Key events
A thrilling last hour ahead at Northampton, Cardiff, Durham and Derby – but I’d better start writing up for the paper. Will pop back when I can. Enjoy!
Lyth out for 97
Hmmm. Yorkshire now five down as Ben Kellaway joins the wicket-taking tally. Crucially, it’s Adam Lyth, who gets a breath of an edge.
A big wicket for Durham! DBD caught off diesel engine Potts. DBD gone for a valiant 37. Kent 165-4.
Jimmy Anderson has the new ball in his hand at Wantage Road. What wreckage awaits?
Warwickshire DRAW with Surrey
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 544 DRAW with Surrey 328 and 447-4
Hands shaken in Birmingham. Dan Lawrence 161 not out.
Some excellent stonewalling by the less-fancied Div 2 teams.
Kent 146-3, Muyeye – who is fancy-danning rather than stonewalling, 63, DBD 28. Kent 147-3 – would need another 210 to beat Durham.
George Bartlett and Lewis McManus are still bolted to the crease at Wantage Road despite the best that Lancs can throw at them, but I read BTL that new ball is due soon. Northants 168-7, would need another 153 to win.
And the adhesive Ethan Brookes and Matthew Waite have put on 62 together and taken up 24 overs of Derbyshire’s toil. Worcs 247-6, still train Derbys by 66.
150 for Dan Lawrence
Surrey have fired up the juggernaut and are now 427-4 against Warwickshire. That pitch could break a few hearts this year. Dan Lawrence has 150, Smith was out for 132. They lead Warwicks by 211 runs.
Notts have lost both openers – one to Jack Leach and one to Alfie Ogborne, they need a theoretical 318 to beat Somerset but I’d have thought they’d be shaking hands in half an hour.
Things have become a little more interesting since tea. A couple of wickets at Sophia Gardens – all of them to Mason Crane. But stubborn old goat Adam Lyth is still there, unbeaten on 87. Yorks need 145.
They’re closing up the box at Grace Road now, so I’m going to find a coffee shop somewhere – back shortly!
DIVISION ONE
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 302 and 218-5dec v Yorkshire 226 and 125-1 Yorks need 170 to win
Southampton: Essex 461-7d BEAT Hampshire 156 and 168 by an innings and 136 runs.
Grace Road: Sussex 361 and 364 BEAT Leicestershire 245 and 258 by 222 runs
Taunton: Somerset 347 and 407-5dec v Nottinghamshire 338 and 86-0 Notts need 331 to win
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 544 v Surrey 328 and 390-4
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 625-8dec v Worcestershire 312 and 214-6
Chester le Street: Durham 335 and 218-9dec v Kent 197 and 100-3 Kent need 257 to win
Lord’s: Middlesex 445-9dec BEAT Gloucestershire 216 and 215 by an innings and 14 runs.
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 258 and 144-7 v Lancashire 384 and 194 Northants need 177 to win
Middlesex BEAT Gloucestershire by an innings and 14 runs!
Lord’s: Middlesex 445-9dec BEAT Gloucestershire 216 and 215 by an innings and 14 runs.
Four wickets for Seb Morgan, three for Ryan Higgins.
Middlesex ? points, Gloucestershire ? points
Below averages surfaces will mean zero points for home team
Some significant changes in pitch regulations are reported in The Cricketer today. Nick Friend reports that any team who prepare a Championship pitch rated “below average, poor or unfit” by the match referee will lose all points from that match.
Regulation 16.2.6: “In the event of a match being abandoned due to a pitch that has been rated unfit, or if the pitch is rated poor or below average, in accordance with the ECB’s pitch regulations, the home team shall be awarded zero points and any first innings points already achieved shall be rescinded,”
“The home team shall be credited with a loss and the away team a draw for tiebreaker purposes.”
Teams could also be referred to the Cricket Regulator
Some excellent stonewalling going on in Div 2 by Worcestershire (204-6) and Northants (139-7).
Middlesex nearly there, Josh de Caires has winkled out Will Williams for 14. Enter last man Gabe Bell. Gloucestershire still trail Middx by 22 runs.
Henry Crocombe’s match figures of nine for 69 here at Grace Road were a career best. Lovely way to start off the season for a young player who made his debut during the 2020 Bob Willis Trophy. The players have now gone and the jackdaws have the ground to themselves, on the look-out for suitable nesting twigs.
Yorkshire’s target is already below 200. Adam Lyth’s unbeaten 68, off 101 balls, has set his side up very nicely. Carlson has summoned Andy Gorvin into the attack.
A couple of Durham drops lets Kent off the hook. Half an hour or so till tea.
Middlesex need just two wickets at Lord’s, though a steadfast partnership between Matt Taylor (49 ball 10 not out) and Will Williams (49 ball 12 not out) is holding them up a little. Glos 194-8, trail Middx by 35.
A very impressive fifty for George Bartlett at Wantage Road, though he’s just lost batting partner Sales, winkled out by Hartley for an 83 ball 24. Northants 128-7. Lancs press on.
100 for Dan Lawrence!
A nice way for Dan Lawrence to start the season. Now 111 not out, Jamie Smith 115 not out as Surrey’s middle order get some batting practise in at Edgbaston. The lead 124 and heading towards handshakes in a couple of hours.
Yorkshire are making good speed, but Mason Crane has a wicket, Finlay Bean for 23. Yorkshire 80-1, need 215 more. Ben Kellaway and Crane bowling in tandem.
Hmmm. My Kent optimism may have been misplaced. Now 41-3, with Crawley and Northeast also back in the pavilion. 316 still needed.
“Nowhere has more love for County Championship cricket”
At Taunton, young pup Alfie Ogborne and wise statesman Craig Overton are testing HH and Ben Slater.
Ogborne was bursting with enthusiasm when he spoke to the reporters’ network yesterday:
“It is such a privilege to be playing for the club I love and have supported since boyhood. I want to be the next Andy Caddick, Craig Overton or Lewis Gregory because they are my role models.
“I don’t believe there is another club in the country where there is more love for County Championship cricket and to help Somerset win it for the first time would be a dream come true for me.
“I have always been able to swing the ball, apart from a spell when I tried to increase my pace. Now, having worked a lot with Steve Kirby, I am getting movement in the air again, which could be important tomorrow as the pitch is not doing a lot.”
Oh dear, Kent have lost their cement. Ben Compton caught off Kemar Roach for eight. Kent 29-1.
Sussex beat Leicestershire by 222 runs
And that’s it. Ben Green caught at a stretch by Hudson-Prentice, a ninth wicket (9-69) in the match for Henry Crocombe. Despite starting with minus 12, Sussex are on the scoreboard!
Grace Road: Sussex 361 and 364 BEAT Leicestershire 245 and 258 by 222 runs
Sussex 22 points, Leicestershire 3 points.
Sussex just one wicket away now, as Sam Wood is caught at gully off the rapid Crocombe. Six men round the bat, three more close, as James Coles bowls to YAdvinder Singh.
100 for Jamie Smith!
With a powerful cover drive. A nice way to shake the winter off. Surrey 300-3, lead by 84. Last-gasp for Warwickshire as they take the new ball
Somerset declare on 407-5, setting Notts 417 to win
A rash of declarations this afternoon. Overton declares after a bit of heave-ho. This one less gettable.
Durham declare 218-9, Kent need 357 to win
I know it is unlikely, but Kent could do this – if Crawley and Muyeye ignite.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 302 and 218-5dec v Yorkshire 226 Yorks need 295 to win
Southampton: Essex 461-7d BEAT Hampshire 156 and 168 by an innings and 136 runs.
Grace Road: Leicestershire 245 and 244-8 Sussex 361 and 364 Leicestershire need 237 to win
Taunton: Somerset 347 and 370-5 v Nottinghamshire 338
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 544 v Surrey 328 and 274-3
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 625-8dec v Worcestershire 312 and 158-3
Chester le Street: Durham 335 and 218-9dec v Kent 197 Kent need 357 to win
Lord’s: Middlesex 445-9dec v Gloucestershire 216 and 166-6
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 258 and 63-6 v Lancashire 384 and 194 Northants need 258 to win
Glamorgan declare 218-5 – Yorkshire need 295 to win
A brave call by Carlson, who declared when Ingram was out for 75, a fourth wicket for Dom Bess. Kellaway 28 not out.
An extra 15 mins here at Leicestershire, but elsewhere they take lunch.
Chip, chip, chip another wicket at Wantage Road. Northants 52-6.
And another wicket at Grace Road, Scriven caught at leg slip. A second wicket for James Coles, who is a distinctive looking chap- tall and tree-trunk strong, with his floppy hair and floppy hat.
Hello there Tim Maitland!
“I’m totally distracted by the Aussie Rules at the moment. My team, the Western Bulldogs, (long story short, about 15 years ago some of the Aussie caddies on the LPGA decided I needed a team and that the Bulldogs needed supporters… and I didn’t have the sense to ignore them) went top of the ladder yesterday with a never-in-doubt win over Essendon.
”However, that pales into insignificance compared to the drama at a packed MCG today. In front of 85,000, Hawthorn beat Geelong by a single point – a behind – scored in the dying seconds of an incredible encounter played in an atmosphere so febrile that, towards the end, both sides were struggling to execute some of the most basic skills. Great sport!”
”The last couple of minutes of play are worth a watch, even if you have no idea what’s going on.”
My one unoriginal observation on Aussie Rules is quite how tiny the uniforms are. Very Canal street on a Saturday night.
Ben Cox follows Eskinazi back into the dressing room at Grace Road, a flighty heave to backward square in Hudson-Prentice’s next over. After all that hard work. Leics 210-7.
In Division Two:
Northants will probably survive until lunch, but tea looks a distant feast. Now 39 for five, Singh Dale and Balderson joining in the wickets. They need 282 to “win.”
Gloucestershire are 152-5, four wickets for England U-19 Seb Morgan. Glos trail by 77, following on against Middlesex.
Durham are eight down, Aldridge bowled for 18 by Grant Stewart. Ben Raine, a vital 27 not out. Durham 171-8, lead Kent by 309.
And Hose and D’Oliveira have temporarily steadied the ship against Derbyshire. Worcs 130-3, trail by 183 following on.
Stevie Eskinanzi cannot believe what he’s done! He half leaves a ball from Hudson-Prentice, “neither a waltz nor a tango – Paul Edwards” and directs the ball straight into his middle stump. Out for a hard-fought 54, Leics 203-6.
With an hour gone, time for a stroll round the grounds.
No wickets yet today at Grace Road with Leicestershire 189-5, Eskinazi 52, Ben Cox 48. The target 481.
Dom Bess has just picked up his third wicket at Sophia Gardens, Kiran Carlson, both feet creatined in the crease, bowled for 53 by one that zipped in to the bottom of the stumps. Glamorgan 153-4, Ingram 39 not out, lead by 229.
Somerset have lost both overnight batsmen, and centurions, Rew and Kohler-Cadmore, but Toms Lammonby and Abell are settling in. Somerset 272-3, lead Yorkshire by 281.
And Rew “rival” Jamie Smith has moved onto 67 at Edgbaston, Dan Lawrence 32 not out. No wickets this morning for the Warwickshire bowlers. Surrey 211-3, trail by five runs.
Fifty for Stevie Eskinazi as Sussex press in the sun. Lots of appealing from the spinners, but no cigar as yet. Leics 180-5. Robinson yet to bowl today.
Paul Farbrace is chatting to the BBC commentators here at Grace Road – lots of praise for Jack Carson (full of enthusiasm every ball) and Tom Price (expect him to be a very good cricketer for Sussex over the next two years).
Durham appear to be suffering a bout of Easter Monday-itus – have just lost five for 19 against mighty Kent. Three for Dudgeon, who bowled so promisingly in that first game last year before being wiped out by injury. Durham’s lead 256. This would be a fantastic stage for a Zak Crawley special.
A hundred and out for Tom Kohler-Cadmore at Taunton, caught and bowled Liam Patterson-White for 104. And James Rew follows, also to Patterson-White, for 122. Somerset 246-3, lead Notts by 255.
A couple of early wickets for Lancashire, after Anderson made the initial breakthrough last night. Both to Tom Bailey, who batted so well yesterday afternoon. Northants 24-3 need an unlikely 297 to win.
Another cracking bit of fielding by Tom Price on the boundary, who was also brilliant in Leicestershire’s first innings.
“The boys are really flat”
Hampshire’s Ben Brown was a disappointed man last night.
“It is a really poor start. The boys are really flat. You come into the season really looking forward to it so to put in that performance at home is hugely disappointing.
“We were outplayed in all areas. Essex played good cricket, they are a very good and experienced side. They out batted us, out bowled us and out fielded us. We were well beaten across all three days.
“Pound for pound they are the best bowling attacks looking around the circuit this week and we couldn’t deal with it. We didn’t manage to get on the front foot, we couldn’t score and got stuck in a hole. We couldn’t change that momentum.”
More first ball action at Derby where slinky wicket machine Mo Abbas has sent Kashif Ali back to the pavilion. Worcs 75-2, trail by 238.
And at Grace Road, James Coles lets a fancy slice from Ben Cox slip through his fingers at first slip, on 26. Price the bowler.
On a glorious spring day at Grace Road, Ben Cox sends the first ball of the day singing to the rope.
Play at Chester le Street
The pitch has dried out at the Riverside and they start on time (though with 128 overs lost from the game), as they do round the other seven grounds.
All is fine at Grace Road, both teams having a kickaround in the sun. Leicestershire will need to invoke the spirit of Louis Kimber to have a chance. That June day in 2024, Leicester needed 464 to beat Sussex and when Kimber came in they were 139 for five – he got them to within 18 runs with his pulverising 243. Today, Leicestershire started needing 481 against the same opponents and are 125-5.
Root and Brook to play for Yorkshire
News from Yorkshire: Joe Root will play in the Championship games against Sussex, Somerset and Surrey; and Brook will play two games in May, against Warwickshire and Surrey.
“We have to be on it from the first ball”
Leicestershire are learning the hard way. This was Stevie Eskinazi last night:
“We’ve already learned that in Division One, where if you’re off it for 45 minutes like we were in that first session on day one, teams can go a long way to winning the game and that’s why they’re in this division and that’s why they’ve been so successful.
“We know that from the very first ball of the game we have to be on it and if we’re not, it becomes a long couple of days. But I’m really proud of the efforts of the guys in the field. I think at certain periods today, for example when Ben Green was running up that hill, getting the ball to talk, that’s the sort of cricket we want to play, where we were competitive, we were on the front foot.”
Sunday’s roundup
Storm Dave left its mark on the County Championship in the early hours of Easter Sunday, knocking over the camera gantry and untethering a cover at Chester-le-Street, leaving the pitch unplayable for Durham v Kent. Elsewhere, there were brickbats and chocolate eggs.
Leicestershire made a of hash of chasing an unlikely 481 against Sussex on a suddenly sun-dappled late afternoon at Grace Road. Rishi Patel was run out going for an optional second run in the second over, sent packing by a steaming direct hit from a crouching Jack Carson on the long-leg boundary. Wickets then tumbled with clockwork regularity, Jake Weatherald flashed at a delivery from Henry Crocombe, who then dismissed Lewis Hill for a pair. Finally Rehan Ahmed dashed for glory at James Coles, but found infamy, out for 34.
Essex celebrated the first win of the season, thrashing Hampshire by an innings and 137 runs. Jamie Porter, Sam Cook and Shane Snater ran through Hampshire’s first innings, before Matt Critchley – who had a match to remember – snaffled five for nine in 4.3 overs in the follow on, and Simon Harmer, in sunglasses and snood, three for 49.
Middlesex’s Toby Roland-Jones zipped out five for 37 against Gloucestershire, who were forced to follow on at Lord’s. Leg-spinner Mason Crane pocketed five for Glamorgan to put them in a great position against Yorkshire. Will Luxton became the second official ECB injury sub, replacing Jonny Bairstow.
Northamptonshire’s Harry Conway made life tricky for the visitors at Wantage Road. At 6ft 7in the Australian pinged the ball like a stale Creme Egg, ripping out the heart of Lancashire’s second innings, removing Josh Bohannon, George Bell and Michael Jones in one over. However, Tom Bailey (35) and Ajeet Singh Dale (unbeaten on 44) rebuilt, leaving Northants 321 to win.
Shoaib Bashir, wind buffeting his trousers, grabbed his first wicket for Derbyshire, but later cost the club five penalty runs for “deception” after feigning to throw the ball when fielding. Nineteen-year-old Dan Lategan was Worcestershire’s mortar with 89 and 43 not out in the follow-on.
Somerset’s James Rew left his calling card with a century against Nottinghamshire; Surrey are in fix at Edgbaston, still 47 short of innings defeat against Warwickshire, but on an increasingly generous pitch. Jamie Smith made an unbeaten half century.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 302 and 111-3 v Yorkshire 226
Southampton: Essex 461-7d BEAT Hampshire 156 and 168 by an innings and 136 runs.
Grace Road: Leicestershire 245 and 125-5 v Sussex 361 and 364 Leicestershire need 356 to win
Taunton: Somerset 347 and 214-1 v Nottinghamshire 338
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 544 v Surrey 328 and 169-3
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 625-8dec v Worcestershire 312 and 68-1
Chester le Street: Durham 335 and 83-2 v Kent 197 no play today, storm damage
Lord’s: Middlesex 445-9dec v Gloucestershire 216 and 120-3
Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 258 and 9-1 v Lancashire 384 and 194
Preamble
Hello and happy Easter Monday! It’s a fresh but sunny morning in Leicester, where squirrels are spring-leaping like disobedient fireworks and I spotted some wild garlic sprouting by the side of a footpath.
This is day four of the first round of Championship games, with Essex first to cross the line in 2026, thanks to a innings and more hammering of Hampshire. Loads more to look out for today, with results likely everywhere except Taunton. Upstarts Glamorgan could turn over Yorkshire on a pitch that Ryan Hadley says will become [even] more spin friendly and Warwickshire could do the same to Surrey – though the pitch is more placid at Edgbaston.
Leicestershire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire all have a fight on their hands to come out of the round with a draw, and keep an eye on the topsy-turvy match at Wantage Road. They are due to inspect the pitch at Chester-le-Street shortly to see if any play is possible.
Things roll into action at 11am, do join us.