Joe Clarke achieved his career best score and Joe Leach a first century for three years as Worcestershire's batsmen dominated a rain-truncated second day against Derbyshire at New Road. Clarke, who was unbeaten on 117 overnight, went onto make 194 as he surpassed his previous best tally of 135 against Gloucestershire at Bristol in his first innings of the summer. Leach made an unbeaten 107 before the declaration came at 475-7 in mid afternoon. But a mixture of bad light and then persistent rain meant Derbyshire faced only 2.3 overs before play was abandoned for the day. Worcestershire had to battle hard on a sluggish pitch to reach 255-6 from 92 overs on the opening day. But it was a...
Warwickshire’s Keith Barker took four wickets against the county of his birth to plunge them into danger of relegation on a shortened second day at Edgbaston. Lancashire enjoyed the best of day one of this Specsavers County Championship battle by bowling their hosts out for 219. But the Bears, also in danger of the drop, battled back superbly with the ball to bowl the visitors out for 152 and claim a first-innings lead of 67 just before tea. If Hampshire beat Durham at the Ageas Bowl, the loser of this match goes down. A draw here is enough for Lancashire, but that looks unlikely. Lancashire captain Steven Croft said: "It's a real scrap on our hands, but it is still...
Hampshire’s hopes of staying in the Specsavers County Championship Division One were boosted with a fine day two, as Brad Wheal picked up three Durham wickets. Wheal provided an exhilarating evening spell to get rid of dangerous half-centurion Ben Stokes, while spinners Mason Crane and Liam Dawson also chipped in on a turning track. An early trio of wickets for Hampshire, in Durham’s response to their 411, fluttered away the relegation nerves. Keaton Jennings was lbw to Gareth Berg in the second over, Scott Borthwick edged Wheal behind before Mark Stoneman skipped down the wicket and pinged to Jimmy Adams at mid-wicket. Impatient Hampshire were then forced to endure an 87-run partnership between Graham Clark and England man Stokes –...
The leaders roared back at the champions on a sun-drenched day at Lord's and Somerset moved into a winning position down at Taunton... DIVISION ONEHampshire 411 v Durham 242-7Middlesex 270 v Yorkshire 235-6Somerset 365 & 105-2 v Notts 138Warks 219 & 12-0 v Lancs 152 DIVISION TWOGloucs 229 v Sussex 208-4 Kent 389-7-v EssexLeics 96 & 283 v Glamorgan 199 & 11-1Worcs 475-7d v Derbyshire 15-0 SIMPLY THE BESSDom Bess has never won the Championship. No surprise there, given he’s 19 and this is his first season. But then neither have Somerset, and they are 141. After last night’s calamity of losing five wickets for no runs, Bess guided Somerset from 322-9 to 365 all out via a super handy bonus...
Dom Bess continued the spectacular start to his County Championship career as Somerset strengthened their title challenge on the second day of the match against Nottinghamshire at Taunton. The 19-year-old off-spinner hit 41 to ensure a fourth batting point after his side began the day on 322 for nine, then claimed five for 43 from 22.5 overs to help shoot out the visitors for 138, Jack Leach taking three for 42. Bess now has combined figures of 13 for 102 in his first three Championship innings as a bowler, having claimed eight for 59 on his debut in the competition against Warwickshire earlier this month. Spin twins @DomBess99 & @jackleach1991 rip through Notts! They're 138 all out & @SomersetCCC are...
