At Lord\u2019s \u2013 Ben Geddes has joined Sam Robson back in the pavilion, Middlesex<\/a> 20-2, trail by too many.<\/p>\n At Southport \u2013 where George Balderson has been removed by Swanepoel for 19, Lancs 44-1.<\/p>\n Nothing doing yet at Beckenham.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n An early wicket at Headingley as Jhye Richardson gets one to snort off the pitch and surprise Rory Burns, who can fend only to gully. Burns strides down the pitch and pokes pointedly at the offending area before stalking away. Surrey 41 for one.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.48 EDT<\/p>\n Good morning Des Platt!<\/p>\n \u201cI was up at 4:45 this morning hoping to see the young blue tits leave the nest as the first one was at the hole for the last couple of hours yesterday without leaving. Two textbooks I have on the subject say that they often leave at dawn. I\u2019ve had blue tits or great tits nesting 15 years in the last 16 and have found they very rarely do as the book says. Mind you, I don\u2019t blame them not leaving because it is damn cold here and I\u2019ve actually put the heating on for an hour which is most unusual for me in May.<\/p>\n \u201cI was hoping they would all have gone before my team Rainford, play at my local club Rainhill in a cup game later. I support Rainford because of the amateur philosophy ; Rainhill pay out a lot on pros. Rainford are just a bunch of mates who have done very well these last four years competing against semi professional teams but it is getting harder each year.\u201d<\/p>\n How lovely! Crossing everything they venture out before your cricket game. I once delayed my kids going to school to see some butterflies hatch from one of those kits you can buy. It was amazing but they took their time and we were very late. I got a wrist slap.<\/p>\n Ready to fly: baby blue tit Photograph: Geoffrey Swaine\/REX\/ShutterstockShare<\/a> OK, scratch Beau Webster from the below, he\u2019s just been wiped out by Tom Norton, a full delivery, and an edge snaffled up by Colin Inrgam low at first slip. Warks 141-7<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Not much to report yet here at Headingley. St Michael\u2019s church looks lush and lovely with greenery and that many-capped slip cordon awaits.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Paul Edwards phones in from Southport, where he\u2019s enjoying bobbing home to get his seeds and cereal for breakfast before play. The sun is out, but there\u2019s a chill, and not too many spectators through the gate yet. And the first ball of the day is a no ball.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Glamorgan haven\u2019t just been promoted to make up the numbers, they\u2019re in Division One to compete. And with two wins on the board already, they could put themselves in pole position for a third if they get the better of today\u2019s play at Edgbaston. Warwickshire<\/a> are 123 for six and need two all-rounders, Beau Webster and Jordan Thompson, to take a huge chunk out of what is a 237 run deficit.<\/p>\n In other news, am enjoying one of the rare good days as a folically-challenged man following an outbreak of head lice back at base. Blimmin\u2019 school kids.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.11 EDT<\/p>\n Weather watch<\/p>\n Sunshine and showers, say the Met office, heaviest and most frequently in the west. Sorry, Southport.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>“It could have bee very different”<\/p>\n A very happy Ben Aitchison, having a match to remember: \u201cIt was great fun. I\u2019ve just said to Wayne, we were having a laugh out there and really enjoying ourselves. That\u2019s what makes it so much easier when you\u2019ve got someone at the other end who it is a joy batting with. There were balls out there that were doing all sorts and we couldn\u2019t get near to them, so you just had to laugh it off and then go again.<\/p>\n \u201cI nearly didn\u2019t go out as second nightwatchman last night because I got told at the last second to get my pads on and I was almost not ready. So it could have all been very different. I definitely didn\u2019t think that (a hundred) was going to happen this morning, but obviously very happy.<\/p>\n \u201cI was on 64 and I was starting to think about it then as I\u2019d had a little bet with the gaffer as well that I probably can\u2019t tell you about here. It was when I got to 97 where the field was still up and I knew I was one four away and that\u2019s when I thought I can actually do this.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Apologies for plugging my own writing, but this is such a wonderful cricket set-up.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Saturday’s round-up<\/p>\n A rainy Saturday inspired county nightwatchmen. At Lord\u2019s, Derbyshire\u2019s Ben Aitchison followed up his five wickets with a maiden first-class hundred, stacked with charming drives. As he crossed the line, he got a huge hug from Wayne Madsen and smiled the widest of smiles. Madsen followed up with his first hundred at Lord\u2019s on a tiring day for Middlesex\u2019s bowlers.<\/p>\n Also on overnight duties was Jamie Porter, whose first first-class 50 was the Sellotape Essex needed from the mess of 39 for four. Charlie Allison put on 96 with Porter, and collected 72 before nibbling at Josh Hull. Wiann Mulder (70) and Simon Harmer (33) then punished Leicestershire further and took the to within 52 runs of parity.<\/p>\n Emilio Gay celebrated his England call-up with a duck at Beckenham, where Durham found themselves in surprise trouble on a pitch where Kent merrily gathered 523. David Bedingham was 72 not out at stumps but found little other support. Earlier, Matthew Potts had collected six for 92.<\/p>\n A morning\u2019s play was enough for Surrey to rattle through the rest of Yorkshire\u2019s batting. Matt Fisher gathered four for 92, removing Friday\u2019s centurion Jonny Bairstow in the second over of the day. After Adam Lyth fell for 141, George Hill (34) and Dom Bess (42) hit Yorkshire<\/a> towards 500.<\/p>\n Rain and Abell were the dominant themes at Taunton, where Tom Abell, Division One\u2019s second highest scorer, reached his third century of the season, accompanied by Craig Overton, who biffed his second. Somerset declared on 525 for eight, and there was just time for Overton to send Sussex\u2019s Tom Haines on his way, before the floodlights failed.<\/p>\n Kyle Abbott bowled Nottinghamshire\u2019s Haseeb Hameed for a duck shortly before a lunchtime ceremony to celebrate the South African\u2019s 500th Hampshire wicket. Sonny Baker, running in with pace, then removed Ben Slater and hit the fingers of Freddie McCann, who subsequently retired hurt. After play, Baker said of his England call-up: \u201cIt is a dream come true. I feel like I\u2019ve beaten the bat a lot this season, which has been frustrating, but in terms of the outcomes I\u2019ve had, I\u2019d be lying if I wasn\u2019t pretty pleased.\u201d<\/p>\n Glamorgan picked apart Warwickshire\u2019s batting on a damp day in Cardiff. Alex Davies and Dan Mousely carefully collected 30 apiece, but there were slim pickings elsewhere, to leave Warwickshire<\/a> 123 for six, 237 runs in the red.<\/p>\n There were chaotic scenes at in a low-scoring shootout at Bristol, after Northants were skittled for 127, with five wickets for Matt Taylor. Gloucestershire then opened their second innings with two tailenders, one \u2013 Will Williams \u2013 returning to the crease shortly after being out to act as a runner for the other \u2013 Craig Miles \u2013 who was out soon afterwards.<\/p>\n There was no play at Southport with Lancashire still trailing Worcestershire by 242 runs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Scores on the doors<\/p>\n Chelmsford: Essex 281-8 v Leicestershire<\/a> 333<\/p>\n Southampton: Hampshire 214 v Nottinghamshire<\/a> 124-3<\/p>\n Taunton: Somerset<\/a> 526-8dec v Sussex 22-1<\/p>\n Edgbaston: Warwickshire<\/a> 123-6 v Glamorgan 360<\/p>\n Headingley: Yorkshire<\/a> 486 v Surrey 17-0<\/p>\n Division Two<\/p>\n Bristol: Gloucestershire 154 and 21-3 v Northamptonshire<\/a> 127<\/p>\n Beckenham: Kent 523 v Durham<\/a> 173-5<\/p>\n Southport: Lancashire 28-0 v Worcestershire<\/a> 270 no play today<\/p>\n Lord\u2019s: Middlesex 177 and 13-1 v Derbyshire<\/a> 376<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Preamble<\/p>\n Good morning! From unpromising beginnings under south Manchester skies, it\u2019s a fine truck through the Pennines this morning. Mytholmroyd station looked so pretty and I now know, thanks to the station noticeboard, that it was the birthplace of Ted Hughes in 1930.<\/p>\n A draw already looks on the cards at Headingley, but maybe Surrey will collapse in a heap and surprise us all. Elsewhere, Middlesex<\/a> need to dig in, Durham are in trouble, everything is going in fast-forward on the hybrid pitch at Bristol, Essex are fighting back, Glamorgan are suprising (or maybe not, after two wins on the bounce) Warwicks, Sussex have a fight on their hands and it is early days at Southampton. Fingers crossed for some play at Southport.<\/p>\n All swings into action at 11am. Do drop in.<\/p>\n![\"Ali](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779015130_451_Ali_martin3,_L.png\")
Ali Martin<\/p>\nAli Martin<\/p>\n