10.28am BST
Three baby pheasants scuttled in the over-ripe August undergrowth on my dog walk this morning, which after a weasel in the graveyard and a hare and a deer from the train window last night, somewhere between Malton and York, makes it a happy few days.
Not so happy for Durham’s head coach Ryan Campbell after yesterday’s defeat by Surrey. “We can either put our heads down and cry in the corner or we can get in a battle and that’s what I know this group are going to do.” he said. “So those next three games are going to be exciting stuff.”
Rory Burns was more prosaic, Championship pennant within reach: “That was a massive win for us, especially with the Kookaburra ball….we’ve been on a bit of a road trip up here, so to get this game done a day early is very pleasing.”
10.15am BST
Thursday’s round up
Surrey went clear of the rest at Chester-le-Street, a three-day win against Durham that puts them in prime position to swan gracefully in and collect their fourth Championship on the trot, with just three matches left in the season. India’s tall, elegant, slow left-armer Sai Kishore did exactly what he was signed for, zinging the Kookaburra through Durham, finishing with five for 72.
Meanwhile Jordan Clark gave the Overtons a run for their money by hitting younger brother Graham, who had batted very nicely for 42, on the grill with a stinging bouncer. Surrey, needing 176 for victory, had a mild wobble when they lost Ryan Patel and Rory Burns in consecutive overs, but 40 from Sam Curran set the sails fair.
Things don’t look so rosy for Durham who, if Yorkshire win on Friday, have their boots in the relegation zone. Durham must also ride disquiet from members, who were unhappy to be told at an evening forum that the club would be voting for a conference structure for 2026.
Nottinghamshire, who were sitting on Surrey’s coat-tails before this round, look certain to slip further behind despite a wonderful 208 from Haseeb Hameed, which made him the leading run-scorer in Division One. With the game still marooned in the first innings, and Somerset bowling with a 151-over ball, a draw seems inevitable.
Matthew Revis danced to his third century in July, his unbeaten 152 putting Yorkshire in a dominant position at North Marine Road. Sussex, 323 runs behind on first-innings, made a dog’s breakfast of the start of their second, perhaps unnerved by the bangs coming from the naval warfare re-enactment at nearby Peasholm Park – three times a week in the school holidays. Imam-ul-Haq’s swooping run out and throw-down from extra cover to dismiss Tom Alsop would have had uncle Inzamam’s approval, if from the sofa. Unbeaten fifties from Daniel Hughes and Danial Ibrahim gave Sussex something to chew on overnight.
Centuries from Justin Broad and Rob Keogh bulldozed Northants to 550-9dec, weary Derbyshire then lost four wickets. Sonny Baker’s five wickets for Hampshire will have given his Lions’ tour prospects a boost, Jake Libby propped up Worcestershire with an unbeaten 100. Nightwatchman Ethan Bamber flew to his first first-class century and helped Warwickshire avoid the follow-on at Chelmsford. And Lancashire had a bad day at Old Trafford, finishing with half the side out and 247 runs needed. Just 9.5 overs were possible at Canterbury and there was no play at Cheltenham.
10.15am BST
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chester-le-Street: Surrey 322 and 176-5 BEAT Durham 153 and 344 by five wickets.
Chelmsford: Essex 602-6dec v Warwickshire 465-9
Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 511-6 v Somerset 438
New Road: Worcestershire 249 v Hampshire 293 and 139-2
Scarborough: Yorkshire 545-9dec v Sussex 222 and 115-3
DIVISION TWO
Cheltenham: Gloucestershire 54-1 v Middlesex 445 play no play day three
Canterbury: Kent 217-3 v Leicestershire 471
Old Trafford: Lancashire 137 and 226-5 v Glamorgan 261 and 348-7dec
Northamptonshire: Northants 550-9dec v Derbyshire 377 and 52-4
10.15am BST
Preamble
Good morning from Manchester, where the the clouds have settled into their customary block-out-the-sun position as the calendar turns into August. It’s a while till we meet here again, so do join us for the last day of this summer round of matches. Play starts at 11am everywhere apart from the Riverside, where Surrey Sellotaped up another win in three days and head into September polishing their brass buttons.
Updated at 10.20am BST
