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Saturday's round-up
After a tumultuous few days, Lancashire ground their way past 450 against Derbyshire at Old Trafford. But despite the diligence of the batting, that wasn’t why the people came. The only batter to get a standing ovation? Number 11: James Anderson, 309 days since his last Test, 318 days since he did a turn for Lancashire at Southport.
The spectators, allowed on the field of play between innings, paused to stare at the heavy roller then drifted over to where Lancashire were warming up, phones pointed at Anderson as he flexed a hip there, shimmied through a rope ladder there.
The mechanics all seemed good. Still lean as a race horse. Still wearing the fat white wristbands. Still a sharp haircut. Still immaculately turned out. He took the ball at the Jimmy Anderson End to huge applause. And back the clock wound – puffed cheeked approach, head down unwind. And if he wasn’t quite pitch perfect immediately, it only took 18 balls for him to angle in the ripest peach from the peachiest tree and clip the top of Caleb Jewell’s off stump.
A second followed soon afterwards, David Lloyd, discomforted by a series of bouncers, jagging his head back but gloving behind. Anderson finished with two for 24 from his five overs and Derbyshire, four down at stumps, will see more of him on Sunday.
The 22-year-old George Bell, who made a useful 57, was watching closely: “That was class. I always enjoy it when he’s bowling, especially when I’m stood in the slips, something I didn’t think I’d ever have the chance to do. A bit of extra bounce, a bit of zip as well, he’ll find anything on that pitch that there is to have.”
At Chester-le-Street, nightwatchman James Minto, 17, became the youngest Durham player to pass 50, ping-ponging leaders Nottinghamshire for 67. Half centuries for Adam Lyth and Emilio Gay took Durham to within 87 runs of parity.
Sussex were made to follow on by Somerset at Hove, after Craig Overton thundered through three wickets and swallowed three slip catches for good measure. After Daniel Hughes and Tom Haines put on 100 second time around, Sussex then lost four for 21.
Peter Hanscomb once more waved merrily to his old county Middlesex, hitting 89 to give Leicestershire the upper hand – just – at Lord’s. Zafar Gohar grabbed four wickets.
Glamorgan piled on the runs at Sophia Gardens, with half centuries for the free-flowing Ben Kellaway, Sam Northeast, Kiran Carlson and Timm van der Gugten, before reducing Northants to 49 for three in their second innings, still 190 behind. Cameron Green rescued Gloucestershire with 102 not out against Kent.
Eighties from Ben Foakes and Australian Kurtis Patterson put Surrey in a comfortable position against Yorkshire at the Oval, while Warwickshire were whistled out cheaply by Kyle Abbott, before Fletcha Middleton gave Hampshire a solid lead of 265.
Essex were routed for 157 at New Road, Tom Taylor the pick of the bowlers. Worcestershire then collapsed to 58 for five before stumps – but a solid lead of 259 buttressing their back pocket.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Chester-le-Street: Durham 320-4 v Nottinghamshire 407
Taunton: Somerset 338 v Sussex 152 and 127-4
The Oval: Surrey 384-7 v Yorkshire 255
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 194 v Hampshire 300 and 159-6
New Road: Worcestershire 358 and 58-5 v Essex 157
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 424 v Northants 185 and 49-3
Bristol: Gloucestershire 307-4 v Kent 424
Old Trafford: Lancashire 458 v Derbyshire 112-4
Lord’s: Middlesex 232 and 10-0 v Leicestershire 274
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Preamble
Good morning! It’s another sunny one and at Old Trafford it is Jimmy Anderson part two. Northants and Sussex are in trouble but some intriguing games bubbling up elsewhere, games start at 11am, do join us.
