With the longest day behind us, theCounty Championshipslipped into its summer sandals once more. Those waiting for Jofra Archer to bowl in his first red-ball match for four years, or Jacob Bethell to audition for the next England batting slot, had to bide their time. But there was plenty more to see.
At Blackpool, the Division Two wooden spoonists gathered. Jimmy Anderson was presented with champagne before play to celebrate his 300th first-class match – but he went wicketless in his first day as interimLancashirecaptain, asKentmotored along thanks to an unbeaten 86 from Ben Compton and an easy‑on‑the‑eye half‑century from Tawanda Muyeye. Damp squalls washed out much of the evening session.
At Bristol, the players lined up for a minute’s silence in memory ofGloucestershire’s president, the former fast bowlerDavid Lawrence, who died just a year after announcing his motor neurone disease. Derbyshire had the best of the day as the left-arm spinner Jack Morley winkled through Gloucestershire, finishing with six for 55.Derbyshirethen raced to 116 for two.
Jersey’s young batter Asa Tribe hit a maiden first-class century to helpGlamorganto reach a healthy 305 for five against the early‑season table-toppersLeicestershire. Logan van Beek pondered the Kookaburra ball: “In Australia and New Zealand [it] is a good ball – here it feels very different, because the wickets are a touch slower and it just seems to get soft more quickly.”
There was also a maiden first‑class century for Joe Cracknell, asMiddlesexfought back from 33 for three – happily for their new first-team coach Dane Vilas – againstNorthamptonshireat the County Ground.
It was an uncharacteristically smooth day forSomerset’s batters againstWarwickshireat Edgbaston, after the openers Tom Kohler Cadmore (104) and Josh Davey put on 186 for the first wicket. Bethell was clonked for 23 in his first two overs.
Sussex’s James Coles was happy to let England wait a little longer for Archer, making his first Division One century, againstDurhamon a damp day at the Riverside. Archer smacked a quick‑fire 31 at No 10.
Ben Slater fell four runs short of his century forNottinghamshireagainstYorkshireon an absorbing day at Trent Bridge, while the 20-year-old Charlie Allison hit his second consecutive Championship hundred forEssex, this time againstHampshire.Surrey’s Matt Fisher and Jordan Clark grabbed three wickets each asWorcestershirecrumbled to 209 all out.
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street:Durham vSussex322-9
Chelmsford:Essex292-8 v Hants
Trent Bridge:Nottinghamshire298-6 v Yorkshire
Edgbaston:Warwickshirev Somerset 327-3
New Road:Worcestershire 209 v Surrey 47-0
DIVISION TWO
Bristol:Gloucestershire 187 v Derbyshire 116-2
Blackpool:Lancashire v Kent 213-3
Grace Road:Leicestershire v Glamorgan 305-5
Wantage Road:Northamptonshire v Middlesex 397-8
Good morning from a blowy Blackpool– the waves route-marching across the front in their uniforms of white and murky green. A tricky day with the ball yesterday for Lancashire, as it was for many seamers with the Kookaburra ball. Time for the spinners to cash in? Play starts at 11am round the grounds, do join us!
Cricket watching in Blackpool.pic.twitter.com/BNDzC6Ax15