“In the first six overs,” says Ken Grime, “Marcus Harris has only faced six balls.” Ooops, and he might not face many more as Abbas catches Stanley’s thrusting front pad. “Jesus Christ” someone shouts someone in the dressing room. Lancs 156-9, lead by 133.
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And events elsewhere too – Rory Burns bowled by Ian Holland for a duck; cuts and (maybe) edges onto his own stumps which splatter satisfyingly. Surrey 11-1, still 160 behind.
Bad news for Glamorgan as big hope Asa Tribe too is bowled, for 83 at Trent Bridge, Kiran Carlson already taking off his boots, caught off Pennington for 19. Glamorgan 139-4, needing another 339 to win.
Kyle Abbot picks up yet another five-wicket haul, sending Finlay Bean on his way as Yorkshire’s resistance continues to crumble. Yorks 74-6 need 352.
Lancs take a single to leave Mitch Stanley to face Muhammad Abbas. And he does alright, picking up two and playing a straight bat.
And the third! Aitchison on a hat-trick. A huge smile at the top of his run gets huger as Bailey plays inside the line and loses his stumps. Lancs 147-8. Mitch Stanley comes out, dropping his helmet and generally getting dressed as he does.
Second ball does it! Coughlin trudging back after a corking ball from Aitchison has him edging behind. Lancs 147-7, the lead 124.
The sun is bright at OT as Derbyshire mooch on the boundary rope waiting to take the field. Shoaib Bashir has his arms crossed chatting to his teammates.
Just the most perfect spring morning in Manchester, birds, blossom, the works. One to store up and remember in November. My husband heard his first willow warbler of the year too.
Derbyshire are hoping it stays that way. This was Zak Chappell last night:
“Harris is a class player but hopefully we can nip a couple out in the morning and chase around 160. As long as we have a clear mind and get through the new ball – that’s going to be important. Jimmy’s obviously going to be a handful but we’re just going to have to see where we are and build some partnerships.”
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Sunday's round-up
Somerset notched up 21 points at Chelmsford, thrashing Essex by 10 wickets. Craig Overton, in his vast Somerset sweater, added a couple of batters and a catch to his century on Saturday, a stand-in captaincy performance to remember. Essex inched a lead of just 47 and Archie Vaughan, Somerset’s second injury substitute, made a bid for a permanent spot by punching the majority of the runs himself, twice plonking Simon Harmer over midwicket for six.
A zinger of a catch by Matthew Potts sealed an innings victory for Durham at Bristol. Gloucestershire spent the day bailing out the bath with a teaspoon, but sank after tea. Cameron Bancroft (56) and Ben Charlesworth (26) added 101 for the first wicket as Gloucestershire followed on, but wickets fell afterwards, with three each for Callum Parkinson and Potts. Gloucestershire have no points after two games, after being deducted two for a slow over rate in round one.
A tight match at Lord’s was squeaked by Worcestershire, thanks to a tail-end 34 from Matthew Waite, who then removed Sam Robson and Ryan Higgins. A couple of run-outs sealed Middlesex’s fate.
Surrey were forced to take the third new ball at the Oval by upstarts Leicestershire. On a pastry pitch they amassed 691, their highest score against Surrey. There was a career-best 162 for Ben Cox, 100 for Stevie Eskinazi and the lead is an appetising 171.
Marcus Harris (58 not out) again rescued Lancashire, as they lost three for nought in their second innings, a balloon-pop collapse to leave them 23 for five. Mohammad Abbas and Zak Chappell found fire in the Old Trafford pitch for Derbyshire.
Zak Crawley was caught for five as Kent followed on against Northamptonshire; Asa Tribe’s 82 not out and repeated showers frustrated Notts as they set Glamorgan a mammoth 478.
A tight to and fro at Hove left Sussex needing 94 to beat Warwickshire, with five wickets in hand. Kyle Abbot’s four for 11 ensured Yorkshire made a terrible start in their pursuit of 426 against Hampshire.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Somerset 348 and 49-0 BEAT Essex 149 and 245 by ten wickets
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 279 and 311-9dec v Glamorgan 113 and 132-2 Glamorgan need 346 to win
The Oval: Surrey 520 v Leicestershire 691
Hove: Sussex 204 and 234-5 v Warwickshire 267 and 264 Sussex need 94 to win
Headingley: Yorkshire 177 and 65-5 v Hampshire 251 and 351-5dec Yorks need 361 to win
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire Durham 605-5dec BEAT 175 and 205 by an innings and 225 runs
Canterbury: Kent 178 and 162-3 v Northamptonshire 684-2dec
Old Trafford: Lancashire 351 and 147-6 v Derbyshire 374
Lord’s: Worcestershire 191 and 253 BEAT Middlesex 183 and 204 by 57 runs
Preamble
Good morning! There are just six games to keep an eye on today after stonking wins for Somerset and Durham and a squeakier one for Worcestershire at Lord’s.
I think we’re in for a thriller at Old Trafford, Lancs rebuilding from 23-5, and at Hove, where Sussex’s deep batting line-up needs just 94 against Warwickshire, five wickets left.
Asa Tribe is keeping Glamorgan alive at Trent Bridge, but Yorkshire and Kent are on very boggy ground against Hampshire and Northants.
And don’t forget to drop in at The Oval where there is a tiny possibility that the pitch has perked up enough for Leicestershire to give Surrey a fright.
It should be a nailbiter. Play starts at 11am and the kettle is on.
