Roundup: Surrey step up security for Sussex visit
Surrey stepped up security at the Oval following the knife attack at Golders Green as off-field decisions took the headlines on day one of round five of the County Championship.
In a statement, the club said: “Surrey are in communication with the Met police and will adjust our own security measures in line with the increased threat level. We want to ensure that all staff, spectators and players feel safe and secure.”
On the pitch, which last week was a gentle duvet, Sussex were reduced to 92 for seven, thanks largely to Jordan Clark (five for 68). But the tail wagged, and wagged some more, as Fynn Hudson-Prentice thrashed 53 before Jack Carson and Ollie Robinson hit boundary-laden hundreds.
Robinson, the visiting captain, reached three figures with a swipe for six and then declared. Surrey, who were without Gus Atkinson, rested by England, walked off in great frustration. Jamie Smith kept wicket after Ben Foakes was ruled out of the match, having injured himself bowling during the final afternoon against Essex.
The Kent captain, Daniel Bell-Drummond, collected a Rolls-Royce of a century at Canterbury, after Derbyshire chose to field. Zak Crawley stroked a boundary-filled 44. Kent, who lie bottom of Division Two, had earlier this week taken the unusual decision to switch comments off the club’s social media accounts as a “duty of care”.
It was a gripping day at Taunton, where an enthusiastic crowd were treated to 45 minutes of Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root pistoning Somerset’s attack. But after lunch Lewis Gregory zipped out Root, and Craig Overton, who had dropped Bairstow at slip, induced an inside edge. Suddenly, Yorkshire lost seven for 38 and were all out for 162. Then Josh Thomas, 21, made a bravura first Championship century, taking Somerset into the lead with a six.
Ben Stokes, recovering from a broken cheekbone, was spotted in the Durham nets at Lord’s. Over on the main square, Sam Robson (87) and Ryan Higgins (57) guided Middlesex towards 300. At the County Ground, Gareth Roderick hit 164 not out – Worcestershire’s first century of the season – to put pressure on Northamptonshire.
A careful maiden Championship century for Saca graduate Zain ul Hassan, and 158 for Kiran Carlson, left Glamorgan in a dominant position against Hampshire at Southampton. At Grace Road, Nottinghamshire flourished after being put in by Leicestershire – Ben Slater’s 178 backed up by Ben Duckett’s third successive fifty.
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And as they shut up shop at Taunton, with Josh Thomas 136 not out, a slender lead already over Yorkshire, time to draw the curtains over an eventful day of Championship cricket. We’ll be back tomorrow, have a lovely evening.
Close of play scores
Division One
Southampton: Hampshire v Glamorgan 353-1
Leicester: Leicestershire v Nottinghamshire 405-4
Taunton: Somerset 201-3 v Yorkshire 162
The Oval: Surrey 19-0 v Sussex 358-9dec
Division Two
Canterbury: Kent 352 v Derbyshire 24-0
Lord’s: Middlesex 272-6 v Durham
Northampton: Northants 40-0 v Worcestershire 306
A first CC century for Josh Thomas!
A beaming smile from Thomas through the Taunton gloom. He takes off his helmet and acknowledges the crowd after reaching his first Championship century with a four. Somerset 150 for three, and trail by 12.
Sussex declare on 358-9
After reaching his hundred with a huge swiped six, Ollie Robinson has a jolly good laugh and declares.
Time for me to write up, but I’ll leave you with Ali’s rant about the new substitute rule.
Kent look as if they will pick up three batting points today – three more than they’ve grabbed in their three previous games added together. DBD was finally out for 129, with another fifty from Chris Benjamin. Kent 335-8.
A hundred for Zain ul Hassan and a hundred for Jack Carson!
At Southampton, a first hundred for Zain ul Hassan; at The Oval, a second for Jack Carson. One a brick by brick accumulation, one a counter attacking pop up tent, very well played. Glamorgan 318-1; Sussex 330-8.
Back to Taunton, where James Rew didn’t have much of a chance to impress Joe Root, before being athletically caught by Finlay Bean, for seven. But 21 year old Josh Thomas is looking in easy-breezy form, 61 off 71 balls and Somerset, 95 for three, are just 67 runs behind Yorkshire. It’s Thomas’ second half century of the season.
Hundreds for Kiran Carlson and Gareth Roderick
Gareth Roderick’s 155 has kept Worcestershire afloat, the next highest score 32. Worcs 290-9 against Northants.
And Kiran Carlson, after falling in the 90s in the last match, is striding onwards, 133 not out at Southampton. ul Hassan just three runs away… Glamorgan 293-1.
Surrey must be fuming as Ollie Robinson (78) and Jack Carson (74) continue to pile on the agony at The Oval. Their partnership is now 133, and Sussex, who were 92 for 7, are now 300-8.
Tea-time-ish scores
Division One
Southampton: Hampshire v Glamorgan 262-1
Leicester: Leicestershire v Nottinghamshire 282-2
Taunton: Somerset 59-3 v Yorkshire 162
The Oval: Surrey v Sussex 274-8
Division Two
Canterbury: Kent 264-5 v Derbyshire
Lord’s: Middlesex 178-4 v Durham
Northampton: Northants v Worcestershire 239-9
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I’m just going to write up for first edition, back in a bit.
A hundred for Ben Slater!
Division One round up:
A headbanded Jack White is bowling to Archie Vaughan at Taunton – Somerset 1-0. YJB with the gloves, Joe Root at first slip.
Zain ul-Hassan and Kiran Carlson have 70-odd apiece against Hampshire. Tribe out for 45 . Glamorgan 197-1, Sonny Baker 11 overs for 30.
Bens Slater and Duckett have added on 129 for the second wicket at Grace Road – and that’s Slater’s first hundred of the year! Notts 226-1.
While at The Oval, Ollie Robinson (that one) and Jack Carson are frustrating Surrey – have added 53 between them for the ninth wicket. Sussex 220-8.
Ben Sanderson has four wickets at Wantage Road, where Worcestershire are 169 for seven. Gareth Roderick doing his best to get them past 200 with 70 not out.
And, lick, spit, that’s the end of Yorkshire, after Hill (18) has a swipe and Tom Lammonby holds on above his head at deep square leg . Gregory (6-43) leads the players off, holding the match ball high in one hand. Yorkshire have lost seven for 47 since lunch.
Daniel Bell-Drummond (45) and Ekash Singh (just out for 20) have inched Kent along at Canterbury. Currently 160-5 against Derbyshire
Meanwhile at Taunton, George Hill has just scooped Big Craig for six. Next ball Overton picks up the ball in his follow through and feigns a fierce throw at the stumps.
I read somewhere this week that Emilio Gay was approached by Cricket West Indies last year, but said no, he wanted to play Test cricket for England. Anyway, he’s currently in the field with Durham at Lord’s, where Sam Robson can taste three figures, 87 not out . Middx a respectable 136-2.
Six for Gregory! Jhye Richardson opts for a flamboyant drive and his stumps are crunched behind him. Yorkshire 146 for nine and are going to be out before Sussex at The Oval, 179-8.
Another dropped slip catch at Taunton –this time Tom Abell can’t cling on to George Hill at first slip. Yorkshire 143-8. Time for a slip around the other grounds.
Five wickets for Lewis Gregory!
Three in the over! Five in a morning and a yawn. Van Beek nibbles and Archie Vaughan catches on the juggle before pulling it to his chest at third slip. Yorkshire 142-8.
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Oh Yorkshire. Dom Bess, fresh from a rapturous welcome from the Somerset faithful, must shuffle back, lbw for 0, a glorious ball from Gregory. Yorkshire 140-7.
And another! as Matt Revis decides on an elaborate leave to his first ball which horrays into the top of off stump. Yorkshire 140-6.
And Overton gets his man – an inside edge, Jonny turns to watch it go, into the gloves of Rew. Overton is quite pleased. Bairstow marches off as only he can. Haughty disgruntlement? And Somerset have got rid of two men who were batting like gods (Root 33, YJB 34). Yorkshire 140-5.
Overton v Bairstow is a tasty post-lunch show. Glare: glare: beat the bat: glare.
Root out for 33!
Well bowled Lewis Gregory! Zips one back and I think Root plays on, nipping out his own off stump. Gregory crouches down to roar in celebration. Root out for a lovely 33. Yorks 124-4.
Mitchell Santner out of the first Test
Mitchell Santner will miss New Zealand’s one-off Test against Ireland, and the first of three Tests against England, with a shoulder injury. He picked in up fielding in the IPL match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, returning home for rehab.
Time for a sandwich, back soon!
Lunchtime scores
Division One
Southampton: Hampshire v Glamorgan 89-1
Leicester: Leicestershire v Nottinghamshire 120-1
Taunton: Somerset v Yorkshire 115-3
The Oval: Surrey v Sussex 105-7
Division Two
Canterbury: Kent 99-4 v Derbyshire
Lord’s: Middlesex 82-1 v Durham
Northampton: Northants v Worcestershire 104-4
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Big Craig Overton throws his maroon Somerset cap on the ground after shelling Bairstow at second slip on 22. He’s still covering his face with his hands two balls later. Pretorius runs in. Yorks 115-3.
Stokes batting at Lord's
Andy Bull is out and about at Lord’s and has spotted Ben Stokes batting in the nets on the Nursery ground. “He has drawn a crowd of 30 school kids and 20 men in blazers.” And looks “rugged.”
Somerset’s bowlers are currently getting schooled by Bairstow and Root - whose cover drive on one knee against Craig Overton was like a bite of a warm buttery croissant straight from a Parisian paper bag. Yorkshire 110-3.
Asa Tribe going great guns (45) in Glamorgan’s 77-0 against Hants. Ben Kellaway is back for Glamorgan after injury.
Notts have made a perky start against Leicestershire. They’ve lost HH for 42, but Ben Slater still there on 50. Notts 97-1.
Yorkshire 78-3 at Taunton, Root and Bairstow batting together, and they’ve just changed the ball.
And, oh! at The Oval, where a zillion runs have been laid down over the last few weeks, Sussex are 84 for six. Jordan Clark four for 9, Tom Clark out for 44.
Briefly gobsmacked to see Somerset selling Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo tickets for £10 – but just realised it is a tribute show. Still, nice idea after the Somerset and Surrey women’s game in June
A steam engine hoots as it chugs on its way behind Taunton. Somerset 70-3. Let’s skip around the grounds.
There’s a cute brown dog in the Taunton crowd that just watched Jonny drive Ogborne, feet in fourth position, standing tall, plink to the rope.
Switching streams to Taunton. The panatone colour chart has dulled in the move from east to west. And there goes Finlay Bean for 35 to Pretorius, caught low down by James Rew. On runs the water man in an anorak. Joe Root at the other end on 3. Yorks 64-3. Here comes Jonny.
Go to make a cup of coffee, when I come back the umpire is replacing the bails at Canterbury. Crawley gone for a fleeting, but lovely 44. Andersson the wicket-taker. Kent 73 for 2.
Lord's breaks women's Test attendance record
England women play their first (yes, really) Test at Lord’s later this summer, against India. The MCC have already sold more than the 23,207
tickets which were the previous record for a women’s Test.
Zak Crawley has just driven Zac Chappell through the covers with the sweetest sound. No-one in the field moved. But three slips wait. He reaches 29. Kent 45-1.
A catch for Ollie Robinson, who seems to have slipped out of England conversations with the rise of Jamie Smith. De Caires for eight, Middlesex 34 for one.
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Warwickshire to name new stand after Dennis Amiss
Warwicks have announced that their new stand, due to open next year, will be named after their leading run-scorer.
On the Kent stream, Sam Northeast and Zak Crawley are looking good.
Thomas Rew is making his Championship debut, alongside brother James, at Taunton. Yorkshire have lost Adam Lyth, lbw Ogborne, for 8. Yorks 26-1.
And an early wicket in glorious Canterbury sunshine, Dawkins dollies a catch back to Haydon. Kent 21-1.
An early wicket at The Oval where Tom Haines has edged Sean Abbott to slip for a duck. Sussex 2 for one.
Worcestershire have also lost an early wicket against Northants, and it’s their banker, Jake Libby, for three. Worcs 13-1.
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Good morning Mike Daniels!
“Sun’s shining here at Grace Road for the “Ay Up, Me Duck” Derby.
“Not sure Leics will get their first win this round, Notts look a strong side even without Josh Tongue.”
They really do.
More news has dropped from OT, where Luke Wells has signed a three-year contract.
Time to lace up your boots, the players are out around the grounds.
Division Two table
1 Lancashire P4 W2 L1 D1 60 points
2 Durham P3 W2 D1 57 points
3 Worcestershire P3 W2 L1 51 points
4 Northamptonshire P3 D3 43 points
5 Middlesex P3 W1 D1 L1 38 points
6 Derbyshire P3 L2 D1 25 points
7 Gloucestershire P4 W1 L3 24 points
8 Kent P3 L1 D2 21 points
Division One Table
1 Warwickshire P 4 W1 L1 D2 55 points
2 Somerset P3 W 2 D1 54 points
3 Nottinghamshire P3 W1 D2 44 points
4 Sussex P3 W2 D1 42 points
5 Essex P4 W1 L2 D1 40 points
6 Surrey P3 D3 37 points
7 Leicestershire P3 L1 D2 32 points
8 Glamorgan P3 L1 D2 27 points
9 Yorkshire P3 L1 D2 26 points
10 Hampshire P3 W1 L2 25 points
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Kent turn off comments on social media feed
Kent, who have struggled this season, and lie bottom of Div Two, with just 21 points, have taken the decision to switch comments off the club’s social media accounts.
In a statement, coach Adam Hollioake said: “This has not been a decision that we’ve taken lightly and we are in no means stopping people voicing their opinions, but to align with our short-term strategy to allow players and staff to think and play with freedom and clarity, we feel it is a necessary one…
“There are several ways for supporters to get their views across. There is a member’s forum …on day one of this match and anyone can also contact the club with their feedback at any time….
“You are measured as a person by how you act and apply yourself when times are hard and I’d like to think that our members and supporters will be willing us to do well more than ever. We are giving our all every day to improve.”
Surrey to increase security following Golders Green attacks
Some sobering news from The Oval.
Surrey have increased security and bag checks at the Oval after the Golders Green knife attacks.
Police have charged a 45-year-old man with attempted murder following the stabbings of two Jewish men in north London on Wednesday, with the incident contributing to the UK terrorism threat level being raised to severe.
That is the second highest level on the scale and means the chance of terror attacks are considered highly likely by authorities.
Surrey’s latest first-class fixture against Sussex runs from Friday to Monday and the club have moved quickly to reflect the changing circumstances.
A club statement read: “Surrey are in regular communication with the Met police and will adjust our own security measures in line with the increased threat level. We want to ensure that all staff, spectators and players feel safe and secure at the Kia Oval and will take the action necessary to do so.
“Please note there will be additional security presence and heightened bag searches at this weekend’s Rothesay County Championship match with Sussex, so please allow additional time to enter the ground.”
Surrey have been pioneering a new scheme this season that encourages home-based workers to use the ground as their office, utilising desks and new super-fast broadband connections. Their last home match, against Essex, had a 21st-century record of 15,663 spectators in attendance. PA Media
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Fixtures
Division One
Southampton: Hampshire v Glamorgan
Leicester: Leicestershire v Nottinghamshire
Taunton: Somerset v Yorkshire
The Oval: Surrey v Sussex
Division Two
Canterbury: Kent v Derbyshire
Lord’s: Middlesex v Durham
Northampton: Northants v Worcestershire
England withdraw Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson
England have pulled Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson from the Notts and Surrey squads to manage their workloads. Surrey are also without Tom Lawes (soft tissue injury) – a double blow for him as I’ve suddenly seen his name cropping up as a potential England bowler.
It looks as if Fergus O’Neill will play for Notts after recovering from a rib injury and Thomas Rew, brother of James, is included by Somerset for the first time in a CC match.
Preamble
Good morning! May has landed like a gentle kiss on the back of the neck, and with it round five of the Championship.
There are seven games today, with Warwickshire, Essex, Gloucestershire and Lancashire – who will lose Daniel Gidney at the end of the season (retirement) but gain Chris Green early – sitting this one out. Jamie Smith will keep wicket for Surrey against Sussex after Ben Foakes injured himself bowling in the dying dregs of the game against Essex. And Kent must plough on
Surrey, Leicestershire, Glamorgan, Yorkshire, Northants and Derbyshire are also searching for their first wins. Play starts at 11am, do join us.
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