Key events
Rain at Canterbury â Surrey having almost Gloucestershire levels of luck with the weather so far this season. Kent 144-4.
In Division Two, Leicestershire have lost Lewis Hill, so near, yet so far, for 47; Harris in sight of his hundred â Leics 190-3. While Middlesex are enjoying the Lordâs conditiions about as much as Yorkshireâs batters did yesterday. Currently 115-5, Higgins and Eskinazi gone cheaply this morning. Du Plooy resolute on 41 not out.
In the first half an hour, just a couple of wickets in Division One â Leaning at Canterbury, and Dickson at Taunton, though for a morale-boosting 72. No sign of greater spotted Somerset collapse as yet, 127-2.
Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy
Starts today with all eight sides playing:
Birmingham: Central Sparks v The Blaze
Chester le Street: Northern Diamonds v Thunder
Beckenham: South East Stars v Vipers
Cardiff: Western Storm v Sunrisers
A reminder that the 2023 Champions were Southern Vipers, who lifted the trophy for the third time.
An early wicket at Canterbury, where Kemar Roach removes Jack Leaning for 30; meanwhile Lancashireâs day starts in downbeat fashion when George Bell drops nightwatch Sam Cook.
Sorry about the slow start this morning, gremlins in the system. But the weather is behaving and weâre about to start on time at all nine games.
Weather watch
Sunshine!
and the Met office is positive: a mostly dry day with variable cloud and sunny intervalsâ¦average temperatures, but feeling warm in the sun.
Raman Subba Row – born 29 January 1932; died 17 April 2024
A lovely obit of a fascinating figure.
Friday’s round up
Though the rain continued to fall around the country, the Dukes ball returned with a sparkle â taking 72 wickets in the day.
Nottinghamshire (193), Durham (244) and Yorkshire (159) were all bowled out by shortly after tea, Lancashire (146) following soon afterwards.
Harry Brook and Joe Root were two of five single-figure Yorkshire scores, both giving catching practice to the slip fielders against Middlesex at Lordâs. At Kidderminster, Durhamâs Ollie Robinson did his England credentials no harm at all with a counter-attacking 55 against Worcestershire; while Sean Dickson and Matt Renshaw reduced Somersetâs deficit to 77 against Nottinghamshire.
It was only at Hampshire that batting really flourished, with Alex Davies, hot on the heels of his 256 last week, the sole centurion of the day. Davies was helped by half centuries from Will Rhodes and Rob Yates â Warwickshire one of only two sides to pick up a batting point. The other was Gloucestershire, who skipped along against Sussex, with half centuries for Miles Hammond, Ben Charlesworth and James Bracey.
In the other games, Lancashire lost their first eight wickets for 92 against Essex, courtesy of four quick wickets for Shane Snater and a first wicket for 19-year-old Noah Thain on his Championship debut. Feroze Khushi then hit a rapid 53 in reply. Glamorgan rebuilt from a dreadful start against Northamptonshire, thanks to an unbeaten 69 from Colin Ingram; while Derbyshireâs butterfingers alongside 77 from Marcus Harris helped Leicestershire along.
At Canterbury, Zac Crawley was dismissed for five before Daniel Bell-Drummond continued his excellent start to the season for Kent with 70 against Surrey. There, and at Wantage Road, the players stood for a minuteâs silence in memory of Derek Underwood and England, Northants and Surrey cricketer and administrator Raman Subba Row, who died this week aged 92.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 68-1 v Lancashire 146
Southampton: Hampshire v Warwickshire 340-4
Canterbury: Kent 111-3 v Surrey rain
Taunton: Somerset 116-1 v Nottinghamshire 193
Kidderminster: Worcestershire 78-4 v Durham 244
DIVISION TWO
Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire 168-2
Lordâs: Middlesex 84-2 v Yorkshire 159
Northampton: Northamptonshire v Glamorgan 203-7
Hove: Sussex v Gloucesterhire 319-8
Preamble
Good morning and welcome to day two of this third round of matches! Come on in, the waterâs lovely.
