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Tongue and James put Notts in sight of victory amid showersTanya Aldred<\/p>\n
Rain and bad light stalked the Championship but the skies cleared just enough for Nottinghamshire to move towards victory at New Road and set up a tantalising match with the leaders, Surrey, next week.<\/p>\n
Lyndon James (five for 35) and Josh Tongue (four for 52) whistled through Worcestershire. Tom Taylor then bowled Haseeb Hameed for nought for the second time, but Ben Slater and Freddie McCann reduced Notts\u2019 target to 96.<\/p>\n
Surrey, meanwhile, used their patches of clear sky wisely. Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes and Dan Lawrence added 95, to compile a lead of 274 over Warwickshire.<\/p>\n
Matthew Potts, pulled out of the Ireland white-ball series by England to get some red-ball overs, picked up three wickets for Durham on a docile pitch against Essex at Chelmsford. \u201cI think it is perfect to have a little run of red ball. I felt in good rhythm there and felt a bit more like myself and bowled nicely.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another charming century from Saif Zaib made him the first Northants batsman to hit six hundreds in a season since Lance Klusener in 2006. He shimmied 22 fours and two sixes to frustrate Glamorgan, before he was run out to a fumble-turned-direct-hit for 145.<\/p>\n
Ekansh Singh\u2019s 30 not out held the Kent innings together as they inched towards a defendable total. There were two more wickets for Lancashire\u2019s Mitch Stanley.<\/p>\n
Shan Masood duly eased to an elegant hundred on Championship debut at Grace Road, on an eventful day between the showers, which included a Leicestershire collapse of six for 22 and a blotter spraying debris all over Gloucestershire\u2019s practice equipment. Leicestershire will confirm promotion with a draw on Thursday, if there is also a draw at Lord\u2019s \u2013 which can only be avoided with some innovative number-crunching by Middlesex and Derbyshire. Just 10 overs were possible in north London, enough for Caleb Jewell to pass 1,000 Championship runs for the season and get out.<\/p>\n
During the very brief spell of clear weather at Taunton, Somerset hurried towards a declaration against Yorkshire.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.18 EDT<\/p>\n The end of a soggy day. Grace Road is draped in covers and I\u2019m heading home. Thanks for your company, have a lovely evening.<\/p>\n Getting some overs in: Matthew Potts Photograph: Gavin Ellis\/TGS Photo\/ShutterstockShare<\/a>Close of play scores<\/p>\n DIVISION ONE<\/p>\n Chelmsford: Essex 457-8 v Durham 333<\/p>\n Taunton: Somerset 441-6dec v Yorkshire<\/a><\/p>\n The Oval: Surrey 246 and 276-2 v Warwickshire<\/a> 248<\/p>\n Hove: Sussex 122 and 37-1 Hampshire 226 and 173 PLAY ABANDONED WITHOUT A BALL BOWLED<\/p>\n New Road: Worcestershire 182 and 160 v Nottinghamshire 207 AND 40-1 Notts need 96 to win<\/p>\n DIVISION TWO<\/p>\n Canterbury: Kent 293 and 206-5 v Lancashire 284<\/p>\n Grace Road: Leicestershire 342 v Gloucestershire<\/a> 482 and 10-0<\/p>\n Lord\u2019s: Middlesex 298 v Derbyshire 283 and 33-1<\/p>\n Northampton: Northants 413-9 v Glamorgan 467<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n “I would add up and coming Lancs bowler Sir James Anderson to your team of the year,\u201d writes Anthony Galvin, – \u201cseems to be pretty good at this red ball lark!\u201d<\/p>\n wily old pro Photograph: Barry Mitchell\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Right, I\u2019m going to glue together some wet words for the paper. But do chat on BTL. They\u2019re back on at New Road (Notts 34-1, need 102) and Canterbury (Kent 196-5, lead Lancs by 205).<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Stumps at Lord’s<\/p>\n The rain is going to make it tricky for Derbyshire and Middlesex to set up a win. Derby 33-1, lead by 18.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Stumps at Taunton<\/p>\n Just 10.3 overs possible.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And, against all odds, there will be more play at Grace Road at 5.30. If the weather is agreeable. But clouds are gathering.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n At New Road, a handful of doughty souls with amazing staying power sit in the stands. Slater sends Allison flying through the covers for four, then McCann flies and misses at Taylor. But it is getting dark and the umpire lays his light metre on the stumps. Off they all troop with Notts 25-1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n As we wait for an inspection at Grace Road \u2013 it looks soggy \u2013 there is action at New Road where I imagine Notts will be keen to get a move on and secure that win. McCann has savaged three fours in his 17. \u2013 119 more needed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I don\u2019t think there is anything to report apart from rain. So here is my Division Two team of the year:<\/p>\n Asa Tribe<\/p>\n Ben Compton<\/p>\n Tawanda Muyeye<\/p>\n Saif Zaib<\/p>\n Ben Kellaway<\/p>\n Rehan Ahmed<\/p>\n James Bracey<\/p>\n Calvin Harris<\/p>\n Luis Reece<\/p>\n Ian Holland<\/p>\n Ajeet Singh Dale<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Tea and rain scores<\/p>\n DIVISION ONE<\/p>\n Chelmsford: Essex 457-8 v Durham 333 RAIN<\/p>\n Taunton: Somerset 441-6dec v Yorkshire<\/a> RAIN<\/p>\n The Oval: Surrey 246 and 276-2 v Warwickshire<\/a> 248 RAIN<\/p>\n Hove: Sussex 122 and 37-1 Hampshire 226 and 173 PLAY ABANDONED WITHOUT A BALL BOWLED<\/p>\n New Road: Worcestershire 182 and 160 v Nottinghamshire 207 AND 12-1<\/p>\n DIVISION TWO<\/p>\n Canterbury: Kent 293 and 156-3 v Lancashire 284<\/p>\n Grace Road: Leicestershire 342 v Gloucestershire<\/a> 482 and 8-0 RAIN<\/p>\n Lord\u2019s: Middlesex 298v Derbyshire 283 and 33-1 RAIN<\/p>\n Northampton: Northants 413-9 v Glamorgan 467 RAIN<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n An update on the second promotion spot maths: Glamorgan need 36 points to secure promotion \u2013 assuming Derby and Middlesex draw<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Great throw, a crucial hesitation and a sad Ben Whitehouse head drop.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Hampshire announce that head coach Adi Birrell is leaving to go home to South Africa. All good things come to an end\u201d said Giles White, \u201cand we are sad to see Adi go. It\u2019s been a fantastic seven years at the Club, during which he has become a hugely popular figure and overseen a successful period across all formats.<\/p>\n \u201cUnder his leadership, the team has reached numerous finals, come close in Championships, and lifted the Blast title in 2022. His contribution has left a lasting mark, and he will be deeply missed by players, coaches, and fans alike at the Utilita Bowl.<\/p>\n \u201cWe hope to give him the send off he deserves, with two pieces of silverware still up for grabs in the next two weeks and important days ahead in the Championship.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.38 EDT<\/p>\n Love this<\/a> story \u2013 never give up on your dreams.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cCan you run the scenario for the second promotion spot please.\u201d Just my cup of tea, Mes.<\/p>\n If we assume there will be a draw at Wantage Road, then one of Derby or Middlesex, if they win, can get close to Glamorgan. If it is Derby, then they play Glamorgan in the next round, which could be the vital game; while Middlesex travel to Old Trafford. BTL friends may like to do more exact calculations.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.30 EDT<\/p>\n Other than the Lions tour, Saif Zaib can also aim for Bob Hayward\u2019s record of eight Championship centuries. (With thanks to BBC comms). Northants 406-8. The umpires consider the drizzle but carry on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Just the ticket for rainy days like this \u2013 Field of Dreams showing how grass-roots sport can change lives. Respect to Flintoff for putting his heart and soul into this programme.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And rain at The Oval too \u2013 Surrey\u2019s lead is 274, which is probably enough already. But not probably enough that they\u2019ll declare. So all eyes to Wantage Road \u2013 where Zaib is 131 not out and Northants close in on another batting point. Five wickets for Crane, two for Carlson.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The covers are now coming off at Grace Road, we think optimistically.<\/p>\n At Chelmsford, ah no, they\u2019re off again. Anyway, the lead over Durham is 124, thanks to a useful 44 from Harmer and a merry 22 from Bracewell.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>A hundred for Saif Zaib!<\/p>\n And then there were two.<\/p>\n Zaib reaches his sixth Championship hundred of a delightfully fruitful year. He dances down the pitch, drives Crane for four and punches the air. Northants 377-8.<\/p>\n Foakes and Lawrence are battling through light rain at The Oval. Lawrence has muscled a couple of fours and a six in his 18 not out \u2013 the lead 243.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.44 EDT<\/p>\n It is suddenly dark and suddenly wet at Grace Road. The players run off: Gloucs 8-0.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.28 EDT<\/p>\n Play abandoned for the day at Hove<\/p>\n A saturated outfield means than they call it a day in Sussex.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.26 EDT<\/p>\n We think Leicestershire will be promoted if they win, or draw and there is a draw at Lord\u2019s.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.26 EDT<\/p>\n And Leicestershire lose their final wicket, another lbw, this time Wright trapped by Singh-Dale. An old-style collapse by the Foxes, who lost six wickets for 22 \u2013 the Gloucestershire lead 140.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Saif Zaib is continuing his princely season at Wantage Road, now 79 not out at Wantage Road: Northants 328-5, still 132 behind, four wickets for Crane.<\/p>\n At Chelmsford, Harmer and Bracewell are frustrating Durham with a partnership of 22, Essex 432-7, lead by 100. and they\u2019re back on at The Oval, and have rustled three runs, Surrey 222-2.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, there is still no play at Taunton, Hove, New Road, Canterbury and Lord\u2019s.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And Wright does it! Loops Sing-Dale up and over for a four that ends up just under the press box. Leics 336-9.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n More news from New Road \u2013 they\u2019re off for rain, with Notts 4-1.<\/p>\n Tension at Grace Road. Singh-Dale with the ball, one run needed for Leics to avoid the follow-on. Four slips wait. Wright defends\u2026.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ooof \u2013 a pair for HH as Taylor sends his off stump dancing away. Notts 0-1. Interesting times.<\/p>\n And Leicestershire lose a ninth wicket with still one run needed to avoid the follow on\u2026.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Leicestershire are trudging through treacle here. Another wicket for Singh-Dale, hair blowing in the wind, smooth accelerated run-up. Logan van Beek lbw for 5, and Leics have now lost four for 12.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Two and a half overs gone at New Road, not a run scored.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A second wicket in three balls at Grace Road, when Eskinazi nudges ASD to third slip. Leics are still (just) short of the follow on, and will want another bonus point. Leics: 331-7<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Notts need 136 to win<\/p>\n Josh Tongue looking the real deal again, and five wickets for Lyndon James as Worcs are all out for 160. Notts prepare to chase and put the pressure on at The Oval, where it is still raining.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Hello Ben Bernards. \u201cDo you, or anybody really, fancy giving me a snap update on how the assorted New Zealanders have performed in CC this season?\u201d<\/p>\n Kiwis, hmmm. Kane Williamson has played two games for Middlesex and made two centuries. Trying to think who else was here \u2013 Blair Tickner, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry\u2026 can the hive mind help?<\/p>\n Delicious risotto by the way, and a coffee plus a bittermint in green silver foil. Oh, and a wicket \u2013 a fourth for Taylor \u2013 and Cox must go\u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Somerset have declared<\/p>\n But will the weather let them at that tasty pitch? I\u2019m off for some Grace Road risotto \u2013 back shortly.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Lunchtime scores<\/p>\n DIVISION ONE<\/p>\n Chelmsford: Essex 372-6 v Durham 333<\/p>\n Taunton: Somerset 441-6dec v Yorkshire<\/a><\/p>\n The Oval: Surrey 246 and 219-2 v Warwickshire<\/a> 248<\/p>\n Hove: Sussex 122 and 37-1 Hampshire 226 and 173 no play yet today<\/p>\n New Road: Worcestershire 182 and 141-8 v Nottinghamshire 207<\/p>\n DIVISION TWO<\/p>\n Canterbury: Kent 293 and 131-2 v Lancashire 284<\/p>\n Grace Road: Leicestershire 320-5 v Gloucestershire<\/a> 482<\/p>\n Lord\u2019s: Middlesex 298v Derbyshire 283 and 30-1<\/p>\n Northampton: Northants 309-5 v Glamorgan 467 no play yet today<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Oh dear. Mahmood is sent on his way to the last ball before lunch, lbw Price 111. He look perturbed. They shuffle off for lunch, needing 12 to avoid the follow on and with time to accrue more bonus points. Leics 320-5, scores to follow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Early lunches being taken at The Oval, Lord\u2019s, Canterbury and New Road \u2013 where Worcestershire lost three quick wickets on a tricky track while Roderick and Taylor nurdled runs. At 141-8 and lead by 116 \u2013 not, you\u2019d guess, enough.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n There is still much chuntering from the Gloucestershire contingent after one of the groundsmen on the blotter inadvertently unloaded the sopped up gunge on their practise kit. It is getting darker here.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>A hundred for Shan Masood!<\/p>\n He\u2019s not bad this lad. Under grey skies, and Grace Road floodlights, he reaches 100 in his first Championship innings for Leicestershire and brings up a bonus point in the process. He raises his bat modestly and gets a handshake and a bat-on-bottom pat from Eskinazi. Leicestershire 300-4.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The rain has \u2013 at the moment \u2013 knocked out proceedings at The Oval, Taunton, Hove, Lord\u2019s and Northampton.<\/p>\n Canterbury and Chelmsford have avoided this southern deluge and events are moving on. Lancs, via Williams and Bailey, have removed Denly (74) and Dawkins (36). Kent 125-2, lead by 132.<\/p>\n At Chelmsford, there\u2019s a battle for bonus points \u2013 Durham have just picked up a bowling star, after winkling out Pepper, while Essex will fancy reaching 400. They already have a lead of 26.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019re on at Grace Road, and the strong wind rustling the flags is about the most exciting thing to report.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It was heartbreaking to hear from this young girl in Afghanistan, and her dreams for a different life. How precious freedom is.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n An email drops:<\/p>\n \u201cIn The Spin today, you mention some counties opposed to a reduction in the number of county championship matches. I think Essex might be added to this list, following their meeting last evening.<\/p>\n \u201cYour summary of the new proposal mentions the \u2018sweetener\u2019 of 2 extra one-day cup matches to make up for the loss of a Championship match. But this would mean a net reduction of only 2 days in the schedule plus more travelling between games. I thought one of the reasons for cutting back on the Championship was supposed to be reducing wear and tear on the players?\u201d<\/p>\n Thank you Paul McIntyre! Were you at the meeting? Can you fill us in? And yes I completely agree on the two extra ODC games \u2013 all that faff for just two fewer Championship days.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n There\u2019s a drying wind blowing at Grace Road and the players are out in the middle running through their paces. The groundsmen fold up covers with purpose. Play is due to start at 11.4o.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Rain has arrived at Taunton, just as Somerset were getting a hurry on. While at The Oval, Surrey have lost scurrying Ollie Pope to be replaced with the bombastic Dan Lawrence \u2013 Warwickshire wont want him to get his eye in.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Is weatherhousing a verb? Anyway, they\u2019re off at Lord\u2019s, they\u2019re on at Chelmsford, and there\u2019s a pitch inspection at Wantage Road where Asa Tribe made his maiden 200 yesterday \u2013 and raised his hand yet further for the Lions trip.<\/p>\n He reflected on it last night:<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels like I can\u2019t do much wrong at the moment and I\u2019m really happy with the way it\u2019s going. I need to focus on my game and keep putting performances in for Glamorgan, it\u2019s good to be in the position I\u2019m currently in and I\u2019m really enjoying it.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.01 EDT<\/p>\n Dom Sibley has retired hurt at The Oval, Ben Foakes now accompanies Ollie Pope.<\/p>\n And Ben Green is having fun at Taunton \u2013 presumably under orders to smash it around. Somerset move into the 420s.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n No red-ball change of heart for Adil Rashid ahead of the Ashes. Unfortunately.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n At Taunton, Ben Green finds himself batting for Somerset again, before his permanent move to Grace Road, which has been his temporary home for much of this season.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.43 EDT<\/p>\n More rain<\/p>\n Delayed starts also at Grace Road and Chelmsford.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Weather watch and delayed starts<\/p>\n Unsettled. Delayed starts at Northampton, Hove and probably more.<\/p>\n The Met Office forecasts: \u201cBands of rain or showers, turning heavy and thundery at times, will move northeast across most areas through the day. There will be some sunny spells. Windy with possible gales in the southwest. Turning cooler from the west.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>“My form has been awful”<\/p>\n Tom Abell on his relief at that fantastic hundred yesterday.<\/p>\n \u201cMy form has been absolutely awful up to the last couple of games. I was short of runs earlier in the summer, but now I feel I have found a rhythm and greater clarity to my batting, which means I can fulfil my role in the middle order.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Durham\u2019s Ryan Campbell sets the scene at Chelmsford:<\/p>\n \u201cThere will be a battle going on, that\u2019s for sure. We\u2019re going to have to fight for every run. We know they\u2019ve got a good spinner to bowl on the last day. But there is weather coming, depending who you listen to or which weather app you\u2019re looking at. But we\u2019ve going to ignore those and come out trucking with a great attitude and try and bowl Essex out.<\/p>\n \u201cWe know it\u2019s a massive game. We\u2019ve got a massive three games. We\u2019re playing three teams around us and we want to win every game. It\u2019s all up for grabs. These two days are going to have a big bearing on the rest of our year.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Tuesday’s round-up<\/p>\n A round of closely matched first-innings games bubbled intriguingly around the country. At the Oval, Surrey oiled their sinews and started to pull away from Warwickshire, after Rory Burns (idiosyncratically), Dom Sibley (steadily) and Ollie Pope (busily) each collected a half century. Earlier, Warwickshire<\/a> had inched to a two-run first-innings lead, but just short of a batting point, thanks to fifty from Ed Barnard and some lusty blows from Nathan Gilchrist. There were three wickets for the rapid Gus Atkinson and four for Tom Lawes.<\/p>\n Nottinghamshire, who started the round just nine points behind Surrey<\/a>, stay on their tail after Josh Tongue ruined Worcestershire\u2019s afternoon. Tongue\u2019s intimidating spell of nine overs, three for 24, took out Worcestershire\u2019s top three, and Lyndon James removed Nos 4 and 5 to leave them 93 for five and with a lead of just 68. It was galling for Worcestershire after Tom Taylor\u2019s four wickets had earlier kept Notts in check.<\/p>\n At Taunton, where afternoon rain swept through once more, Tom Abell carried Somerset\u2019s innings with a distinguished five-hour 130 on a pitch that looks likely to turn. He was finally out to an off-balance slog-sweep to mid-wicket off his former teammate and now Yorkshire spinner Dom Bess. Abell and Lewis Goldsworthy (65) had kept the fires burning after James Rew was caught in the first over of the day.<\/p>\n A five-and-a-half hour century from Dean Elgar and a smash-and-grab 97 from Matt Critchley took Essex to tickling distance of Durham in the relegation battle at Chelmsford.<\/p>\n Shan Masood enjoyed his first Championship innings for Leicestershire, his fourth county, moving to a chanceless 80 not out against Gloucestershire at Grace Road. He put on 152 with Lewis Hill (88), much to the delight of the watching fans, including a tubby, and hungry, golden retriever.<\/p>\n Middlesex\u2019s Leus du Plooy hit a hundred against his old county Derbyshire in a tight game at Lord\u2019s; while Lancashire crept to within nine runs of Kent\u2019s first innings, thanks largely to 64 from Tom Hartley. There were four wickets for Matt Parkinson and an inspired Matt Quinn. Saif Zaib, Division Two\u2019s leading scorer, hit yet another half century for Northamptonshire, this time against Glamorgan, while Sussex continued their poor run of form, bowled out for 122 by Hampshire.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.54 EDT<\/p>\n Scores on the doors<\/p>\n DIVISION ONE<\/p>\n Chelmsford: Essex 312-3 v Durham 333<\/p>\n Taunton: Somerset 391-6 v Yorkshire<\/a><\/p>\n The Oval: Surrey 246 and 181-1 v Warwickshire<\/a> 248<\/p>\n Hove: Sussex 122 and 37-1 Hampshire 226 and 173<\/p>\n New Road: Worcestershire 182 and 93-5 v Nottinghamshire 207<\/p>\n DIVISION TWO<\/p>\n Canterbury: Kent 293 and 96-0 v Lancashire 284<\/p>\n Grace Road: Leicestershire 270-4 v Gloucestershire<\/a> 482<\/p>\n Lord\u2019s: Middlesex 298v Derbyshire 283 and 17-0<\/p>\n Northampton: Northants 309-5 v Glamorgan 467<\/p>\n