County Championship Round 1

First topic message reminder :

Eight games set us off for the county season:

Division 1

Durham v Somerset
Notts v Middlesex
Warwickshire v Derbyshire
Yorkshire v Sussex

Division 2

Essex v Gloucestershire
Glamorgan v Northamptonshire
Hampshire v Leicestershire
Lancashire v Worcestershire

Commentary on all games via the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/13629853

Weather improved a bit now, Durham v Somerset back under way.

Somerset need 235 to win, started decently but have just lost Suppiah to Onions. 32/1.

I was going to applaud Nottinghamshire for their fight and spirit, then Neil Dexter took 3 wickets in 16 balls to put Middlesex in the box seat. 53/2 to 68/6 and that might be the game. Just as I write, he's trapped Chris Read LBW - 3 wickets in one over, Notts 68/7 now. Neil Dexter currently 4/6 - he's never taken more than 3 wickets in an innings in 77 FC matches before!

Somerset 54-1, it is massively important that we get off to a good start if we want to be competing for the title this year.

Stokes nabs Tresco in his first over, 74/2.

Big wicket, Tresco is our gun player without Compton in there. We are not going to bat time and try to scrape over the line now with Kies, Buttler and Trego to go...

Hildreth too, could be time for someone like Alex Barrow to make a statement of intent, Overton did alright in the first innings with 20 odd not out too.

Will be a tight finish I reckon

It would be about time for Barrow. He is only 20 still, but 16 games and an average of 16 is not good...

Monty Panesar, the man with the heroic dive, is getting no joy in Leeds. 16 overs without a wicket for him in this game.

Is James Harris carrying an injury? because he hasn't bowled a ball in the second innings for Midlesex

James Harris has a suspected hamstring injury. Nothing too serious but has mostly been off the field since mid-Day 1.

Luckily, Middx have 4 other frontline bowlers plus golden arm Dexter in their ranks.

All sorts of drama at Trent Bridge.

First Dexter's wickets, but then a fightback from Notts. Andre Adams has smashed his way to 50* and Luke Fletcher hung around for a while too. Lead is now over 100 with 1 wicket left.

Could be interesting tomorrow.

Somerset's charge to an unlikely victory was delayed by bad light, they're 96/2 needing just 139 more for victory. Sussex are on the verge of beating Yorkshire - 2 more wickets needed.

Somerset match particularly interesting. I tipped Durham for relegation, but I also predicted Somerset would not mount a serious challenge for the title.

If Middlesex can close out Notts that will be a good demonstration of their credentials.

Weather likely to be a problem anywhere south of Birmingham tomorrow. Chester-le-Street and Trent Bridge should get away with it.

Essex boys will surely get a draw today, as our game has been ruined by the weather, so should be a dissapointing draw for us

It's finished at Leeds, Sussex have defeated Yorkshire by an innings and 12 runs. Middlesex are coasting to victory over Nottinghamshire. Somerset need another 91 runs to beat Durham, with only 5 wickets left, right in the balance that one.

The weather is teasing Hants and one Leics batsman at Southampton.

Rain has prevented any play so far. Hants need 5 wickets to wrap up an innings win. Leics' Ned Eckersley is undefeated on 99 ....

Trego gone now for Somerset, 6 down and still 84 required. It's largely in the hands of Kieswetter now who's unbeaten on 56.

Durham vs Somerset is very interesting!

Somerset 7 down now, Kieswetter is the last bastion of hope. 76 to go.

8 down now, surely Kieswetter has to have a swing and go for broke?

Thumping 10 wicket victory for Middlesex - very impressive.

Kieswetter's been bowled by Stokes. 175/9, surely game over now and victory for Durham.

Quick recap:

Durham have beaten Somerset by 48 runs
Middlesex have beaten Notts by 10 wickets
Sussex have beaten Yorkshire by an innings and 12 runs
Warwickshire and Derbyshire is lumbering to a draw

In division 2:

Gloucestershire and Essex are heading for a draw
Glamorgan and Northamptonshire have drawn
Hampshire are being frustrated by rain against Leicestershire
Worcestershire and Lancashire are heading for a draw

Excellent opening win for Middlesex, hopefully the sign of things to come. As expected their seam bowling attack will prove a handful, particularly in the early part of the season. Slight concern about Harris's injury, but Finn will apparently be available for the next match, so not a bad replacement!

Middle-order batting obviously still a concern - as I said on the Middlesex thread, Malan, Dexter and Denly are all quality players, who failed too often last season; they will have to step up, as once Morgan's back in the fray there is competition there.

Good to see Simpson back in amongst the runs.

Surprised to see Yorkshire go down so heavily I must say.

As Mike says, an excellent victory for Middlesex. Certainly looking strong. As has been stated, the inexperience of their spinners may prove a handicap later in the season but unfair to dwell on that on a grey April day when they've won so decisively.

Surprised to see Yorks crushed by Sussex. Great start with the ball for Surrey discard Jordan. One of his main problems was always consistency so it'll be interesting to see how he continues. Although probably churlish, I have my doubts.

Much credit to Durham as well for a fine, battling win after being put in on Wednesday morning by Somerset. Somerset continue to disappoint and amount to less than the sum of their individual parts.

Shame that the weather seems to be on top elsewhere - particularly at Southampton where, as mentioned earlier, Hants just need 5 wickets to wrap up a convincing win against Leics for whom Ned Eckersley remains marooned on 99!

WHAT A WIN FOR SUSSEX

Very dissapointing start for Yorkshire although we did lose our first match in 2001 and went on to win the championship so who knows. Batting order could do with tweaking and the compostion of the bowling unit could also do with consideration. Interesting to see if Ashraf and Rashid get a run out in the 'friendly' Roses game this week.

I was a bit surprised to see Bairstow and Ballance 5 & 6 rather than 4 & 5. May have made more sense to have Jacques opening and Gale at 3, and then drop Lees in at 6 away from the new ball.

liverbnz wrote:Very dissapointing start for Yorkshire although we did lose our first match in 2001 and went on to win the championship so who knows. Batting order could do with tweaking and the compostion of the bowling unit could also do with consideration. Interesting to see if Ashraf and Rashid get a run out in the 'friendly' Roses game this week.

I read both teams will be using it as a practice game and playing 13 players.

Shelsey93 wrote:I was a bit surprised to see Bairstow and Ballance 5 & 6 rather than 4 & 5. May have made more sense to have Jacques opening and Gale at 3, and then drop Lees in at 6 away from the new ball.

I'd have Jacques opening with Root/Lees. Shift Lyth to 3, Ballance to 4 and then Gale at 6. Batting with the tail may make Gale appreciate his wicket more and his form is not good enough to be batting top 4. In saying that there's probably plenty of ways it can be worked around, but our 2 best batsmen at 5 and 6 doesn't seem right.