Key events
Starting at 11 at Headingley, and looking good at Chester le Street too.
Unbelievably, they’re starting on time at Grace Road. Bravo all round.
𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 ⏰
Head Groundsman, Andy Ward, credits the extraordinary efforts of his team to get the ground fit for play after yesterday’s heavy rainfall. 👏
🦊#LEIvNOR pic.twitter.com/lwt7wgk1f5
— Leicestershire CCC 🏏 (@leicsccc) April 29, 2024
Weather watch
Better. Breezy. Showery over Cumbria, otherwise mostly dry with scattered showers. The heady heights of 14C.
Sunday’s round-up
Heavy rain stalked the country but, despite not getting onto the field until 4.30pm, Surrey marched inevitably towards their second win of the season.
Hampshire, starting 177 runs behind and two wickets down, lost most of their middle-order ballast during the evening session: Ollie Pope taking two dramatic catches at slip to dismiss Nick Gubbins and Tom Prest, and James Vince, cracked on the shoulder by a Gus Atkinson bouncer, then lbw to a Kemar Roach in swinger after a 95-ball vigil of 26. Hampshire still trail Surrey by 92, with five wickets remaining, and Monday’s forecast in London offers them little chance of succour.
Ed Barnard’s determined 69 helped hold off the Notts dogs at Edgbaston on a day when only 35 overs were possible. He was also helped by thirties from Dan Mousley and Jacob Bethell. Warwickshire need another 76 runs to avoid the follow on.
A century from Gareth Roderick gave Worcestershire the upper hand at Kidderminster, four batting points and a first-innings lead of 142 before Jason Holder removed Sean Dickson for a duck in Somerset’s three over batting test in the evening light. Shoaib Bashir bowled with aplomb, settling into a good rhythm and keeping his head despite being dispatched for sixes over the railway line, removing both Jake Libby, for a sterling 97, and the boundary-happy Kashif Ali.
Max Holden and Ryan Higgins both made classy unbeaten hundreds to set up what could be a thrilling final day at Bristol. From the dregs of 9-2, Holden and Higgins, with help from Leus du Plooy, helped Middlesex build a second innings lead of 143 – with seven wickets still in hand. Earlier, Henry Brookes had finished off the Gloucestershire innings with three wickets in an over. At Grace Road, Chester-le-Street and Headingley, no play was possible.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chester le Street: Durham 358 v Essex 314-3 no play yesterday
The Oval: Surrey 359 v Hampshire 151 and 116-5
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 175-5 v Nottinghamshire 400
Kidderminster: Worcestershire 451-9dec v Somerset 309-9dec and 5-1
DIVISION TWO
Bristol: Gloucestershire 322 v Middlesex 203 and 262-3
Grace Road: Leicestershire 97-2 v Northampton 453-7dec no play yesterday
Headingley: Yorkshire 450-5 v Derbyshire 190-3 no play yesterday
Preamble
Good morning! Spring has shaken a leg at last, but will it be enough to get results after yesterday’s washouts? Join us at 11am to find out.
