Notts go into break top of Division One after bowling out Yorkshire, while Kent struggle in Derbyshire
Nottinghamshire dance into the Championship’s early summer break at the top of Division One, after bowling Yorkshire out just before tea at Headingley. Dillon Pennington took five wickets and Kyle Verreynne six catches behind the stumps. As drizzle hung in the air, and the spectators unfurled their umbrellas, Jack White and Jordan Thompson hung on – until Mohammad Abbas delivered the final blow.
It was another dispiriting day for Kent as Derbyshire dispatched them before lunch. Tawanda Muyeye was caught behind off the first ball of the day, a Zak Chappell lifter, and four wickets fell in eight overs. It was all over bar some last-wicket heave-ho from Grant Stewart. Kent’s fourth defeat in a row leaves them bottom of Division Two, but Derbyshire hover in second, below Leicestershire, with their second win of the season.
Elsewhere, the rain which had stayed away for most of the spring ensured that there were draws at the Oval, New Road and Wantage Road.
Sam Curran’s second 70 of the match helped Surrey to bat for a draw against the energy of Jamie Porter (five for 88) and the guile of Simon Harmer. A 51-ball stand by Jamie Overton and Jordan Clark finally bolted the door on Essex’s ambition on a soggy day. The draw keeps Surrey second in Division One and, in the words of their head coach Gareth Batty, “nicely bubbling away”.
Worcestershire were saved by persistent late-afternoon showers after Warwickshire had reduced them to eight down, with Chris Woakes and Chris Rushworth grabbing three wickets each. Under skies thick with cloud cover, and on a tricksy pitch, Matthew Waite’s unbeaten 44, with support from Ethan Bamber and Tom Taylor, was crucial.
Bold declarations from Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire were thwarted at Wantage Road. Half-centuries from James Sales and Saif Zaib allowed Northants to set Gloucestershire 350. Miles Hammond and Cameron Bancroft got things ticking over nicely but wickets kept things tight until the weather intervened.
Key events
And that, my friends, is your lot. Thanks for your company over last two months – it’s been a blast.
Also, a surprise: Notts and Leicestershire top their respective tables by healthy margins, Yorkshire and Worcestershire hang by their coat tails, Kent and Lancs can take a long rejuvenating lie down in a darkened room. We’ll be back on June 22nd, enjoy midsummer!
Division One Table (seven games played)
1 Nottinghamshire 115
2 Surrey 105
3 Sussex 95
4 Warwickshire 93
5 Somerset 92
6 Durham 84
7 Hampshire 82
8 Essex 75
9 Yorkshire 59
10 Worcestershire 54
Division Two Table (seven games played)
1 Leicestershire 139
2 Derbyshire 108
3 Glamorgan 97
4 Gloucestershire 88
5 Northamptonshire 72
6 Middlesex 70
7 Lancashire 66
8 Kent 65
Surrey DRAW with Essex
A seventh wicket, but just too late. They shake hands at The Oval.
The Oval: Surrey 279 and 289-7 DRAW with Essex 217 and 479
Surrey 12 points, Essex 11
Worcestershire DRAW with Warwickshire
Worcestershire are saved by the rain.
New Road: Worcestershire 181 and 181-8 DRAW with Warwickshire 227 and 280
Worcestershire 11 points, Warwickshire 11.
Northants DRAW with Gloucestershire
County Ground: Northamptonshire 469 and 259-6dec DRAW with Gloucestershire 379-8dec and 214-6
Northamptonshire: 13 points; Gloucestershire: 13
The players are popping back at The Oval – half an hour for Essex to finish the job. I’m going to write up for the paper, but do keep chatting BTL.
Back off at The Oval
Hmmm. Think this might be dribbling to a close.
Back on at The Oval
Fourteen overs left in the day –weather permitting – Essex need four wickets.
Rain at The Oval too
Time for a cup of tea.
A wicket at Wantage Road… then rain
A swooping double-handed pickup by Harrison and Northants have a sixth! Bracey on his way for 22, Conway the bowler. Glos need 136, Northants four wickets.
Curran plays a theatrical drive, and caught at backward point. A fourth for a geed-up Porter. Essex chipping away.
That man Calvin Harrison! Big Cam Green widens his boots, cuts, and is caught at cover for 25. That’s his final innings for Gloucestershire in Championship cricket and I hope the mysterious benefactor feels he got bang for his buck – with three centuries, he didn’t let anyone down. Gloucs are now five down
It’s also the Women’s County Cup Final at Taunton today. Surrey have beaten the Bears in the first semi-final, with two balls to spare.
A rain delay in the second semi, where Blaze are 75 for three in 13 overs against Lancashire Thunder.
The final is due for 6.45pm BST but that looks as if it will drift a little.
It’s windy at Wantage Road, switch over to see Bartlett’s shirt become a rippling sail as he trots in. I’d missed Miles Hammond being out just before tea, for an excellent 80. Northants need four wickets, Glos 172 runs.
That didn’t take long: they’re back out, as the spectators wipe down their seats with a cloth.
The rain is falling again at The Oval, though Essex are reluctant to leave the field.
Three games left – tea at Wantage Road, rain at New Road and Rajitha v Curran at The Oval.
Notts BEAT Yorkshire by 163 runs
Mo Abbas with the final wicket, a sixth catch for the immaculate Verreynne. Five wickets for Pennington, four wins for Notts, who finish the spring block with a flourish.
Headingley: Nottinghamshire 228 and 393-8dec BEAT Notts Yorkshire 159 and 299 by 163 runs
Yorkshire 3 points, Nottinghamshire 19 points.
Over at Chelmsford, Jim is following England’s efforts to grab a clean-sweep.
All out, 2
For anyone having a bad day, thanks to the Guardian’s Stephen Moss, for this scorecard.
Quietly, Gloucestershire are padding along. Hammond 59 from 97, Green yet to get going, 12. Glos 169-3, need 181.
Jack White is a lucky boy, edging Pennington just short of slip. Notts put collective heads in collective hands. A great stat from Dave Bracegirdle on the BBC – Notts have only won at Headingley four times in red-ball cricket.
I’m beginning to think that hanging my washing out at lunchtime was a mistake. If it’s whistling over the Pennines. Yorkshire, you’re in luck. Patterson-White wheels in, White prods away, and Yorkshire survive another over.
So eyes swivel to Headingley, where Yorkshire’s batsmen are taking a leisurely drink. Abbas has the ball, White must defend.
Rain, rain, rain
Off at The Oval, with Surrey five down, needing 217. Sam Curran 53 not out.
Off at New Road, Warwickshire need two wickets, Worcs 146 runs. Waite 44 not out.
Off at Wantage Road, Bancroft out for 60, Green has joined Hammond, 57. Glos need 216, Northants seven wickets.
Two teams, once alike in infamy:
Mickey Arthur: “We threw the first punch and got big runs and Kent were the team who played under pressure for the game.
“We want to have that winning mindset all the time and be a team that’s hard to beat and once you become that team the next step is winning and winning is hard.
“Getting over that final hurdle is tough and we are still very much in that progressive phase but I’m really liking what I’m seeing and the attitude, the belief and the confidence that is coming out of the dressing room now is no end so I’m very, very happy.”
Adam Hollioake: “We were behind the run of the game from the beginning. We didn’t bowl well in the first hour and we know how important that is.
“And then scoreboard pressure, we weren’t able to contain them and when a team gets 587 in the first innings they’re not losing from there so we were just trying to bat to save the game.
“Scoreboard pressure and momentum is a real thing in professional sport and I think that was the main thing here.
“it doesn’t take a genius to work out that we’re not batting well enough and not bowling well enough so those are the things we are going to have to work on before we come back, we don’t play another four day game until the last week in June so we’ve got a bit of a break from them now.”
Fifties for Cameron Bancroft and Miles Hammond!
Good on Gloucestershire for going for the win –116 for two, need another 234.
Pennington the man since lunch. Coad slopes off after squaring up and giving Verreynne a little gift behind. . Pennington has five and Yorkshire are almost done.
They’re off for bad light at New Road
With Warwickshire licking their lips … two Worcs wickets needed.
And Jason Roy gets a pair! Porter is suitably fuelled as Harmer drops to his left and scoops up an edge with one hand. Surrey five down.