Gloucestershire dramatically deny Glamorgan record run chase
Three thrilling matches went down to the wire to draw the latch on this high summer window of Championship cricket. Glamorgan tied with Gloucestershire in an astonishing match at Cheltenham, Glamorgan falling just short of what would have been a world-record run chase of 593.
Jamie McIlroy, at No 11, needed one from the final ball, but instead edged Ajeet Singh Dale to James Bracey who took a flying catch in ungloved hand. Sam Northeast, the Glamorgan captain, top-scored with a brilliant 187, Marnus Labuschagne made 119, and there was an unbeaten 43 from Mason Crane at the death, but it wasn’t quite enough.
Tom Abell polished off a golden chase of 410 with four successive boundaries as he guided Somerset to a five-wicket win over Warwickshire with 152. He was aided by Tom Banton (81), James Rew (57) and Tom Kohler-Cadmore (49). There were four overs to spare.
Liam Dawson’s cameo 56, off 28 balls, turned Hampshire’s tricky chase of 179 in 31 overs on its head on an overcast Southampton evening. Ben Compton and Harry Finch had earlier made life tricky for Hampshire, but Kent go into the break without a Championship win since May 3.
After the fireworks on Tuesday, Jimmy Anderson’s (possible) final day in his faded red rose cap was a quieter affair. With on off weather, and a small, if loyal, crowd, he took only one more wicket as an excellent century from Nottinghamshire’s Joe Clarke blunted a tired Lancashire attack on a tricky pitch.
Tom Lawes grabbed four wickets to help Surrey to a 145-run win over an Essex side hampered by the loss of Jordan Cox on day one. A crowd of 13,706 came through the turnstiles, a record for a Championship match at the Oval in the 21st century. Surrey have a 23-point cushion over second-placed Somerset, and there they will stay until the conkers are almost ready to fall – the next round starts on August 22.
Till August 22, goodbye!
That’s the way to do it! A humdinger of a round of games – three thrilling finishes and Jimmy Anderson’s metronomically marvellous return to action at Southport. Thanks as always for your company, and messages above and below the line. We’ll be back in late August with Surrey looking down on the rest – until then, good night and have a lovely summer.
Updated
DIVISION ONE TABLE
1 Surrey 157 pts
2 Somerset 134
3 Essex 128
4 Hampshire 120
5 Durham 102
6 Nottinghamshire 102
7 Lancashire 101
8 Warwickshire 96
9 Worcestershire 91
10 Kent 66
DIVISION TWO TABLE
1 Sussex 150 pts
2 Middlesex 127
3 Yorkshire 123
4 Leicestershire 115
5 Glamorgan 108
6 Gloucestershire 103
7 Northants 97
8 Derbyshire 78
Final Scores
Division One:
Southampton: Hampshire 505-8 dec & 180-4 BEAT Kent 343 & 340 BY SIX WICKETS
Southport: Lancashire 353-9 dec DRAW WITH Nottinghamshire 126 & 270-4 dec
Taunton: Somerset 284 & 413-5 BEAT Warwickshire 412 & 281-8 dec BY FIVE WICKETS
The Oval: Surrey 262 & 278 BEAT Essex 180 & 215 BY 145 RUNS
Division Two:
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 179 & 610-5 dec TIE WITH Glamorgan 197 & 592 -
Glamorgan TIE WITH Gloucestershire
Unbelievable!
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 179 & 610-5 dec TIE WITH Glamorgan 197 & 592
Updated
Two to win, one over left
What a fantasy finish…
Glamorgan need eight off two! Gloucestershire still need the one wicket! Mason Crane the main man.
Key event
“Hi Tanya,” Hello again Finbar Anslow. “Getting drenched in a Puglia cloudburst but the sun is beaming in my West country heart. Life is good.”
And all eyes to Cheltenham where Glamorgan need 22, Gloucestershire need one wicket and there are five overs left.
Hampshire BEAT Kent by six wickets!
What a cameo by Liam Dawson! A 29 ball 56 to take Hampshire to victory with eight overs to spare
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 505-8 dec and 180-4 BEAT Kent 343 & 340 BY SIX WICKETS
Points: Hampshire 23, Kent 4
Somerset BEAT Warwickshire by five wickets!
Well, well, well! Congratulations Tom Abell for an astonishing 152 and an incredible chase.The second highest successful fourth innings run chase in Somerset’s history and they move up to second in the table.
Taunton: Somerset 284 & 413-5 BEAT Warwickshire 412 & 281-8 dec by FIVE WICKETS!
Somerset 20 points, Warwickshire 7.
Updated
Glamorgan need 38 to win from 11 overs/Gloucestershire two wickets
Thriller! Down to Crane and Gorvin. All rise for Sam Northeast’s 187.
Time for me to write up for the paper – but keep reading! Excitement to the end!
And Hampshire on the prowl too – the target under a hundred. Middleton and James- 211-Vince to bring it home. Parky’s first over went for nine.
A hundred for Tom Abell!
Abell herding Somerset towards – possibilites. Eight-one needed, five wickets and overs left.
🎶 REWY REWY REWY REWY 🎶
— Somerset Cricket 🏆 (@SomersetCCC) July 3, 2024
LIVE STREAM ➡️ https://t.co/aRtGCP76ez#SOMvWAR#WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/nz5mMNmq4U
How is the World Record Chase going?
Wobbly. 87 needed but now seven down. Northeast still there on 172. Mason Crane his partner and – gosh – he has just been dropped.
Surrey BEAT Essex by 145 runs!
Essex lost their last four wickets for 34. Walter the seventh man out for 56. Lawes 4-26. Surrey ink their name at the top of the table.
The Oval: Surrey 262 & 278 v Essex 180 & 215.
Surrey 20 points, Essex 3
Lancashire DRAW with Nottinghamshire!
And they call it a day! Clarke 115 not out. The rain about to fall. Warm applause for the players from the anoraked crowd, especially for the tall, slim man in the no. 9 Lancashire shirt.
Southport: Lancashire 353-9 dec DRAW with Nottinghamshire 126 & 270-4
Lancs 14 points, Notts 10 one deducted for a slow over-rate)
Updated
A hundred for Joe Clarke!
And gets there with a four, square cutting Luke Wells and his friendly part-time legspin, with some panache. His fourth century for Nottinghamshire. And then four more.
As someone wise points out, only three people have got more than fifty in this match: Keaton Jennings and his unbeaten 187, Ben Slater and his unbeaten 64 and Clarke with his (so far) unbeaten 105. Lancs need wickets, as the wind gets up and the skies once again darken. Notts 253-4.
Hampshire need 179 to win
A plucky effort by Kent, Finch the last man to go for 84. Five wicket for Abbott. Now Hampshire need 179 to win in 31 overs. I’m looking to the Kent bowling attack and I can’t see anyone who will do a Jimmy.
Well held on the second attempt by Vincey 😅 https://t.co/AHP29rgKP1 pic.twitter.com/2cSYzLqd1D
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) July 3, 2024
This is a super innings by Joe Clarke, against two of the best Test bowlers in the world, and he’s now guided Nottinghamshire to parity. The sun has reappeared and a pretty blue and white sky blows into view.
Walter passes fifty, but loses his Pepper! Tom Lawes breaks through with the first over after tea. Harmer 0 from 24 balls, Essex 190-6.
A good read by Daniel Gallan on South Africa’s loss to India, in this week’s Spin:
Tea time scores
DIVISION ONE:
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 505-8 dec v Kent 343 & 318-9 (latest)
Southport: Lancashire 353-9 dec v Nottinghamshire 126 & 191-4
Taunton: Somerset 284 & 230-3 v Warwickshire 412 & 281-8 dec
The Oval: Surrey 262 & 278 v Essex 180 & 181-5
DIVISION TWO:
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 179 & 610-5 dec v Glamorgan 197 & 453-6
We're on again at Southport
A minimum of 33 overs in this final session, weather permitting. Notts are behind on their over rate so fill fancy getting on to throw a few down quickly if possible. Balderson from the tent end, Anderson from his familiar Harrop Drive end. Still some doughty spectators with damp bums and strong constitutions.
A further inspection at Southport
is imminent.
The target falls below 150 at Cheltenham
Northeast 144, Douthwaite 38. Gloucestershire have now used seven bowlers.
Awful satellite images of the damage Hurricane Beryl has done to the Windward Isles.
Newly released high-resolution satellite images give a sense of just how devastating Hurricane Beryl was to parts of the Windward Islands.
— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) July 3, 2024
Credit: @Maxar pic.twitter.com/tusw9ENGAb
There’s life in all five games – ignoring the rain at Southport, where incidently the groundstaff are dragging off the big groundsheets.
Somerset 193-3, need 217 to win, but just a wicket away from Warwickshire breathing down their necks again.
Walter and Pepper have put on 59. Essex 176-5, need 185. Surrey toying with the mouse.
Kent 309-8, Finch and Parkinson holding on. The lead over Hampshire has crept to 147 runs.
They’re packing away the chairs on the hill by the scoreboard….but all the umpires are telling us is that the players are taking an early tea. Light, annoying, rain.
Glamorgan need 170!
And finally to Cheltenham, where (shhhh) things are still on. Northeast 134 not out; Douthwaite 31 not out. Glamorgan 423-5.
Parky M, your big moment. Needs to hang about after a double strike by Abbott. Finch unbeaten on 57. Kent lead by 130.
A member of the Southport groundstaff comes into the tent. “The radar says it isn’t raining,” he says. “But it is.” Thinks we’ll get back on.
Seems unlikely that Abell and Banton can thread together another 251 for a Somerset win, but they’ve seen off Warwickshire for eight overs at least. Another hour till tea. Abell 41, Banton 15.
Updated
The rain has ceased at The Oval. Can Essex hold out till stumps? Walter would have to dig the innings out of a hole again, currently 14 not out. Pepper his company. Essex 121-5, need an unlikely 244 to win. Two wickets to Lawes, two to Clark.
Big, big covers now. Hauled on despite the wind.
Rain stops play at Southport
Apologies all, this Guardian IT is taking a while. But despite lots of oohs and aahs, Lancs haven’t managed to breakthrough with the new ball. Covers now on, hoods up and fine rain blowing into the ten.t
Apologies, I’m just stuck in a chat with a very helpful man in IT. Hopefully won’t be too long. The new ball is due here in Southport imminently.
Lunchtime scores
Division One
Surrey 262 and 278 v Essex 180 and 38-2 rain stopped play Essex need 323 to win
Somerset 284 and 117-2 v Warwickshire 412 and 281-8dec Somerset need 293 to win
Lancashire 353-9 v Nottinghamshire 126 and 164-4
Hampshire 505-8dec v Kent 343 and 220-5 Kent lead by 58
Worcestershire 112 and 231-4 BEAT Durham 190 & 152 BY SIX WICKETS
Division Two
Leicestershire 179 & 372 BEAT Middlesex 86 and 342 BY 123 RUNS
Gloucestershire 179 and 610-5 v Glamorgan 197 and 341-4-Glamorgan need 252 to win
Sussex 143 & 237 BEAT Northamptonshire 97 and 220 BY 63 RUNS
Yorkshire 451-9dec BEAT Derbyshire 76 and 171 v BY AN INNINGS AND 204 RUNS
And Notts survive, a generous round of applause from the Southport crowd as the players wander off. A plug for the second-hand bookstall from the ground announcer, as well as a message to a punter that the hotel he stayed at has his phone and glasses. The groundstaff go out to paint lines on the pitch, and it is time for my packed lunch.
“Hey Tanya, Jaivir here, first time watching county cricket (I’m from India) and really enjoying it.” Great to hear from you Jaivir, we don’t get many correspondents from India.
“Lovely win for the Worcs yesterday to shake things up a bit, and quite enjoyable to watch the Notts batters hold their own. Shame we have to wait until August after today.”
Completely agree on Worcestershire, and they have had a particularly torrid start to the season this year. Without any data to back me up, I reckon they are the majority of people’s second favourite side.
New ball taken at Cheltenham
Gloucestershire, who pumped 610-5 in their second innings, know just how tricky it will be to whistle through the last six wickets. Northeast and Cooke have slowed down – just 21 put on in the last eight overs since Marnus went.
An excellent fifty for Joe Clarke, who moves past 700 runs for the season.
And Lyndon James is off the mark after 25 balls of watchful waiting. Not a bad way to do it either as he swings Nathan Lyon for four. Notts have 15 minutes till lunch, and if they don’t lose any more wickets this morning I think they’ll be content.
It’s genuinely quite warm in the sun here now, though only the players are in their shirt sleeves. Bit damper at Bristol, where England and New Zealand prepare to do battle.
If you’re going to Bristol, do look out for The Next Test. We’ve got a little stand there, trying to raise awareness of the climate emergency.
Good morning Martin ODW “Weather permitting, a fantastic day ahead in the remaining matches, with results possible in all five. Makes it all the more bitter-sweet knowing there’ll no more CC until August. Leavened partly by the knowledge that there are probably a few people at England HQ squirming in their seats about the possibly premature decision to tap Jimmy on the shoulder...”
It is intriguing isn’t it. As mentioned BTL, Chris Woakes, god love him, has so far bowled 24 wicketless overs for Warwicks.
Marnus out for 119!
Glamorgan’s unlikely task now verging towards the impossible. Beau Webster with the wicket, caught by fellow Australian Cameron Bancroft. Glamorgan 309-4, need another 284. Cooke can go at quite a lick, mind.
A breakthrough at Southport! And it isn’t one of the big beasts. Haynes goes to cut the tall Green, wheeling in from the press tent end, and is caught by Hurst for 21. Notts 134-4, and a first Championship wicket for Green.
Suddenly things looking easier for Notts. Jack Haynes flays six over the fence and onto the railway line just before a train chugs past on its merry way. Notts 132-3.
A hundred for Marnus Labuschagne!
Marnus enjoying himself on the greasy quick outfield of Cheltenham! His second of the season and his tenth for Glamorgan.
Updated
Kent have lost a big beast – Jack Leaning for 43. Compton digging in on 82. Even Kent should avoid an innings defeat now, but it is a tough ask to last all day against Abbas, Barker, Abbott and Dawson.
Could it be a late-burning thriller at Cheltenham? Marnus still there on 87, compiler of ridiculous scores Sam Northeast on 62. Glamorgan 261-3, need another 332.
And Anderson has completed his first spell of the morning. A parsimonious: 6-2-9-1
Somerset chasing 410 to win after Warwicks declare 282-8
A vigorous start by Andy Umeed cut off in its prime when he got a edge to the keeper for a boundary-laden 30. Somerset 50.1 off 9.4 and it they keep this up it will be all over before tea. Quite a big if, I admit.
Nathan Lyon said last night that he was hoping to bowl more than the three overs in tandem he and Anderson managed yesterday. And here we are again. Lucky Notts. Anderson now, slips crowding in.
It takes 18 minutes...
Jimmy has his first wicket of the day, his eighth in the match, with his 17th delivery of the day. Another batter all at sea, Young pushing forward and caught behind. Notts 95-3.
Weather watch
Seems Southport might have the best of the weather, a few hundred here to see Jimmy deliver expensive chocolates with a smile. If you squint, there is a hint of gentle sunshine. The rain has started already at The Oval, which will delight Essex.
In addition to the CC, the first class counties select XI are taking on West Indies at Beckenham today.
England: Ben McKinney (c), Harry Singh, Tom Prest, Hamza Shaikh, Will Luxton, Harry Duke (wk), Jamal Richards, Bertie Foreman, Eddie Jack, Farhan Ahmed, John Turner, Josh Hull, Sonny Baker
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Mikyle Louis, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Zachary McCaskie, Tevin Imlach, Kevin Sinclair, Alzarri Joseph, Jayden Seales, Jeremiah Louis, Isai Thorne.
And from the Harrod Drive End…. James Anderson.
Scores on the doors
Division One
Surrey 262 and 278 v Essex 180 and 21-2
Somerset 284 v Warwickshire 412 and 281-8
Lancashire 353-9 v Nottinghamshire 126 and 84-2
Hampshire 505-8dec v Kent 343 and 132-2
Worcestershire 112 and 231-4 BEAT Durham 190 & 152 BY SIX WICKETS
Division Two
Leicestershire 179 & 372 BEAT Middlesex 86 and 342 BY 123 RUNS
Gloucestershire 179 and 610-5 v Glamorgan 197 and 222-3 Glamorgan need 371 to win
Sussex 143 & 237 BEAT Northamptonshire 97 and 220 BY 63 RUNS
Yorkshire 451-9dec BEAT Derbyshire 76 and 171 v BY AN INNINGS AND 204 RUNS
Updated
Preamble
Good morning! The weather is currently not raining in Southport and looks much more perky than predicted. The Notts players are practising high catches worrying close to our tent. This is the final day of county cricket until August, so fill your boots!
