With the top 10 sides in the County Championship playing each other, cutely meeting in order (first v second, third v fourth and so on) as the season reaches its sharp end, it all looked a little too perfect, so the rain intervened. By 1pm on the first day across nine matches, just five wicketless overs had been possible, as Surrey reached 16 without loss against Hampshire. Typically, they proved to be the only five overs at the Ageas Bowl. With washouts
Scooter Gennett Authentic Jersey between the top two, Essex and Lancashire, and the fifth- and sixth-placed sides, Middlesex and Yorkshire, it was left to the cellar-dwellers, Somerset and Warwickshire, to slug it out in the only meaningful top-flight action. Was a headline-making village team’s declaration against the spirit of cricket? Read more A result would be ruinous for both sides (particularly the hosts, who are 35 points off Yorkshire) – and, should the weather play ball, a draw looks unlikely, because the ball is already turning plenty, and both teams are playing two handy spinners. ?? After Somerset won the toss and opted to bat, they reached stumps 203 for four. They may already be planning for the future (Somerset started the day by announcing the release of three players, including the white-ball captain Jim Allenby, while Warwickshire bid farewell to two), but neither is giving up their Division One status without a scrap. That early turn is because the pitch at Edgbaston was the same as for T20 Finals Day. That was the end of the comparisons between the two events, though, as epitomised by the moment when Tom Abell, the Somerset captain, swept Sunny Singh into a corner of the Hollies stand and Keith Barker had to go searching for it. On Saturday, with every fancy dress shop in the Midlands out of stock, that would have been a brave mission. On Tuesday, it was a lonely one. It is Abell’s unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 72 with Steven Davies that has given Somerset something on which to build. They came together after the top four – two of them very green, two very seasoned – had been and gone with greater style than substance. The fourth, James Hildreth, was the worst offender, caught at slip lazily driving at Singh – who is 21 and the first professional cricketer to come through the schemes run by the charity Chance To Shine. His is a lovely story, and he is a lovely left-arm spinner. Somerset were then 131 for four in the 31st over. The morning session had been lost to rain, and Marcus Trescothick was the first wicket to fall after leaning into a few typically crunching cover drives. Jeetan Patel was
http://www.authenticmilwaukeebrewers.com/Travis-Shaw-Jersey introduced in just the seventh over and Trescothick looked to cut a ball that was too full and too straight, and was caught behind. George Bartlett soon followed, bowled by Ryan Sidebottom (the Victorian version), having got off the mark on first-class debut with a reverse sweep off Patel. Chris Lewis: ‘Talk about acute fear – the first night in prison was the hardest time’ Read more The reverse-sweep (along with the straight drive) had also been a productive stroke for Eddie Byrom, but it proved his downfall, as he top-edged Singh and was caught at slip. When Hildreth followed soon after, Abell and Davies’s bailout job was necessary. Abell was unobtrusive and Davies elegant, although he was dropped sharply by Patel at point moments before bad light ended the day. Somerset, whose tail is long, must make the most of the reprieveWorcestershire had the better of the Division Two title skirmish at Trent Bridge, using the 47.5 overs that were possible to reduce Nottinghamshire to 188 for nine. Notts never got going having been asked to bat first without a toss by Joe Leach, who immediately dismissed Steven Mullaney. Five
http://www.authenticsandiegopadres.com/Trevor-Cahill-Jersey batsmen reached 26 but none passed 34, including the Ashes hopeful Alex Hales, who made 28. While Ashwin is yet to bowl an over, Ed Barnard took four wickets for Worcestershire, who secured their third bowling point with the final two balls of the day – Brendan Taylor lbw to Leach, then Brett Hutton run out. Advertisement Northamptonshire’s Ben Duckett put a major dent in third-placed Sussex’s pursuit of promotion. He made an imperious 200-ball 193, with 26 fours, as Northants reached 329 for five. He was caught and bowled by Danny Briggs, who he had reverse-swept plenty, late in the day, seven shy of a second double-century in as many seasons against Sussex. This was a reminder that we should not judge Duckett solely on his tricky subcontinental international experience last autumn; on his return from a finger injury, this was his third Championship century of the summer, and he moved from 100 to 150 in just 36 balls. Kent took full advantage of the 32 overs that were possible
Wil Myers Womens Jersey at Chester-le-Street, reducing Durham to 61 for four, with two wickets for Mitchell Claydon and Adam Milne. Durham have been boosted by the return of Mark Wood – who has been left out of the England one-day squad to find red-ball form for the Ashes. At Grace Road Leicestershire, winless and coachless, moved to 90 for four against Gloucestershire before the rain set in
