silverguide.site –

Taunton kept us guessing almost to the end. A great win for Yorkshire, and for Glamorgan, Notts, Surrey, Northants and, last but most memorably, Kent. Thanks for your company over the last four days. I’ll be back on Friday at Old Trafford, for the penultimate round of this spring block of games. Have a lovely bank holiday evening. Bye!

Division Two table (all teams have played four games)

1 Durham 71

2 Northants 65

3 Lancashire 60

4 Worcestershire 55

5 Middlesex 49

6 Kent 43

7 Derbyshire 30

8 Gloucestershire 24

Division One table (all teams have played four games)

1 Notts 67

2 Surrey 59

3 Somerset 58

4 Warwickshire 55

5 Glamorgan 50

6 Sussex 46

7 Yorkshire 45

8 Essex 40

9 Leicestershire 36

10 Hampshire 26

Final scores

Division One

Southampton: Glamorgan 536-7dec BEAT Hampshire 214 and 253 by an innings and 69 runs

Leicester: Nottinghamshire 490 and 77-0 BEAT Leicestershire 308 and 254 by 10 wickets.

Taunton: Yorkshire 162 and 371 BEAT Somerset 274 and 184 by 75 runs

The Oval: Surrey 622 and 15-2 BEAT Sussex 358-9dec and 277 by eight wickets

Division Two

Canterbury: Kent 352 and 335 BEAT Derbyshire 304 and 158 by 225 runs

Lord’s: Middlesex 430 and 146-4 DRAW with Durham 567

Northampton: Northants 597-7dec BEAT Worcestershire 306 and 114 by an innings and 177 runs

Middlesex DRAW with Durham

And that’s the lot.

Lord’s: Middlesex 430 and 146-4 DRAW with Durham 567

Yorkshire BEAT Somerset by 75 runs!

The spin twins do it! Bess drifts one past Ogborne’s defensive push and there is the death rattle. “Somerset squandered a terrific position on the first night” murmurs Vic. Four wickets each for Bess and Root.

Taunton: Yorkshire 162 and 371 BEAT Somerset 274 and 184 by 75 runs

Yorkshire 19pts, Somerset 4pts

Updated

(Tactical?)Umbrellas have been spotted in the Hildreth stand…

Bad light at Lord's

Just one over possible after tea. Suspect they’ll call it a day there.

Updated

Surrey beat Sussex by eight wickets!

An entertaining way to make 14, Coles dismisses Burns and Patel in his first over, but Surrey get there in four.

The Oval: Surrey 622 and 15-2 BEAT Sussex 358-9dec and 277 by eight wickets

Surrey 22points, Sussex 4 points

Joe Root the bowler!

All over bar the gloating at Taunton. Joe Root strikes in successive overs. Four men round the bat as Bess reels in to no. 11 Alfie Ogborne. Somerset 174-9.

Tea-time scores

Division One

Southampton: Glamorgan 536-7dec BEAT Hampshire 214 and 253 by an innings and 69 runs

Leicester: Nottinghamshire 490 and 77-0 BEAT Leicestershire 308 and 254 by 10 wickets.

Taunton: Somerset 274 and 167-7 v Yorkshire 162 and 371 Somerset need 93 to win

The Oval: Surrey 622 v Sussex 358-9dec and 277 Surrey need 14 to win

Division Two

Canterbury: Kent 352 and 335 BEAT Derbyshire 304 and 158 by 225 runs

Lord’s: Middlesex 430 and 144-4 v Durham 567

Northampton: Northants 597-7dec BEAT Worcestershire 306 and 114 by an innings and 177 runs

Surrey need 14 to win

Tom Haines is stranded on 20, and there were helpful forties from Ollie Robinson and JAck Carson, but ultimately 0-2 was hard for Sussex to escape from. They’ve taken tea at The Oval, and at Lord’s and now Taunton.

A snorting catch from Adam Lyth, crouching at short leg and defying his 38 years, who sprints a half circle of delight. Overton is briefly immobile in disbelief. Gone for 2. Somerset 156-7, need 103. Joe Root gleefully collects a second wicket.

"You don't have time to feel sorry for yourself"

“It is a really poor performance all round,” says Hampshire’s Ben Brown. “It is a poor week from us. We should be playing a lot better.

“We didn’t get it right with the ball - we shouldn’t be getting declared on on that pitch - and then with the bat we couldn’t turn the game around and get any momentum. It just wasn’t good enough.

“Today was too late. I want to be scoring runs in the first innings. You never want to give up so it was nice to get some resistance going but those wickets yesterday really cooked us today.

“We are low, there is no doubt about it. You can’t hide from results. We’ve had three games at home and three defeats. In county cricket, you don’t have the time to feel sorry for yourself or do any training; we have another hard game away at Essex. It is about mentality recovery and putting ourselves in the position to play well.”

I was reminded this round that at Wantage Road you can bowl from the David Capel end. And it prompted me dig out his obituary. Here it is – what a lovely man he sounds.

The television switched itself off, and by the time I have relocated the stream Thomas Rew is out, Root-Bairstowed for 30. My silly old bones had told me he was going to win the game for Somerset. Somerset 147-6 – Overton joins Smeed.

Dom Bess does it!. Thomas prods and gets a sharp edge off a turning ball. A third wicket for Bess, an old boy busy breaking Somerset hearts. Nicely caught by Hill at slip, backing away. Well, this is just the sort of red-ball test Will Smeed has been looking for… Somerset 136-5 need 124 to win.

And then there were three.

Taunton, where Thomas Rew and Josh Thomas, are youthfully swatting at Bess and Root. The one to watch. Somerset are over half way there, four wickets down.

Lord’s: Holden and Geddes have drawn Middlesex to within 12 runs of Durham’s first innings. Looks like a draw unless sudden unexpected fireworks.

The Oval: Surrey are tightening their grip. Sussex are eight down, but one of the batters is Tom Haines, back after being hit on the grill first ball yesterday. Sussex 236-8, trail by one.

Kent beat Derbyshire by 225 runs!

Bloody well done Kent for turning the good ship around. A first win for over a year. A win for switching off social media comments? Derbyshire, back to the drawing board. Matt Milnes finishes with career-best figures of six for 12.

Canterbury: Kent 352 and 335 BEAT Derbyshire 304 and 158 by 225 runs

Kent 22 points, Derbyshire 5 points

Glamorgan BEAT Hampshire by an innings and 69 runs

Ben Brown last man out for 96. Glamorgan’s first Division One win for 21 years!

Southampton: Glamorgan 536-7dec BEAT Hampshire 214 and 253 by an innings and 69 runs

Hampshire 1 point, Glamorgan 23 points

Fifty for Josh Thomas!

In just his sixth Championship match – 136 in the first innings, 50 not out in this one. Joe Root watching, Joe Root bowling from the Marcus Trescothick end. Thomas gets a wee glove shake from T Rew. Bess thinks he’s got Rew next ball to the top edge of a reverse sweep – double teapot from Bess as he’s told no.

I caught the tail end of Kevin Howell’s lunchtime interview with Mr and Mrs Rew, who sounded lovely. Apparently Thomas, whose A levels are fast approaching, has brought his books with him to the dressing room. Anyway, he doesn’t need to worry about that for now, he’s on 10 not out, a second gorgeous four. Somerset 106-4 need another 156.

Glamorgan close in – Hampshire nine down as Yusuf tries as effusive drive – and loses his stumps to Hadley. Plays it again, just to be sure, but too late. Hampshire 241-9, trail by 81.

Dom Bess dismisses the best man at his wedding (or maybe the other way around), Yorkshire can taste victory now, you can see it. Thomas Rew in, on a pair. Somerset 85-4. And that’s Rew’s first runs! Leans into a cover drive and sends is spilling to the rope. Taunton erupts into applause.

Surrey have the wicket they wanted – Jack Carson lbw to Sean Abbott. It was fun while it lasted. Sussex are seven down but still no sign of Tom Haines. So perhaps Paul Farbrace was hasty last night.

Notts beat Leicestershire by 10wickets!

The Notternaut starts to roll…

Leicester: Nottinghamshire 490 and 77-0 BEAT Leicestershire 308 and 254 by 10 wickets

Nottinghamshire 23pts, Leicestershire 4pts.

Lunchtime-ish scores

Division One

Southampton: Hampshire 214 and 230-8 v Glamorgan 536-7dec

Leicester: Nottinghamshire 490 and 77-0 BEAT Leicestershire 308 and 254 by 10 wickets.

Taunton: Somerset 274 and 57-3 v Yorkshire 162 and 371 Somerset need 203 to win

The Oval: Surrey 622 v Sussex 358-9dec and 175-6

Division Two

Canterbury: Kent 352 and 335 v Derbyshire 304 and 103-7 Derbys need 281 to win

Lord’s: Middlesex 430 and 57-3 v Durham 567

Northampton: Northants 597-7dec BEAT Worcestershire 306 and 114 by an innings and 177 runs

Haseeb Hameed and Ben Slater are trying to wrap this up before sandwiches. Notts 41-0 need just 32 to beat Leicestershire.

At Lord’s, Ben Raine and Matthew Potts are keeping pavilion would-be slumberers awake, reducing Middlesex to 55 for three. They still trail Durham by 81 so this isn’t dead yet.

Jonny Bairstow decides Joe Root is going to be the partnership breaker. My son plonks himself on the sofa and is instantly disapproving of the Yorkshire kit “too much colour.” “Ooooh,” Root’s hands fly to his head, “aaaah”, as Abell hits close to mid wicket. Somerset 48-3.

Over to The Oval, where Surrey are getting into their work. They’ve taken two wickets this morning – Hughes for 39 and Hudson-Prentice for 15. Charlie Tear is proving tricky to dislodge, 43 not out. Sussex 152-6, trail by 112.

Kent are nearly there after Jas Singh sends Zak Chappell’s off stump spinning away – an entertaining 20. Derbyshire 82-7.

Ben Brown (62) and Scott Currie (25) are sticking it out at Southampton…actually as I type Crane has just been lbw to Mason Crane. Hampshire 194-7.

Notts need 73 to win!

Two valuable not outs for Josh Hull, Ben Green is Patterson-White’s fifth wicket, out for 37. This should be a over just after lunch at Grace Road.

Delight at Taunton, meanwhile, as James Rew is caught behind by YJB off Dom Bess. A second low score of the match. Bairstow leaps about, as do his teammates – you see how highly they all rate Rew. Somerset 21 for three and in deep trouble.

Updated

Oh dear, that wasn’t a good ball to leave, Tom Lammonby. Plonks a big front foot forward, raises his bat and glances under his armpit to see the off stump dance. A second for the impressive Hill. Somerset 18 for two. Time for a James Rew special.

Updated

At Canterbury, Kent are fair frolicking. Four for Matt Milnes now, Martin Andersson, sometimes a steadying hand, and Brooke Guest, have their stumps dismantled. Derbyshire 52-6.

Thomas has a complete slog, misses, and White, wild-haired, appeals with imploring arms. No says the umpire.

Aha, here comes Dom Bess. Vic thinks this is a good idea.

Four wickets for Patterson-White now at Grace Road, Ben Green, if seven wickets weren’t enough, is now trying to haul Leicestershire towards a lead of 100.

Great to see Joe Root clapping enthusiastically, part of a co-ordinated Yorkshire appreciation of George Hill from the slips. Somerset 11-1.

At Taunton, where the clouds are fluffing up like threatening candy floss, Archie Vaughan’s bails spray up into the air, bowled by good un from George Hill for four. Vaughan thuds his bat into the grass in frustration as he walks off Somerset 9-1.

Durham have added another 37 this morning at Lord’s and lost a wicket – the lead over Middlesex 137. Seems unlikely this will be anything more than a draw, but perhaps Potts and Raine can conjure magic.

At Taunton, YJB may have just dropped Vaughan, but tricky to tell. Jack Leach watches intensely from the boundary edge.

Archie Vaughan and Josh Thomas start the Somerset chase. Expecting this to zig and zag - with Somerset 43 for three, then stumble to the finish held together by Craig Overton’s heave-ho 57.

Derbyshire’s unlikely run-chase against Kent is already in tatters at 34 for four. Three wickets for Matt Milnes: Came, Jewell, Montgomery and Madsen all done and dusted.

Kevin Hand says that Glamorgan are on track for their biggest ever thrashing of Hampshire. And just to hurry things along, Felix Organ is obligingly lbw to Jamie McIlroy. Hampshire are six down, and still trail by 190.

Somerset need 260 to win!

Richardson nibbles, gives James Rew a leaping take, just after making fifty. Now the fun begins.

Updated

So far not so good at Grace Road though, where Leicestershire are now eight down – Scriven to the fourth ball of the m orning.

Last night Paul Farbrace said there were no signs of concussion for Tom Haines, which is excellent news, and Sussex will need him.

“We’ve had a bad couple of days,” said Farbrace. “We were in the field for six hours and then find ourselves 0 for 2.

“They had their tails up and bowled very well with the new ball. We will have to bat well tomorrow but Dan Hughes has been nice and calm and showed what’s possible.” So far so good.

We are underway all round the grounds.

Free entry at Canterbury

To see Kent cross the line for the first time this season. Maybe.

“I think all three results are possible (but) I think we’re in the driving seat,” said yesterday’s centurion Chris Benjamin. “So if we can bowl the way we did this evening, we’ve got a great chance.”

Sunday's round up

Emilio Gay’s third century of the season may have come with an unspectacular trowel down to third man, but it could be career-defining. Like Zak Crawley, Gay is playing Division Two cricket, but two of his Durham centuries have come against the challenging Lancashire, and now Middlesex, attacks, even if the Lord’s pitch was friendly. David Bedingham also flew to a hundred, while poor Kasey Aldridge was lbw for 99.

Gay’s former county Northamptonshire grabbed their first win of the summer, after Ben Sanderson rampaged through Worcestershire’s second dig. His six wickets in 29 balls skittled an innings that had been progressing, if slowly, at 88 for two. Fourteen overs and 26 runs later, Worcestershire were all out. Sanderson’s seven for 31 gave him a career best 11 wickets in the match. James Sales and Lewis McManus had earlier hit hundreds in Northants’ 597 for seven declared.

There was youthful joy at the Oval where 19-year-old Adam Thomas frisked to a century on Championship debut, a companion piece to Dom Sibley’s 187. Sussex wheeled through the onslaught until Surrey were finally bowled out for 622. Matt Fisher then immediately firebombed Sussex’s reply. His first ball spat off the pitch and hit Tom Haines in the grill, who staggered backwards and immediately retired hurt. Fisher then removed Tom Clark lbw with his second ball and had James Coles caught behind from his sixth.

An intriguing game has built up at Taunton, where 64 from Joe Root, 92 from James Wharton and some wagging of the tail ensured Yorkshire’s bowlers would have something to go at against Somerset on the final day.

Despite a flamboyant first-innings century from Stevie Eskinazi, Nottinghamshire thundered towards victory. Olly Stone, who picked up five wickets in Leicestershire’s first innings, plucked out another three as they followed on, including Eskinazi lbw, this time for a duck. Ben Green and Jonny Tattersall ensured Notts would have to bat again

Hampshire’s rough season continued, following on they finished five down, still 204 behind Glamorgan. Mason Crane pocketed four wickets at his former home. Kent can dream about a first win of the year, against Derbyshire, thanks to a partnership of 184 between Chris Benjamin (123) and Joey Evison (88).

Scores on the doors

Division One

Southampton: Hampshire 214 and 118-5 v Glamorgan 536-7dec

Leicester: Leicestershire 308 and 215-7 v Nottinghamshire 490

Taunton: Somerset 274 v Yorkshire 162 and 365-9

The Oval: Surrey 622 v Sussex 358-9dec and 76-4

Division Two

Canterbury: Kent 352 and 335 v Derbyshire 304 and 19-1 Derbys need 365 to win

Lord’s: Middlesex 430 v Durham 530-8

Northampton: Northants 597-7dec BEAT Worcestershire 306 and 114 by an innings and 177 runs

Preamble

Hello and happy bank holiday Monday! If you’re not off doing lovely things, there’s some absorbing cricket to keep an eye on. The weather, typically, may misbehave, with bands of showers particularly across the south. But we cross our fingers. Play (should) start at 11am, do join us on the sofa, there’s plenty of space.

Updated