Key events
Roundup: Warwickshire edge Durham at the death
Tanya Aldred
A bum-clencher at Chester-le-Street was won by one wicket, just after 10 past six, when Warwickshire’s No 10 Ethan Bamber flambéd a six. The momentum had swung like a revolving door all day but a century from Ed Barnard, fifties from Alex Davies and Kai Smith and the dead-eye of the tail saw the visitors through against Durham.
Sussex celebrated their first Division One win since 2015 after Somerset were finally dismissed at Hove. Some outstanding bowling by Jaydon Seales removed the dangerous James Rew and Kasey Aldridge early, and he returned to pluck out Migael Pretorius’ leg stump for 59. Tom Abell provided the Somerset scaffolding, but once he was out for 96 it was only a matter of time, despite a sudden attack of butterfingers in the field.
No lurking in the kitchen for Calvin Harrison. On loan to Northamptonshire for just two games, he finished his first match, against Lancashire at Old Trafford, with a fifty and 11 wickets in the match. Seven of them came from 57 overs in the second innings as Northants fought to force a win, but were thwarted by a determined Josh Bohannon, whose 155 marked a happy return to form. When Marcus Harris was caught for his third fifty in four innings, Northants rejoiced, but the Lancs tailed wagged just enough.
Hampshire’s Nick Gubbins and Toby Albert kept Surrey at bay at the Oval, before bad light pulled the plug. Gubbins laboriously compiled 117 over five hours and the partnership of 143 in 52 overs with Albert, unbeaten on 78, caused Surrey – still yet to win a game – much frustration.
A maiden Nottinghamshire century for Jack Haynes ensured that Essex would need to chase 366 at seven an over, a task too far. A draw, too, for Leicestershire at Grace Road, where Derbyshire’s Australian Caleb Jewell made his fourth half-century in four innings. His captain, Wayne Madsen, was out for 96 – one of a rash of nineties in this round. Colin Ingram batted Glamorgan to a draw with Gloucestershire at Bristol.
They spoil us with these last-gasp trinkets. What a great round, and the weather largely held too. Thanks to you all for your company, we’ll be back on Friday. Have a lovely evening.
Final scores
Chester le Street: Durham 387 and 276-8dec BEAT Warwickshire 325 and 344-9 by one wicket
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 347 and 385 DRAW WITH Essex 367 and 106-1
The Oval: Surrey 253 and 342-9 DRAW with Hampshire 219 and 300-5
Hove: Sussex 294 and 501-7 BEAT Somerset 201 and 334 by 260 runs
Headingley: Yorkshire 456 and 315-4 BEAT Worcestershire 162 and 105 by 504 runs
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 546 DRAW WITH Glamorgan 385 and 288-4
Canterbury: Kent 218 and 316-2 BEAT Middlesex 222 and 311 by eight wickets
Old Trafford: Lancashire 228 and 351-9 DRAW with Northamptonshire 496
Grace Road: Leicestershire 484 and 357-9 DRAW with Derbyshire 393 and 179-3
Warwickshire beat Durham by one wicket!
Chester le Street: Durham 387 and 276-8dec BEAT Warwickshire 325 and 344-9 by one wicket
Bamber closes the deal with a six.
Surrey DRAW with Hampshire
The Oval: Surrey 253 and 342-9 DRAW with Hampshire 219 and 300-5
STumps akimbo! WArwickshire are nine down, 15 still needed.
Leicestershire DRAW with Derbyshire
Grace Road: Leicestershire 484 and 357-9 DRAW with Derbyshire 393 and 305-4
Bad Light at The Oval
Surely, the death knell.
Lancashire DRAW with Northants!
Eleven wickets and a fifty for Harrison! Close but no cigar for Northants; a valiant rearguard by Lancs, led by Bohannon.
Old Trafford: Lancashire 228 and 351-9 DRAW with Northamptonshire 496
I must write up, but do keep chatting BTL.
Warwicks only need 30 and oh, oh, and edge flies past a empty first slip (one for you Mike Daniels) and down to the rope.
Seven wickets for Harrison now! Shades of Wayne Phillips/Allan Lamb here:
Too late?
Warwickshire need only 44 but they’ve just lost two for 10 and one of them was Barnard for 101. Two wickets for Durham to get. Their tails are up.
Notts DRAW with Essex
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 347 and 385 DRAW WITH Essex 367 and 106-1
Handshakes at TB.
Notts 13 points, Essex 14 points
Paul Farbrace isn’t pulling any punches: “It’s a good win against a strong Somerset side, and for three and a half days we were very good, it will do our confidence good to beat a team consistently challenging over the last few years.
“ I thought up until lunchtime today we played really good cricket and put ourselves in a great position but this afternoon it was no surprise that we dropped catches because our enthusiasm and body language dropped off.
“We can’t afford to have sessions like that. We were so far ahead in the game it didn’t matter too much, but it’s a good lesson for us – we’ve made a good startbut we’ve got a lot of learning to do.”
A wicket, a wicket! at The Oval. Gubbins gone to Fisher.
Gloucestershire DRAW with Glamorgan
Bristol: Gloucestershire 546 DRAW WITH Glamorgan 385 and 288-4
Colin Ingram and the rain held Gloucestershire at bay.
Gloucs 15 points, Glam 13
Open sesame!
And in the meantime, there’s been a wicket at CLS – young Kai Smith lbw to that man Ben Raine for 62. That partnership of 147 with Ed Barnard has got the target down to double figures. 84 needed, four wickets left, as Booth joins the party.
Calvin Harrison has picked up a fifth at OT – where Lancs have three wickets in hand and a petticoat lead of 57.
The chase is still possible at The Oval, but they’ll need to get a move on. Hants still need 138.
Unfortunately comments have been closed for now – am trying to see if they can be re-opened.
So, going into the final furlong, we have: three results, one fair-dinkum chase (at CLS) one possible chase (at The Oval), one team hanging on for dear life (at OT), two probable draws (Grace Road and Trent Bridge) and one drizzly damp squib (at Bristol).
Sussex BEAT Somerset by 260 runs!
Hove: Sussex 294 and 501-7 BEAT Somerset 201 and 334 by 260 runs
Well played Sussex! A first Div One win since autumn 2015. Somerset flattened by that huge second innings Sussex score – and those centuries for Haines and mighty captain Simpson.
Tea-time-ish scores
Chester le Street: Durham 387 and 276-8dec v Warwickshire 325 and 226-5 Warwicks need 113
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 347 and 385 v Essex 367 and 60-1 Essex need 306 to win
The Oval: Surrey 253 and 342-9 v Hampshire 219 and 216-4 Hampshire need 161 to win
Hove: Sussex 294 and 501-7 BEAT Somerset 201 and 334 by 260 runs
Headingley: Yorkshire 456 and 315-4 BEAT Worcestershire 162 and 105 by 504 runs
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 546 Glamorgan 385 and 258-4
Canterbury: Kent 218 and 316-2 BEAT Middlesex 222 and 311 by eight wickets
Old Trafford: Lancashire 228 and 303-6 v Northamptonshire 496 Lancs lead Northants by 35
Grace Road: Leicestershire 484 and 357-9 v Derbyshire 393 and 179-3 Derbyshire need 270 to win
Saif Zaib has the knack of striking with his first over of a spell – and it’s the big one. Bohannon caught behind for 155. The Lancs lead is just 35. Love those final session nerve-janglers.
Fifty for Ed Barnard, fifty for Kai SMith, both going at a fair lick at CLS. Warwickshire counting this down now – 135 needed, five wickets left.
Leicestershire are very happy to see the back of Caleb Jewell, for 73. He’s snaffled a half century in every innings so far – pretty good shopping that by Mickey Arthur. Derbyshire 162-3, 287 to theoretically chase.
Hampshire have lost their last four games at The Oval and haven’t won there for 17 years. Just saying.
Sussex nearly there at Hove… Somerset are down to their last pair, Lewis Gregory (50) and Jack Leach. Four wickets for Hunt and three wickets for Seales. One, two, three, four, five slips squat in wait.
That man Harrison strikes at Old Trafford. It’s Hurst after nearly an hour of defence. Bohannon (145) is joined by Luke Well. The lead just 12.
Rain stops play at Bristol
Glamorgan, feet up, a lead of 87. Ingram still there on 61, but Carlson was caught off Ollie Price for 49. Glam 248-4.
I stand corrected, thank you Romeo. The last minute stand at CLS “was between Pennington and Jack Haynes, who made his highest-ever f-c score. The ninth wicket stand was Hutton and Haynes. Both were excellent.”
Hmmm, quite a vigorous start by Essex, who are 17-0 from three overs. Fergus O’Neil a worrisome prospect if it is a run-chase.
Essex need 366 to win
Notts are finally bowled out, for 385. Essex will rue that infuriating last-wicket stand of 66 between Hutton (38) and Pennington (13 not out). Seems unlikely that Essex will go for 366 in 52 overs, though if Jordan Cox gets his eye in….
Injury sends Kent’s Keith Dudgeon back home to South Africa
A blow for bouncing-on-air Kent, with the news that their South African bowler Keith Dudgeon, who took 7-36 in Northants’ second innings last week, has had to go home. Dudgeon injured his knee at training and after scans it was decided to cut his season short.
Eyes to Chester-le-Street, where Raine and Potts have made a mess of the top order. Two slips, hands in pocket, as Doggett runs in. Looks like Barnard and Smith have dropped anchor.
Fifty and out for Marcus Harris, another victim for on loan Calvin Harrison. A tidy catch at short leg. Lancs four down, and still 21 runs in arrears. Bohannon just needs company, solid, boring company, someone with a slideshow of their holiday snaps (20th century reference).
A hundred for Josh Bohannon
In the last over before lunch! A fourth century against Northants, a first century since last June and a crucial knock for Lancashire. Well played.
Lunchtime scores
Chester le Street: Durham 387 and 276-8 v Warwickshire 325 and 90-5
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 347 and 321-9 v Essex 367
The Oval: Surrey 253 and 342-9 v Hampshire 219 and 121-4 Hampshire need 256 to win
Hove: Sussex 294 and 501-7 v Somerset 201 and 208-7 Somerset need 387 to win
Headingley: Yorkshire 456 and 315-4 BEAT Worcestershire 162 and 105 by 504 runs
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 546 Glamorgan 385 and 181-3
Canterbury: Kent 218 and 316-2 BEAT Middlesex 222 and 311 by eight wickets
Old Trafford: Lancashire 228 and 221-3 v Northamptonshire 496
Grace Road: Leicestershire 484 and 357-9 v Derbyshire 393 and 56-1 Derbyshire need 393 to win
Alas Abell is out, for 96, another man to be sent on his way in the 90s this round. Somerset 205-7 and that’s that, I think.
At The Oval, Kemar Roach is hurtling in with ten minutes to go: Toby Albert edges behind… but out goes the umpire’s arm – no ball. Roach bends in half in frustration.
At the other end of things, Caleb Jewell is looking good (again) for Derbyshire, who are 54-1, needing another 395 to beat Leicestershire.
Colin Ingram, who yesterday described his first-innings hundred as “not one of my prettier knocks” is battling again. He’s currently 24 not out, batting with a somewhat becalmed Kiran Carlson. Glam 163-3 and with a mighty two runs lead.
At The Oval, where Surrey players are in black armbands. Gubbins and Middleton have done well this morning, adding 68, another 274 to win. Middleton walks off shaking his head, lbw for 42 to Fisher. Hampshire 104-4.
Northants are taking the new ball at Old Trafford, Bohannon still there on 87. If he does get to three figures, it will be his first since that double century in June last year. There were, whisper it, hints last night that the Bosh is back.
Seales has picked up a second wicket at Hove, Aldridge, but Abell is still there on 81. Did I mention yesterday that Banton had got a duck? Anyway, he did, to go with his six in the first innings and 371 against Worcestershire. Somerset 170-6, needing 425 to win or five hours to block away.
Derbyshire need 449 to beat Leicestershire
An extravagant target…after some slap and tickle by the Leicestershire tail. Ben Mike 38 not out, three wickets for Jack Morley.
A few wickets round the grounds in this first half hour:
At Old Trafford, they wave farewell to Anderson Phillip, who gave Marcus Harris a few hours grace. A second wicket for the impressive Harrison who Lehman was praising yesterday, particularly his accuracy. Lancs 162-3, Bohannon 81 not out.
Somerset have lost James Rew for 20 to Jaydon Seales, leaving Abell and Aldridge to fight the good fight. Somerset 151-5
Rob Yates had a shocker leaving a ball from Ben Raine, Warwicks 48-1 need another 291.
Snater and Porter have taken three quick wickets at Trent Bridge, Notts 259-8, 239 ahead of Essex.
And Glamorgan have crumbled, losing their top three for 13 runs. Glam 136 for three, Carlson and Ingram rebuilding.
Play is starting around the grounds. I’m having a few technical difficulties so please bear with me!
Many condolences to Alec Stewart, whose wife Lynn has died after a long illness. Rest in peace.
Flags on The Oval pavilion will fly at half mast today.
Surrey County Cricket Club are greatly saddened to share the news of the passing of Lynn Stewart, wife of Alec Stewart.
Club Chair, Oli Slipper, said “The sincere condolences of everyone at Surrey County Cricket Club are with Alec and the whole Stewart family.
“Our very best… pic.twitter.com/fVolw1i91m
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) April 14, 2025
Something for your elevenses: Osman Samiuddin is always worth reading, and here he is on ten years of the PSL.
Root and Brook to play for Yorkshire once
Head coach Anthony McGrath told reporters last night that Root and Brook were only going to be available for one game pre Test series: the match against Warwickshire at Headingley starting on May 2.
Ben Raine, fresh from his 81, is confident about Durham’s task against Warwickshire:
“We kind of had a feeling that we didn’t quite have enough then as the game naturally developed, Pottsy played a few shots and Hoggy hit the spinner over the top. We scored like 30 runs quite quickly and it kind of took us to where we said we wanted to be. We didn’t get a wicket tonight but it’s enough runs on this pitch and we know we can bowl a team out on this pitch, we’ve done it a number of times.”
And some thoughts on young Ben McKinney: “He’s always a very relaxed man, he’s cool and calm under pressure. He was getting a bit frustrated, they bowled straight, it was tough to score and they bowled really well to him. He’s a man beyond his years is Ben.”
Sunday’s round-up: Yorkshire, Kent win and more
Yorkshire’s whopping 504-run victory over Worcestershire gave Jonny Bairstow early-season bounce to his boots. Bairstow had declined to enforce the follow-on on Saturday, and batted on, and on, to set Worcestershire an implausible 610 for victory. Dom Bess collected his first Championship century, off just 115 balls, while Dawid Malan biffed an unbeaten 76 and Bairstow an unbeaten 44 – both pole-axing three sixes. Worcestershire’s fielders largely patrolled the boundary. A brow-beaten Worcestershire were then unzipped for 105 to become the first side in County Championship history to lose a match by 500 runs or more.
At Old Trafford, Lancashire, who swapped divisions with Yorkshire at the end of last season, were having a trying day against Northamptonshire. After a hard-fought morning, they lost three wickets in 19 balls just before lunch, one of them the steadfast Keaton Jennings, caught magnificently by Saif Zaib at midwicket, the third player in the match to get out in the 90s. Lancashire were soon following on in the chill of an April wind. Jennings once more strode out, this time making 49, and for the second evening in a row Anderson Phillip found himself drafted in as nightwatchman – he survived.
Spectators at Canterbury rubbed their eyes as audacious centuries by Tawanda Muyeye and Ben Compton sped Kent to an eight-wicket win over Middlesex. A chase of 316 to win had looked a challenge on paper but Zak Crawley pushed the launch button, making 58 off 66 balls, albeit after being dropped at third slip on nought. After he was bowled by Zafar Gohar, Daniel Bell-Drummond fell next ball, but Compton and Muyeye had it in the bag.
Nottinghamshire’s Haseeb Hameed made 92 in the absorbing game against Essex at Trent Bridge, while another hundred from Dom Sibley ensured Surrey are on top at the Oval, despite a debut five-wicket haul for Hampshire’s Sonny Baker.
Sean Hunt, having a match to remember at Hove, took all four Somerset wickets to fall as they chased 595 for victory against Sussex. Ben Raine (81) and the tail rescued Durham’s second innings against Warwickshire at Chester-le-Street. Rehan Ahmed pancaked 77 off 59 balls in his experimental opening position, getting Leicestershire’s second inning off to a cracking start against Derbyshire, while Glamorgan were forced to follow on by Gloucestershire.
Scores on the doors
Chester le Street: Durham 387 and 276-8 v Warwickshire 325 and 12-0
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 347 and 233-5 v Essex 367
The Oval: Surrey 253 and 342-9 v Hampshire 219 and 35-3
Hove: Sussex 294 and 501-7 v Somerset 201 and 125-4
Headingley: Yorkshire 456 and 315-4 BEAT Worcestershire 162 and 105 by 504 runs
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 546 Glamorgan 385 and 106-0
Canterbury: Kent 218 and 316-2 BEAT Middlesex 222 and 311 by eight wickets
Old Trafford: Lancashire 228 and 126-2 v Northamptonshire 496
Grace Road: Leicestershire 484 and 291-8 v Derbyshire 393
Preamble
Hello from London town where spring has paired fashionable blue skies and a fleece. We roll into the final day of this round with Yorkshire and Kent putting their feet up after bombastic wins. Elsewhere, there is a cracker brewing at Chester le Street, and possibly Trent Bridge, while Hampshire and Somerset look in deep trouble. Lancashire and Glamorgan are following-on, but on decent pitches, (with Jennings gone, this is where you earn your money Marcus Harris.)A draw looks likely at Grace Road.
Play starts at 11am. Do drop by, we’ll be here all day.