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Roundup: Sharma claims three wickets in one over as Lancashire win
Tanya Aldred
A memorable three-wicket over from Naavya Sharma, sailing in from the Brian Statham end, whippy action and fast arm, knocked the beans out of Lancashire, who slumped to a high-drama six-wicket defeat against their promotion rivals Middlesex after being sent packing for 84.
Sharma’s first ball of the morning was nibbled to slip by Matty Hurst, then a flat-footed Tom Hartley parried the next behind. Tom Bailey survived the hat-trick ball but survival was brief as he fenced the final delivery also to slip. Sharma polished things off in his next over to finish with best bowling figures of four for 17.
Ryan Higgins also banked four, including the bizarre dismissal of Mitch Stanley, who lost his leg bail despite the ball brushing off stump. Not even Jimmy Anderson could defend 117, and Ben Geddes put his foot down, slamming three sixes on the way to a match-winning 73 not out. It was Middlesex’s first win in a Championship game at Old Trafford since 1996.
Durham swept to victory against Worcestershire after they too collapsed like a too-eager pile of bedside books. Worcestershire lost nine for 38 and were all out in a session, with Ben Stokes picking up a couple of late-order snifters. A flamboyant Ben McKinney and careful Emilio Gay made the chase of 143 look easy.
Essex became the third team to wrap up a three-day victory when they chased down 177 against Hampshire, thanks largely to 90 not out from Matt Critchley. It was third straight defeat for Hampshire.
At Trent Bridge, where Surrey and Nottinghamshire have exchanged big run-heavy blows, Gus Atkinson was hit twice on the helmet in two overs by Josh Tongue (4-89), and retired with delayed concussion. He will miss Surrey’s next match under concussion rules. Reece Topley subs in. Dan Lawrence’s 104 was his third century of the spring.
Three games finished in a hurry there. Congratulations to Middlesex, Essex and Durham. We’ll be back for the final day tomorrow to keep an eye on the remaining six games. Thanks for your company. Good night!
Close of play scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 273 and 178-4 BEAT Hampshire 235 and 214 by six wickets
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 229 and 140-5 v Somerset 354 and 157 Glamorgan need 143 to win
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 415 and 99-1 v Surrey 449
Hove: Sussex 430 v Leicestershire 328 and 154-4
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 147 and 553-6 v Yorkshire 152 and 98-5
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 604-7dec v Northamptonshire 228 and 66-2
Bristol: Gloucestershire 325 and 251-9 v Kent 327
Old Trafford: Middlesex 169 and 117-4 BEAT Lancashire 201 and 84 by six wickets
New Road: Durham 268 and 143-1 BEAT Worcestershire 308 and 102 by nine wickets
Essex beat Hampshire by six wickets
Four wickets for Kyle Abbott but Matt Critchley’s 90 carries them home.
Chelmsford: Essex 273 and 178-4 BEAT Hampshire 235 and 214 by six wickets
Essex 20 points, Hampshire 3 points
Time for me to write up for the paper, but BTL remains open for you comments/curses.
Durham beat Worcestershire by nine wickets
McKinney (87) and Gay (51) ease Durham over the line. Was pretty even until Worcestershire’s catastrophic second innings face plant.
New Road: Durham 268 and 143-1 BEAT Worcestershire 308 and 102 by nine wickets.
Durham 21 points, Worcs 4 points
A fourth wicket at Sophia Gardens, with only seven and a bit overs left. Colin Ingram sent on his way by a pumped Pretorius, who has a huge red ball stain on the front of his shirt. Glamorgan No. 11 Ryan Hadley is sent out on nightwatch duties. Glamorgan 133-4, need 150 to beat Somerset.
Rain at Hove
At Canterbury,Kent are methodically working their way through Gloucestershire, now 215-7. This will be the match to keep an eye on tomorrow morning.
And two other potential England openers are carrying Durham to victory at New Road after Worcestershire collapsed like an old whoopee cushion. McKinney (61) and Gay (33) – Durham need just44 to win.
Fifty for Asa Tribe
His third of the spring, and a decent, if not pick-me-now, start to division one. He and Kellaway continue to build, Somerset 125-2
Kyle Abbott, somehow 38 years old, is doing his best to keep Hampshire in the match. He removed Essex’s top three cheaply, but Charlie Allison and Matt Critchley have rebuilt from 40-3, Essex now 77-3, need exactly 100 to win.
A slow slow finger of doom from the umpires, as Ethan Bamber picks up his third, and Adam Lyth shuffles, disconsolate, away, Yorkshire 14-3. Enter Harry Brook – does he dig in here?
Bad news for Glamorgan fans, Kiran Carlson is out, shortly after Zain ul Hassan. A great chance for England Lions Kellaway and Tribe here.Glamorgan 97-2 need another 186.
Home and pondering my streams, quite something for Yorkshire to be 12-2 after Warwickshire piled on 537. Four slips for Hannon-Dalby, and Revis is almost done for immediately.
While the players take a breather – with Northants following on, and three run-chases at New Road, Sophia Gardens and Chelmsford underway – time for me to nip home before they close the press box. Back shortly.
Tea-time ish scores
DIVISION ONE
Chelmsford: Essex 273 and 30-1 v Hampshire 235 and 214 Essex need 147 to win
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 229 and 80-0 v Somerset 354 and 157 Glamorgan need 203 to win
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 415 v Surrey 410-8
Hove: Sussex 430 v Leicestershire 328 and 143-4
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 147 and 553-6 v Yorkshire 152
DIVISION TWO
The County Ground: Derbyshire 604-7dec v Northamptonshire 228 and 4-0
Bristol: Gloucestershire 325 and 140-4 v Kent 327
Old Trafford: Middlesex 169 and 117-4 BEAT Lancashire 201 and 84 by six wickets
New Road: Worcestershire 308 and 102 v Durham 268 Durham need 143 to win
Concussion substitute at Trent Bridge
Reece Topley replaces Gus Atkinson, who was hit twice in two overs by nasty Josh Tongue bouncers.
Five wickets for Callum Parkinson
Worcestershire have collapsed, Lancs-style, from 53-0 to 91-9. Five wickets for ten runs for Callum Parkinson, who had previously this season taken four wickets in three games.
Lancashire's Croft: 'I'm bitterly disappointed'
Straight talking from Steven Croft, Lancashire’s head coach:
“I’m bitterly disappointed to get beaten at home. ..We’ve gone in with a lead again, and then to be 84 all out and be 45 for 10 was a disaster, really.
“We’ve had a few warnings in previous games, and I think that’s the disappointing bit that we’re still not learning from our mistakes with the bat. We’re massively down on runs and there’s no hiding about it. The bowlers have, again, done a fantastic job, even in the second innings there, to get those four poles.
“I don’t know if it caught the lads by surprise [this morning] but it was just a bit of disappointment, the no-fight from us.”
Essex need 177 to beat Hampshire!
Another game played in fast forward. Four wickets for Simon Harmer in Hampshire’s 214. Gubbins (71) and the undefeated Ben Brown (57 not out) the only men to pass 30. No Sonny Baker for Hampshire this week
Overton and Pretorius have slowed the scoring down a bit at Sophia Gardens but, bar James Rew dropping Tribe, batting is looking a breeze for Glamorgan at the moment. 57-0.
In Division Two:
Four wickets for Ben Aitchison at Derby, Northants 223-9 and a long way short of the follow on. A valiant century for Calvin Harrison.
A tight game at Canterbury, where there were just two runs between the two first innings. Gloucestershire are 111-3. Bancroft 47 not out.
Three wickets for Callum Parkinson and Worcestershire are suddenly 84 for six. The lead 124 for Durham.
A hundred for Sam Hain
Ok, what else is going on?
Ul Hassan and Tribe have put their boots on the accelerator at Sophia Gardens, Glamorgan already 30-0 in their chase of 283.
Ben Brown (again) is the Hampshire sticking plaster, 56 not out in 213-8. They lead Essex by 175; three wickets for Cook and Harmer.
Slow going at Trent Bridge, where Surrey are steadily accumulating, they trail Notts by 50 with four wickets left.
Leicestershire only lead Sussex by 7, and have already lost four wickets, Tattersall and Eskinazi the repair men.
And a century for Sam Hain in Warwickshire megathon second innings – 472-five. Yorkshire plod on.
Loud singing and bat thumping from the Middlesex dressing room, a song that sounds something like the animals came in two by two. Not a peep from the other side of the divide.
Middlesex beat Lancashire by six wickets!
Old Trafford: Middlesex 169 and 117-4 BEAT Lancashire 201 and 84 by six wickets
Anderson shakes Geddes’ hand, as does everyone else. What a great innings, made possible by Sharma’s over of magic.
Just eight to win, I don’t think even Middlesex can lose this now.And certainly not now as Geddes launches Bailey into the stands.
The run tap has been turned off here.
Worcestershire have lost three since lunch at New Road, two to Aldridge. Five wicketless overs from Stokes.
Anderson hands responsibility over to Bailey, after just one over. Middx run a couple and turn over three figures. Just seventeen needed. A good crowd watches, still tense.
In the thrills, I forgot that England women are playing New Zealand today.
Follow it here with Jim and Simon:
Clive Lloyd is watching from the hotel balcony as Geddes strokes Anderson to the rope with style.
Fifty for Ben Geddes
What a smashing innings, two sixes, five fours. A warm round of applause from the OT crowd. Middx 90-4, need 27. Lancs fielders starting to look frantic now. Jimmy Anderson replaces Stanley at the Statham end.
Glamorgan need 283 to win
Tom Abell’s brave burning deck innings comes to an end, for 71, a third wicket for Ryan Hadley. Glamorgan need the second highest score of the match to win.
The electronic scoreboard at OT has switched off. I didn’t say it was a sign.
Now a gorgeous ball, snakes past Higgins’ bat. Fantatsic and furious.
Ooof six! Geddes swats Stanley to the short boundary. Stanley mops his brow. 42 needed.
I hope there is an England seam bowling scout skulking about OT – some notes for their notebook.
Play everywhere after lunch now apart from Sophia Gardens, where Tom Abell (71) and a stoical 0 from 21 balls from Jake Ball are holding up Glamorgan. The Somerset lead 282.
And oh Middlesex – now Falconer goes for duck, another catch for Hurst, a second wicket for Balderson. The equation shifts in its seat. Middx 64-4, half way there but possibly not close enough.
