At Grace Road, Leicestershire have a lead. It’s only five, and Essex have chipped away five wickets, but it is a decent effort. Lewis Hill (36 off 118 balls) and Ben Cox (16 off 37) have a lot of work to do though. Leics 223-5.
Parky comes back on here at OT, this time from the north end. I imagine Livingstone will fancy having a go – which might be the idea. He starts with a full toss and Livi tucks in for four.
Durham BEAT Derbyshire by an innings and 22 runs - Potts 8-66
Chester-le-Street: Durham 377 BEAT Derbyshire 118 and 237 by an innings and 22 runs
Matthew Potts a season’s best 8-66. Durham increase their thumping lead at the top of Division Two.
Durham 21 points, Durham 2 points.
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As Livingstone gets his eye in with four off his pads and four down the ground off Hasan, the regulations re England calling up players mid game, as requested by Romeo. Section 1.3.1.
“ a replacement player shall be allowed by right immediately in the event of a cricketer currently playing in a Rothesay County Championship match being required to join the England, England Lions or England U19 Team (“England”) (either through a call-up after the commencement of the Rothesay County Championship match or through their being placed on official stand-by prior to the commencement of the Rothesay County Championship match, in both cases be it a planned event or at short notice, and being required to travel to the venue for the international). Such replacement player may be permitted to bat or bowl in that match subject to the approval of the ECB Chief Executive Officer or their nominee who shall determine the conditions, if any, that apply to the replacement. If the cricketer is batting at the time they are required to leave the match, they shall retire “not out”, and their replacement player may be permitted to bat later in that innings subject to the approval of the ECB Chief Executive Officer or their nominee.” There’s more, if you want it.
Gorgeous shot to get off the mark by Liam Livingstone, drives Hasan down the ground for four. A seagull squawks in appreciation as she glides past the press tent.
Six wickets and counting for Matthew Potts
“Two wickets in three balls,” reports Andy at the Riverside. “Durham on the brink of another win.” Derbys 222-7, still trail by 37. Potts 6-57.
Meanwhile at New Road, Middlesex have a lead of 216, but Worcestershire are plugging away – Middx 142-4. du Plooy 38 not out, Cracknell 25 not out.
Key event
Oh Lancashire. A tight single from a Harris push and glide and Ben McDermott is run-out for 0 without facing a ball. Sam Northeast the fielder. Lancs 162-4
And, after multiple near things, Hasan has his man! Jennings can’t resist coming down the pitch and is caught down the legside by a horizontally diving Benjamin! The breakthrough Kent were after – Lancs 162-3, Jennings gone for 61 and the partnership between Lancs BIG TWO broken after 104 runs. Hasan has all three of the wickets to fall.
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A gravy boat of applause for the hundred partnership, off 140 balls. Jennings and Harris shake hands in the middle, men on a mission. Hasan continues to cause Jennings all sorts of trouble.
Ooof and it doesn’t take long for Hasan to cause havoc as Jennings edges just in front of slip, and the ball flies into the press tent. Next ball Jennings swings at fresh air. And again, and again! Jennings hasn’t quite refound his seam mojo and Hasan straight away makes the ball dart about. What a geat signing he is for Kent.
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Matt Parkinson has lost none of his appeal energy, nor bended knee, since moving dawn saarf. But Bertie Foreman’s trousers are baggier. Ah, a change of bowling, Parky replaced by Hasan. Lancs 148-2.
Gloucestershire, following on, have got stuck in at Wantage Road. Cameron Bancroft 52 not out, and Glos will need him to stay there, but he’s just lost Tommy Boorman, a second catch for Vasconcelos, for 15. Glos 84-2, trail Northants by 113.
50 for Keaton Jennings
95 balls and a session and a half of fierce concentration. He briefly raises his bat to the crowd’s applause, his fifth fifty of the season, but no hundred. Yet. The line of green portaloos at the far end stand tall in appreciation.
The other Parky (C) has made the breakthrough at Durham, nightwatch Nick Potts bowled for 42, after a match-elongating partnership of 84 with Harry Came (90 not out). Derbys 192-5, trail Durham by 67.
Here at Stanley Park a large appeal by twin brother Matt against Jennings, but the umpire is unmoved.
A partnership of 68 for the brothers Rew
Before Rew the elder was caught off Lyndon James for 50. Thomas still there on 31, alongside Archie Vaughan. Somerset 177-5, lead Notts by 294.
Apologies all, was just chatting to the chairman of Blackpool CC, while Jennings (42) and Harris (28) set about proving that Lancs members have nothing to worry about. The sun is out and a post-lunch hum of concentration settles on Stanley Park. Lancs 118-2.
Lunchtime scores
Division One
Grace Road: Leicestershire 187 and 145-3 v Essex 401
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 193 v Somerset 310 and 148-4
Hove: Sussex 521 v Glamorgan 155 and 120-2
Scarborough: Yorkshire 469 and 27-1 v Warwickshire 263
Division Two
Chester-le-Street: Durham 377 v Derbyshire 118 and 171-4
Blackpool: Lancashire 87 and 89-2 v Kent 178 and 332
Northampton: Northamptonshire 465 v Gloucestershire 268 and 53-0
New Road: Worcestershire 265 v Middlesex 339 and 82-3
And a couple of pre-lunch wickets at Hove too – ul Hassan to double-centurion James Coles’ second ball, and Tribe bowled Carson for 64. Glamorgan 120-2.
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Oh, Simon Harmer has spoiled the story at Grace Road, bowling Gumbs for 49, then trapping Rehan Ahmed lbw for 23 an over later. Leics 143-3, trail Essex by 71.
Have been waiting for the fabulously named Sheridon Gumbs to score one run for his maiden fifty at Grace Road, but must be patient as Leicestershire nail down their boots in their second innings. Rishi Patel was bowled by Snater for 58. Leicestershire 124-1, trail by 90.
Somerset have lost a couple of quick wickets to leave the brothers Rew batting together. Somerset 116-4, lead Notts by 233.
Glamorgan have had a cracking morning, 104-0, with Asa Tribe 58 not out, but they still trail Sussex by 232 runs.
Warwickshire have a first-innings deficit of more than 200, but Yorkshire have lost an early second-innings wicket – Lyth bowled by Bamber for for four. Yorks 19-1.
Here, Josh Bohannon has found his mojo – with 22 coming off Hasan Mahmud’s fourth over. The familiar figure of Matt Parkinson is now having a bowl against his old team from Stanley Park’s south end. Ah, now Matt Milnes has limped off so Mahmud is bowling again, from the north end this time, and that’s the end of Josh Bohannon. Lancs 58-2.
Time to go round the grounds on this sleepy Sunday, Lancashire making a better fist of things this morning at Stanley Park, 31-1. The sun is even straining to come out from net curtain clouds. Matt Milnes has swapped to the north end.
Harry Singh, slip catcher extraordinaire, is caught by his Kent counterpart, Ben Dawkins, off Hasan Mahmud’s first over of the day. Lancashire 19-1.
Ben Stokes and Lewis Moody at Chester le Street
Ben Stokes has once again been spotted at CLS in his pads. The second high-profile visitor was Lewis Moody, on his fundraising bike ride for Doddie Weir’s foundation, cycling from Newcastle RUFC to Twickenham. Moody is planning to ride the whole trip, with his sons, despite his own MND diagnosis
I read this lovely interview by Don McRae on the train up – well worth a few minutes of your time.
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Jordan Cox pulled out of Essex match to join England
After Henry Crocombe was summoned from Sussex’s game yesterday, the ECB have pulled Jordan Cox out of Essex’s match against Leicestershire as cover for Jamie Smith – whose wife is due to have their second baby. Michael Pepper is his replacement in the Essex team.
Keaton Jennings has survived his nasty blow to the teeth yesterday and is out in the middle. Matt Milnes has the ball at the south end, there’s a brief pause because of movement near the sightscreen, and we’re off. Record run chase here we come – to date, the highest-winning fourth innings score at Stanley Park is 383 by Essex in 2023; while Lancashire’s highest winning fourth-innings total is 404-5 against Hampshire in 2010.
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Lancashire need 424 to win
The new ball and Jimmy Anderson was all it took to remove Chris Benjamin for 103, a third catch for Harry Singh that we watched all the way from bat to palm as we waited for our coffees up the far bank. Kent 328-9, lead by 424, and there’s the last wicket, Hasan Mahmud caught by Joe Moores. Kent 332 all out, Lancs need 424 to win.
The weather gods are smiling at Stanley park, Just spotted Adam Hollioake, smart in a navy tracksuit, who seem to be in charge of the Kent boom box.
Scores on the doors
Division One
Grace Road: Leicestershire 180-9 v Essex 401
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 193 v Somerset 310 and 73-2
Hove: Sussex 521 v Glamorgan 155 and 42-0
Scarborough: Yorkshire 469 v Warwickshire 225-7
Division Two
Chester-le-Street: Durham 377 v Derbyshire 118 and 99-4
Blackpool: Lancashire 87 v Kent 178 and 320-8
Northampton: Northamptonshire 465 v Gloucestershire 233-5
New Road: Worcestershire 265 v Middlesex 339 and 5-0
Roundup: Stokes warms up as Durham run rings round Derbyshire
Ben Stokes trained with Durham on Saturday, after he was left out of England’s squad for the second Test against New Zealand for breaching a midnight curfew. Stokes and Surrey’s Gus Atkinson, who was also not considered for selection, were involved in an incident with a Saracens rugby player in a London nightclub while celebrating England’s victory in the first Test at Lord’s. Durham coach, Ryan Campbell, said that any decision on whether Stokes featured in Durham’s game against Northants on Friday was up to the player and the England and Wales Cricket Board “but I’ll definitely find him a spot”.
Stokes bowled in the middle before play and later had a bat in the nets, while on the field Durham ran rings around Derbyshire, who were forced to follow on after being dismissed for 118, with five wickets for Kasey Aldridge. They were 99 for four at stumps, Matthew Potts the sole incisor, and still 160 behind.
At Hove, James Coles waltzed to a glorious 224 not out, a maiden double century full of delicious strokes, including 11 sixes. He and Jaydev Unadkat added 103 for the last wicket, much to Glamorgan’s frustration. Sussex lost a man during the day as Henry Crocombe was called up by England as cover for Ollie Robinson, who was due a knee scan after complaining of soreness. Crocombe’s replacement was Dom Goodman.
The Blackpool tower covered its eyes as Lancashire were dismissed for 87 by Kent. Keith Dudgeon grabbed six for 21, while Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud, on his Kent debut, threatened from Stanley Park’s north end, finishing with three for 32. Kent then made merry, with an unbeaten century from Chris Benjamin, spraying sixes over the wall, and a studious 83 from Harry Finch.
Somerset finished a satisfying day at Trent Bridge with a 190 run lead and toe towards the tape. There were four wickets for Lewis Gregory and three for Jack Leach as Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 193. Earlier, Fergus O’Neill finished with a career-best six for 72 as Somerset’s last three wicket added only 16.
Leicestershire grabbed Essex’s last five wickets for 58 runs but still ended up following on at Grace Road. Jordan Cox was finally out for 204, then Leicestershire were 187 all out, Charlie Bennett and Simon Harmer taking three apiece and only Nick Kelly (78) resisting. Sheridon Gumbs, 22 and on debut, batted patiently opening the batting as Leicestershire closed on 51 without loss second time around.
While floats from the Northampton carnival danced past Wantage Road, James Bracey (72) and Graeme van Buuren (75 not out) rescued Gloucestershire from the doldrums of 56 for four, with a partnership of 148. Earlier, New Zealand’s Krisitian Clarke finished with six for 109 on Gloucestershire debut as Northamptonshire strolled to 465.
Yorkshire had the upper hand at Scarborough, collecting maximum batting points before reducing Warwickshire to 225 for seven; Toby Roland-Jones (four for 41) led the Middlesex attack as they bowled Worcestershire out for 265, a first-innings deficit of 74.
Preamble
Good morning! A cloudy start to day three, at least at Preston station, with just the right overhead conditions to please a suddenly rampant Kent. It doesn’t bode well for Lancashire’s batters who have a nasty incline ahead - 411 behind, and counting. Saturday was a bad day at the office for Leicestershire and Derbyshire too, both following on against Essex and Durham respectively.
Somerset have the upper hand over Notts, Sussex over Glamorgan and Yorkshire over Warwickshire, with things still in the balance at Wantage Road and New Road.
Play is due to start at 11am round the grounds, do join us in your Sunday best.
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