Key events
Roundup: Rehan Ahmed makes hay at top of the order
A fit looking Saqib Mahmood, with a tentative mullet, bowled in his first Championship game for Lancashire since May 2024. In he steamed from the Statham End at Old Trafford, up against Leicestershire’s tyro opening partnership of Sol Budinger and Rehan Ahmed.
Budinger was dropped between first and second slip on a duck, and Leicestershire then made hay, fizzing past 100 in 19.4 overs. Ahmed, a pocket rocket with wrists of steel and a high‑fashion post‑shot pose, punched thrillingly through the covers, flashed extra‑cover drives, whipped with elan.
Tom Hartley caused trouble in his six overs from the James Anderson End towards the close and, after Budinger fell to Mahmood, Ahmed played out the last 20 minutes with an extravagant, and tight, defence.
Earlier Tom Scriven had collected a career-best five for 46, as Lancashire lost their last four wickets for 21 runs. Marcus Harris, once of Grace Road, made his fourth half-century in his fifth innings since arriving in Manchester.
A hundred for Ben Compton, scored at quite the lick, kept Kent in the game at Canterbury, after Gloucestershire strode past 450, a 27-ball 51 by Marchant de Lange ensuring a fifth batting point. James Bracey was left unbeaten on 151, Nathan Gilchrist putting in his Easter egg career best figures of seven for 100. Zak Crawley collar up, was then caught for one.
A possible rival for his England opening spot, Tom Haines, brightened the twinkle in Rob Key’s eye with a second hundred in consecutive matches, 174 in seven‑and-a-half hours against a Surrey seam attack of Dan Worrell, Jordan Clark, Gus Atkinson and Matt Fisher, who dedicated their day to slowing down the Sussex scoring rate. Ben Foakes conceded just one bye on a pitch with, at times, unreliable bounce. Surrey reached 90-1 at stumps.
Seam bowling to stick in the scrap book from Fergus O’Neill (five for 19) and Brett Hutton (five for 38) left Warwickshire in deep trouble at 93 all out. Nottinghamshire, going out to bat just as the sun came out, then stretched to 204 for five, led by a cast-iron 75 not out from captain Haseeb Hameed
After three ducks in four innings, Emilio Gay came good at Chester le Street with 105, he and Alex Lees (148) pounding Yorkshire into the north-east dust with an unbeaten second-wicket partnership of 242. It was Gay’s first century for Durham.
A second century of the season for Max Holden, tempo dictated by lunch, helped Middlesex into a promising position at Lord’s. There were three wickets for Timm van der Gugten, and Glamorgan’s fielders stayed perky on a trying day.
Paul Walter, settling nicely into the opening slot left vacant by Dean Elgar, hauled Essex out of a hole with 104, and, together with a career best 49 not out from Noah Thain, gave Essex a lead of 210. Sri Lanka’s Kasun Rajitha picked up four Worcestershire wickets on debut.
At Southampton, fifties from Nick Gubbins and Liam Dawson gave Hampshire a 10-run lead, after Somerset had been bowled out for 184. Migael Pretorius was the one thorn in Hampshire’s side, making 47 from a 48 run last-wicket partnership for Somerset.
It was a good day for Northamptonshire in Derby, Ricky Vasconcelos (82) and Luke Procter (97 not out) reducing the deficit to less than a hundred.
And, with the April skies drawing in, that is that. We’ll be back tomorrow, for Rehan Ahmed fireworks and more. Have a lovely evening. Bye!
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham 264-1 v Yorkshire 307
Chelmsford: Essex 179 and 233-6 v Worcestershire 202
Southampton: Hampshire 194-3 v Somerset 184
Hove: Sussex 435 v Surrey 90-1
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 v Nottinghamshire 204-5
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 307 v Northamptonshire 236-3
Canterbury: Kent 318-7 v Gloucestershire 472
Old Trafford: Lancashire 263 v Leicestershire 120-1
Lord’s: Middlesex 353-4 v Glamorgan 199
Time for me to write up, with Rehan Ahmed enjoying himself at Old Trafford. BTL remains open, of course.
A hundred for Compton and more!
In Division Two. Saqib Mahmood is running in from the Statham End with great vigour. Ah, and that should have been a wicket, the ball flying between Jennings and Jones at second and third slip. Budinger smacks the next ball for four. FYI Jimmy is still set to return for Lancs next game, two weeks from now.
Du Plooy (54 not out) is ushering Middlesex into a comfortable lead at Lord’s, already 99. Holden a third wicket for van der Gugten for 107.
Ben Compton is holding Kent together with an unbeaten 107 and some sticky tape. KEnt 262-6, 210 behind Gloucestershire.
Northants have lost Vasconcelos for 82, but Procter and Bartlett are plugging away. Northants 183-1.
A century for Gay! And other stories.
Round the grounds: Division One
After three ducks in four innings, Emilio Gay has a hundred to his name at CLS. Durham 264 for one, Lees 148 and they’re off for bad light.
Much rests with Tall Paul at Chelmsford, 77 not out of Essex’s 156-5.
Hampshire are rapidly catching up Somerset, trail by just 49. Gubbins 39 not out.
Sussex continue to keep on at Surrey, 431-9. Be interesting to see what Burns and Sibley make of this Hove pitch. Atkinson 4 for 118.
And Notts have already eased into the lead at Edgbaston, HH 37 not out, Slater gone for a run-a-ball 40. Warwicks were earlier bowled out for 93 in 36.4 overs. Hutton five for 38, O’Neill five for 19.
And there we go – Lancs all out 263, van Beek collects his first wicket, Turner for a first-ball duck. Let’s see what Saqib can do – his first Championship match since last May, at Blackpool, when he walked off with an injury.
A maiden five-fer for Scriven!
A dream-ball that moves away just enough for Philip to nudge it through to slip. He beams and collects hugs and back-pats from his teammates. Lancs 263-9.
And a fourth for Tom Scriven, who plucks Balderson’s middle-stump from its home and sends it a-flying. A maiden five-fer is for the taking. Lancs 249-8 and we’re down to the bowlers – Saqlain Mahmood and PHilip. Mahmood off the mark with a swanky four.
Scriven makes the breakthrough, another lbw, Wells prodding forward from a great height. Lancs 242-7.
A lap of the ground: it is not warm at OT. Kudos to anyone who lasts a whole day in the tip up seats.
Tea-time-ish scores
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham 224-1 v Yorkshire 307
Chelmsford: Essex 179 and 128-4 v Worcestershire 202
Southampton: Hampshire 115-2 v Somerset 184
Hove: Sussex 402-7 v Surrey
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 v Nottinghamshire 74-0
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 307 v Northamptonshire 117-0
Canterbury: Kent 181-5v Gloucestershire 472
Old Trafford: Lancashire 235-6 v Leicestershire
Lord’s: Middlesex 256-4 v Glamorgan 199
They’ve taken tea at Durham, which will come as a blessed relief for Yorkshire who are being taken to the cleaners. Durham 223-1, Lees 139 not out, Gay 74 not out. Tea here at Old Trafford too, where a couple of members of groundstaff are approaching the pitch with bucket and brush. Lancs 235-6.
A hundred for Max Holden!
Holden has helped Middlesex to an already comfortable lead of 48 against Glamorgan with his second century of the season – 187 balls. Du Plooy at the other end has 41 and Glamorgan are looking rather out of ideas. England’s Shoaib Bashir has bowled 15 overs for 61.
Nice to see a half century from Vasconcelos as Northants rattle along at five an over against Derbyshire. Currently 98-0.
Gus Atkinson finally sees the back of Tom Haines at Hove, for 174, as Surrey collect a second bowling point. Sussex 379-6.
Two in two for Ben Charlesworth. Gloucestershire in the ascendancy at Canterbury where Kent are 142 for five still 331 behind. Compton, rocklike, watches the chaos, 65 not out.
I’m a big fan of the Leicestershire collar: crisp bright stripes. Ben Mike has Balderson hopping about though there is some disquiet at the fielders being so spread about.
An eye to Hove where possible-England-opener-in-waiting, Tom Haines is now 172 not out against an attack of Worrall, Clark, Atkinson, Fisher and Lawrence. Sussex 371-5.
Hampshire are not having it all their way. Somerset have winkled out both openers: 46-2.
There’s a stiff wind blowing at OT, as Hartley edges one just past a diving first slip to bring up the Lancashire 200 . And then something of a shambles as Hartley is run out charging to the non-striker’s end without looking to see Balderson rooted to the spot. Re-enter Luke Wells. Lancs 201-6.
Actually, they’ve just resumed. And in further bad news, Fergus O’Neill has the ball.
Rain in Birmingham
Happily for Warwickshire, rain has prevented any play since a shell-shocked Warwicks wobbled back to the pavilion at lunch, 92 for seven.
Yorkshire’s attack has been unable to get much out of the new ball up at CLS. Lees and Gay, especially Lees, already on 92, are having fun out there. Durham 145-1.
Harris is no more, lbw to a pumped-up Scriven for 77. The unmistakeable figure of Tom Hartley shuffles out to bring in the bins.
Brothers in arms
Allison B to Allison C at Chelmsford. Not yet as incident-filled as Overton J to Overton C one, two, three? years ago when Jamie toppled Craig (at least I think it was that way round). Essex 40-0 off 12 overs.
Harris (359) is currently the leading CC div 2 scorer over Wayne Madsen.
Arrive at OT. Harris still looking effortless. Dave on reception says it is like having Stuart Law back again. Luke Wells has been spotted having some throwdowns. Lancs 179-4.
All set fair on the good ship Essex, who have nearly wiped out their deficit in the first four overs. I’m hot footing it over to OT, back in 15 mins.
Somerset finally all out for 184. Could, as they say, have been worse. Four each for Fuller and Wheal. Big Craig, your time is now.
O’Neill feels a decent winter investment…
Play still at Derby, Edgbaston and Southampton – where Somerset’s last pair have now added 46: Pretorius 45 from 38 balls; Ogborne 6 from 38.
Lunchtime-ish scores
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham 91-1 v Yorkshire 307
Chelmsford: Essex 179 v Worcestershire 202
Southampton: Hampshire v Somerset 181-9
Hove: Sussex 305-4 v Surrey
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 92-7 v Nottinghamshire
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 298-9 v Northamptonshire
Canterbury: Kent 49-1 v Gloucestershire 365-7
Old Trafford: Lancashire 153-4 v Leicestershire
Lord’s: Middlesex 118-2 v Glamorgan 199
A stat, from Ken, at Old Trafford. Marcus Harris joins an illustrious, if esoteric, list. Fewest innings to make the most scores of fifty plus for Lancs since debut:
Ashwell Prince 4 in first 4 inns
Marcus Harris 4 in first 5*
Dinesh Mongia 4 in first 6
Liam Livingstone 4 in first 7
and Luke Wells retires hurt after being hit on the elbow by Tom Scriven.
In Division One: George Hill has broken through at Chester le Street, McKinney caught for six. Yorkshire 64-1. It’s been all go at Chelmsford, where Worcestershire have a lead of nine, but only two wickets in hand. Three wickets to Rajitha.
Somerset have limped past 150 – but only just. The last wicket pair of Pretorius and Ogbourne have added 20, the third biggest partnership of the innings. James Fuller 4-37.
Brett Hutton and Fergus O’Neill have made mincemeat of Warwickshire: 77-5.
Crawley, collar up, prods the pitch, then edges Tom Price through to Cameron Green at first slip, who fumbles it, then, in a tangle of limbs, Bracey catches the rebound. Damn. I’d love to watch a couple of hours of Crawley fabulousness. Kent 20-1.
We’ve celebrated Easter a day early in this house before my daughter goes back to university tomorrow, and alas my Lindt rabbit has taken some early morning damage.
On the pitch, in Division Two: Gloucestershire have been all out for 472 against Kent; Harris and twice-dropped Hurst have eased Lancashire along to 109-3 against Leicestershire; Middlesex have lost Eskinazi to Glamorgan’s van der Gugten but are otherwise in fine fettle; and Gloucestershire have lost a couple of morning wickets, including Brooke Guest for 91.
A 25 ball fifty for De Lange! 150 for Bracey
De Lange boom-booms Gloucs past 450, Bracey flows past 150. Kent on the back foot.
In other news, is Tom now most common current name for a batter? See Lammonby/Haines/Abell/Banton/Clark/Alsop.
Consecutive tons for Sussex’s Haines
After a hundred against Somerset last week, Tom Haines has another – this time against the 2024 champions. It will brighten the twinkle in Rob Key’s eye. Tom Alsop at the other end has his own fifty, Sussex continuing as they left off, 267-2.
An early wicket for Kasun Rajitha at Chelmsford, Hose for 48. Rajitha has signed for five Championship games with Essex (starting with this, against Worcs), and got to know Essex director of cricket Chris Silverwood when Silverwood spent two years as Sri Lankan coach.
Lees and McKinney are on their way at CLS. Yorkshire bowled out for 307. Potts taking out Bess for 66, four wickets each for Raine and Doggett.
De Lange de lumping: 4, 6, 6. Glos 410-9.
Dom Bess has ushered Yorkshire over the 300 line with a boundary but he’s losing partners, Ben Raine has bowled Sears to collect his fourth wickets of the innings.
And Cameron Green, reluctantly, must leave the field at Canterbury – tries to stare down the umpire after he gives him out (unluckily) lbw, but the ump keeps his finger raised until he turns tail. Gloucs 385-9.
Love the optimism of Nathan Gilchrist, who attempts to bounce Cameron Green.
Cameron Green, cramp resolved has taken his place back in the middle with James Bracey at Canterbury. Both are on unbeaten hundreds. A pepperpot and a pint pot.
Delayed starts…
…at Edgbaston, Old Trafford and Southampon. All should get going at 11.30.
More sensational young talent to add to the Australian juggernaut? Goody.
Reports from Old Trafford suggest an 11.30 start, the covers already off.
“Hi Tanya.” Good morning Tim Maitland!
“Looking at the weather radar and the bizarre sight of rain making its way UP the country from south east to north west, which I don’t think it ever did when I was a kid, it looks like you might be in for a gruesome day checking in on delays and restarts … except for Durham, which seems set fair.
“A good time to mention Yorkshire’s Dom Bess backing up his maiden Championship century against Worcestershire with an unbeaten half century at Chester-le-Street. It seems crazy that it’s taken since his first class debut in 2016 and several wrong turns to get to three figures. It would be cool if he builds on his 57 not out with another big score today… especially as he started his season with James Vince-like scores of 1, 0 and 7.
“Talking of Vince (clunk), he’s had quite a week with the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League: 101 at a ridiculous strike rate of 234 against Multan Sultans, a two-ball duck against the Lahore Qalandars* and most recently 70 at a sedate 149 versus the Quetta Gladiators.
*a wandering, ascetic Sufi dervish apparently.”
I was just reading about that. He’ll be hugely missed at Hampshire, and by readers/writers of CCLive – but I hope the move is a happy one for him.
Score on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham v Yorkshire 295-8
Chelmsford: Essex 179 v Worcestershire 98-4
Southampton: Hampshire v Somerset 94-6
Hove: Sussex 227-2 v Surrey
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 34-2 v Nottinghamshire
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 216-4 v Northamptonshire
Canterbury: Kent v Gloucestershire 365-7
Old Trafford: Lancashire 61-3 v Leicestershire start delayed
Lord’s: Middlesex 63-0 v Glamorgan 199
Weather watch
An east-west divide:
Saturday will start cloudy, wet and windy in the west with heavy rain and hill fog. The wind and rain slowly easing across all but western Scotland. Otherwise mainly dry with some warm hazy sunshine. Cooler along North Sea coasts.
Preamble
Good morning from a wet Manchester. The sun like a scrape of butter on some greaseproof paper.