County Cricket Day 2025 was distinguished by soft Kookaburra balls and soaring temperatures. At York, the groundsman had left enough grass on the pitch to give it a minty sheen, but a combination of ball, disciplinedYorkshirebowling and heat-induced inertia tested the patience of even the most loyal fan.
The ground became more and more lopsided as spectators slid towards the shade of the oak tree behind the scorebox whileEssex’s Tom Westley (107) and Dean Elgar (94) plodded on. And on. Westley’s hundred was his second in successive matches.
It was a good day for Ben Compton at Canterbury: a county cap, a three-year contract extension and 66 runs, asKentbatted their way to a comfortable 325-4 againstNorthamptonshire, with additional half centuries for Daniel Bell-Drummond and Tawanda Muyeye.
Tom Banton, whose season hit a spectacular high in the first round with 371, but who has since found runs hard to mine, ground an unbeaten 57 againstNottinghamshire. There were also fifties for Tom Abell and James Rew afterSomersethad wobbled at 22 for two.
Centuries from Dom Sibley and Sam Curran putSurreyin the driving seat at the Oval. A swashbuckling Dan Lawrence half-century after tea put the tin lid onDurham’s decision to have a bowl.
Sam Robson clocked his first hundred of the season forMiddlesexat a flat, dry Grace Road.Leicestershirewere shorn of their first-choice attack due to injuries and Ian Holland’s presence at Major League Cricket, but Roman Walker pocketed three wickets.
Lancashirerecovered from the depths of 44 for four atDerbyshirethanks to a self-denying 106 from Keaton Jennings and a chirpier 121 from Chris Green. Zak Chappell grabbed four wickets.
Henry Crocombe, replacing Jofra Archer,spirited away by Englandafter one game, keptSussexin the match againstWarwickshirewith three wickets. Mason Crane also grabbed three forGlamorganagainstGloucestershire.
And at Southampton, Barry Richards was one of the spectators asWorcestershire’s Adam Hose frying-panned theHampshireattack during his 266 at more than a run a ball. Thirty one fours and seven sixes peppered the lounging crowds and switched the narrative of a broiling day.
DIVISION ONE
Southampton: Hampshire vWorcestershire362-2
Taunton: Somerset 275-6 v Nottinghamshire
The Oval: Surrey 407-3 v Durham
Hove: Sussex vWarwickshire372-7
York:Yorkshirev Essex 248-3
DIVISION TWO
Chesterfield:Derbyshirev Lancashire 367
Sophia Gardens:Glamorgan vGloucestershire279-7
Canterbury: Kent 325-4 v Northamptonshire
Grace Road:Leicestershirev Middlesex 336-5
Good morning!The sun beats down and the cricket gets heavy. Welcome to day two – play starts at 11am.