Key events
Free entry at Canterbury
To see Kent cross the line for the first time this season. Maybe.
“I think all three results are possible (but) I think we’re in the driving seat,” said yesterday’s centurion Chris Benjamin. “So if we can bowl the way we did this evening, we’ve got a great chance.”
Sunday’s round up
Emilio Gay’s third century of the season may have come with an unspectacular trowel down to third man, but it could be career-defining. Like Zak Crawley, Gay is playing Division Two cricket, but two of his Durham centuries have come against the challenging Lancashire, and now Middlesex, attacks, even if the Lord’s pitch was friendly. David Bedingham also flew to a hundred, while poor Kasey Aldridge was lbw for 99.
Gay’s former county Northamptonshire grabbed their first win of the summer, after Ben Sanderson rampaged through Worcestershire’s second dig. His six wickets in 29 balls skittled an innings that had been progressing, if slowly, at 88 for two. Fourteen overs and 26 runs later, Worcestershire were all out. Sanderson’s seven for 31 gave him a career best 11 wickets in the match. James Sales and Lewis McManus had earlier hit hundreds in Northants’ 597 for seven declared.
There was youthful joy at the Oval where 19-year-old Adam Thomas frisked to a century on Championship debut, a companion piece to Dom Sibley’s 187. Sussex wheeled through the onslaught until Surrey were finally bowled out for 622. Matt Fisher then immediately firebombed Sussex’s reply. His first ball spat off the pitch and hit Tom Haines in the grill, who staggered backwards and immediately retired hurt. Fisher then removed Tom Clark lbw with his second ball and had James Coles caught behind from his sixth.
An intriguing game has built up at Taunton, where 64 from Joe Root, 92 from James Wharton and some wagging of the tail ensured Yorkshire’s bowlers would have something to go at against Somerset on the final day.
Despite a flamboyant first-innings century from Stevie Eskinazi, Nottinghamshire thundered towards victory. Olly Stone, who picked up five wickets in Leicestershire’s first innings, plucked out another three as they followed on, including Eskinazi lbw, this time for a duck. Ben Green and Jonny Tattersall ensured Notts would have to bat again
Hampshire’s rough season continued, following on they finished five down, still 204 behind Glamorgan. Mason Crane pocketed four wickets at his former home. Kent can dream about a first win of the year, against Derbyshire, thanks to a partnership of 184 between Chris Benjamin (123) and Joey Evison (88).
Scores on the doors
Division One
Southampton: Hampshire 214 and 118-5 v Glamorgan 536-7dec
Leicester: Leicestershire 308 and 215-7 v Nottinghamshire 490
Taunton: Somerset 274 v Yorkshire 162 and 365-9
The Oval: Surrey 622 v Sussex 358-9dec and 76-4
Division Two
Canterbury: Kent 352 and 335 v Derbyshire 304 and 19-1 Derbys need 365 to win
Lord’s: Middlesex 430 v Durham 530-8
Northampton: Northants 597-7dec BEAT Worcestershire 306 and 114 by an innings and 177 runs
Preamble
Hello and happy bank holiday Monday! If you’re not off doing lovely things, there’s some absorbing cricket to keep an eye on. The weather, typically, may misbehave, with bands of showers particularly across the south. But we cross our fingers. Play (should) start at 11am, do join us on the sofa, there’s plenty of space.