Key events
Eighteen deliveries left at New Road, quarter to seven, the cathedral looks impassively on. Three wickets left.
Division Two Table (11 games played)
1 Leicestershire 193
2 Glamorgan 165
3 Derbyshire 141
4 Middlesex 138
5 Gloucestershire 131
6 Lancashire 127
7 Northants 123
8 Kent 97
The Worcestershire run-chase has petered out, and with 30 balls left, three wickets left, Kyle Abbott comes back for once last blast
Gloucestershire DRAW with Middlesex
A rain-ruined game drifts to an end, as Gloucestershire collect their fourth batting point, alongside maximum bowling points for Middlesex.
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 404-9 DRAW with Middlesex 445
Gloucestershire 15 points, Middlesex 15.
Baker gets the big one, Dolly done by inswing – 286 for seven. 72 needed, three wickets and 35 balls left.
A boundary from Baker’s last ball leaves Worcestershire an unlikely but not yet buried 82 to win from seven overs.
Sonny Baker gets the call and I’ve never seen his idiosyncratic stop-start run-up before. Straight out of the coaching manual back garden. Taylor unable, as yet, to go big.
And, damn it, Waite is caught at long on.
…where Worcestershire are batting as if their Division One position depends on it… ah, it does. A second fabulous century by Libby, 65 from Kashif Ali, and cameos from the rest. Worcestershire, 261-5 need 97 to win from nine overs – D’Oliveira and Waite the men with the job.
Gloucestershire and Middlesex are enjoying actually playing cricket and picking up first-innings bowling/batting points but the real action is at New Road…
Northants DRAW with Derbyshire
Northants thwarted by Luis Reece (61), Brooke Guest (60) and the rain.
Northamptonshire: Northants 550-9dec v Derbyshire 377 and 184-5
Northamptonshire 13 points, Derbyshire 13 points.
Nottinghamshire DRAW with Somerset
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 544 DRAW with Somerset 438 and 200-5
Nottinghamshire 13 points, Somerset 12
Leicestershire DRAW with Kent
Canterbury: Kent 445-8 DRAW with Leicestershire 471
Leicestershire 14 points, Kent 13 points
Hmmm, Somerset actually have lost a wicket, the not-so=steadfast=after-all Tom Abell. But I’m going to have to leave things there as I write up for Friday deadlines. Back in a bit.
Ashes unlikely for injured Woakes
A miserable prognosis for poor Chris Woakes.
Tom Abell has the sort of steadfast fifty that is very pleasing to Anthony Gibson, Tom Banton is 31 not out. This partnership, over 35 overs, has realistically put the game to sleep.
A hundred for Joe Phillips!
A flash of inspiration at soggy Cheltenham – which is officially young Joe Phillips’ happy place. He pocketed 56 and 64 against Lancs last week, and now a unbeaten hundred against Middlesex.
Ben Kellaway chews the fat after Glamorgan’s first win at OT for 32 years.
“It was an interesting pitch – it spun from day one which you don’t see that often so credit to our openers as I think our opening stand was the reason we got into a winning position.
“It flattened out towards the end and day three and four was easier to bat on but I think we still bowled really nicely and came out of it with the win.
“I am enjoying my role and the battles I’m getting into and I’m getting some nice rewards and bowling in tandem with Mason (Crane), who bowled brilliantly in this game, has been really nice.”
It smells like four draws and a Northants win. Let’s see what the next two hours hold.
Tea-time scores
DIVISION ONE
Chester-le-Street: Surrey 322 and 176-5 BEAT Durham 153 and 344 by five wickets.
Chelmsford: Essex 602-6 dec and 96-1 DRAW with Warwickshire 485
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 544 v Somerset 438 and 168-4
New Road: Worcestershire 249 and 61-1 v Hampshire 293 and 313-7dec Worcs need 297 to win
Scarborough: Yorkshire 545-9dec BEAT Sussex 222 and 195 by an innings and 128 runs
DIVISION TWO
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 209-2 v Middlesex 445
Canterbury: Kent 429-8 v Leicestershire 471
Old Trafford: Glamorgan 261 and 348-7dec BEAT Lancashire 137 and 318 by 154 runs.
Northamptonshire: Northants 550-9dec v Derbyshire 377 and 74-5
So, as tea approaches, five games are still going. Two certain draws at Cheltenham and Canterbury. An afternoon for the bowlers at soggy Wantage Road, where Northants need six quick Derbyshire wickets for the win. Worcestershire need 309 for an unlikely win at New Road, or have a session to survive; while at Trent Bridge, Abell and Banton have steadied the Somerset ship. Their lead 54 – with six wickets up their sleeve.
Essex DRAW with Warwickshire
They’ve called it a day amongst the puddles at Chelmsford.
Chelmsford: Essex 602-6 dec and 96-1 DRAW with Warwickshire 485
Essex 14 points, Warwickshire 12.
Yorkshire BEAT Sussex by an innings and 128 runs
When you turn your head for a minute…two wickets fall in two runs and Yorkshire wrap this up before tea.
Scarborough: Yorkshire 545-9dec BEAT Sussex 222 and 195 by an innings and 128 runs
A vital win for Yorkshire, who – I think – leap both Durham and Essex. Sussex’s mid-table position is less perky than it was.
And a breakthrough at Scarborough! The video shows Adam Lyth have a good scratch at slip before a scampering dive to collect an edge off Carson, the bowler, Bess. The commentators note an irate Carson marching back to the pavilion. Yorkshire need two for victory.
Much like yesterday’s brain fade at Scarborough, Gareth Roderick has a sudden desire to run a quick single, and meets a man with a golden arm. In this case Felix Organ. Worcestershire 33 for one.
Looks quite chilly at Scarborough today, whites whistling in the breeze. Bess strolls in, five men close enough to whisper sweet nothings into Carson’s ear. And 50 for Hudson-Prentice – applause from the crowd, indifference from the seagulls. Sussex 188-7.
I’ve got a bad feeling about this Worcestershire innings.
And they’re still twiddling their thumbs at Wantage Road. Northants just need six more Derbyshire wickets.
Sussex are solidity itself, 180-7, trail Yorks by 143. Somerset less so – four down, the lead at Trent Bridge a mere 18.
Worcestershire need 358 to beat Hampshire in 53 overs
Declaration made, gauntlet thrown.
Glamorgan BEAT Lancashire by 154 runs!
Handshakes all round as last man Jimmy Anderson is bowled after trying to slog-sweep Mason Crane. A fantastic win for Glamorgan – thanks hugely to nine for 126 in the match for Mason Crane. Glamorgan shuffle more comfortably in their promotion chair. Lancs aren’t mathematically out of it – 38 points adrift of second place with three games remaining.
Old Trafford: Glamorgan 261 and 348-7dec BEAT Lancashire 137 and 318 by 154 runs.
Glamorgan 20 points, Lancashire 3 points.
A tall, slim figure walks back towards the dressing room after pushing forward to a peach of a ball that pitches middle and chef kisses the top of off. A third wicket for Kellaway, and Jimmy Anderson emerges into the gloom.
The last time Glamorgan won a Championship game at OT was 1993, when, to pick something at random from the internet, Czechoslovakia split into two.
How are things going at Scarborough? Hudson-Prentice and Carson are doing a stirling job, together now for nearly 20 overs, if with not many trinkets to show for it in terms of runs. Sussex 171 for seven, still 152 behind.
Harris out! An inside edge onto pad and into the hands of leg slip, Carlson’s grin beaming through his grill like foglights. Lancs 287-8, Balderson and Hartley the gatekeepers.
Farewell Andy Umeed, thank you for the entertainment, and good luck in your cricketing endeavours.
The players are out everywhere, except Wantage Road.
After a fiery OT chilli, a blatant advert for a man along the row from me, Jamie Bowman. Jamie makes excellent chutney, played John Squires in 24 hour Party People and now has a cricket podcast, mostly concentrating on Merseyside and Lancashire. Do give it a listen.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Chester-le-Street: Surrey 322 and 176-5 BEAT Durham 153 and 344 by five wickets.
Chelmsford: Essex 602-6dec and 60-1 v Warwickshire 485
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 544 v Somerset 438 and 72-2
New Road: Worcestershire 249 v Hampshire 293 and 235-6
Scarborough: Yorkshire 545-9dec v Sussex 222 and 166-7
DIVISION TWO
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 54-1 v Middlesex 445 no play yet today
Canterbury: Kent 307-5 v Leicestershire 471
Old Trafford: Lancashire 137 and 274-7 v Glamorgan 261 and 348-7dec Lancs need 199 to win
Northamptonshire: Northants 550-9dec v Derbyshire 377 and 52-4 no play yet today
More shouts from Kellaway and Crane, but Balderson and Harris – who has completed an excellent 50 – make it till lunch. The skies are darkening again.
A seventh at OT, and a second wicket for Kellaway. After two rather lovely fours, Chris Green sweeps – onto his pad? – and Carlson pops up at silly point to swallow the catch. Lancs 270-7.
What a stonking catch by Calvin Harris to dismiss Josh Davey at Trent Bridge.
And now at OT, a hot-off-the-press inswinging yorker from Fernando to send nightwatchman Bailey on his way. Deserved a better victim really. Fernando crosses himself at the top of his run, Lancs 259-6, enter Chris Green.
A wicket at New Road – Gubbins fencing at Ben Allison, Hants 197 for four – and, more pertinently, two at Trent Bridge, where Notts have got rid of Gregory and Davey within three balls, Somerset 36 for two and 70 behind.
Now bright sunshine at OT. Kellaway wheels in from the Statham end, Harris dabs dangerously wide of slip. Those who were here yesterday report that it isn’t turning as much as it was then, when the odd ball ripped square. Lancs 242 for five, the target 473.
And at 1.25pm at Cheltenham
68 overs in the day, if the day is kind.
Play to start at 12.30 at Wantage Road
Unfortunately for Derbyshire.
Will Sutherland makes the breakthrough at Scarborough, Lamb the man gone, for a 52-minutes seven. Yorkshire just three wickets away.
A 12.15 start here at OT, with twenty overs lost. A member of the groundstaff is currently polishing a stump with a yellow rag. A handful of hardy supporters shuffle in cagoles under the Point, and the party stand sits empty wet and damp, its rows of grey seats like braces awaiting eager teeth.
Four matches in play: Essex are one down – Noah Thain caught for two – a lead of 132. If they get a hurry up, it is possible they could make a game of things.
Notts have lost four during a morning Somerset counter attack. Somerset start their second innings with a deficit of 106.
And John Simpson is currently wiping the tape after his leave toJack White at Scarborough, Sussex 135-6.
And in Division Two: Ben Compton bats on, 129, though Leicestershire have wheedled out Garrett and Dawkins. Kent 249-5.
Somerst
Rain
The groundstaff are peeling back the covers here, an inspection at 11.45. Rain also at New Road, Cheltenham and Northampton.
Paul Edwards, sitting next to me at OT, is purring about watching Dan Lawrence. He references Pinter, That beautiful evening Compton made 70 – “I’d never seen anything to compare it to until Lawrence made 78 off 77 balls at Scarborough. And again, his 88 off 116 balls at the Riverside. Magnificent.”
A tasty snippet from the press box that one of Matthew Revis’ former coaches thinks he’s the nearest thing to Andrew Flintoff since, well, Andrew Flintoff.
Through the puddles, past the Glamorgan coach (painted with a daffodil) and the OT floodlights shine like headlights in the November mist. Conditions are wet and looking wetter.
Note for HPG – Chris Green (and Emma Lamb) are Lancashire’s players of the month.
Chris Woakes ruled out of the Oval Test
Poor Chris Woakes, labours through four Tests and into number five, only to crash land badly while fielding on the boundary and damage his left shoulder. He won’t play again in this Test.
Manchester skies are now very grey…
Three baby pheasants scuttled in the over-ripe August undergrowth on my dog walk this morning, which after a weasel in the graveyard and a hare and a deer from the train window last night, somewhere between Malton and York, makes it a happy few days.
Not so happy for Durham’s head coach Ryan Campbell after yesterday’s defeat by Surrey. “We can either put our heads down and cry in the corner or we can get in a battle and that’s what I know this group are going to do.” he said. “So those next three games are going to be exciting stuff.”
Rory Burns was more prosaic, Championship pennant within reach: “That was a massive win for us, especially with the Kookaburra ball….we’ve been on a bit of a road trip up here, so to get this game done a day early is very pleasing.”
Thursday’s round up
Surrey went clear of the rest at Chester-le-Street, a three-day win against Durham that puts them in prime position to swan gracefully in and collect their fourth Championship on the trot, with just three matches left in the season. India’s tall, elegant, slow left-armer Sai Kishore did exactly what he was signed for, zinging the Kookaburra through Durham, finishing with five for 72.
Meanwhile Jordan Clark gave the Overtons a run for their money by hitting younger brother Graham, who had batted very nicely for 42, on the grill with a stinging bouncer. Surrey, needing 176 for victory, had a mild wobble when they lost Ryan Patel and Rory Burns in consecutive overs, but 40 from Sam Curran set the sails fair.
Things don’t look so rosy for Durham who, if Yorkshire win on Friday, have their boots in the relegation zone. Durham must also ride disquiet from members, who were unhappy to be told at an evening forum that the club would be voting for a conference structure for 2026.
Nottinghamshire, who were sitting on Surrey’s coat-tails before this round, look certain to slip further behind despite a wonderful 208 from Haseeb Hameed, which made him the leading run-scorer in Division One. With the game still marooned in the first innings, and Somerset bowling with a 151-over ball, a draw seems inevitable.
Matthew Revis danced to his third century in July, his unbeaten 152 putting Yorkshire in a dominant position at North Marine Road. Sussex, 323 runs behind on first-innings, made a dog’s breakfast of the start of their second, perhaps unnerved by the bangs coming from the naval warfare re-enactment at nearby Peasholm Park – three times a week in the school holidays. Imam-ul-Haq’s swooping run out and throw-down from extra cover to dismiss Tom Alsop would have had uncle Inzamam’s approval, if from the sofa. Unbeaten fifties from Daniel Hughes and Danial Ibrahim gave Sussex something to chew on overnight.
Centuries from Justin Broad and Rob Keogh bulldozed Northants to 550-9dec, weary Derbyshire then lost four wickets. Sonny Baker’s five wickets for Hampshire will have given his Lions’ tour prospects a boost, Jake Libby propped up Worcestershire with an unbeaten 100. Nightwatchman Ethan Bamber flew to his first first-class century and helped Warwickshire avoid the follow-on at Chelmsford. And Lancashire had a bad day at Old Trafford, finishing with half the side out and 247 runs needed. Just 9.5 overs were possible at Canterbury and there was no play at Cheltenham.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chester-le-Street: Surrey 322 and 176-5 BEAT Durham 153 and 344 by five wickets.
Chelmsford: Essex 602-6dec v Warwickshire 465-9
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 511-6 v Somerset 438
New Road: Worcestershire 249 v Hampshire 293 and 139-2
Scarborough: Yorkshire 545-9dec v Sussex 222 and 115-3
DIVISION TWO
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 54-1 v Middlesex 445 play no play day three
Canterbury: Kent 217-3 v Leicestershire 471
Old Trafford: Lancashire 137 and 226-5 v Glamorgan 261 and 348-7dec
Northamptonshire: Northants 550-9dec v Derbyshire 377 and 52-4
Preamble
Good morning from Manchester, where the the clouds have settled into their customary block-out-the-sun position as the calendar turns into August. It’s a while till we meet here again, so do join us for the last day of this summer round of matches. Play starts at 11am everywhere apart from the Riverside, where Surrey Sellotaped up another win in three days and head into September polishing their brass buttons.