Lancashire make hay on rain-lashed day
Day one was a washout at five grounds, as the County Championship pulled on its bedsocks and rolled into the final week of the season. With the champions already crowned, Sussex up, and Kent down, just one promotion and one relegation spot remain to be played for.
At New Road, Lancashire threw themselves into the relegation dog fight with abandon, reducing Worcestershire to 22 for five under dirty slate skies. Matthew Waite and Logan van Beek then bashed 63 for the eighth wicket, hauling Worcestershire beyond three figures, before the rain returned. Tom Bailey, accurate as ever, finished with three for nine, and there were three wickets for Anderson Phillip.
Theoretically, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire are both in danger of the drop, but rain washed out all but 15.2 overs at Trent Bridge – Notts finishing 33 for two.
A shell-shocked Somerset were winkled out for 136 at Taunton, before fighting back, on a day when seven batters fell for nought. Tom Kohler-Cadmore was the only Somerset man to pass 29, with 63, an innings that started with carefree abandon but retreated into desperate accumulation as the wickets fell about him, four of them to the unstoppable Liam Dawson, four to Kyle Abbott – who bowled Shoaib Bashir only for the ball to be deemed dead when a towel fell out of his pocket in his delivery stride. Hampshire then wobbled as Jack Leach took three wickets, he and Bashir bowling in tandem for the first time in a Championship match.
There was no play at Hove, much to the frustration of Middlesex, who need to make up a 15-point deficit to have a hope of promotion. A wet outfield prevented any play at Headingley, too, where Yorkshire need a maximum of 10 points to breathe easy.
Thanks for your company this dank day, fingers crossed for more Championship action tomorrow. Have a lovely evening.
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
TAUNTON: Somerset 136 v Hampshire 62-5
CHESTER LE STREET: Durham v Kent no play Thursday.
TRENT BRIDGE: Nottinghamshire 33-2 v Warwickshire
NEW ROAD Worcestershire 119-7 v Lancashire
CHELMSFORD: Essex 116-1 v Surrey
DIVISION TWO
HEADINGLEY: Yorkshire v Northamptonshire no play Thursday
SOPHIA GARDENS Glamorgan v Gloucestershire no play Thursday
HOVE Sussex v Middlesex no play Thursday
GRACE ROAD Leicestershire v Derbyshire no play Thursday
And as James Vince, one of the most instantly recognisable county cricketers in whites, is caught in ungainly fashion off Leach’s first over, time for me to write up for the paper. Do chat on BTL before the nights fully draw in.
Wider walkways and off-limits staircases
MCC tighten security before Australia’s ODI at Lord’s tomorrow.
Ah ok, Shoaib Bashir comes on at the other end. Jumper off, long legs stretching. A maiden. And Leach takes over at the other.
Updated
and James Vince sweeps his first ball for six.
Archie Vaughan gets a bowl before Shoaib Bashir…
Which leaves us with just the game at Taunton to carry us home tonight. Theoretically 20 overs left, and I just spotted a shadow walking alongside Lewis Gregory.
And curtains closed at Trent Bridge
Just 15.2 overs possible, with Notts finishing 33-2.
Some more permutation-musing from the ECB reporter, “Should Lancashire take only the three bowling points against Worcestershire but still go on to win it would leave Nottnghamshire having at least to draw to cheat the drop. If Lancashire do only manage 19 points, safety would be assured for Warwickshire.”
Gubbins the next in a succession of batsmen to have a bad day, caught by Abell off Gregory for five. Hampshire 13-2.
They've called it a day at New Road
No escape from the heavy post-tea downpours. Lancashire on top after reducing Worcs to 119-7, though that marks something of an escape from 22 for five.
Waite and van Beek added an unbroken 63 in seven overs for the eighth wicket, choosing the sword over the pen and the deadbat.
Could have been 0-2, were it not for Aldridge’s slipperly digits at second slip. Albert on 0. Gregory rubs the ball on his shirt and smiles as he walks back to his mark.
Bad light in Nottingham
They didn’t last long at Trent Bridge, off for bad light. Notts 33-1.
At Taunton, four slips as Lewis Gregory runs in with a sprightly maiden. The fresh-faced Alfie Ogborne at the other end – and he swings one past Middleton, scooped up at second slip. Hampshire 0-1.
They’re pulling on more covers at New Road, skies dirty slate.
The lady in New Road weather house has gone in (or is it out?); but she’s come out at Trent Bridge, where Notts have resumed and are now 33-1.
Somerset have been bowled out for 136 at Taunton – let’s see what Hampshire can do. No Craig Overton for this match.
Tea time ish scores
DIVISION ONE
TAUNTON: Somerset 130-8 v Hampshire
CHESTER LE STREET: Durham v Kent no play Thursday.
TRENT BRIDGE: Nottinghamshire 27-1 v Warwickshire rain stopped play
NEW ROAD Worcestershire 119-7 v Lancashire - start delayed
CHELMSFORD: Essex 116-1 v Surrey play abandoned for the day
DIVISION TWO
HEADINGLEY: Yorkshire v Northamptonshire no play Thursday
SOPHIA GARDENS Glamorgan v Gloucestershire no play Thursday
HOVE Sussex v Middlesex no play Thursday
GRACE ROAD Leicestershire v Derbyshire no play Thursday
A fabulous bit of vigorous digging by Waite and van Beek has added 58 for the eighth wicket, Worcs attain a slightly pinker pallor at 113-7.
More big bat news
Worcestershire have been handed a suspended two-point deduction in the Blast for 2025 from an independent panel of the Cricket Discipline Commission. The deduction comes after Josh Cobb used a bat which failed a bat-gauge test during Worcestershire’s game against Durham on 5 July 2024. Cobb had not faced a delivery at the time the bat was tested.
The CDC Adjudicator originally imposed a two-point T20 points deduction for the 2025 season, but the decision was revised on appeal.
CDC interim director Dave Lewis said:
“We also note that this is the second oversized bat case this year, and the Cricket Regulator will be working with counties, players, and officials to inform them about the issue with a view to preventing a recurrence next season.”
Huge grey clouds billowing over New Road, as Anderson Phillip sprints in and Adam Hose postboxes him straight down the ground. Worcestershire have passed fifty.
At Taunton, Somerset have lost JAck Leach. Somerset 124-8. TKC still there on 52.
Hose is still there but George Balderson, who bowled so well at Old Trafford, now sends Brookes on his way. Worcs 39-6.
Adam Hose takes one in the box and is writhing around in some pain.
Five slips for Tom Bailey…
With six games abandoned for the day, and a delay at Trent Bridge, the only other action is at Taunton where TKC (38 not out) is hanging on but Somerset are 104-7, Dawson 3-17.
Play called off for the day at Chelmsford
After a healthy morning’s cricket for Essex (116-1), the rain spoils things. They’d done well to start on time after the groundstaff clocked in at 6.30am to pump 4,500 litres of water off the playing surface.
And lo, a fifth – a third wicket for the miserly pencil-slim Tom Bailey (3-1). Worcs 22-5.
And another….as Kashif Ali is swallowed up at fourth slip by George Bell. Worcs 22-4 and Lancs doing all they can in an admirable last-ditch attempt to avoid the drop.
And Rob Jones falls against his old county, Lancashire exploiting tricky batting conditions at New Road after Keaton Jennings won the toss. Worcs 22-3.
Play abandoned for the day at Grace Road
The curtains close at Leicester too.
A nice snippet for Derbys fans from the ECB reporter:
”Mathematically, Derbyshire still have a chance to avoid collecting their 16th wooden spoon but Glamorgan need only to avoid defeat against Gloucestershire in Cardiff to make that impossible”
Now third slip exercises his fingers at New Road, Harry Singh collecting Jake Libby off a drive. Worcs 12-2.
And a sixth Somerset batter comes and goes without troubling the scorer – Kasey Aldridge lbw to that man Liam Dawson. Not surprised Somerset look a bit cooked– time to zip up the season at Taunton and lick their wounds.
Ignore the previous out of date post – at New Road, Tom Bailey has just had Gareth Roderick caught by Williams at fourth slip off the second ball of the match. Worcs 0-1. Lancs are unchanged from Old Trafford last week
Somerset are 70-5, Rew a second wicket for Abbas, for a duck.
Rain has kept Essex off since lunch (116-1); while rain has forced Notts and Warwicks from the field, Notts 27-1.
Two wickets since lunch – player of the season (or certainly with a shout) Liam Dawson sends Archie Vaughan on his way for 29; while Ed Barnard sends HH on his way for 7.
Play abandoned for the day at Headingley
Puddles on the outfield sound the death knell for today.
But a bit of news from Headingley, thanks to Graham Hardcastle. George Hill was given his county cap this morning (No. 192) by Jonny Bairstow, who will play his fifth game of the season for Yorks.
Northamptonshire’s squad includes a quartet of potential first-class debutants in Arush Buchake, Krish Patel, Aadi Sharma and Fateh Singh.
With your post-lunch coffee, a very nice read by James Wallace.
Nepo babies on rise in Championship as 2005 anniversary approaches | Cricket | The Guardian
HH sends the ball skimming to the rope, to get Notts up and running. Play due to resume soon at Taunton too.
Ninepins: play abandoned for the day at Hove
Heavy overnight rain followed by torrential downpours. Ground saturated.
Movement at Trent Bridge
In the important Midlands derby, Warwickshire have won the toss and will field. Weather permitting, play will start at ten past one.
Play abandoned for the day at Sophia Gardens
A waterlogged outfield kills any hopes for the day.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
TAUNTON: Somerset 52-3 v Hampshire
CHESTER LE STREET: Durham v Kent no play Thursday.
TRENT BRIDGE: Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire start delayed
NEW ROAD Worcestershire v Lancashire - start delayed
CHELMSFORD: Essex 116-1 v Surrey
DIVISION TWO
HEADINGLEY: Yorkshire v Northamptonshire start delayed
SOPHIA GARDENS Glamorgan v Gloucestershire no play Thursday
HOVE Sussex v Middlesex start delayed
GRACE ROAD Leicestershire v Derbyshire start delayed
CCLive! County Championship team of the year
Let’s have a go at selecting one, to complement the BBC XI. No scientific polling here I’m afraid, just have a go BTL, or email me direct by Saturday evening, and I’ll announce our team on Sunday morning.
My off the top of my head effort:
1 Burns
2 Elgar
3 Lammonby
4 Brook
5 Bedingham
6 Bracey
7 Robinson
8 Dawson
9 Roland-Jones
10 Worrall
11 Seales
Bracey and Robinson can share the gloves
And rain at Chelmsford
Just time for Essex to bring up the hundred, with fifties to Elgar and Westley, before the rain falls. Time for lunch everyone.
A very moving interview with Syd Lawrence on the BBC website and a beautiful photograph of Lawrence and James Bracey.
Play abandoned for the day at CLS
Puddles on the outfield after torrential rain. They go again tomorrow.
So much trivia in five minutes of listening to Essex v Surrey – 1000 runs for Dean Elgar, a Championship debut for 21 year old left-arm spinner Yousef Majid, and the BBC Essex commentator went to school with Samantha Fox.
Then there was one
Essex, after losing Das in the second over, have sailed along to 61-1 against Surrey – who visited Old Trafford in the last match of the 2022 season, already champions, and fell to pieces against Lancashire, defeated within three days.
It’s now raining in Taunton too – though TKC has enlivened things with five four in his 22 not out. Somerset 52-3.
The first email of the day: Hello Phil Withall. “Evening Tanya, from a mild and overcast Queensland.
“There is s certain irony in the summer sport reaching it’s finale and the weather deciding it would be a good idea to just “rain on everybody’s parade”. However, if it means Yorkshire are promoted I’ll happily take it...”
I really can’t see how Yorkshire fail to go up… if you have a subscription (I don’t) this looks like it would be an interesting interview with the departing Ottis Gibson.
And Tom Abell follows the procession: Mohammad Abbas with his scalpel. Somerset 35-3.
Comings and goings
Thanks to JamesMoriarty below the line for jolting my memory:
Lancashire’s Stephen Croft has retired from all cricket, after signing a T20 contract for 2024.
Dom Bess has signed a new two-year contract with Yorkshire.
If you know any more, send them my way!
Promotion/relegation equations
Yorkshire go into today with a 15 point lead over Middlesex, so ten points would confirm their promotion after two seasons in Division Two. Middlesex need to win and hope Yorkshire lose, or draw with maximum points and hope Yorkshire have collected just one point.
At the miserable end of Division One, Lancashire are favourites to go down, currently 15 points behind third from bottom Notts, and 20 points behind fourth from bottom Warwickshire. Notts will be safe if they collect 10 points, Warwickshire need five. Lancs must win with max bonus points and cross their fingers.
Division Two Table
1 Sussex (PROMOTED) 221
2 Yorkshire 201
3 Middlesex 186
4 Northamptonshire 152
5 Leicestershire 145
6 Gloucestershire 141
7 Glamorgan 128
8 Derbyshire 110
Updated
Division One table
1 Surrey (CHAMPIONS) 221
2 Hampshire 195
3 Somerset 193
4 Essex 179
5 Durham 158
6 Worcestershire 151
7 Warwickshire 146
8 Nottinghamshire 141
9 Lancashire 126
10 Kent (RELEGATED) 85
Oh dear. Another. Somerset now 4-2. Andy Umeed trudges off.
A late September LBW to start things off – as Tom Lammonby becomes Kyle Abbott’s 47th Championship wicket of the season.
Action at Taunton and Chelmsford – which could have been the denouement to the season, but no longer after Lancs beat Somerset and Surrey squashed Durham last week. Somerset and Hampshire battling it out for second place behind the Champions.
Lots to read though as we wait for things to dry out, starting with this, an account of Glamorgan’s triumph in the one-day cup!
Fixtures
DIVISION ONE
TAUNTON: Somerset v Hampshire
CHESTER LE STREET: Durham v Kent start delayed. Lunch at noon.
TRENT BRIDGE: Nottinghamshire v Warwickshire start delayed. Inspection at noon
NEW ROAD Worcestershire v Lancashire - No play before lunch
CHELMSFORD: Essex v Surrey
DIVISION TWO
HEADINGLEY: Yorkshire v Northamptonshire start delayed
SOPHIA GARDENS Glamorgan v Gloucestershire start delayed
HOVE Sussex v Middlesex start delayed
GRACE ROAD Leicestershire v Derbyshire start delayed
Delays, delay, delays
Late starts at Chester le Street, Trent Bridge, New Road, Sophia Gardens, Grace Road, Hove and Headingley. Which leaves only Taunton, where Somerset won the toss and will bat against Hampshire, and Chelmsford, where Essex won the toss and will bat against Surrey.
Weather watch
Damp. According to the Met Office: A band of heavy rain will affect Northern Ireland, northern England, parts of north Wales, and for a time southern Scotland. Brighter to the south, but with heavy, locally thundery showers. Drier, brighter, but colder further north. Blustery in places.
Preamble
Hello! Apologies for the late start as we roll, in our bed socks, into the last round of the season. The weather is seasonable, the Champions crowned. But we do still need to work out who is joining Kent in Division Two and who is dancing up to join the big boys alongside Sussex. Play is due to start in eight minutes, but will the weather be kind?
