Key events
Tanya Aldred
On a London day of high spirits as the marathon threaded its way round the streets, Surrey cranked through the gears. They completed a comprehensive eight-wicket victory, their first of the season, just after tea – a game turned upside down when Somerset suffered a half-hour of horror.
After restricting Surrey to a lead of 84, Somerset lost two early wickets. But it was as people were finishing their post-prandial pints that the game was lost, the visitors at one stage losing five for four in 34 balls. Tom Abell shouldered arms, Josh Davey played on, Tom Banton was brilliantly caught, Kasey Aldridge edged onto his stumps, and an airborne Dan Lawrence plucked James Rew out of the spring air.
From 38 for seven, a total of 119 was actually something of an achievement, especially with Sean Dickson unable to bat. Rory Burns’ busy 20 quickly guided Surrey to 36 for victory, though Dom Sibley and Ollie Pope fell along the way. Pope was out for one for the second time in the game as Jordan Clark went home with eight wickets in his wallet.
Nottinghamshire marched to a nine-wicket win over Sussex, buoyed by another four wickets from 17-year old Farhan Ahmed, and fifties from Haseeb Hameed and Ben Duckett – one a Penguin classic, the other an airport thriller. Fergus O’Neill leaves Trent Bridge, after 21 wickets in four games, to be replaced by Mohammad Abbas, who lands just in time for their next match – against his old club Hampshire. It was a second victory of the season for Notts, who sit pretty at the top of Division One.
In Division Two, a zig-zagging game on a Bristol pitch with unusual energy ended with a two-wicket victory for Leicestershire in the evening sunlight. Gloucestershire couldn’t regain enough ground after their batting suffered an attack of the vapours, at one stage losing five for 16, with four wickets for Ian Holland – the second tier’s leading wicket-taker.
Leicestershire were set 143 and it looked unlikely as Dom Goodman (four for 33) zipped through the top order, but Ben Cox and the tail hauled them over the line. In the only game to reach a fourth day, Middlesex are following on against Derbyshire, still trailing by 97 runs in their second innings.
A slightly mad day of cricket – Somerset collapsing to lose in three days, Notts rampant at the top of Division One, and a nail-gnawer at Bristol. All eyes tomorrow to Derby, where Middlesex must bat and bat to avoid defeat. Thanks for your time on a busy day of sport, good night!
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 300 and 148-1 BEAT Sussex 169 and 278 BY NINE WICKETS
The Oval: Surrey 367 and 36-2 BEAT Somerset 283 and 119 BY EIGHT WICKETS
New Road: Durham 136 and 108-4 BEAT Worcestershire 162 and 81 BY SIX WICKETS
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 472 v Middlesex 315 and 60-1
Bristol: Leicestershire 262 and 146-8 BEAT Gloucestershire 252 and 152 BY TWO WICKETS
And then there was one. With Middlesex one down following on, time for me to write up for the paper. BTL remains open for all waifs and strays.
Leicestershire beat Gloucestershire by two wickets
Despite the best efforts of Dom Goodman, it is Ben Green, not Cam Green who comes away with the prize! A fabulous knicker-gripper at Bristol!
Bristol: Leicestershire 262 and 146-8 BEAT Gloucestershire 252 and 152 BY TWO WICKETS
At The Oval, where the Surrey victory dragon clears its throat for the first time, the groundstaff are mowing the pitches and families play cricket on the outfield.
A fourth for Chappell as TRJ lasts no longer. Paterson joins Davies, with the follow on still a large stride away.
In the forgotten game amongst the madness, Middlesex are battling to avoid the follow on, currently 173 behind Derbyshire, Davies (38) and Roland Jones (2) inching them closer. Three wickets for Chappell, two for Tickner. Derby need two more wickets.
Tea-time-ish scores
DIVISION ONE
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 300 and 148-1 BEAT Sussex 169 and 278 BY NINE WICKETS
The Oval: Surrey 367 and 36-2 BEAT Somerset 283 and 119 BY EIGHT WICKETS
New Road: Durham 136 and 108-4 BEAT Worcestershire 162 and 81 BY SIX WICKETS
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 472 v Middlesex 298-8 still in play
Bristol: Gloucestershire 252 and 152 v Leicestershire 262 and 121-7 Leicestershire need 22 to win.
Surrey beat Somerset by eight wickets!
And with another Jamie Smith boundary, comes Surrey’s first win of the season. A rare romp to victory after Somerset’s half hour of horror this afternoon.
The Oval: Surrey 367 and 36-2 BEAT Somerset 283 and 119 BY EIGHT WICKETS
Surrey points; Somerset
Over to Bristol, where Cox and van Beek have reduced the target to 28…
In a chase of 36, Surrey have now lost two wickets. Ollie Pope lbw Davey for one: two failures in one game at his favourite ground. He shrugs his shoulder in you-can’t-be-serious style but it looks pretty out.
The target just 41 now at Bristol Leicestershire have lost their crutches, Peter Handscomb – Singh Dale joining the wicket party. Cox and van Beek could get this done quickly.
And Rory Burns is in a hurry at The Oval, off the mark with ball sent to the square leg boundary with a flourish. And there’s another four, pulled off his hips, and another off his toes. Surrey 18-0, 18 needed.
It’s neck and neck at Bristol. Leicestershire need 55; Gloucestershire need five wickets. Handscomb 18 not out; Cox 30, heavy on the boundaries.
Surrey need 36 to beat Somerset
A dog’s dinner of a session for Somerset, bowled out for 119. Three wickets for Worrall, three for Clark. A game in the balance at noon, has swung out of reach.
Nottinghamshire beat Sussex by nine wickets!
A hardback book fifty from Hameed and fireworks from Duckett see them home with nary a scare.
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 300 and 148-1 BEAT Sussex 169 and 278 BY NINE WICKETS
Notts 21 points, Sussex 5 points
And that’s a sensational catch by Foakes, a dive to his right, like the beginning of a cartwheel, Pretorius’s edge scooped from the grass. Somerset 117-8, with only just one more wicket in the bag because of Sean Dickson’s injury. The lead? A trifle: 33.
I’ve just heard Dean Wilson say that there is red-light therapy in the Surrey dressing room to aid cellular recovery – this might be the factoid that belatedly gets my friends interested in cricket. Those red light masks that promise everlasting youth cost an absolute fortune. Anyway, Somerset have managed to massage a lead of 25. Pretorius (46) out-Gregorying, Gregory (17).
More on the wicket-gobbler at Bristol, Dom Goodman. He’s 24, was born in Kent, went to Exeter university, is currently doing an MA at Loughborough. He made his first-class debut in 2021, the same year that he and Josh Hull defied Hampshire at Southampton in a last-wicket stand of 36 in 22 overs. He has played 15 f-c matches. The five wickets he took in Leicestershire’s first innings was his first f-c five fer.
Gregory and Pretorius keeping this Oval game going till tea.
Seales has removed Slater at Trent Bridge, but the deficit is just 72. Robinson has been economical (six over for ten) but at the moment has no reward for his labours.
And Leicestershire have now lost Holland too. All hope with Handscombe, 94 needed.
Handscomb-Holland feels like the crucial partnership for Leicestershire – 107 needed, six wickets in hand.
At this rate Derbyshire v Middlesex is going to be the only game going tomorrow. Middx are 227 for six, Geddes 31 not out. Still 245 behind.
A brief pause from The Oval carnage to look elsewhere –
Hameed and Slater are making the game look easy at Trent Bridge. Notts 36-0 need 112.
And – good god Leicestershire -Dom Goodman is carrying all before him at Bristol. He currently has four for 15 in five overs, to go with five in the first innings. Leicestershire 35-4.
Aldridge doesn’t last much longer, a seven ball one. And now another – a boys-own catch at square leg – a leaping, sprawling Dan Lawrence. Rew gone and Somerset have lost five for four since lunch.
In the course of a post-prandial lap of the ground, Somerset contrive to lose three wickets and send this game into a death spiral. Abell for 4, Davey for 17 and Banton for 3, whose most recent scores read: 371, 6, 0, 5 and 3.
Notts need 148 to win
I missed the fact that Sussex were all out before a (delayed) lunch. Simpson the last man out, swinging, for 74. Four wickets for young blade Ahmed, but Sussex will be pleased with that. Something for Robinson and Seales to work with.
A lovely sight at The Oval, people spread over the grass like a huge communal picnic, as the groundstaff tend the wicket.
Lunchtime scores
DIVISION ONE
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 300 v Sussex 169 and 277-9
The Oval: Surrey 367 v Somerset 283 and 30-2
New Road: Durham 136 and 108-4 BEAT Worcestershire 162 and 81 BY SIX WICKETS
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 472 v Middlesex 199-5
Bristol: Gloucestershire 252 and 152 v Leicestershire 262 and 0-1 Leicestershire need 143 to win.
Ollie Robinson asked for a lead of 150 last night – and Sussex have almost got him one. Robinson the ninth man out, a third wicket for Ahmed: the lead over Notts 145.
Somerset limp to lunch at The Oval – 30 for two, 54 behind. Scores to follow.
Leicestershire need 143 to win
Quite the collapse by Gloucestershire, all out for 152, losing eight for 64 for this morning to the mighty Foxes. Four for Ian Holland, two each for Hull, van Beek and Green. Patel and Budinger have an over or two to negotiate before lunch.
A Tom Gone, Lammonby to the whirling divish that is Dan Lawrence, victim to the pre-lunch over of spin. Somerset 25 for two.
The game at Derby’s County Ground seems to be drifting towards a draw, du Plooy and Cullen have put on 59 since Higgins was out in the first ten minutes of the morning. Middx 168-4, 304 behind.
Notts aren’t quite having the easy stroll to victory that they might have envisaged. Simpson (58) and Carson (43) holding this up with a skip and a boundary. The Sussex lead moves to 109.
An eighth tumbles into the well at Bristol, van Buuren scooped up at slip off Josh Hull. Gloucestershire have two wickets to play with.
Gloucestershire too have had some batting issues, losing five for 16 in the first hour and a bit. The lesser know Green, Ben, again in the wickets – including Cameron for 2. Not looking too perky for them with a lead of just 108 over Leicestershire.
Somerset’s second innings starts sub-optimally, as Archie Vaughan is caught behind for 0 off Worrall and trudges the slow trudge back to the pavilion. Somerset 0-1.
A clip to midwicket brings fifty for a free-flowing Dan Lawrence, but he’s just lost Dan Worrall. Surrey 358-9, a lead of 75 and I’m expecting some big hitting.
Just been chatting to Vithushan Ehantharajah who was at Trent Bridge and he is absolutely convinced by Farhan Ahmed.
It’s that man Ian Holland again, getting through nightwatchman Dom Goodman’s defences. Gloucestershire 92 for three, a lead of 82. If they can inch that towards 200….
Atkinson has a hoopla too many and is caught. Surrey eight down, the lead 59.
Thanks to Romeo for this cracking essay on The Oval – cabbage patch, communal gardens and all.
The Oval had developed a reputation for experimentation and communal living. One of the most famous examples was Bonnington Square, just a stone’s throw from the cricket ground. In the 1970s, this cluster of Victorian houses was earmarked for demolition, but a group of squatters—many of them artists, musicians, and activists—moved in and transformed the area into a thriving countercultural hub. They set up co-operatives, grew vegetables in communal gardens, and founded the still-beloved Bonnington Café, a charmingly ramshackle eatery where different volunteer chefs take turns cooking each night.
As the music from the Oval church service sings through the stands, Surrey have got off to a gentle Sunday morning start. Surrey 327-7
All over at New Road of course. Worcestershire coach Alan Richardson sounded resigned yesterday evening;
“We didn’t handle the third innings of the game very well at all. If you have a session like that you are not going to win many games of cricket. It’s incredibly disappointing to go from a position where we were in a position of strength and ahead of the game and then to lose so quickly.
“It is disappointing to have lost two games after taking a first innings lead but it would be more of a concern if we were never in the games. We are putting ourselves into strong positions, it’s just a question of working out how to make sure we drive those positions home.
“When we look at this game, similar to the Essex game, it was probably one session where we didn’t hit our straps. We didn’t handle the third innings well and that left us far too much to do.”
Saturday’s round-up
It was a late-April miracle that the Worcester groundstaff had coaxed New Road into action at all after the pitch was underwater for 39 days across five different floods during the winter. It still bore the scars, however, a verdant outfield that Worcestershire’s New Zealand fast bowler Jacob Duffy called “the slowest outfield he’d ever played cricket on”, and a surface that promised great bounty to the bowlers.
And, in a match played at double-speed, it was injury-hit Durham who came out the best with a six-wicket win in a game where the highest individual score was 42. Twenty wickets fell on the second, and final, day, as first Durham were bundled out for 136, and then a hyperactive Worcestershire limped with chocolate sticks to 81 all out – Ben Raine, unplayable at times, taking four for 20 and Codi Yusuf four for 26. It left Durham chasing 108 for victory. There were hiccups on the way but 20 year old Ben McKinney, rated so highly by England, was resolute in his 34, helped out by twenties from Ollie Robinson, Will Rhodes and Graham Clark.
Delighted Durham return home to stitch up their walking wounded, while Worcestershire ponder a second successive loss despite taking a first-innings lead.
Somerset just about kept Surrey in check on an Oval pitch with occasional bite. Surrey’s powerhouse top six, made up of four batters jilted by England and two men in possession, is an ominous sight and Dom Sibley and Rory Burns made excellent progress on a sunny Saturday morning. But, after lunch, Burns was undone on 76 by a spitting delivery by Lewis Gregory which followed him like a homing pigeon, landing on his top glove before flying to slip. Gregory then bowled Ollie Pope for one. Sibley and Jamie Smith batted like fire and ice, until Sibley had a wanton dance at Jack Leach and was bowled for 53. Smith was well caught for 58 and Somerset chipped away, fielding with great panache. Surrey had a lead of 38 at stumps, helped by a huge early evening six from Gus Atkinson, with three wickets in hand.
Nottinghamshire have victory in sight at Trent Bridge after stretching to a first-innings lead of 131 over Sussex despite Jayden Seales (four for 107) and Ollie Robinson (four for 94) causing some early morning disorder. The valuable late-order run-scrabbling came from Josh Tongue (39 not out) and Liam Patterson-White (42). Tom Haines opened Sussex’s reply and reached his fifty – and 500 runs for the season – with a six, until he was one of three wickets for the Australian Fergus O’Neill, who finishes his excellent spell with Notts at the end of this round. There were two wickets for Farhan Ahmed, and Sussex shuffled to a lead of 64 at stumps, but with only three wickets in hand. Robinson, who bowled 25 overs in Nottinghamshire’s innings, thought Sussex had a chance if they could catch a lead of 150. He also waved in the direction of Rob Key.
“Obviously, I’d love to play international cricket again and I hope that by bowling these longer spells I can prove I can still do that. I’d just like to put my name back in the hat, really.”
Martin Andersson showed his former club, Middlesex, just what they were missing after he hit 107 to put Derbyshire in a strong position at the County Ground. Middlesex then lost three early wickets, one of them to Andersson, who also snaffled a catch. Leus du Plooy retired hurt after his right foot was squished by a yorker from Luis Reece.
Leicestershire and Gloucestershire are still toe to toe after an absorbing day at Bristol. Fifties from Lewis Hill, Ben Cox and Ian Holland helped Leicestershire to a first-innings lead of 10, an excellent result from the doldrums of 37 for four. Dom Goodman collected his first five-wicket haul.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 300 v Sussex 169 and 195-7
The Oval: Surrey 321-7 v Somerset 283
New Road: Durham 136 and 108-4 BEAT Worcestershire 162 and 81 BY SIX WICKETS
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire 472 v Middlesex 101-3
Bristol: Gloucestershire 252 and 88-2 v Leicestershire 262
Preamble
Good morning from a beautifully sunny Oval, and a huge thank you to whoever owns the rambling jasmine on the Harleyford road which throws sweet perfumes to disguise the traffic fumes.
It’s marathon day so London is in bubbling spirits, the trains and streets full of supporters. Good luck to everyone running, both in London and in the Manchester Marathon, including Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss raising money for the Ruth Strauss fund, ( and my brother Tom!).
At opposite ends of the field, two games of football are happening. Play starts here, and everywhere else, at 11am. Pull up a chair, and join us.