Key events
With the covers stretched ominously over OT like a deflated tent, time for me to go home. Thanks for your company, see you tomorrow!
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 51-2 v Hampshire 235
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Somerset 337-9
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 317-7 v Surrey
Hove: Sussex 3-0 v Leicestershire 328
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 147 v Yorkshire 110-4
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 342-3 v Northamptonshire
Bristol: Gloucestershire 325 v Kent 1-0
Old Trafford: Lancashire 201 v Middlesex 38-2
New Road: Worcestershire 209-7 v Durham
Time for me to write up for second edition now – but do chat on BTL.
Down in Division Two, Gloucestershire and Derbyshire are having good days. Half centuries for Bracey, Price and Charlesworth and 43 not out from Tommy Boorman have taken Glos to 300-5 against Kent.
While half centuries for Harry Came and Matthew Montgomery and 91 not out for Caleb Jewell and 57 not out for Wayne Madsen have left Derbys 342-3 against Northants – and now bad light has landed on The County Ground too.
Bad light at Edgbaston
Where Harry Brook (29) had been joined by Jonny Bairstow. Yorks 110-4, trail Warwicks by 37.
Bad light stops play at OT
Which is a blessed relief for Middlesex – 38 for two.
Keaton Jennings picks up a bail that has been deposited 10 feet away from the stumps by Jimmy Anderson, and tidily returns it to the umpire. Holden the man whose middle stump went flying, out for five. Middx 26-2.
Tom Abell (74 not out) and the tail have fought back valiantly for Somerset. Glamorgan did get rid of Overton for 33 but have now met the equally stubborn Lewis Gregory.
And another wicket at Edgbaston! It’s not Harry Brook, but James Wharton, driving flashily and caught at slip, out to his old buddy Jordan Thompson. Thompson’s celebration curves quite close to Wharton’s departing boots. Yorkshire 106-4.
Ding. Dong. Sam Roson tucks his bat under his right arm and wanders away, caught at the third time of asking by Jones at first slip off Jimmy Anderson. Middx 12-1.
A hundred for Joe Clarke – five wickets for Dan Worrall
Notts have had an attack of the vapours against Surrey, and from 251 for three lose four wickets for five runs. Clarke is still there on 112 – a second hundred of a season, which also includes three 90s and an 82. Sean Abbott joins Dan Worrall in the wickets.
Brook isn’t hanging around. Beaten by a ball from Booth, he cuts the next ball with helicopter wrists for six. Yorks 47-3.
To four slips and in bright sunshine, Jimmy Anderson takes to his mark. Running away from the pavilion, he slides in.
Lancs stumbled to 200 – just. Chris Green the last man out, and a third wicket for Seb Morgan. Lancashire’s slip fielders are already out practising, To their left, Jimmy Anderson is turning his arm over.
The most dismissive cover drive of the season. Nice to have you back Harry.
Which segues perfectly into this lovely piece by Jim
Hats off to Hampshire for an impressive collapse over at Chelmsford – from 217 for five to 235 all out.
And a ninth wicket at OT, Mitch Stanley bowled by the tireless TRJ. Another enthusiastic round of applause for Jimmy Anderson. Lancs 197-9.
Enter Harry Brook
Hmmm, what I’ve just written for first edition may look a little dated – Yorkshire also struggling at Edgbaston, 38 for three, which is a cue for Harry Brook’s first innings of the season.
Some bad light coincided with tea here at OT, where Middlesex are continuing to impress. Lancs now eight down – Bailey a second wicket for Seb Morgan. HPG’s dreamboat Chris Green 32 not out. Lancs 190-8.
Oh god, I forgot it is Friday – better write up quickly for first edition – back soon.
A couple of wickets in consecutive balls will cheer Kent up – Ben Charlesworth for 85 and Miles Hammond for 12. Glos 173-4.
TRJ with the big one! Jennings is tempted and a lovely ball gets a sliver of an edge and into the gloves. A wicket maiden, Jennings gone for 68. Lancs 151-6.
This is a very good day’s work for Yorkshire – Warwickshire now nine down for 129. Three wickets for White, two each for Hill, Cliff and van Beek.
Oh! A drop! Green on 13 dropped by Morgan at mid off, who has been so immaculate with the ball. He pulls the brim of his cap down over his eyes as he walks away and is now chewing his hand down by the pavilion rope.
A second wicket for young Norton in Cardiff, Archie Vaughan for 17. Somerset 171-4.
And shuffle off Matty Hurst must here at OT, gathered in the bread basket by Ryan Higgins at slip. Lovely rhythmic bowling by Sharma. An enthusiastic round of applause for the first appearance of Chris Green, short of sleeve and handsome of stroll. Lancs 129-5.
Bad light at New Road
Ali Martin
Bad light and a bit of mizzle has suspended things here at New Road … on comes the tractor with the covers trailing behind.
Some bits of county admin from last week – Jake Lintott will leave Warwicks at the end of the season, and Duanne Olivier has joined Durham early as a replacement for Kemar Roach, who picked up a hamstring injury against Middlesex and has gone home.
Ali Martin
Fifty up for Adam Hose, who has helped rebuild the Worcestershire innings in a little-and-large (large-and-little partnership) with Brett D’Oliveira. Hose offered one chance to slip on 28 – low and put down by Kasey Aldridge – but has played nicely otherwise. Worcs 136-4 with just the odd spot of rain in the air.
Lammonby and Thomas aren’t going well for Somerset any more. In fact, they’re both out. Lammonby a first wicket for Glamorgan debutant Tom Norton, who is surrounded by teammates and has his head patted like a good dog. Somerset 159-3.
England U-19 Seb Morgan, who still looks like a slip of a boys, bowls a succession of cracking deliveries and gets his reward as Jones loses his off stump. Lancs 115-4.
Warwickshire are having something of a shocker – now 102 for seven. Rock Sam Hain (57) a second catch for Harry Brook, a third wicket for Jack White. Zen Malik follows in the next over.
Loving the size and boldness of the numbers on the Middlesex shirts, very helpful for those of us who need to clean our glasses. The slips line up in a pleasing line. Jones drives Higgins, nicely down the ground. Gentle applause. Not a bad crowd in today
The school children have drifted off now, tbh a good time had by all with the climbing wall, remote control cars, (fake) red rose tattoos and of course Jennings’ 52 not out. Holding things together as usual. Lancs 101-3.
A nice way for Somerset to celebrate getting back out after lunch, a hundred run partnership between young Josh Thomas (another fifty) and Tom Lammonby (his highest score of the season – 44). Somerset 123-1. No sign of Mason Crane bowling yet.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex v Hampshire 88-4
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Somerset 104-1
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 105-3 v Surrey
Hove: Sussex v Leicestershire 110-2
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 80-5 v Yorkshire
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 104-0 v Northamptonshire
Bristol: Gloucestershire 96-1 v Kent
Old Trafford: Lancashire 78-3 v Middlesex
New Road: Worcestershire 93-4 v Durham
…and a comprehensive victory for the Burnley Bee.
The mascots get ready…
Huge cheers for Lanky here at OT as he warms up for the mascot race, meanwhile Marcus Harris is back in the pavilion contemplating his shoelaces after lifting TRJ to midwicket where Naavya Sharma makes a tricky catch look easy. Lancs 78-3 and that’s lunch.
Ali Martin
Big Benji’s second spell is underway at New Road but so far Adam Hose has held firm, save for one delivery that struck him in the box. You never quite know what the pitch here will do after the annual floods have receded but there is a bit of bounce in this one – certainly accounting for Lategan early on, and the caught and bowled off Gareth Roderick that saw Ben Raine pick up his second wicket. Worcs 77 for four as Hose squirts one throug the offside for a couple.
Those Lancs fans with a Telegraph subscription – not sure how big that venn diagram is – might be interested in Will Macpherson’s summing up of the rebel-club situation . The most surprising detail in it is that each Special General Meeting costs the club £30,000…
Also, for those who have missed the news, Lancs have backtracked on charging for the live stream. The new policy is a free two-fixed camera YouTube stream for all, with premium coverage for members and anyone else who buys a seasonal pass – all still in development.
In Division Two
Luis Reece and Harry Came are looking settled after last week’s calamitous Derby collapse to Kent – Derby 80-0 against Northants
And a wicket for deserving Middlesex here at OT. Ryan Higgins returns from the Jimmy Anderson and Bohannon is duly caught, nibbling, behind for 15. Lancs 69-2.
Ben Charlesworth, (heading to OT next season) is 42 not out in Gloucestershire’s 80-1 v Kent.
And a recovery of sorts for Worcestershire against Durham. They were 40-3, now 71-4. Two wickets for Raine, one for Stokes.
In Division One:
Jake Lehman and Ben Mayes are rescuing Hampshire from Essex’s early onslaught – Hants 59-3.
Tom Lammonby and Josh Thomas are giving James Rew plenty to ponder at Sophia Gardens – Somerset 70-1.
Aha, Dan Worrall is back for Surrey, and he’s already in the wickets, nipping out both Notts openers. Duckett is not out 25. Notts 56-2.
Rishi Patel and Jake Weatherald are making hay against Sussex, racing along at four an over. Sussex 85-0.
And Sam Hain (36) is still the only man to reach double figures at Edgbaston. Warwicks 67-4 against Yorkshire.
Time for a dally around the grounds, where shovel and shake rebuilding has mostly followed early wickets.
Mostly good news, I think.
A lovely read, and round-up, by Gary Naylor.
Hampshire’s seasons doesn’t get any better – Snater and Cook brandishing the knife. Hampshire 35-3.
Warwickshire are in a pretty pickle at 34 for three, Yates, Mousley and Davies all out in single figures. Two wickets for Jack White.
To the accompaniment of the sound of happy children rampaging over the OT concourse having sword balloon fights, Jennings hauls TRJ for six. Lancs 30-1.
Never mind Ben Stokes, the update you’ve all been waiting for from Paul Edwards. He’s been testing almond croissants around the grounds. In third place: Gails in St John’s Wood, silver medal to Panzers just around the corner from Gails, and gold to Oriole underneath the press box at Canterbury “light, huge and delicious, with no stinting on the almond.”
Ali Martin
And Ben Stokes strikes in just his second over back, with a bit of extra bounce enough to tickle the edge of Dan Lategan’s bat as he tries to drive off the back foot. Worcestershire 15 for one.
Four Middlesex slips wait as TRJ slipstreams in.
James Rew, making good on Ali’s whispered tip to open the batting, is duly bowled for four at Sophia Gardens. That’s three failures in the last three innings…
At Old Trafford George Balderson entertained all the school children in for the morning with a couple of fours, then gets a goodie from Ryan Higgins and is sent on his way. Lancs 13-1.
Ali Martin
Morning from sunny-ish New Road, where a certain Ben Stokes gets his season underway for Durham against their fellow relegees (?) Worcestershire. The visitors are bowling first and it looks like Stokes – looking impossibly svelte these days – will be taking the new ball, with Matthew Potts having a week off. A nice chance for young Dan Lategan to impress the England captain.
Marcus North likely to be new England selector
Australia and Durham man North to step into Luke Wright’s boots.
As some possibly cheap wickets arrive at Hove in the form of Leicestershire, Ali ponders an England return for Ollie Robinson.
Division Two table (all teams have played four games)
1 Durham 71
2 Northants 65
3 Lancashire 60
4 Worcestershire 55
5 Middlesex 49
6 Kent 43
7 Derbyshire 30
8 Gloucestershire 24
Division One table (all teams have played four games)
1 Notts 67
2 Surrey 59
3 Somerset 58
4 Warwickshire 55
5 Glamorgan 50
6 Sussex 46
7 Yorkshire 45
8 Essex 40
9 Leicestershire 36
10 Hampshire 26
Fixtures
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex v Hampshire
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Somerset
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Surrey
Hove: Sussex v Leicestershire
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Yorkshire
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Northamptonshire
Bristol: Gloucestershire v Kent
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Middlesex
New Road: Worcestershire v Durham
Preamble
Happy May morning! Suddenly there are just two rounds to go in this spring block and winding narratives are starting to form. Lots to look forward to this week – Ben Stokes returning to action at New Road, Harry Brook easing into red ball gear for Yorkshire, Notts and Surrey exchanging blows at Trent Bridge and Kent and Gloucestershire battling to avoid the wooden spoon. Play starts at 11am round the grounds, though weather is circling. There’s plenty of room on the CCLive sofa, do join us.