Updated at\u00a014.23 EDT<\/p>\n
Goodbye!<\/p>\n
So that\u2019s it from this micro-round. Three cracking finishes and one put out of its misery just at the right time. And more James Rew, more Sonny Baker, more Jimmy Anderson for everyone to chew over.<\/p>\n
There will be seven games in round four (Middx, Northants, Hants and Somerset<\/a> miss out), starting on Friday. See you then and have a lovely evening \u2013 bye!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.36 EDT<\/p>\n Final Scores<\/p>\n DIVISION ONE<\/p>\n Southampton: Somerset 288 & 288-8 BEAT Hampshire<\/a> 238 and 336 by two wickets<\/p>\n Edgbaston: Warwickshire<\/a> 190 & 220 BEAT Essex 205-9 & 164 by 41 runs<\/p>\n DIVISION TWO<\/p>\n Bristol: Lancashire 240 & 203-6 BEAT Gloucestershire<\/a> 136 and 305 by four wickets.<\/p>\n Northampton: Northants 409 DRAW with Middlesex<\/a> 341 & 353-3<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Northamptonshire DRAW with Middlesex<\/p>\n Northampton: Northants 409 DRAW with Middlesex<\/a> 341 & 353-3<\/p>\n Northamptonshire 15 points, Middlesex 13<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n I think that will be it at Wantage Road, so am going to start writing up. Will come back with any news.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Bad light stops play<\/p>\n And so to Wantage Road, where Sam Robson was out, embarrassingly unnoticed ATL, for 162. Ah, they\u2019re taking a light reading and it looks like they\u2019re putting this game to bed, coming off for bad light.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And then there was one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Teatime scores<\/p>\n DIVISION ONE<\/p>\n Southampton: Somerset 288 & 288-8 BEAT Hampshire<\/a> 238 and 336 by two wickets<\/p>\n Edgbaston: Warwickshire<\/a> 190 & 220 BEAT Essex 205-9 & 164 by 41 runs<\/p>\n DIVISION TWO<\/p>\n Bristol: Lancashire 240 & 203-6 BEAT Gloucestershire<\/a> 136 and 305 by four wickets.<\/p>\n Northampton: Northants 409 v Middlesex<\/a> 341 & 352-3 \u2013 Middlesex lead by 284 runs<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.30 EDT<\/p>\n Warwickshire BEAT Essex by 41 runs! All over at Edgbaston, Akhter the final wicket to fall attempting to ramp a boundary off Webster and seeing it gobbled up by Sam Hain running around at fine leg. Warwickshire<\/a> bag their first win of the season by a margin 41 runs, with Keith Barker, four for 29, setting it up courtesy of that remarkable three-wicket over first thing. Will Chris Woakes even get back into the side? (Clue: He will).<\/p>\n Edgbaston: Warwickshire<\/a> 190 & 220 BEAT Essex 205-9 & 164 by 41 runs<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.53 EDT<\/p>\n Got \u2018im! Big wicket here as Simon Harmer is eventually prised from his rock courtesy of a bit of nibble from Big Beau Webster and a fine low take by Rob Yates at slip. Harmer stood his ground for a second but was quickly sent on his way (replays suggest the catch was clean). Essex 43 to win, Warwickshire<\/a> one wicket away.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Wondering if a second nail-biter is loading here at Edgbaston … Simon Harmer and Zaman Akhter have steadily chiselled out 51 for the ninth wicket to get within striking distance. Essex need 43 more to win, Warwickshire<\/a> two more wickets…<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Somerset BEAT Hampshire by two wickets!<\/p>\n Tom Abell sails four through midwicket to win the game, 101 not out!<\/p>\n Southampton: Somerset 288 & 288-8 BEAT Hampshire<\/a> 238 and 336 by two wickets<\/p>\n Hampshire 3 points, Somerset 20 points<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.40 EDT<\/p>\n Abell tonks a full toss, gets a single off the last ball and will face Kyle Abbott. Three needed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Abell not taking the singles, three balls left of Baker\u2019s over. The crack of the bat loud over the empty tense ground.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.17 EDT<\/p>\n Abbott with a maiden. Four needed for Somerset<\/a>. Abell, on 96, to face the next over from Baker.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Jack Leach, short sleeved jumped pulled down over his bottom, leans back and axes Baker for four. But then takes a single to retain the strike at the end of the over. Four needed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A crack of the bat, and Abell flicks Abbott for four, the field up, the target now down to nine. Back comes Baker for a final over.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And Baker has a second! Ogborne fancies this one for cover-drive glory but instead edges behind. Somerset<\/a> eight down, need 15. Abell still there. Here comes Jack Leach.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re going to get serious about Bs,\u201d writes Richard Spiller, \u201ctry Boycott, Butcher (A), Brearley, Botham and Bairstow (snr) for England v India at The Oval in 1979.\u201d<\/p>\n Three Bs: Botham, Boycott and Brearley Photograph: PA Images\/AlamyShare<\/a><\/p>\n Sonny Baker to win the game. Marches to his mark, somewhere back east of Eden. An excellent centre parting, brylcream and curtains hairdo, at least that\u2019s what it looks like on wobbly Youtube. Mid run-up skip and charge. And sends Gregory\u2019s middle stump caterwauling! Twenty-five needed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The new ball gamble is working, but for Somerset, not Hampshire<\/a> \u2013 Abell wristily sends Abbott flowing to the rope. The target now just 30.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Ruining the B-team thing, Jordan Thompson has just removed Severus Snater with a bit of movement and a superb diving catch by Al Davis behind the stumps<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.41 EDT<\/p>\n \u201cYour \u201cB\u201d query,\u201d writes Ali, \u201creminds me of the time Mike Atherton referred to Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad and Dom Bess as a case of \u2018England\u2019s B-team\u2019 coming good. YJB slightly missed the point, took huge offence etc.\u201d<\/p>\n Not amused: Jonny Barstow Photograph: Gareth Copley\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.35 EDT<\/p>\n Right, they\u2019re taking the new ball at Hampshire<\/a>. Oh, and I think they\u2019ve given it to Dawson? Somerset need 49.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n If the next three wickets at Edgbaston are also Barker\/Bamber\/Barnard, will that be some kind of B record? Essex<\/a> still need an unlikely 104, with Harmer (14 not out) and the tail to come.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Somerset are crawling backwards towards their target, trousers torn on the barbed wire. Dawson, in sunglasses, wheels in. Gregory prods. The target is 53, four wickets in hand.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Lancashire BEAT Gloucestershire by four wickets<\/p>\n Over and out at Bristol. Gloucestershire<\/a> have now lost three in the bounce, but this was a better, fighting, performance. Lancs pocket their second win of the summer, with Balderson (nine wickets) and Anderson (eight) crucial here.<\/p>\n Bristol: Lancashire 240 & 203-6 BEAT Gloucestershire<\/a> 136 and 305 by four wickets.<\/p>\n Gloucestershire 3 points; Lancashire<\/a> 19 points.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.02 EDT<\/p>\n \u200bHurtling towards a result here at Edgbaston, with Warwickshire<\/a> striking twice after lunch to leave Essex seven down, still 124 runs shy of the target. Keith Barker nabbed his fourth, teasing an edge from Michael Pepper, and now Ethan Bamber has bowled Luc Benkenstein with a bit of nip to beat the outside edge. Felt like he made it look a better ball than it was \u2013 footwork was minimal \u2013 but it was also the product of a good probing over.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Two quick post-lunch wickets: Arav Shetty Ollie Priced for 31; Michael Pepper Keith Barkered for nine. But where Lancs only need ten, Essex<\/a> need 126.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Lunchtime scores<\/p>\n DIVISION ONE<\/p>\n Southampton: Hampshire<\/a> 238 and 336 v Somerset 288 & 223-6 \u2013 Somerset need 64 runs to win<\/p>\n Edgbaston: Warwickshire<\/a> 190 & 220 v Essex 205-9 & 80-5 \u2013 Essex need 126 runs to win<\/p>\n DIVISION TWO<\/p>\n Bristol: Gloucestershire<\/a> 136 and 305 v Lancashire 240 & 188-5 \u2013 Lancashire need 14 runs to win<\/p>\n Northampton: Northants 409 v Middlesex<\/a> 341 & 211-2 \u2013 Middlesex lead by 143 runs<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tom Prest is causing all sorts of commotion in his first over, and the last before lunch \u2013 but Abell and Gregory survive, to leave Somerset<\/a> needing another 64 to win. They go off for lunch, as they do round the grounds, even at Bristol where Lancs must fancy some grub before climbing on the coach home.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.07 EDT<\/p>\n Run-chase round up<\/p>\n As lunch approaches:<\/p>\n Somerset need 74 to beat Hampshire with four wickets remaining. Tom Abell, vitally, still there on 63. Big Craig, been and gone. Liam Dawson weaving magic.<\/p>\n Lancashire, spearheaded by Keaton Jennings, 74 not out, are nearly there. Need just 32 to beat Gloucestershire and, despite the best efforts of Will Williams, have five wickets left.<\/p>\n At Edgbaston, Luc Benkenstein and Michael Pepper have a tricky rebuilding task, Essex need 131 against Warwickshire, with five wickets left.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Robson and Holden continue in their merry way at Wantage Road. Both into the eighties, Middlesex<\/a> sitting comfortably with a lead of 129 and barring disaster tootling towards a draw.<\/p>\n Max Holden batting for Middlesex. Photograph: Ray Lawrence\/TGS Photo\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.35 EDT<\/p>\n Liam Dawson is finding spit and sawdust. Abell edges through Brown\u2019s legs who ends up sprawled as the ball flies to the rope. Useful runs as this task suddenly turns tricky for Somerset<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And it is \u2013 for him. Bowled Dawson, four. Somerset<\/a> six down, need 89.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Craig Overton wants to get this nonsense over with this morning.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And another mid-morning wicket, this time from Southampton, where Somerset\u2019s steady progress is interrupted. Hants hopping with happiness as Smeed reaches again and is caught at backward point by Jake Lehman. The quick Eddie Jack with the breakthrough. Somerset 188-5, need 99 to beat Hampshire<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A third wicket for Will Williams at Bristol, Matty Hurst chips and then flops over his bat in misery as the ball loops into the hands of Tommy Boorman. Lancs are now five wickets down, but KJ is still there, 60 not out. Fifty eight needed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> \u200bEssex are five down and staring at an afternoon on the coach home, discussing where it all went wrong over a bag of Quavers. Things appeared to have quietened down after that breakneck start but then Ed Barnard brought himself on, persuaded Tall Paul to drive down the ground, and the ball skewed off the toe-end of the bat to Keith Barker at mid-off. Decent grab, too, stretching above his head.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Fifty for Tom Abell!<\/p>\n Will Smeed, yet to hit his red ball sweet spot, reaches outside off stump to drive Yusuf but no cigar. He and Tom Abell have, carefully, added 40 since Rew was out early this morning. Somerset<\/a> need another 104 \u2013 and, with a couple of runs stroked into the off side, that\u2019s the second time Abell has passed fifty this season.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.24 EDT<\/p>\n I pressed too soon, shortly afterwards Will Williams persuades Michael Jones to nibble to second slip for 30. And then Jennings is caught off a no ball from Brookes. Lancs 126-4, need 76.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Switch over to coverage of Lancs v Glos to hear Ed Seaborne say: \u201cLancashire are dictating the terms.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.57 EDT<\/p>\n Good morning Tim Maitland!<\/p>\n \u201cA series of unhelpful suggestions, inaccurate advice and poor decision making led me, in my formative years, to attempt an education in geology where I learnt two important things: to ask yourself \u201cwhat aren\u2019t we seeing\u201d and that I did not want to be a geologist.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first of those has been nagging away at me in the early weeks of the County championship and I\u2019ve finally found the answer: where are the pedal-to-the-metal, hard-sell-to-the-IPL, run-a-ball knocks this year?<\/p>\n \u201cOn the absolute road produced at the Oval for Surrey\u2019s game with Leicestershire, Ollie Pope\u2019s progress towards his ton was, compared to the standards set at the height of Bazball, a Tavare-esque crawl (16 fours, no sixes at a strike rate of 76.3), while I\u2019m amazed that chants of \u201cAre you Boycott in disguise\u201d didn\u2019t accompany the once-swashbuckling Jamie Smith\u2019s tortoise-like progress to 166 (19 fours, 2 sixes at 69.17)… although to him it might have felt breathless after his 132 off 267 balls in the opening round at Edgbaston.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s true that Nathan McSweeney went for it for Northants, but coming in at 472-2, I imagine he had carte blanche to do cartwheels as Luke Procter chugged along to his unbeaten 261 off 357 at Kent. Martin Anderson\u2019s 228 for Derbyshire against the under-powered Worcestershire \u201cpace\u201d attack was impressive, but a strike rate of 84.13 is hardly T20-gone-mad, is it?<\/p>\n \u201cSo, are we bereft of biff? Fresh out of thrash? (The lovely American wife suggested \u201clacking lickspittle\u201d at this stage, but it\u2019s my fault for not specifying that I was looking for words that hadn\u2019t died out in the 1600s and she has been drinking) Are we cutting back on the carnage?<\/p>\n \u201cStatisticians would immediately argue that three weeks of the season is far too small a sample size to make any meaningful assessments: to them I say FAKE NEWS! We\u2019re living in a Post-Truth world where lies are truth, white is black and peace is war.<\/p>\n \u201cBy this stage last season Tom Abell had rattled off 371 runs at Taunton against (recurring theme) Worcestershire at 92.06. Dan Lawrence had launched six sixes and 117 runs at 105.41 at Hove. John Simpson of Sussex had slashed five sixes and 110 runs at 94.02 at the same venue. Saif Zaib Zorroed (too much?) 105 runs at 116.67 at Derby and Gloucestershire\u2019s No. 11 Marchant de Lange larrumped 51 from 27 at Canterbury.<\/p>\n \u201cThe serious point to this facetious drivel is this: does this mean that the message about Bazball 2.0 has filtered down to the counties or, have they, like Ben Stokes in Australia this winter, just figured out for themselves that it is possible to back yourself too much?\u201d<\/p>\n Interesting point! It would be good to see if it still stands at the end of this seven-week block in mid-May.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.54 EDT<\/p>\n In Division Two, Lancashire have sped to 100, not a wicket fallen this morning. They only need another 98 and Keaton Jennings has got his slippers on, 38 not out.<\/p>\n And at Wantage Road, Max Holden and Sam Robson have extended Middlesex\u2019s second-wicket partnership to 88 in a match that looks likely to end in handshakes at 5pm.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.51 EDT<\/p>\n End of Rew watch<\/p>\n A wicket at Southampton, and it\u2019s the Rewmeister, prodding, awkwardly, outside his off stump and giving Ben Brown a catch just above the turf. Kyle Abbott the bowler. Somerset<\/a> 158-4, need another 129 to beat Hants. Baker and Abbott bowling nicely.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.33 EDT<\/p>\n Oh dear, Matt Critchley slaps a rank long hop to cover and Ethan Bamber is almost too embarrassed to celebrate … Essex<\/a> 21 for four now, 185 more runs now their Everest.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.32 EDT<\/p>\n Three in the over for Barker! Charlie Allison, bowled by one that may have kept a bit low. Essex<\/a> 16 for three…<\/p>\n Share<\/a> \u200bEarly wickets in sunny Brumbados, Keith Barker striking first ball from the Pavilion End as Dean Elgar is trapped lbw offering no shot. In comes Tall Paul to join Sam Cook, who spared him the hassle last night but has since squirted Barker\u2019s third ball of the day to cover. That\u2019s Barker\u2019s 700th career wicket across formats. Essex<\/a> 16 for two (need another 190) and an inauspicious start.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.33 EDT<\/p>\n Rew watch<\/p>\n They\u2019ve started at sunny Southampton, where Sonny Baker is pistoning in and James Rew, hand on hip, is at the non-striker\u2019s end, 58 not out. Somerset<\/a> need another 148 to win, seven wickets in hand.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Weather watch<\/p>\n Largely lovely, with floating showers.<\/p>\n A spectator at Gloucestershire v Lancashire in Bristol. Photograph: Jacob Hurry\/ShutterstockShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.03 EDT<\/p>\n I had a treat in the post on Friday, a copy of Jon Hotten\u2019s new book Vinciness or The Unbearable Sadness of Batting. Now, Jon is a friend and I worked with him for quite a few years at The Nightwatchman so am very biased but I think he\u2019s a lovely writer and I\u2019ve read the first chapter and it is gorgeous. So I said I\u2019d give it a plug \u2013 if you like Jon\u2019s writing and are a Vince tragic, this<\/a> is the book for you. Also here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.47 EDT<\/p>\n Adds Ali: \u201cWarwickshire are currently warming up to Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits … will their day be the song title or the band name?\u201d<\/p>\n Very good. I once ended up watching two hours of Youtube videos on Sultans of Swing, I didn\u2019t realise how obsessed people were with it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Nicely set up here at Edgbaston: glorious sunshine (cold air), Essex needing 195 more runs to knock off 206, Warwickshire<\/a> in the hunt for 10 wickets. So far the pitch has bucked a recent trend of being a bit lifeless – highest total in the match is 220 \u2013 so there should be chances created. But Warwickshire were badly burned last week trying \u2013 and failing \u2013 to defend 328 at Hove.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Jim’s Sunday round-up<\/p>\n James Rew held firm for Somerset once more to see his stock rise further and keep his side in the hunt for a final day victory on the south coast. After his first innings 86 the cherubic faced stroke maker was undefeated on 58 at the close of an intriguing day in Southampton. Lewis Gregory bustled his way to a five wicket haul earlier in the piece as Nick Gubbins top scored with 83 in the home side\u2019s second innings effort of 336.<\/p>\n Hampshire\u2019s Sonny Baker then had his dander well and truly up and the opposition in trouble by pocketing the Cidermen\u2019s top three of Archie Vaughan, Tom Lammonby and Joshua Thomas, albeit the first two were guilty of being careless on the pull. Rew and Tom Abell then steadied the applecart to leave Somerset needing 148 more to pull off the win.<\/p>\n Seventeen wickets fell at Edgbaston on a topsy turvy moving day where both sides seemingly had their bags packed at different stages. Essex will consider themselves to be in the stronger position heading into the final day with Dean Elgar and self-appointed nightwatchman Sam Cook seeing them to 11-0 at the close in pursuit of 206.<\/p>\n Warwickshire were bowled out for 220 inside 63 overs as visiting Captain Cook picked up five wickets including the crucial scalp of Beau Webster, the Aussie all-rounder\u2019s 91 included sixteen boundaries and helped his side post a challenging if hardly fear-inducing target.<\/p>\n In Division Two, centuries from Northamptonshire\u2019s James Sales and Nathan McSweeney made Middlesex toil at Wantage Road as the home side made 409 in their first innings. Josh De Caires was pinned LBW by Luke Proctor early in Middlesex\u2019s second innings but Sam Robson and Max Holden batted calmly to reach 109-1 and a lead of 41 runs by stumps.<\/p>\n A pot boiler at Bristol saw James Bracey score a dogged century for Gloucestershire as they posted 305 against a toiling Lancashire. James Anderson and George Balderson took four wickets apiece to set up a tricksy fourth innings run chase. Keaton Jennings shepherding the visitors to 75-3 at stumps, 127 more needed for victory.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Scores on the doors<\/p>\n DIVISION ONE<\/p>\n Southampton: Hampshire<\/a> 238 and 336 v Somerset 288 & 139-3 \u2013 Somerset need 148 runs to win<\/p>\n Edgbaston: Warwickshire<\/a> 190 & 220 v Essex 205-9 & 11-0 \u2013 Essex need 195 runs to win<\/p>\n DIVISION TWO<\/p>\n Bristol: Gloucestershire<\/a> 136 and 305 v Lancashire 240 & 75-3 \u2013 Lancashire need 127 runs to win<\/p>\n Northampton: Northants 409 v Middlesex<\/a> 341 & 109-1 \u2013 Middlesex lead by 41 runs<\/p>\n![\"Ali](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776725537_53_Ali_martin3,_L.png\")
Ali Martin<\/p>\nAli Martin<\/p>\nAli Martin<\/p>\nAli Martin<\/p>\nAli Martin<\/p>\nAli Martin<\/p>\nAli Martin<\/p>\nAli Martin<\/p>\nAli Martin<\/p>\nAli Martin<\/p>\n