A day of thrilling finishes closed the fifth round of the Championship. First, at Taunton, where James Rew hauled Somerset to a victory pulled from the ditch of defeat against Essex.
Rew’s uncanny calm belies his years and, at 21, he became the youngest player to make 10 first-class centuries since Denis Compton. Out just before the close for 116, the winning runs were thumped by Craig Overton, a straight six off Simon Harmer for a first victory of the season.
A six also won the game at Lord’s where, with just one over and two wickets left, Zafar Gohar dropped to one knee and took aim at the Grand Stand. Middlesex’s smash and grab had come courtesy of a maiden first-class century from Luke Hollman, a brave innings from Stephen Eskinazi, who retired with a back spasm but hobbled back on again for the greater cause, 59 from Jack Davies, and a ninth-wicket stand between Toby Roland-Jones and Gohar. Kent’s Matt Parkinson bowled beautifully for his three wickets.
A draw at Sophia Gardens was much more than the sum of its parts, eight Glamorgan fielders crowding Derbyshire’s Luis Reece for the final over with one wicket needed, after a brave declaration from Sam Northeast. Ben Kellaway pocketed both career-best batting and bowling figures.
Gloucestershire nearly pulled off a great heist after declaring overnight at Old Trafford. They reduced Lancashire to 160 for six, only for Luke Wells and Tom Hartley to bat the game to a draw. Only the draw at Durham and Hampshire bucked the trend, on a pancake pitch at Southampton where only 20 wickets fell in four days. Durham’s head coach, Ryan Campbell, said: “It is one of those games where you look back on and think: ‘What is the point?’ Until we start to get wickets right in this competition it is pretty disappointing.
“First away game we had a 30-yard boundary and then we had a snake pit, and then you come here and they have already played two games on a wicket.”
The new ball has been taken at OT, and given straight to van Buuren, but Lancs look like they’ll get away with this one.
I forgot Derbyshire – who are almost swaggering to their target – Andersson (64) and Dal (19) the men at the crease. They need 86 from 13 and a bit overs at Sophia Gardens. Five wickets in hand.
I’m enjoying watching the Gloucestershire attack, the twirling bouncing-soled van Buuren and the slingy tearaway Singh-Dale. And there’s the wicket! Wells caught behind off vB for a patient 36 from 116 balls.
Davies pulls, rolls the wrists, but Richards is waiting under the shade of the stand at deep midwicket and catches it low in the breadbasket. A third wicket for Parky! Middlesex 312-7, 53 needed.
"What's the point?" Ryan Campbell criticises Hampshire pitch
Durham’s head coach doesn’t pull his punches: “It is one of those games where you look back on and think ‘what is the point?’. We played as well as I expected us to play.
“Until we start to get wickets right in this competition it is pretty disappointing. First away game we had a 30 yard boundary and then we had a snake pit, and then you come here and they have already played two games on a wicket.
“I’m not going to tell everyone else what to do but it is disappointing to play on things like this. If you want to play good first-class cricket you need good cricket wicket. This one gave the bowlers no chance. Some of the things that are going on, I’m not sure what is going on.”
Well played! A first f-c hundred, in his first match as a specialist batsman. He takes off his helmet, gives the badge a kiss, and waves his bat at his teammates crowded onto the Lord’s balcony.
Despite DBD’s best effort, it seems Middlesex are going to chase this down! Hollman is one short of his hundred, Jack Davies a steadfast sidekick. 102 needed.
As the Manchester crowd potter on the grass at the tea break, we go into the final session with a locked-on draw at Southampton, a nail-biting run chase at Lord’s, Lancs in really deep trouble at OT and Derbyshire needing to bolt the door at Sophia Gardens.
The rain has ceased at Southampton and Lord’s. Lees and Gay are back batting and Middlesex, powered by eau de Rew, creep closer in north London. But with Geddes gone for 15 and Eskinazi retired hurt, they will have to be clever. Middx 222-5, need 143.
A picture I took of Kapil Dev bowling in the MCC v Rest of the World match at Lord's, August 20th 1987. He took 0 for 54 and 1 for 21 on a pitch which favoured the batsmen. In 221.1 overs, the Rest of the World bowlers only took 10 wickets for 739 runs (there was also a run out) pic.twitter.com/8G867oCguA
— Historic Cricket Pictures (@PictureSporting) May 5, 2025
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