Keaton Jennings’ knock of 119 put Lancashire in charge at Old Trafford but George Hill’s five-fer kept Yorkshire in the game
The county championship unfolded itself from the linen basket and sprung back into service, the start of a full-on, four-week September run, which will decide the winner and sieve out the promotion and relegation candidates (should that process happen, all still being, in classic English cricket style, up in the air).
To Old Trafford for the Roses match, where Lancashire’s Keaton Jennings became the first player in the long history of the rivalry to make four centuries in successive innings, pulling away from three-in-a-row Herbert Sutcliffe and Geoff Pullar. Jennings’ astonishing run – 114, 132 and 238 – was topped off by 119 against a Yorkshire attack that looked washed out on a flat pitch.
But from 231 for one, Lancashire lost seven wickets in the evening session, collapsing to 272 for eight, as 21-year-old George Hill took five for five in 41 balls (six for 26 in total) – his first five-fer for Yorkshire in his first bowl since breaking his toe in July. Ben Coad grabbed two wickets in two balls in the penultimate over and suddenly the relegation candidates were eyeing up the title chasers.
Hampshire, the only team other than Lancashire capable of catching Surrey, were thwarted by rain that reduced the day to 62 overs. Felix Organ top-scored with 71, as Liam Dawson and Aneurin Donald added a pretty, unbeaten 62. At Canterbury Kent chose to bowl under grizzly skies but Alastair Cook plugged away for 78 and after a wobble, Matthew Critchley and Feroze Khushi carried Essex through to the close.
In the relegation battle at Taunton, Marcus Harris tormented Somerset with a 159 that lasted from the first to the penultimate over when he edged Jack Brooks to slip. There were also fifties for Gloucestershire’s Ben Charlesworth and Ollie Price.
In Division Two, 20 wickets fell at a capricious Trent Bridge as Nottinghamshire were dismissed for 201 by Leicestershire, only for the visitors to crash and burn for 93. Luke Fletcher grabbed four for 23 and Sam Evans carried his bat for 50, the only Leicestershire man to make double figures.
Derbyshire were dismissed for 306 by Durham, while at Sophia Gardens, Gareth Roderick and Ed Barnard gave Worcestershire’s batting some welcome solidity with a partnership of 127 against Glamorgan.
No hat-trick. Close at OT Lancs 272-8.
Lancs 268-8 and a Ben Coad hat-trick ball…
Ain’t no party like a Lancs-up party.
The door closes on George Hill’s magic spell 11-3-18-5 from the Jimmy Anderson end, Lancs 257-6. Time for me to pull out a round-up. Do keep chatting BTL.
And that’s a sixth as Tom Kohler-Cadmore grabs Balderstone in the slips! A third catch for TKC. And Lancs have lost 5-20.
Five wickets for George Hill! His first first-class five wicket-haul and in a Roses match too. Throw in promotion chasing (red rose) and relegation avoiding (white rose) and it’s quite an afternoon.
DIV TWO
Derbys 282-8 v Durham – mid-innings stability from du Plooy (82) and Harry Came (78). Rushworth 3-59.
Worcs 281-7 v Glamorgan – Pollock (54), Roderick (84 not out) and Barnard (75) thwart Glamorgan’s race for the Div 2 line.
Notts 201 v Leics 59-5 – oh dear, dear me. Fletcher 4-15 as the shadows stretch away.
Right, with early starts, come early finishes. so a quick squizz round the grounds before I write up.
DIV ONE
Hants 173-5 v Northants. Felix Organ apart, not much doing in the Hants batting department.
Essex 308-4 v Kent, a third batting point, and an unbroken 88 run partnership between Critchley (73) and Khushi.
Lancs 251-4 v Yorks, Keaton Jennings bats and bats (but not all day). Four wickets for George Hill, floodlights on for the final half hour.
An email wafts by from Geoff Wignall.
“ Good afternoon Tanya,
“Just catching up on the day’s developments and so prompted into musing on the collective noun for authors (13:54).
A shelf was my first thought, but surely it’s either a compendium or an anthology?”
Very good!
Lancs having a mini-crisis, 248-3, Josh Bohannon gone for 29. I thought he’d had a terrible year but a quick scan at the averages reveals he’s made 760 runs at 48 – though 231 did come in that early season triumph.
This a nice touch from Somerset to support the disaster in Pakistan
NEWS: SCCC have launched a special online auction to support those affected by recent floods in Pakistan 🇵🇰
Lots include…
🏏 England Shirt signed by entire team from the 3rd Test
🏏 Canvas print signed by Lord Botham
🏏 Signed shirts from SCCC players
⤵️⤵️#WeAreSomerset
Should you wish, you can also donate here.
The unjinxable Jennings falls– gone for 119, but not without a Roses record under his nicely-pressed shirt. Lancs 231-2.
Ed Barnard (71 not out) – Championship player of the year? Discuss.
A dawdle too many and Tom Westley is run out for 54 at Canterbury. Essex 221-4 (Lawrence out for 9).
Meanwhile at Trent Bridge, demi-Notts-up complete for 201. Leicestershire 13-1 in reply, Azad the man gone.
With a leap and a punch, that’s a fourth successive Roses century for Keaton Jennings! Another record for thenicestmanincricketTM who is having a hell of a summer.
It’s raining at Taunton, Marcus Harris has broken his bat and Somerset have been pinged round the park. Gloucs 237-1, Harris 113 not out.
Division One
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 94-2 v Northants *
Canterbury: Kent v Essex 204-3 *
Old Trafford: Lancashire 181-1 v Yorkshire
Taunton: Somerset v Gloucestershire 217-1*
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire 206-5 v Durham
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Worcestershire 195-4
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 197-9* v Leicestershire
* not yet tea
Some Roses special stattage, care of Ken:
No batter has ever scored four centuries in four consecutive innings in Lancashire v Yorkshire matches.
Keaton Jennings’ last three innings v Yorkshire before today are: 114, 132 & 238 and he is currently 90 not out at tea.
(Geoff Pullar scored three hundreds in consecutive innings against Yorkshire in 1959-60: 109, 105 & 121. Clive Lloyd scored three centuries in four innings against Yorkshire between 1979-1981 scoring 103, 0 (run out!!), 101 & 145.)
Tea scores to follow.
Yorkshire finally get a break just before tea, as Luke Wells falls in the 80s, to a whoops-a-daisy catch by Matthew Waite – but he holds on for dear life . Lancs 181-1.
Harris making whoopee in do or die match for Gloucs. Harris 105 not out, his third Championship century of 2022 and the first Championship century in September. Wells, Jennings and du Plooy hot on his heels. Notts having a shocker, 174-8, with the second highest score Extras, with 22.
Sir Alastair is out for 74 just as I get back from the dentist – which is very thoughtful of him. Brush your teeth boys and gals!
A quick round -up of the scores before I face the dentist:
Division One
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 31-1 v Northants (rain delay – restart due 2.15pm)
Canterbury: Kent v Essex 113-1 – Alastair Cook 57 not out.
Old Trafford: Lancashire 129-0 v Yorkshire – Yorkshire looking toothless
Taunton: Somerset v Gloucestershire 155-0 – going for broke at Taunton
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire 141-4 v Durham – two for Rushworth, two for Raine, a fifty for Leus du Plooy
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Worcestershire 121-4 Glamorgan looking upwards – three for van der Gugten
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 116-5 v Leicestershire – not what the script said! Wright 3-24
Love this picture:
Picture of the match ❤️🇵🇰🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/e6t9TKf0jt
I haven’t read Being Geoffrey Boycott by John Hotten yet, but it is supposed to be very good. Paul Edwards is signing his book A Summer Days Promise tomorrow so a veritable …paperback(?). of authors at Old Trafford this week.
At the Roses match today? @GeoffreyBoycott is signing copies of Being Geoffrey Boycott in the library from midday (the book is available to buy in the shop).@lancscricket @YorkshireCCC @theoldbatsman pic.twitter.com/Ld1Z9IdIpo
After Daniel Gidney appeared on BBC radio at lunch to talk HPR and the future of cricketTM, it seems the counties are as confused as everyone.
This from Kevin Howells yesterday:
‘Rest assured Somerset will always make the case for a strong County Championship.’
This from @SomersetCCC without committing to voting for 14 Championship games to be retained. https://t.co/GFx6N4fMbP
while Gidney said:
“I have no idea what is going to happen. This could be like an episode of 2012 or W1A.
“I’ve been told that there is definitely going to be no reduction in County Championship cricket. But then I have also been told that has not been agreed.
“If I was a betting man, I would say there will be no reduction next year because of what has been put out there and what has been discussed.
“But ultimately there are still plans for a chairs’ vote on 20 September and until you get to a point where you actually see a proposal or proposals and one of those has a change to the domestic schedule, you still need 12 out of 18 chairs to vote it through for that change to happen.”
Rain stops play at Taunton – as Lancashire skip along to three figures, with fifties apiece for Wells and Jennings. A lot of bowling for Bess already – 11 – an odd decision just to play the one spinner. Lancs 102-0.
A wicket at Taunton – Charlesworth caught for 56 off Aldridge – Gloucs 130-1 as rain hovers around the ground.
…in case you missed them
T20 WC and three-match T20 series v Australia
Jos Buttler (Lancashire) Captain
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire) Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Chris Jordan (Surrey)
Liam Livingstone (Lancashire)
Dawid Malan (Yorkshire)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Phil Salt (Lancashire)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Reece Topley (Surrey)
David Willey (Yorkshire)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Mark Wood (Durham)
Travelling Reserves
Liam Dawson (Hampshire)
Richard Gleeson (Lancashire)
Tymal Mills (Sussex)
T20 tour of Pakistan
Jos Buttler (Lancashire) Captain
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire) Vice-Captain
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Jordan Cox (Kent)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Liam Dawson (Hampshire)
Richard Gleeson (Lancashire)
Tom Helm (Middlesex)
Will Jacks (Surrey)
Dawid Malan (Yorkshire)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Phil Salt (Lancashire)
Olly Stone (Warwickshire)
Reece Topley (Surrey)
David Willey (Yorkshire)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Luke Wood (Lancashire)
Mark Wood (Durham)
No YJB after that freak golfing injury which has ruled him out of. the Third Test (replacement Ben Duckett) and the T20 World Cup (replacement tbc).
Rain continues to thwart Hampshire’s chase of Surrey at the Rose Bowl.
Play restarting round the grounds, a spicy soup in a cup from Old Trafford before I left.
An admission, I’m now back home for the next 50 mins before I have an emergency filling when there will be a brief break in proceedings. Hopefully only 45 mins then until normal service is resumed..
A lovely wandering of people on the Old Trafford pitch right now, in autumn sunshine Amazing drainage as we had had torrential rain last night.
Division One
Rose Bowl: Hampshire 31-1 v Northants (rain delay)
Canterbury: Kent v Essex 82-0
Old Trafford: Lancashire 90-0 v Yorkshire
Taunton: Somerset v Gloucestershire 115-0
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire 85-4 v Durham
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Worcestershire 88-3
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 82-2 v Leicestershire
Doing this a bit backwards today, but a quick recap of the Championship chase, with four games to go.
Surrey (who don’t have a game this round) have a 16 point lead and an unbeaten record. This leaves the floor open for the only possible challengers: Hampshire ( 16 points behind Surrey) and Lancashire (34 points).
At the other end of the table, assuming two go down, Gloucestershire and Somerset are in the most trouble – with bottom side Gloucestershire needing victory against their west -country rivals this week.
In Div 2, Notts are a sure thing for promotion, to be joined by one of Middx (without a game this round), Glamorgan and Derby in a September bun-fight.
Oh dear. Luke Wells swishes a six off Bess then next ball is dropped by Patterson, the simplest of chances, at mid-on. Old Trafford isn’t looking so bad – though the white sheet draped over the pavilion is an interesting touch.
Is Old Trafford really as hideous and shambolic as it looks @tjaldred? Can't even do a proper sightscreen for a Roses Match while aiming for the Championship?
Work continues on the new hotel where the Red Rose suite used to be – a grey skeleton growing next to the scoreboard. For projected pictures see here.
An attempt at a new overseas faces check for this round:
Glamorgan: Shubman Gil and Ajaz Patel
Somerset: Imanm ul-Haq and Sajid Khan
Northants: Lizaad Williams
Warwicks: Mohammad Siraj and Jayant Yadav (from next round)
Please send me anyone I’ve missed.
Will try and compile a comprehensive ins and outs (with help from the BBC) later.
No Harry Brook for Yorkshire: he seems very likely to make his Test debut on Thursday at The Oval. A real shame it wasn’t in midsummer when every run was gilded with gold.
An hour and a quarter in, let’s go round the grounds -it’s a genially slow going morning.
DIV ONE
Essex 49-0 v Kent
Lancs, who’ve suddenly gone giddy, 49-0 v Yorkshire
Gloucestershire 67-0 v Somerset
DIV TWO
Derbyshire 42-3 v Durham (Rushworth 2-18)
Worcestershire 60-2 v Glamorgan
Notts 39-2 v Leicestershire
Thanks to Ken Grime for coming up with the ultimate Hundred antidote:: in the Roses match at Old Trafford a hundred years ago, Lancashire made 188 in 77 overs – 20,000 fans turned up on the first day, the second day was rained off, and 10,000 came up on the third day, a thriller which came down to the final ball .
Meanwhile at OT, Wells and Jennings have put on a suitably somnolent 16 in 11 overs. Lancs 16-0.
Division One
Rose Bowl: Hampshire v Northants
Canterbury: Kent v Essex
Old Trafford: Lancashire v Yorkshire
Taunton: Somerset v Gloucestershire
Division Two
Derby: Derbyshire v Durham
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Worcestershire
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Leicestershire
An email, lovely and early in the morning – hello Paul Frame!
“Good Morning Tanya,
“As it’s the Roses match at Old Trafford with Lancashire trying to chase down a southern rival I thought that the followers of this blog might appreciate this great clip of Clive Tyldesley presenting the 1990 Roses match from Old Trafford:
“Back then a team whose home ground was Old Trafford made it to a Lord’s final but missed out on the County Championship, here’s hoping for Lancashire fans that they go one better this year.”
Apologies about that – epic fail by me. Made it to Old Trafford in time to watch the last half of the of the second over. Lancs are 4-0 after winning the toss and batting. Lancs are playing three spinners, Yorks one plus new cap Fin Bean who made an outrageous 441 against Notts in the second XI in June.
Good morning! So happy to be back – hope the kids are safely returned to school with squeaky shoes and lunchboxes that will make the day’s journey entirely untouched.
Down at the CC- Live, this is the final fling, the last knockings of a season as normal as we’ve had it since 2019. The High Performance Review has dropped and though we still don’t know exactly what is going to happen next season, it seems very likely that the county chairs will get what they want and keep two divisions for 2023.
Seven matches this round – and I would write more but I’ve suddenly realised games start at 1030am! More to follow, asap.
