Key events
Ali Martin
Players off for bad light and suspect that is that … lots of oohs, a few ahhs … but no genuine chances produced during that mini session. And as I type this, there is mizzle to boot. Stick a fork in this one.
Lancashire DRAW with Leicestershire
Lancashire’s blushes saved by the weather and, lately, Harris (34) and Bohannon (45) .
Old Trafford: Lancashire 263 and 90-3 DRAW with Leicestershire 491-8dec
Lancashire 11 points, Leicestershire 15
Crawley has found some more reliable company in Joey Evison. Kent 80-4.
Update from Lord’s (thank you Romeo)
”Covers coming off at Lord’s. I don’t think there been much rain at all, if any. Only strip (hover) and run-ups were covered. Still looks pretty dark, mind.”
It is also dark at Old Trafford, where the floodlights are not yet on and the close fielders are breathing down Bohannon’s neck.
Hampshire DRAW with Somerset
Another win for the weather.
Southampton: Hampshire 336 DRAW WITH Somerset 184 and 163-2
Hampshire 13 points, Somerset 11
The rain continues to fall at Lord’s.
And we have some Rehan Ahmed from the Jimmy Anderson end.
Ali Martin
Lights now on at Edgbaston and unless there is a dramatic turn of events in the next 10 minutes or so, this one is heading for a draw. Great to see Josh Tongue haring in (even if the red socks are bugging me) but OHD is very much his equal so far. Sixty balls of defiance so far from the big man.
YJB speaks after the draw with Durham:
“Really pleased to get out of that the way that we did. Obviously, losing the toss we would have had a look to bowl as well. We actually went alright there.
“We left a few out there (first innings), and a few softer dismissals. As a group, we’ll look to improve on that. I think that’s a fairly easy fix, if I’m honest. There’s a lot of talent within the group.
“They put us under pressure. For two of their guys to get 150, it’s exactly what Division One cricket is about. It’s probably the biggest difference between that and Division Two – when a teams’s on top, they don’t let you off. And that’s a lesson we can learn as a group.”
Another one slips between Cox’s gloves, Bohannon again, and it feels like the air has left the balloon.
And a fourth for Tom Price! This time it’s Jack Leaning. Suddenly this is looking very spicy for Kent. Time for a Hollioake pep talk.
Sussex DRAW with Surrey
And the champions start the season with three draws. Sussex one win and two draws.
Hove: Sussex 435 and 132-0 DRAW WITH Surrey 490
Surrey 15 points, Sussex 14.
At Canterbury, Kent have lost another – Muyeye, a third for Tom Price. Crawley still standing tall on 23. Kent 48-3.
Leicestershire have posted spare bodies in the stands to throw back the ball to the bowler as quickly as possible.
We think there are 16 people in Old Trafford to see Cox drop Bohannon, on 10, off Holland.
Durham draw with Yorkshire
Chester le Street: Durham 427 DRAW WITH Yorkshire 307 and 277-6
Durham 15 points, Yorkshire 13 points
Here come the umpires, black armbands on their left arms, in memory of Jeff Evans. Leicestershire too. Holland has the ball. Four slips. And a caramel egg from Paul Edwards.
Ali Martin
Seven overs gone at Edgbaston and just the one run off the bat of Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who could easily have run three after a crisp straight drive. First time watching Farhan Ahmed in the flesh for me and it’s quite the spectacle, the young offie standing at the top of his mark legs apart like a baseball pitcher about to wind up on the mound, before skipping in with good energy and getting some excellent purchase on the ball.
And while the rest of the country takes tea, things have got underway at Edgbaston. Time for me to cycle to OT for the denouement. Back shortly.
Kent’s chase of 413 already looks green about the gills – Tom Price has removed both Ben Compton and Daniel Bell Drummond in the six overs possible before tea. Kent 8 for two.
Tea time scores
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham 427 v Yorkshire 307 and 277-6 rain stopped play
Chelmsford: Essex 179 and 317 BEAT Worcestershire 202 and 266 by 28 runs
Southampton: Hampshire 336 v Somerset 184 and 159-2
Hove: Sussex 435 and 132-0 and v Surrey 490
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 and 163-6 v Nottinghamshire 367
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 307 and 202-3 DRAW WITH Northamptonshire 500-8dec
Canterbury: Kent 393 and 8-2 v Gloucestershire 472 and 333-5dec Kent need 405 to win
Old Trafford: Lancashire 263 and 16-3 v Leicestershire 491-8dec no play yet today
Lord’s: Middlesex 470-9dec and 16-1 v Glamorgan 199 and 329 Middx need 43 to win, rain stopped play
We have a 4.30 start at Old Trafford
If the rain stays away. There will be 24 overs for Lancashire to survive.
They take an early tea at Lord’s
…with 43 needed for a Middlesex win. The hover cover chugs into place.
Tom Haines is well on the way to his second century against Surrey of the match, 68 not out of 128-9. Rob Key is probably on the stream right now. Though on the back of his century yesterday, Rehan Ahmed could be a Bazball choice if they decide not to go with Crawley. Interesting to see if he bowls later at OT, he didn’t in the first innings but we think he had a sore finger.
Middlesex are going out swinging, with rain on the way. And lose their first wicket, Max Holden, having a heave-ho at Leonard, caught by Northeast. And on come the floodlights.
Stronger whispers of a restart at 4.30 at Old Trafford. The groundstaff are mopping with purpose.
Restart at Edgbaston at 3.45
With 36 overs remaining. Nottinghamshire, you’ll remember, need just four wickets for victory.
The sun has been spotted in the Manchester area.
Middlesex need 59 runs to beat Glamorgan
And that’s the end of the Glamorgan innings, Bashir hooking Brookes into the hands of Toby Roland-Jones for one.
There are currently three games still going: at Lord’s, where Middlesex need one wicket and then 58 runs before the rain catches up with them.
At Canterbury, where Gloucestershire lead by 407. Another wham-bam half century for van Buuren. Time for a declaration?
And at Hove, where Haines and Hughes are going through the motions.
Rain stops play at Chester le Street
And with Bairstow stranded on 86, the covers come on.
A 3.30pm start in Birmingham
Ali Martin
Official news at Edgbaston is a 3.30pm start if no further rain. Keen to see if Oliver Hannon-Dalby can make his maiden first-class century. Just 100 runs short as it stands
Now Leonard, who attempts a hot-headed, off-balance, reverse-sweep at Gohar – possibly not the coach’s shot of choice. Goes for a neat 47. Glam 352-9.
