37 from Kyle Abbott. After his bat-carrying century in the first innings, there were more runs for Dom Sibley in the second, an unbeaten 55, accompanied by Ollie Pope, who reached his half-century by swatting Sonny Baker for consecutive sixes.Gloucestershire reaching 546, Glamorgan ’s reply was led by a half-century from Sam Northeast. Martin Andersson’s maiden first-class century helped Derbyshire out of a sticky situation at Grace Road. His unbeaten 101 from No 8 hauled his side out of the follow-on mire after Leicestershire had made 484.Durham bowling attack had Warwickshire in trouble at Chester-le- Street, until half centuries from Kai Smith and Michael Booth saved their blushes. Ben McKinney had time to pass 150 in the morning before he was caught behind, Warwickshire’s 18 year old Taz Ali then polished things off, finishing with four for 66.
Chester le Street: Durham 387 v Warwickshire 287-8
Trent Bridge : Nottinghamshire 347 v Essex 301-5
The Oval: Surrey 253 and 136-1 v Hampshire 219
Hove: Sussex 294 and 246-1 v Somerset 201
Headingley: Yorkshire 456 and 61-1 v Worcestershire 162
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 546 Glamorgan 146-3
Canterbury : Kent 218 v Middlesex 222 and 222-6
Old Trafford: Lancashire 139-4 v Northamptonshire 496
Grace Road: Leicestershire 484 v Derbyshire 346-8
Good morning! Palm Sunday dawns dull but fine, at least in the north west. Saturday felt like a transition day, with things primed to spark into life today. Big tests in store particularly for Kent, Lancashire and Glamorgan. Play starts at 11am, do drop by for some Sunday chuntering.