Category: England Cricket

Zafar Gohar’s half-century helped Middlesex secure a draw against Derbyshire in the only County Championship match in this round to make it to the fourth day

And now Eskinazi slips through the Derbyshire fingers, gloved behind – the ball seems to fly off the gloves of Guest and loop just short of the sprawling close fielders. Derbys 94-1.

A couple of cricketing letters:

The usual suspects may take the big prizes come the autumn, but it’s been a spring for the underdogs

By the 99.94 Cricket Blog

In a round short on thrills, there was a sensational fourth morning at Chelmsford, where Worcestershire’s Ethan Brookes and Essex’s Jamie Porter were both cast in the role of a hero who wasn’t quite – for different reasons.

• County Championship updates from around the grounds
• Get in touch! Email Tanya here or join the discussion BTL

…Worcestershire have already lost a wicket, and unfortunately for them it was Matthew Waite, a fourth wicket for Porter. The bowlers are in shirt sleeves, the keeper up the stumps, the three slips neatly arranged in height order.

Ali reports from Birmingham, where it is “pissing down”. It isn’t currently raining in Manchester, but is very soggy – think pile of newspapers accidentally left out in the rain by the newsagent. Rain too at Derby. Elsewhere, however…

Attacking hundreds from Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence helped Surrey to 390 for three on the third day against Sussex, who made 435 in their first innings

A first missive: and a very happy Easter to you Tim Maitland:

“Salutations Tanya!

“I’m struggling to concentrate on the cricket at the moment. It doesn’t help that my beloved Western Bulldogs (Long story short: some disreputable caddies on the LPGA decided I needed an AFL team and I didn’t have the sense to ignore them) are playing St. Kilda right now.

“But it’s not just that.

“I’m finding it hard to get a sense of who is in form, especially with the bat. Maybe it’s because we were distracted by Tom Banton’s 371, which he’s followed with scores of 6, 0 and 5. How long a lead does a triple centurion get before his chain is yanked?

“If Surrey’s Dom Sibley adds significantly to his 40 overnight, does he hold the crown after a 66 at Essex and then 100 not out and 1055 against Hampshire? Incidentally he made 3 in his one game for Khulna Tigers in Chittagong, which is officially called Chattogram, which would be a great name for a social media platform wouldn’t it?

“Or is it Tom Haines? His 174 against Surrey in this round of matches is, weather permitting, potentially match winning and his second innings 141 set up the victory against Somerset last week.

“As for bowlers... have you got anything? [Ed – My immediate thought is Fergus O’Neill?]

“The Bulldogs, incidentally, have living legend Marcus Bontempelli aka The Bont back for the first time this season, but as I speak our 6 ft 10 in young superstar-to-be ruckman Sam Darcy has just hobbled off with an injured knee, which would be a disaster for the Doggies.”

• Live updates around the County Championship grounds
• Sign up for The Spin | And mail Tanya or comment BTL

Dom Bess has ushered Yorkshire over the 300 line with a boundary but he’s losing partners, Ben Raine has bowled Sears to collect his fourth wickets of the innings.

And Cameron Green, reluctantly, must leave the field at Canterbury – tries to stare down the umpire after he gives him out (unluckily) lbw, but the ump keeps his finger raised until he turns tail. Gloucs 385-9.

Warwickshire, Sussex and Nottinghamshire lead the way, with fancied Surrey, Essex and Somerset still winless

By the 99.94 Cricket Blog

Ethan Bamber knows a bit about drama (he is the son of Olivier Award-winning actor David Bamber), so it was no surprise that he finished a thrilling chase with a theatrical six. His 30 not out for Warwickshire against Durham was hardly a bit part, but it was a match in which there were 22 starring roles, county cricket delivering its unique storylines across not three acts, but four days.

Warwickshire edged Durham by a wicket while Sussex dismissed Somerset for a first Division One win since 2015

An extravagant target…after some slap and tickle by the Leicestershire tail. Ben Mike 38 not out, three wickets for Jack Morley.

A few wickets round the grounds in this first half hour:

How all the day three action unfolded, as Yorkshire cantered to a 504-run win and in Division Two Kent eased to an eight-wicket victory

Things have progressed without too much incident so far this morning at OT, Northants have kept their attacking fields, Lancashire their restraint. Lancs 152-4.

Elsewhere in Division Two: Leaning has picked up a second wicket to get rid of the dangerous Geddes (75), Middx 262-7. Singh Dale has dismissed the dangerous Carlson, Glamorgan 175-4 and looking down a sink-hole. And Derbyshire are nine down at Grace Road, 105 behind. Four wicket for Van Beek, who dismissed Andersson and who in the words of Mike Daniels “has firmly established himself as a favourite here very quickly.” Derbys 379-9.

Hampshire and Nottinghamshire stole a march on champions Surrey in a fine first round of matches

By the 99.94 Cricket Blog

Walking through the warm, not even watery, sunshine of St John’s Wood with only the still leafless trees to betray the date, I suspected there would be runs in the first round of the County Championship – and so it proved.