Roundup: Gay’s third century and Northants’ first win
Tanya Aldred
Emilio Gay's third century of the season may have come with an unspectacular trowel down to third man, but it could be career-defining. Like Zak Crawley, Gay is playing Division Two cricket, but two of his Durham centuries have come against the challenging Lancashire, and now Middlesex, attacks, even if the Lord's pitch was friendly. David Bedingham also flew to a hundred, while poor Kasey Aldridge was lbw for 99.
Gay's former county Northamptonshire grabbed their first win of the summer, after Ben Sanderson rampaged through Worcestershire's second dig. His six wickets in 29 balls skittled an innings that had been progressing, if slowly, at 88 for two. Fourteen overs and 26 runs later, Worcestershire were all out. Sanderson's seven for 31 gave him a career best 11 wickets in the match. James Sales and Lewis McManus had earlier hit hundreds in Northants' 597 for seven declared.
There was youthful joy at the Oval where 19-year-old Adam Thomas frisked to a century on Championship debut, a companion piece to Dom Sibley's 187. Sussex wheeled through the onslaught until Surrey were finally bowled out for 622. Matt Fisher then immediately firebombed Sussex's reply. His first ball spat off the pitch and hit Tom Haines in the grill, who staggered backwards and immediately retired hurt. Fisher then removed Tom Clark lbw with his second ball and had James Coles caught behind from his sixth.
An intriguing game has built up at Taunton, where 64 from Joe Root, 92 from James Wharton and some wagging of the tail ensured Yorkshire's bowlers would have something to go at against Somerset on the final day.
Despite a flamboyant first-innings century from Stevie Eskinazi, Nottinghamshire thundered towards victory. Olly Stone, who picked up five wickets in Leicestershire's first innings, plucked out another three as they followed on, including Eskinazi lbw, this time for a duck. Ben Green and Jonny Tattersall ensured Notts would have to bat again
Hampshire's rough season continued, following on they finished five down, still 204 behind Glamorgan. Mason Crane pocketed four wickets at his former home. Kent can dream about a first win of the year, against Derbyshire, thanks to a partnership of 184 between Chris Benjamin (123) and Joey Evison (88).
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Congratulations to Northants for a first win of the season! Some fun cricket to look forward to tomorrow. Till then, good night!
Final scores
Division One
Southampton: Hampshire 214 and 118-5 v Glamorgan 536-7dec
Leicester: Leicestershire 308 and 215-7 v Nottinghamshire 490
Taunton: Somerset 274 v Yorkshire 162 and 365-9
The Oval: Surrey 622 v Sussex 358-9dec and 76-4
Division Two
Canterbury: Kent 352 and 335 v Derbyshire 304 and 19-1 Derbys need 365 to win
Lord's: Middlesex 430 v Durham 530-8
Northampton: Northants 597-7dec BEAT Worcestershire 306 and 114 by an innings and 177 runs
Northants BEAT Worcestershire by an innings and 177 runs
Northampton: Northants 597-7dec BEAT Worcestershire 306 and 114 by an innings and 177 runs
With Worcestershire, Leicestershire and Hampshire and Sussex all in trouble, time for me to write up for the paper. Do keep chatting BTL.
Leicestershire have a lead. It's not going to save them, but it might keep the day going into day four. Jonny Tattersall (52) and Ben Green (20) have inserted the new-found steel.
Dom Bess gets another blow amidships, nasty bounce, staggers away to little sympathy. Ogborne, grubby knees on his whites, spagetti shadow, continues to sprint in energetically. This is now an officially irritating partnership for Somerset.
A third wicket at The Oval, as Jordan Clark gets his man. Jack Leaning nearly jack-knifed after being hit on the knee roll. Sussex 29-3, a cavernous 234 behind.
Taunton is looking just glorious in the evening light, Craig Overton and Dom Bess exchange grins as Overton, wolfish, strides back to his mark. Yorkshire 308-8, the lead now 196.
A hundred for Chris Benjamin
Well played Chris Benjamin, the glue in a sawdust Kent batting line up. Goes to his second first-class century, and is applauded by Derbyshire's players, that's amorale-boosting 7th wicket partnership of 173 with Joey Evison (80).
At Taunton, Somerset have taken the new ball, with Bess, Richardson and White to winkle out.
Now Jordan Clark fells Jack Leaning on an Oval surface. He gets up again but it looks painful. If Sussex get through to stumps two down it will be a win.
Somerset continue to chip away at Yorkshire, vicious off spin by Archie Vaughan (wearing shirt 66) bowling Logan van Beek. Yorkshire 286-8 but the lead now a decent enough 182.
Sussex in disarray
Events at The Oval, where Sussex are 3-2 and Tom Haines retired hurt after the first ball of the innings from Fisher spat off the pitch. Haines staggered backwards and was quickly surrounded by concerned players. I think it hit him in the grill (though it's hard to tell). He can walk but is escorted away. Fisher then finishes the over by removing Clark and Coles for ducks.
Such stoical rear-guarding this morning, but now its nearly all over at Grace Road. Leicestershire 140-6, still trail Notts by 42. No repeat runs for Eskinazi, dropped on 0 and lbw shortly afterwards to Ollie Stone who is once more dynamite.
Hampshire follow on
And it's not going swell. Prest has just been caught at first slip for five, following Gubbins' golden duck – Hampshire 27 for 2, nine of the runs are extras. Toby Albert plays reassuring forward defensives at the non-striker's end as he waits for Fletcha Middleton.
Tea-time-ish scores
Division One
Southampton: Hampshire 214 v Glamorgan 536-7dec
Leicester: Leicestershire 308 and 129-5 v Nottinghamshire 490
Taunton: Somerset 274 v Yorkshire 162 and 257-6
The Oval: Surrey 615-7 v Sussex 358-9dec
Division Two
Canterbury: Kent 352 and 228-6 v Derbyshire 304
Lord's: Middlesex 430 v Durham 367-5
Northampton: Northants 597-7dec v Worcestershire 306 and 33-1
A 100 for Adam Thomas!
Sprints a second to bring up a bloody brilliant hundred on debut – well played! He punches the air, unbuckles his helmet and grins. All his teammates on the balcony applaud. At 19 I was still copying lyrics out of Melody Maker.
He's the 10th man to make a century for Surrey on debut, and here he is smacking Derbyshire around a (pretty empty) Wantage Road last year in the one-day cup.
Adam Thomas is on debut. He's 19 and he's on 95 not out at The Oval.
Leicestershire were doing well following on, at 99-0. But things have taken a turn for the worse. Rishi Patel (53), Jake Weatherald (38) and Ian Holland (6) gobbled up either at slip or by the keeper. Holland got a brute from Stone.
Oh what a shame for James Wharton, advances and drives at Ogborne then must swivel his head to see the edge pop into Lewis Gregory's hands, diving at slip. Out for 92 and, eyes firmly on the turf, trudges off. Ogborne bounces around like a puppy. Yorkshire 232-6, the lead 120.
Let's dally around the grounds before tea. In Division Two:
It's going to be an interesting final day at Canterbury. Kent have stretched the lead to 227 against Derbyshire, Benjamin and Evison adding 57-and-counting for the seventh wicket.
Emilio Gay was finally out for 129 at Lord's, bowled reverse-sweeping by de Caires. A couple more wickets followed in quick succession, but Bedingham still there on 116. Durham 329-5, lead by 101.
And at Wantage Road, Ben Sanderson has already grabbed a wicket in Worcestershire's second innings, Jake Libby cheaply for the second time in the match. Worcs 18-1, trail Northants by 273.
Yorkshire looking wobbly now as Revis follows soon after, also to Pretorius, a simple catch for Rew. Five down, lead by 109. Wharton still there though, on 88.
James Sales undefeated on 146 as Northants declare
Northants have been accumulating at Wantage Road, and now declare on a huge 597-7. An undefeated 146 for Sales, joining Ricardo Vasconcelos and Lewis McManus with hundreds. Worcs must bat again 291 in arrears.
YJB can't resist chasing a wide one, gets a cheeseboard of a top edge, and is caught by a delighted Thomas for 18. Pretorius with the breakthrough. Yorkshire 212-4, lead by 100. I think Somerset might have tickled Jonny out there.
YJB is getting prickly with Alfie Ogborne, who has a huge grin on his face, and finishes with an excellent maiden against him.
A third wicket for Mason Crane against his old county – Kyle Abbott, who holds the pose to no avail. Hampshire are eight down, Ben Mayes and Codi Yusuf are combining to stagger them towards 200.
And a new ball at Taunton.
James Wharton drives Pretorius beautifully, back past his diving right hand and to the rope. Gregory decides it is time for a change, and calls up young Alfie Ogborne
For those interested, swifts have been spotted in Manchester.
A fabulous dive on the Taunton rope from Will Smeed cuts off a sure-thing boundary from Jonny Bairstow. Wharton not out 70 – and there's the Yorkshire 200.
100 for David Bedingham!
Today is turning into a complete trudge for Middlesex. Bedingham joins Gay in the hundred club, a nifty little number off just 124 balls. Middlesex 305-2.
Root out!
Overton, of course it's Overton. Root prods at a full ball that winks back and bowls him. Root throws his bat in the air in annoyance – that's 96, 33 and 64 in his three Championship innings to date. In marches Bairstow – Yorkshire, three down, lead by 56.
