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2 hours ago
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Key events
Leicestershire manage to persuade the umpires into a new ball here at Scarborough, while Somerset and Hampshire have each lost a post-lunch wicket: Brown b Hamza for nine at Sophia Gardens, Hants 119-5; James Rew a third wicket for Hunt at Hove, Somerset 125-5.
Pitch inspection at Northampton
The umpires will peer meaningfully at the Wantage Road grass at 2.45pm.
A second wicket for the on-song Matthew Potts at CLS, after eight last week, Glos 110-6. Next in, 21 year old Mitch Killeen, on loan from Durham. And as a special treat, he’ll have to face Brydon Carse.
It’s stopped raining at Chelmsford and Essex have invited Surrey to have a bat. Not a good day for Rory Burns, who has already stepped back and into Jamie Porter. Surrey 16-1.
No play today at Derby
Frustration for Middx and Derby, who both need a win from this game to have a realistic chance of challenging for promotion.
A warm afternoon bath of applause for James Wharton who reaches his fifty, just his third of the season in the CC– 79 balls, five boundary fours, one all run four. Yorks 92-4.
A flapjack, millionaires shortbread, kitkat and cake in my generous Scarborough packed lunch, which combined with working in a condemned press box in a condemned north stand might be enough to finish me off. A heartwarmingly large number of family cricket games in the square at lunchtime though, and some great books for sale in the second-hand tent.
Lunchtime scores
Division One
Chelmsford: Essex v Surrey start delayed
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Hampshire 98-4
Hove: Sussex v Somerset 93-4
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire start delayed
Scarborough: Yorkshire 84-2 v Leicestershire
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire v Middlesex start delayed
Chester-le-Street: Durham v Gloucestershire 95-5
Northampton: Northamptonshire v Kent start delayed
New Road: Worcestershire v Lancashire start delayed
Two more wickets at CLS, but it’s not Carse, Kasey Aldridge winkles out Boorman and Price. Bracey still there on 40. Glos 90-5.
Sussex are chipping away at Somerset, a couple for Hunt, a couple for Crocombe. James Rew (7) still there though and Tom Abell (16). Somerset 78-4 but boosted by the return of Craig Overton who missed the last match for the birth of his daughter. I loved the stat that , before the victory over Essex, Somerset hadn’t won a match without him since 2019.
The recovery continues at CLS as well, where the Brydon Carse show is temporarily over. Glos 74-3, Ollie Price 27, Bracey 34.
If you have plans to come to North Marine Road tomorrow, Scarborough is having its very own Red for Ruth style day – a Purple for Saint Catherine’s (hospice) Friday. Possibly some Purple Rain too. Yorks 69-2 as the clouds thicken and the seagulls cry.
News from old CCLive! king Will Macpherson: “Expecting unused Test players to be sent back to the Championship. Delayed start at Lord’s doesn’t help but believe they can be subbed in.”
Every batter in the Durham line-up has made a century – seems most unfair.
Anyway, back to Scarborough, where the wooden benches are filling up, and the chatter is bubbly. Yorkshire have made a decent recovery, now 56 for 2, as 19 year old Alex Green, whose shoulders are grand pianoesque, is clipped for four.
Brydon Carse’s first post de-arrest spell is over at a cloudy and grey CLS, floodlights on, sleeves long. Carse 7-0-33-2. Glos 52-3.
James Bracey drives confidently at an over-pitched ball from Carse, like a perfect pull on an oar, and sends it racing for four.
“Any news on play at New Road?” asks Valerie Phillips? Unfortunately no. They’ve taken an early lunch at Chelmsford but I don’t have any news elsewhere. CCLive! readers might be able to help?
Poor Gloucestershire, Durham’s first change bowler is Ben Stokes. Ollie Price outside edges a handy four. Glos 33-3, Carse 2-19.
More early wickets around the grounds – Hampshire’s Nick Gubbins caught off van der Gugten for 1, Hants 9-1; while Tom Lammonby ushered Jaydev Unadkat round the corner and into the hands of Sean Hunt. Somerset 31-1.
Carse is exercising any frustration at poor Gloucestershire as Myles Hammond drives flamboyantly and loses his stumps – Glos 13-3.
Matthew Potts has taken the other Glos wicket, Cameron Bancroft two-stepping into another flashy drive.
“It is compulsory when watching cricket where you are to constantly refer to the seaside town as Scarbados,” writes Tim Maitland.
”I’m not 100% sure of what the punishment is if you don’t, but it must be severe.
”As for the weather, if, and it’s a big IF, the Met Office’s radar forecast is accurate you should get two sessions in today, but nowt after tea.”
Fingers crossed. A great stat from the YP’s Chris Waters – four of Pakistan’s top five in the first Test had played for Yorkshire ‘A strong Yorkshire is a strong Pakistan.’ There’s been a delayed start at the Test. Follow it here:
A roar, look up to see Luxton walking off as well, two to his name. It swung, I’m told, back in. Two for Josh Davey, Yorks 6-2.
Carse action
Shackles Gloucestershire’s Joe Phillips with his sixth ball.
An early wicket at Scarborough on the mottled outfield grass, Adam Lyth obligingly nudging behind. Yorks 5-1.
Rain at Edgbaston, New Road, Derby, Northampton and Chelmsford. And no news on the Grace Road possible points deduction yet.
Arrive at Scarborough, to find that Colin Graves has held a “robust” member’s meeting to discuss demutualisation. In it, he suggested that six other counties were also looking at demutualisation.
Weatherwatch - Thunderstorm warning
Ho hum. The Met office says “ a band of thundery rain will move slowly northwards across England and Wales.” Sunny spells and scattered showers to follow.
Gary Naylor's 99.94 cricket blog
Division One table
1 Notts 135
2 Somerset 133
3 Warwickshire 130
4 Glamorgan 110
5 Sussex 108
6 Yorkshire 108
7 Essex 107
8 Surrey 94
9 Leicestershire 91
10 Hampshire 75
Division Two table
1 Durham 169
2 Kent 139
3 Northants 135
4 Worcestershire 115
5 Middlesex 102
6 Derbyshire 102
7 Lancashire 84
8 Gloucestershire 41
Fixtures
Division One
Chelmsford: Essex v Surrey
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Hampshire
Hove: Sussex v Somerset
Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire
Scarborough: Yorkshire v Leicestershire
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire v Middlesex
Chester-le-Street: Durham v Gloucestershire
Northampton: Northamptonshire v Kent
New Road: Worcestershire v Lancashire
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Preamble
Good morning and welcome to the last August round of this year’s County Championship. It was misty at Huddersfield, bone yellow after Leeds, brisk at Seamer. Scarborough, for now, is dry and full of open-top buses.
There are just five rounds to go and every match swells in importance. Kent’s trip to Northants looks a particularly big one, with the two teams still locked battle for the second promotion place. Leaders Notts travel to Edgbaston to take on third-placed Warwickshire, while Sussex, after last round’s disappointment, will be hoping for better against a Somerset side already dreaming that this could be the year. Naughty boys Durham are rewarded with wooden spoonishts Gloucestershire.
Play starts at 11am, put the kettle on and join us. The sofa is endless.
