Last day of the Easterholidays fun? Could be a cracking couple of hours.
at Derby, Old Traffordand Edgbaston.
I’m not sure if Amit is still here,but I read your comment yesterday after work. Thank you for the pointer! For those, who like me, had missed this story: Vaibhav Suryavanshi made his debut for Rajasthan Royals earlier this week. At 14(!) he was already the youngest player to ever feature in the IPL but soon trumped that by hitting Shardul Thakur over extra cover for six first ball. He thumped 34 from 20 balls, in Rajasthan Royals two-run defeat by Lucknow Super Giants.
Read morehere. I can’t actually find the youngest Championship player, but Rocky Flintoff and Farhan Ahmed were both 16 when they made their debuts. Wiki suggests it could have been Charles Young , who was 15 when he played for Hampshire against Kent in 1867.
RIP Jeff Evans:
Surrey teammates Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence gave the Hove faithful an Easter treat with hundreds of a deliciously attacking hue. Pope’s 102 was his first Championship hundred for two years, and his first away from The Oval for eight. Lawrence survived one fluffed catch and flayed six sixes in his 92-ball century.
An awful last half‑hour of the day leftLancashirein deep trouble againstLeicestershire. Set eight overs to survive, the steady Old Trafford pitch turned toxic track in the hands of Ian Holland and Logan van Beek. Keaton Jennings was bowled off his second delivery. Anderson Phillip, who only landed in Manchester just over a week ago, found himself once more walking out as nightwatchman– for the third innings in four. Nine balls later he was walking back. Michael Jones soon found his off stump dancing behind him. In the end, 16 for three felt like a lucky escape.
Earlier, Tom Hartley had wheeled through 44 overs as Leicestershire ticked along to 491 for eight declared, a lead of 228. Peter Handscomb’s 142 not out punished the tired bowlers, after Rehan Ahmed skipped to his second first‑class hundred.
Ben Compton’s 178 usheredKenttowards safety at Canterbury.Gloucestershirethen built a lead of 191 in their second innings before the light dipped. At Lord’s,Glamorganchances of survival shrank thanks to two wickets in two balls fromMiddlesex’s Toby Roland‑Jones. Migael Pretorius (five for 64) and Tom Lammonby (three for 26) restrictedHampshire’s first‑innings lead, and Sean Dickson’s undefeated 55 keptSomersetalive.
Worcestershirewere set 295 to win at Chelmsford, butEssexpicked away, with three wickets for Jamie Porter. The tail must find 110 today on a hybrid pitch.Nottinghamshireneed four wickets to beatWarwickshireat Edgbaston.
Northamptonshiredeclared on 500 for eight at Derby, with a century from Saif Zaib and 150 from Luke Procter.Yorkshirerattled throughDurham, taking the last nine first‑innings wickets for 126 – after Alex Lees had made 172 and Emilio Gary 152.
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street:Durham 427 vYorkshire307 and 132-4
Chelmsford:Essex 179 and 317 vWorcestershire202 and 185-6Worcs need 110 to win
Southampton:Hampshire336 v Somerset 184 and 103-1
Hove: Sussex 435 vSurrey390-3
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 and 163-6 vNottinghamshire367
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 307 and 202-3 vNorthamptonshire500-8dec
Canterbury: Kent 393 vGloucestershire472 and 112-2
Old Trafford:Lancashire 263 and 16-3 vLeicestershire491-8
Lord’s:Middlesex470-9 v Glamorgan 199 and 186-5
A downbeat Met office: “A rather cloudy start to the day, with outbreaks of rain across western parts. Rain moving eastwards through the day, followed by sunshine and showers. Some of the showers will be heavy at times, with hail and thunder.”
Good morning from a damp Manchester.Overnight rain and drizzle in the air does not make for happy Foxes. But there is still time…
WithNottinghamshireand Essex, as well as Leicestershire, still chasing wins, there is much to play for. Points means prizes (maybe). Play is due to start at 11am, pull your umbrella from under the stairs and join us.