Key events
I’ll have whatever Ed Barnard ate for breakfast (even though I still haven’t quite got over him leaving Worcestershire). Two wickets in three balls – Cameron Steel (71) and Jordan Clark (0) in his purse.Surrey 346-6.
Bad news for Middlesex: Jayant Yadav has not arrived in the UK in time to start the game against Essex – where things are already underway: Essex 11-0, Sir Alastair – could this be his last summer? – 8 not out.
And, in case you missed it, Raf saw England’s women crumble against Sri Lanka on Saturday, the first time Sri Lanka have beaten England for a decade.
Emma John was at Edgbaston yesterday to watch New Zealand notch up a surprise, and crushing, victory over England.
Sunday’s roundup
On a hot September Sunday, sun stolen from a dreary August, the County Championship returned. To a bubbling Oval hum and an audience of shirt sleeves on pale blue seats, Ben Foakes petted a deft hundred for Surrey, his third ton of the first-class summer. Foakes and Cameron Steel (69 runs) added an unbeaten 152 for the fifth wicket, keeping out Warwickshire’s second new ball, and bolstering earlier half‑centuries from Dom Sibley (Birkenstocks) and Jamie Smith (kickback mules).
The hosts finished the day on 339-4. Surrey, eyes on a second consecutive title, go into the final month of the season top of the table, leading second-placed Essex by 17 points. Warwickshire must win at the Oval for an even theoretical tilt at the title. Liam Dawson, having a season to remember for Hampshire, hit an unbeaten 109 against Somerset under the eye of the England selector Luke Wright. It was a stodgy surface, with Somerset bowling 24 maidens in the day.
Sam Whiteman bashed a boisterous 79 in his final game before he returns to Australia, but the Division One wooden spoonists Northamptonshire threw a couple of run-outs into the mix and yet again failed to reach 250. Ben Sanderson and Jack White plucked out Lancashire’s openers before stumps.
In Division Two, Durham continued to storm towards promotion, dismissing Sussex for 266 despite an opening stand of 110 between Toms Clark and Haines. Matt Parkinson was Durham’s gamechanger, snatching four for 58 and a sprinting, sprawling catch. Ben Raine collected his 50th wicket of the season.
In the promotion battle at New Road, an unbeaten 74 from Brett D’Oliveira coaxed Worcestershire out of the doldrums despite three wickets apiece for Glamorgan’s James Harris and Jamie McIlroy. Tom Scriven’s four for 30 helped Leicestershire to bowl out Gloucestershire for 159.
Anuj Dal grabbed five wickets on a slow pitch at Scarborough, where Yorkshire were rustled out for less than 300 by Derbyshire. A sleepy crowd watched the 22‑year‑old James Wharton make 58, thoughts running to the future with Yorkshire bottom of the table after their 48‑point deduction by the CDC committee.
Start of play scores – day two
DIVISION ONE
The Rose Bowl: Hampshire 282-7 v Somerset
The County Ground: Northants 232 v Lancashire 54-2
The Oval: Surrey 339-4 v Warwickshire
DIVISION TWO
Chester-le-Street: Durham 6-0 v Sussex 266
Grace Road: Leicestershire 103-2 v Gloucestershire 159
New Road: Worcestershire 284 v Glamorgan 3-0
Scarborough: Yorkshire 297 v Derbyshire 47-1
Day one: Chelmsford: Essex v Middlesex
Preamble
Good morning! It’s an autumn beauty here in Manchester, all dripping spiders’ webs on summer-worn grass, heavy dew and shafts of light. Welcome to day two of this, the first of four rounds of September cricket. The Division leaders, Surrey and Durham, started well, Northants and Gloucestershire wobbled, and Ben Foakes waved yet another calling card towards the selectors. Play starts at 10.30am – grab your coffee.
