Keith Dudgeon replaces Hasan, and promptly rearranges McDermott’s stumps. Gone for 23. Lancs 73 faceplant to 73 for seven, trail by 105. Dudgeon 4-14.
Here at Stanley Park, no cigar for Livi this time, caught behind for eight as Hasan Mahmud picks up a second wicket on debut with a fabulous ball that just skirted away from Livi’s chasing bat. But Joe Moores looks confident, striding out to a tasty pitch, and striking the ball firmly. Lancs 71-6.
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Time to peek in around the grounds:
Leicestershire have fought back at Grace Road, but not before Jordan Cox reached his double century with a pull for four, finally out for 204. Four wickets for Rehan Ahmed, Essex 387-9.
Fergus O’Neill (6-72) polished off Somerset, 310 all out. But Lewis Gregory has already removed HH for a duck and Ben Slater for 1. Notts 18-2.
Yorkshire are having fun at the seaside, maximum batting points, 469 all out. YJB 68. WArwickshire are 4-0, one over in.
And Sussex already have a lead of 49 over Glamorgan at Hove, 204-4, Coles and Simpson at the crease.
Liam Livingstone is in the middle, fresh from his five wickets yesterday, and it looks like he means business, with two fours already in his eight not out.
New Zealand call up Will Young to replace Kane Williamson
New Zealand batter Will Young has been drafted into the New Zealand Test squad to replace Kane Williamson, who surprised everyone with his retirement yesterday. Young will arrive in London on Sunday and join the squad ahead of the Oval Test.
And a first wicket in the CC for Hasan Mahmud – and it is the big one - Marcus Harris, snaffled by Sam North East at slip for three. Lancashire 44-5
Emilio Gay has also arrived at CLS to join Stokes in the nets. Hove and CLS the places to gather this round for resting England players.
Just seen the replay of the Bohannon dismissal, a hell of a ball seaming all over. The cricket here at Stanley Park is being accompanied by the whirr of the generator and the dancing tarpaulin and creaking poles of the blown about press tent. Sad food news for us greedy press, the tasty but wholly unnecessary picnic usually given alongside lunch has justly disappeared in budget cuts. Farewell double decker.
Hasan is now running in from the north end, a long and rhythmic run up.
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Ooops and another, Bailey, skuppered between bat and pad by Matt Milnes, Lancs 24-4.
Look up to see some spraying bails, Bohanon bowled by Keith Dudgeon for eight, he’s having a bit of a rotten season, poor thing. Lancs 24-3.
IF anyone didn’t know, Ajit Singh Dale and Luke Wells are out for the season.
Good morning Mike Daniels, in the Grace Road scorebox. “Allison toe-ends a long-hop to Kelly at mid-wicket to give Leicestershire a good start to the day. They desperately need Cox out but the new ball is available soon. Missed Cox’s innings yesterday, must have been some knock, but looking to seeing if he can build on it.” Cox is currently 194 not out, Essex 355-7.
Have arrived at Blackpool where there is quite some wind and slightly wonky Wifi. A couple of hearty appeals but no wickets yet. This morning Paul Edwards and the photographers were called into cover service for a early morning squall.
Stokes spotted at Chester le Street
My spy tells me that Ben Stokes was standing in the middle at CLS, wearing his pads, and is now wandering over to the nets with the Durham batting coach, ex Lancs supremo, Dale Benkenstein.
Tim Maitland has been scanning the skies. “The Met Office radar suggests you might be alright all morning in Blackpool, but Scarborough could be a bit dodgy.
”According to the predictive bit, Nottingham could get a little bit around 2 p.m.”
After England’s stonking victory last night in the tournament opener, there are four more World Cup games today. West Indies v New Zealand, Australia v South Africa, India v Afghanistan and Scotland v Ireland. Tim de Lisle is watching things unfurl at Old Trafford.
I was too hasty. It has stopped raining and I’ve just glimpsed the sun as the train approaches Kirkham and Wesham. Like any self-respecting child, the little boy opposite has already eaten the barbecued beef hoola hoops and one finger twirl from his lunchtime picnic.
Scores on the doors
Division One
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Essex 342-5
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Somerset 295-7
Hove: Sussex 136-2 v Glamorgan 155
Scarborough: Yorkshire 386-6 v Warwickshire
Division Two
Chester-le-Street: Durham 302-7 v Derbyshire
Blackpool: Lancashire 17-2 v Kent 178
Northampton: Northamptonshire 380-7 v Gloucestershire
New Road: Worcestershire v Middlesex 291-8
Friday's round up
Jordan Cox, fresh from warming the bench for six weeks in the IPL, and buoyed by an England call-up, clunked, thumped and chunked an unbeaten 184 against Leicestershire at Grace Road. Essex’s Cox, who reached his century off just 73 balls, got there with a monstrous six right out of the ground. Matt Critchley was bowled just before stumps for 97, nightwatch Jamie Porter following soon afterwards.
Meanwhile Liam Livingstone, playing in his first Championship game for Lancashire since 2021, collected five wickets for 20 runs in 46 balls at Blackpool with a heady mix of leg and off-spin as Kent slipped down the stairs and landed with a thump. They collapsed from 111 for two to 178 all out after being asked to bat on a damp pitch. Lancashire’s Joe Moores, just 17, took a catch and a neat stumping on his first-class debut.
Glamorgan had an unhappy first day at Hove, whistled out for 155, with four wickets for Sussex’s Indian left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat under heavy skies – all 10 batters out caught. Ollie Robinson, Gus Atkinson and a rapid Jofra Archer were all spotted bowling in the nets under the close eye of England fast-bowling supremo Troy Cooley.
Jordan Hermann, in good touch after a century against the Lions for South Africa A, was the linchpin of Somerset’s innings with 106 at Trent Bridge. But he was the unwitting cause of James Rew’s dismissal, a stinging straight drive deflected by Dillon Pennington’s fingertip into the stumps when Rew was backing up. But it was a good day for one member of the Rew family, younger brother Thomas, 18, who cantered to 68 in just his second Championship appearance. Notts fought back with the new ball.
Derbyshire’s man of the moment Ben Aitchison grabbed four wickets against Durham at Chester-le-Street, where England selector Marcus North was also spotted. Shoaib Bashir, released by England, bowled 11 overs.
Will Luxton galloped to a maiden Championship century for Yorkshire against Warwickshire at Scarborough; Northamptonshire’s Saif Zaib refound his touch with a lovely 142 against Gloucestershire, helped by Nathan McSweeney (117), and Worcestershire restricted Middlesex to 291 for eight at New Road.
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Preamble
Good morning from a Northern train heading to Blackpool north. The further west I go, the wetter it gets, soggy elderflower and scowling pylons staring through the train window. Still, hope springs eternal. Play might start at 11am at Stanley Park and around the country, do join us.
