James Wallace
End of Day Three Round Up:
James Rew held firm for Somerset once more to see his stock rise further and keep his side in the hunt for a final day victory on the south coast. After his first innings 86 the cherubic faced stroke maker was undefeated on 58 at the close of an intriguing day in Southampton. Lewis Gregory bustled his way to a five wicket haul earlier in the piece as Nick Gubbins top scored with 83 in the home side’s second innings effort of 336.
Hampshire’s Sonny Baker then had his dander well and truly up and the opposition in trouble by pocketing the Cidermen’s top three of Archie Vaughan, Tom Lammonby and Joshua Thomas, albeit the first two were guilty of being careless on the pull. Rew and Tom Abell then steadied the applecart to leave Somerset needing 148 more to pull off the win.
Seventeen wickets fell at Edgbaston on a topsy turvy moving day where both sides seemingly had their bags packed at different stages. Essex will consider themselves to be in the stronger position heading into the final day with Dean Elgar and self-appointed nightwatchman Sam Cook seeing them to 11-0 at the close in pursuit of 206.
Warwickshire were bowled out for 220 inside 63 overs as visiting Captain Cook picked up five wickets including the crucial scalp of Beau Webster, the Aussie all-rounder’s 91 included sixteen boundaries and helped his side post a challenging if hardly fear-inducing target.
In Division Two, centuries from Northamptonshire’s James Sales and Nathan McSweeney made Middlesex toil at Wantage Road as the home side made 409 in their first innings. Josh De Caires was pinned LBW by Luke Proctor early in Middlesex’s second innings but Sam Robson and Max Holden batted calmly to reach 109-1 and a lead of 41 runs by stumps.
A pot boiler at Bristol saw James Bracey score a dogged century for Gloucestershire as they posted 305 against a toiling Lancashire. James Anderson and George Balderson took four wickets apiece to set up a tricksy fourth innings run chase. Keaton Jennings shepherding the visitors to 75-3 at stumps, 127 more needed for victory.
Key events
James Wallace
CLOSE OF PLAY SCORES:
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire 238 and 336 v Somerset 288 & 139-3 – Somerset need 148 runs to win
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 190 & 220 v Essex 205-9 & 11-0 – Essex need 195 runs to win
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 136 and 305 v Lancashire 240 & 75-3 – Lancashire need 127 runs to win
Northampton: Northants 409 v Middlesex 341 & 109-1 – Middlesex lead by 41 runs
That’s my cue to get out of here, thanks for your company and comments. A hugely enjoyable day of county cricket and Tanya will be back at the helm for an exciting final day tomorrow. Goodnight!
James Wallace
End of Day Three Round Up:
James Rew held firm for Somerset once more to see his stock rise further and keep his side in the hunt for a final day victory on the south coast. After his first innings 86 the cherubic faced stroke maker was undefeated on 58 at the close of an intriguing day in Southampton. Lewis Gregory bustled his way to a five wicket haul earlier in the piece as Nick Gubbins top scored with 83 in the home side’s second innings effort of 336.
Hampshire’s Sonny Baker then had his dander well and truly up and the opposition in trouble by pocketing the Cidermen’s top three of Archie Vaughan, Tom Lammonby and Joshua Thomas, albeit the first two were guilty of being careless on the pull. Rew and Tom Abell then steadied the applecart to leave Somerset needing 148 more to pull off the win.
Seventeen wickets fell at Edgbaston on a topsy turvy moving day where both sides seemingly had their bags packed at different stages. Essex will consider themselves to be in the stronger position heading into the final day with Dean Elgar and self-appointed nightwatchman Sam Cook seeing them to 11-0 at the close in pursuit of 206.
Warwickshire were bowled out for 220 inside 63 overs as visiting Captain Cook picked up five wickets including the crucial scalp of Beau Webster, the Aussie all-rounder’s 91 included sixteen boundaries and helped his side post a challenging if hardly fear-inducing target.
In Division Two, centuries from Northamptonshire’s James Sales and Nathan McSweeney made Middlesex toil at Wantage Road as the home side made 409 in their first innings. Josh De Caires was pinned LBW by Luke Proctor early in Middlesex’s second innings but Sam Robson and Max Holden batted calmly to reach 109-1 and a lead of 41 runs by stumps.
A pot boiler at Bristol saw James Bracey score a dogged century for Gloucestershire as they posted 305 against a toiling Lancashire. James Anderson and George Balderson took four wickets apiece to set up a tricksy fourth innings run chase. Keaton Jennings shepherding the visitors to 75-3 at stumps, 127 more needed for victory.
They are still playing in Bristol, Lancashire are 62-3 and need another 140 runs to beat Gloucestershire. Keaton Jennings has dropped anchor with 22 off 67 balls with the light beginning to fade in the south west.
STUMPS at Edgbaston with Essex 11-0 chasing 195 more for victory against Warwickshire. Dean Elgar and self assigned nightwatchman Sam Cook will resume tomorrow for what should be an exciting run chase.
Bad light stops play in Northampton with Middlesex 109-1 – a lead of 41. Sam Robson unbeaten on 49.
It is also STUMPS in Southampton where Somerset have fought back strongly in the final session, reaching 139-3 in their hunt for 287. James Rew standing firm once again on 58 and Tom Abell supporting well with 27.
Sam Robson (35) and Max Holden (16) have got Middlesex into a lead of ONE RUN at Wantage Road.
Keaton Jennings (8) and Josh Bohannon (24) are plugging away for Lancs who need 165 more to win in Bristol.
I’m off to dip my quill for a bit but will be back later on. Keep an eye on the place for me.
James Rew (45) and Tom Abell (18) are ticking over in Southampton, Somerset need 167 more to win
There’s been a big wicket at Edgbaston where Beau Webster has been bowled by Sam Cook for 92. A hint of movement back off the seam was enough to prise the Aussie from the middle. Cook then chalks up his five-fer by nicking off Keith Barker! Warwickshire lead by 177 with one wicket left, you get the feeling this one is going to be nerve wracking for both sets of supporters.
Will Williams knocks back Harry Singh’s off peg to leave Lancashire 1-1 in the very early stages of their run chase!
James Rew gets away with a couple of streaky fours but Somerset will take them any which way including loose at the moment. Those boundaries reduce the target to exactly 200 needed to win.
Josh De Caires is scudded out LBW by Luke Proctor at Wantage Road, Middlesex still 33 behind. Things starting to move late in the afternoon on day three!
Gloucs are all out for 305! Lancashire will chase 201 to win in Bristol, Jimmy Anderson pulling off a nonchalant one-handed catch at mid on to see the end of Matt Taylor before Gabe Bell chops on off Balderson to be the last man out for the home side.
Sonny Baker has taken three Somerset wickets after tea, Tom Lammonby the latest to fall to a ropey pull shot. Somerset are 69-3 and need 218 more. No pressure Jimmy Rew.
No hat-trick for Anderson, Will Williams keeps the old gunslinger at bay… for the time being. Gloucs lead by 198 with two wickets left in their second dig. Anderson getting his side in the hunt.
Now then, wickets galore!
James Anderson is on a hat-trick in Bristol after picking up James Bracey from a chop-on and nicking off Henry Brookes first ball…
Archie Vaughan has perished on the pull for the second time in the match at Southampton, caught by Nick Gubbins off a Sonny Baker short ball, it was sparkling but all too brief from Vaughan jnr.
Baker has also just pinned Joshua Thomas lbw to bring James Rew to the middle, plenty of work for him and Lammonby to get stuck into – Somerset 48-2 and needing 232 more to win.
Here’s the state of play post tea on day three:
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire 238 and 336 v Somerset 288 & 41-1 – Somerset need 246 runs to win
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 190 & 114-5 v Essex 205-9 – Warwickshire lead by 100 runs
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 136 and 292-5 v Lancashire 240 – Gloucestershire lead Lancashire by 188 runs with 5 wickets remaining
Northampton: Northants 409 v Middlesex 341 & 16-0 – Middlesex trail by 52 runs
Beau Webster is becoming increasingly important to Warwickshire’s fortunes at Edgbaston, the big Aussie all-rounder is currently 47* out of the Bears’ current score of 100-5. A lead of 85 runs is slim and Essex are piling the pressure on through Harmer and Shane Snater, who currently has 2-14 and is into his ninth over.
Sam Robson and Josh De Caires are chipping away at their first innings deficit at the top of the order for Middlesex. Northants have a handy lead of 68 on first innings, a few wickets this eve will suit them just nicely.
Somerset are back out there with the bat, 13-0 chasing 287 to win, Archie Vaughan has lashed three boundaries already. Not sure where my money is on this one, all eyes on Mr J Rew soon yet again no doubt.
A century for James Bracey! Well batted that man, a patient and composed knock sees him defy Lancs and bring up three figures from exactly 200 deliveries with 14 fours. Gloucs now lead by 163 and they are setting themselves up to be in a position to press for victory heading into the final day. There would have been a few this morning who fancied Lancashire to wrap up the match today, Bracey has repelled and prospered in Bristol.
Uh oh… Rob Yates falls at Edgbaston and Warwickshire are now four down. Another plinked drive, Charlie Allison snaffling an easy catch at cover. The home side effectively 52-4 and Essex licking their lips.
Ah, I strike again! Guthrie falls to a sharp slip catch moments later, Sam Robson clinging on and TRJ finally getting his man.
James Sales is still batting at Wantage Road, a scampered two runs brings up the Northants 350 and the third batting point for the home side. They lead Middlesex by 39 runs with two wickets remaining, Josh De Caires has just been summoned for some off spin.
Liam Guthrie is ably supporting Sales, he’s just notched up his maiden first-class fifty off just 45 balls, a hoicked top edge over the keeper gets the Aussie seamer to a half ton and he looks pleased as punch.
Bracey still going well in Bristol, he’s into the seventies and Gloucs stretch their lead to 107 runs over a weary looking Lancs.
We could be in for a derriere nipper at Edgbaston. Warwickshire are three down already with Davies, Mousley and Hain all gone cheaply. A lead of 33 and counting with Rob Yates and Beau Webster re-building for the home side, low scoring thriller on the cards?
Warwickshire lose their second! Sam Cook has it on a string, quelle surprise, and Dan Mousley is on his way with the southerners still one run to the good on first innings. It was a poor shot from Mousley and he knows it, a straight ball cloth’d to Benkenstein lurking gladly in the covers.
James Bracey unhurriedly goes about his business in Bristol. He’s up to 66 from 144 balls, Gloucs are four down and have scrapped to a lead of 91 runs, James Anderson into his 14th over, the old fella putting in the graft.
Warwickshire are underway with the bat at Edgbaston, Alex Davies and Rob Yates have almost wiped out the visitor’s narrow 15 run lead on first innings… oh and there goes Alex Davies! Curse of the live scribe – Sam Cook gets his man, a thin nick through to Simon Harmer in the slip. Davies shakes his head, either at the decision or his ill advised poke. Pressure on…
Vaughan strikes again in Southampton! Liam Dawson finds Tom Abell in the deep and Hampshire are now six down with a lead of 242.
Archie Vaughan has his dander up in Southampton and he’s removed Ben Mayes for 19 just after the return. Lovely flighted ball that clips off stump and raises the bail like a quizzical eyebrow. Mayes looks suitably bemused at the hole in his defences.
There could be an afternoon of hard yakka in store for Somerset on the south coast, Hampshire’s lead is up to 215 with both Bens – Mayes and Brown – looking well set.
James Sales is still there for Northants, he’s unbeaten on 114 at lunch and his cucumber sarnies will taste particularly sweet. It’s not been electric stuff mind, only 67 runs added by the home side in the morning session but with 3 wickets left they have cut the deficit to just 45 runs.
Simon Harmer is adding some vital lower order runs once again for Essex, he’s unbeaten on 48 as they press on at Edgbaston… ah as I type he’s bowled by Gilchrist and that’s that. Essex make 205 and have a slim lead of just 15 runs, they would have wanted a heck of a lot more but fell in a heap this morning. Game on in Brum!
The pot boils. Excellent mornings for Hampshire, Gloucs and Warwickshire.
Lunchtime Scores:
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire 238 and 265-4 v Somerset 288 – Hampshire lead Somerset by 215 runs with 6 wickets remaining
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 190 v Essex 200-9 – Essex lead Warwickshire by 14 runs with 1 wickets remaining (play ongoing)
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 136 and 176-3 v Lancashire 240 – Gloucestershire lead Lancashire by 72 runs with 7 wickets remaining
Northampton: Northants 296-7 v Middlesex 341 – Northamptonshire trail Middlesex by 45 runs with 3 wickets remaining
Essex are now eight down at Edgbaston and still 12 runs shy of Warwickshire’s first innings score of 190. Hampshire have extended their lead to a commanding 196 and counting in Southampton and Lancashire are being made to work hard in Bristol, James Bracey and Miles Hammond still going strong, Gloucs lead by 52 runs with seven wickets left. I’ll be back for a full lunchtime update shortly.
At Wantage Road, Josh De Caires spills a sharp chance off James Sales in the slips, the Northants man blows his cheeks out with relief, he had 95 to his name. Sales moves to three figures a few minutes later and the deficit is down to 59 runs.
Well batted Nathan McSweeney! The Aussie makes it back-to-back centuries for Norhants by whistling a pull off Naavya Sharma to the deep backward square fence.
Gah, cursed him. He doesn’t press on for a really big one, clipping Tom Helm loosely straight to Ryan Higgins at midwicket. A very important knock for his side though, Northants were tottering on 37-2 when he arrived in the middle. They have four wickets left to wipe out the 78 run deficit Middlesex have over them on first innings.
Lewis Gregory pins Toby Albert in front and it looks stone dead, the umpire duly raises his finger. Hampshire lose their third, their lead already a very useful 155.
Matt Critchley is gone now, carving loosely to backward point and Essex are digging themselves into a bit of a hole at Edgbaston. They’ve lost four wickets this morning and are still 34 runs adrift, from nowhere Warwickshire look like they could event take a small first innings lead into their second innings.
Leach is looking dangerous at the Utilita, probing away and getting some spit and drift. I wonder if we’ll see him in England whites again?
James Bracey survives an LBW decisions off Balderson in Bristol. Gnat’s eyebrow stuff but he’s still there on 30 and Gloucs have nearly eked their way to parity, albeit three wickets down.
Essex are losing wickets in a hurry! Michael Pepper is now on his way after plinking his second ball to Beau Webster at cover. Soft dismissal and Essex now six down in Brum.
The Nut cracks Hampshire open! Jack Leach removes Nick Gubbins for 83 in his first twirl of the day, a hint of grip and Gubbins pokes at it outside off, Overton scooping a fine low catch at slip. Toby Albert is now out there to resume his innings after retiring hurt with a gammy knee last night. He’s on 17, Leach eyes him up, tossing himself a catch or two at the top of his mark, not yet warm enough for Leachy to peel off the short sleeve cable knit. Hampshire lead by 134.
Aussie Jake Lehman drives Craig Overton down the ground for four at a sun strewn Southampton and then gets a meaty knick past James Rew at first slip for four more. Delightful! Lehmann clips his third boundary off the over and the partnership between himself and Nick Gubbins moves into the sixties. Hants in a strong position, leading by 124 with those nine wickets still in play.
Elsewhere, Essex’s Charlie Allison is undone by some late swing from Nathan Gilchrist and he is caught behind for 44. Captain Sam Cook is pocketed by Gilchrist soon after, Rob Yates pulling off a smart diving grab in the slips to send the nightwatchman on his way, Essex are still 54 adrift on first innings with five wickets in the hutch. Bubbling up nicely at Edgbaston.
We’ve got a couple of minutes to go until play begins. The first whiff of a victory might be in Bristol where the evergreen Jimmy Anderson could well force an early win against struggling Gloucs on their home patch. The 43 year old will scent blood in the water and will be accompanied by an impressively George Balderson who scooped five wickets in the first innings.
A confession, I was supposed to be covering the action from Southampton where Hampshire are now in a commanding position against the visiting Somerset, a 96 run lead with nine second innings wickets in hand – however my five year old daughter decided to get her Eddie the Eagle on from the top of our precipitous stairwell earlier this morning… she’s fine, and seems to now be word perfect on the whole K-Pop Demon Hunters erm, canon – but she was before her nosedive so that’s not too concerning. I think she’s secretly pleased to kibosh my day of peaceful cricket viewing, in fact I’m suspicious…
Scores round the shires:
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire 238 and 146-1 v Somerset 288 – Hampshire lead Somerset by 96 runs with 9 wickets remaining
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 190 v Essex 110-3 – Essex trail Warwickshire by 80 runs with 7 wickets remaining
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 136 and 59-3 v Lancashire 240 – Gloucestershire trail Lancashire by 46 runs with 7 wickets remaining
Northampton: Northants 229-4 v Middlesex 341 – Northamptonshire trail Middlesex by 112 runs with 6 wickets remaining
Tanya’s Day Two Round Up:
Hampshire were frustrated by Somerset’s wagging tail, but wiped out the deficit before bad light stopped play at Southampton. There was no century for James Rew, caught uncharacteristically skewing a half-volley for 86, one of three wickets for Codi Yusuf.
Tom Abell made 49, Lewis Gregory was out to Kyle Abbot for the ninth time in 13 matches, but it was 22-year-old Alfie Ogborne who caused Hampshire the most pain, whooping three sixes in an enterprising last-wicket stand. Hampshire lost Toby Albert to a leg injury early on, but Nick Gubbins’ undefeated 70 helped them to a 96-run lead.
After play, Somerset’s head coach, Jason Kerr, was asked about Rew’s chances of playing for England: “He is a good enough player to play international cricket … he’s an incredible talent and one that should get international recognition. If he opens the batting then great, I appreciate the middle-order is quite stocked at international level, but a player of that talent should be knocking on the door.”
At Wantage Road, it was the turn of Nathan McSweeney (87 not out) and James Sales (78 not out) to turn an unprepossessing Northamptonshire start to an innings into a substantial stand. They came together at 98 for four and added an unbeaten 131 for the fifth wicket. Earlier, Ben Sanderson had wrapped up his second five-wicket haul of the season and Zafar Gohar, last Middlesex man out for a delightful 83, was substituted out of the match after picking up a groin injury. Luke Hollman is his replacement.
In his long career, this is the first first-class match James Anderson has played at Bristol, and it looks as if the visit will be a victorious one after a 17-wicket day. Gloucestershire lost their final four wickets for 12 runs in a five-over tumble first thing, George Balderson finishing with five for 34. Gloucestershire’s attack then pulled the tablecloth on Lancashire, reducing them to 180 for eight thanks to excellent bowling from Matt Taylor, who pocketed a career-best six for 43.
Matty Hurst and the tail then pushed the first-innings lead to 104. Keaton Jennings crafted a vital 70 in his first innings of the year. The substitution rule rumpus rumbled on with the revelation that Lancashire had been forbidden to replace Ajeet Singh Dale with Tom Bailey, despite them both being right-arm bowlers, because of Bailey’s superior experience.
Ethan Bamber and Keith Barker kept Warwickshire in the hunt at Edgbaston, running through Essex’s top three on a rain-affected day. Charlie Allison (40 not out) and nightwatchman Sam Cook (5 not out) saw them through to the close at 110 for three under a milky blue sky. Earlier, Sam Hain, who played brilliantly and with clever acceleration for his 88 not out, and the tail had dragged Warwickshire to 190.
Preamble
Sunday Morning Coming Down is Coming Up Roses, actually.
The sun is blazing down here on the South Coast and the weather is set fair elsewhere for an intriguing third day of this round of Champo matches, four matches in play and they are all nicely poised at the halfway mark.
Jim here stepping in for Tanya as she has a well deserved day off, go gentle with me? As ever -please do get in touch and play nice below the line. Right, time for a quick Kenco before the start of play. I’m all out of beers, Kris.
Source: www.theguardian.com
