Key events
And if you have a spare half an hour, I can highly recommend this new podcast by our own Emma John – featuring, amongst others, the wonderful Sharda Ugra.
And at The County Ground, where Derby have won the toss and will bowl against mea-culpa-points-docked Sussex.
Shock news: after two days of nothingness, there will be play at Old Trafford. Notts have won the toss and will bowl; Lancs hand out a new cap to wicket-keeper/batter Matthew Hurst.
Wednesday’s round-up
At Lord’s, Tim Murtagh pocketed two early wickets from the Nursery End, to make it five in his last match at home, before Will Rhodes (95) and Danny Briggs (71) put on 133 for the seventh wicket. Then the rain came down. Warwickshire put their feet up with a lead of 107. Ryan Higgins went off with a side strain, and Middlesex remain in relegation peril.
At The Oval, Karun Nair’s feisty and fun 144 not out kept Surrey at bay, his 114-run partnership with Tom Taylor the cause of much south London frustration. Nair had time to slash Tom Lawes for a joyous one-handed six before the bad light arrived, leaving Surrey looking over their shoulders at Essex.
At Chelmsford, second-placed Essex declared on 447 for 9, with three batting points in the bag – cancelled out by Surrey’s three bowling points at The Oval. Matt Critchley was unlucky to fall for 99; before Simon Harmer and Umesh Yadav played whoopee with big-hitting half centuries. Hampshire were 10-0 when the bad light fell. Essex, 18 points behind Surrey, need a win to be in with a chance of a realistic tilt at the title.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 447-9 dec v Hampshire 10–0
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Nottinghamshire
Lord’s: Middlesex 121 v Warwickshire 228-6
Taunton: Somerset 214-2 v Kent
The Oval: Surrey v Northamptonshire 351-9
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire v Sussex
Grace Road: Leicestershire v Yorkshire 155-9
New Road: Worcestershire 104-1 v Durham
Preamble
Good morning! Summer – or at least a friendly autumn – has returned, at The Oval at least. The teams warm up on a bright outfield, tracksuited but not a beanie in sight. But elsewhere, a small bomb has exploded – the rumours have it that Sir Alastair Cook is to hang up his boots.
