County Championship 2016 - Division One

First topic message reminder :

Discussion thread.

Winners?
Relegation?
Most runs?
Most wickets?
Breakthrough player?

Meanwhile, looks as if the tide is turning in Notts' favour - sorry, Jimbo! From 68/4. they're now 176/4, needing 129 more. A quick wicket and things will look good again for Hants but they can't hang about ....

Not looking good at all Guildford. Really don't rate our survival chances if we lose this. I know it's early days but we were in a good position and had the upper hand!

Hoping my guy Crane can have a match winning spell and pick up a couple of quick wickets.

A great win for Hants. Best and Crane getting the wickets. A mention for McLaren too, an important knock in the second innings and very good with the ball in the first. Important win for us.

An excellent win, Jimbo! Didn't realise Read would be unable to bat but that's to take nothing away from Hants. Important wickets from your boy Crane.

A very important win, Guildford. Didn't know Read wouldn't bat either. Massive plus for us that he didn't as he is normally thrives in thatsort of situation.

Crane is going to be a star!

I intended to do a match thread for the roses encounter - but was just too busy, so will have to lament the death of our top order here. Fantastic comeback by the lower order but jeez how long are we going to continue like this.

Well bowled by Lancs seamers in the first hour. Having predicted them to be favourites for the drop - is it too early to start eating humble pie?

LT, I'm already half way through eating that humble pie. Ha ha
Good fightback by Yorkshire. Another team that bats deep.

Borthwick - five wickets (the last five) in the Notts innings and a century in the Durham innings.  Recall that leg spinner Ian Salisbury used to be quite proficient at mopping up the tail - but was often hit around the park by the better batsmen.

Yorks fighting back against Lancs taking three wickets for 13 in last 10 overs.

Borthwick now has three centuries in his past three games - a possible England batting candidate

Pathetic effort by Hampshire. Middlesex declare 450odd-3 on a road. Hampshire all out for 131. Sigh

My rain dance is working

Rain probably ends our game early, not that it was going anywhere

Lose a whole day for rain and we're still likely to lose

so, having been docked 2 points for slow over rate, Hampshire actually get -1 point for their defeat to Middlesex!!

Got to say that I am still really worried by Yorkshire's upper order and our new ball bowling.

LondonTiger wrote:so, having been docked 2 points for slow over rate, Hampshire actually get -1 point for their defeat to Middlesex!!

Hants are now level on points with Surrey but with a game in hand. Going at the above rate, they could end up beneath us once they've played it! Can't reject any snippets of encouragement the way things are!

Hampshire bottom of the table. With Surrey and Notts above them, though both have played 2 games more.

Important game vs Somerset starting today. Currently 40-0 (but i have no doubt jinxed us here...)

At the other end of the table, Lancashire + Yorkshire on the same points, with Durham just sitting behind in 3rd. Lancs play Middlesex today.

Hants 167/3. Jimbo's young gun Tommy Alsop just out for 37.

Jimbo - that might not be too bad a position if you can get Somerset's main batters fairly early. They have a very long tail.

Btw, what's with Carberry at number 4?

Meanwhile, Notts in trouble against Warks at Edgbaston. 87/4. Wickets shared out with one for my man Barker.

Hants now collapsing like a BoJo Vote Leave post brexit "plan".    (Or - in the interests of political balance - a Corbyn shadow cabinet!). They've lost 4 wickets in 4 overs. 

Notts struggling as well.

Hants gone from 166-2 to 195-9

Impressive

guildfordbat wrote:Hants 167/3. Jimbo's young gun Tommy Alsop just out for 37.

Jimbo - that might not be too bad a position if you can get Somerset's main batters fairly early. They have a very long tail.

Btw, what's with Carberry at number 4?

Meanwhile, Notts in trouble against Warks at Edgbaston. 87/4. Wickets shared out with one for my man Barker.

Hi Guildford, think the idea with Carberry at 4 is to just try something different and mix things up, maybe giving him a freer role will help?
Confidence at the club is very low at the moment. So many batsmen out of knick.

211-9 now. I'd rather we just tried to slog it for a couple of overs and then have a good hour at Somerset tonight

Updates from lower reaches of Div 1. 

Hants 1 batting point with their score of 219.  Somerset likely to get big first innings lead as they have just taken the lead with 8 wickets in hand (221 - 2).

Notts out for 153, so no batting points.  But they do have Warks in trouble at 46 - 3.

Interesting comments from Benkenstein last night. He's dropped Wheater for the next few games (suggests attitude problems). He also said we were over 250 runs short of par

Certainly Somerset rattling along on 308 - 3 after 67 overs.  Which does suggest a pretty good batting pitch even allowing for a limited bowling attack.  McManus, presumably, won't be complaining about additional opportunities as wicket keeper if Wheater dropped.

Warks fighting back against Notts, on 117 - 4.

Corp I am more than happy to see McManus given a chance. Disappointing that we lose Wheater as well though as he's a quick scorer and his average is pretty decent! Just wonder if Benkenstein has 'lost the dressing room'

jimbohammers wrote:Interesting comments from Benkenstein last night. He's dropped Wheater for the next few games (suggests attitude problems). He also said we were over 250 runs short of par

Not sure I've ever heard anyone admit they were that far below par before Jimbo!!

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:.....
Most wickets: I'll go for Footitt but I think it could well be Rushworth

I rate Leaning as well for breakthrough player (if he eligible for that category).

Hmm. My predictions not looking too hot at the moment!

I see Olly backed Hants and Surrey for relegation - could be on to something there...

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

guildfordbat wrote:Olly - I'm surprised you think Surrey are for the drop. Not saying you are wrong but you normally seem to look on the bright side when it comes to Surrey. What's your thinking here? Genuinely interested, cheers.

I do but I simply don't think we have a consistent enough batting line up for division 1 cricket, especially with Sangakkara's uncertain involvement.

Think this is my most accurate prediction Corporal

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:

jimbohammers wrote:Interesting comments from Benkenstein last night. He's dropped Wheater for the next few games (suggests attitude problems). He also said we were over 250 runs short of par

Not sure I've ever heard anyone admit they were that far below par before Jimbo!!

Olly

Truly worrying statement wasn't it to be fair that is the only thing Benkenstein has got right this season

Both Notts and Hants in a degree of trouble before rain intervened today. But with more rain forecast to cross the country tomorrow, a fair chance that both will escape with a draw.

Our player of the season... Rain

Little update:

Yorkshire 338-8 vs Middlesex - Ballance with a 132

Lancashire bowled out by Notts for 276. Notts boosted by Broad and Tahir playing, getting 7 wickets combined. Notts 80-0 in reply. Not good news for us or Surrey...

Hampshire 386-7 at Durham. Most players getting in and making good contributions.

Surrey 273 all out vs Warks. Finch with a 100 on debut. The ever reliable Jeetan Patel with 5 wickets. Warks just bowled out for 449. Day 3 in that one.

Looks like an excellent effort from Hants batsmen, Jimbo, with seven batsmen passing 40.

Corp
Good to see, if not surprising

Full batting points for Notts against Lancs with a ball to spare after Broad hits out.  Considerable similarities with the Hants first innings of consistent scoring down the order.  Of seven dismissed Notts batsmen in their current score of 405 -7 the highest score is just 67 and the lowest is 30.  Broad, batting at No 8, has also passed 30.

The first NINE Notts batsmen each scored between 30 and and 67 (Hutton currently 43 not out).  That must be some kind of record for moderate, consistent scoring.

Varun Chopra to leave Warwickshire at the end of the season

Good Golly I'm Olly wrote:Varun Chopra to leave Warwickshire at the end of the season

It won't be any great surprise to learn that Chopra's name - along with those of Borthwick and Stoneman -was being mentioned yesterday at Guildford during Surrey's 3 day fiasco.

A major obstacle Surrey have with the Durham pair - and I would expect this applies to Chopra as well - is that they have England ambitions and want to be playing Division One cricket next season to help their cause. Whether Surrey will be able to offer them that in 2017 seems questionable to say the least.

We've been linked with Chopra too but I'd imaginehe will go back to Essex?

Hi Jimbo - your boys are definitely on top at Durham which is no mean achievement. However, even with over a day to go, I'm not sure you'll have enough time to force the win.

Meanwhile, Lancs a long way behind but hanging on in their second dig at Notts, currently 75/0. Hants and Surrey will be hoping that Lancs deny Notts victory tomorrow.

Very interesting goings on late in the day at Durham and highly commendable captaincy by the home side's Stoneman.

McCarthy and Onions put on an undefeated 70 odd for the last wicket and then Durham declared even though they were still 50 or so behind. That gave the Hants openers 6 overs tonight which they safely saw out. Great credit to Stoneman in wanting to try and take 10 Hants wickets so his team can then attempt to biff the runs for a win rather than just looking to bat on and take time out of the game for a draw.

Meanwhile, Lancs end the day on 125/0 at Notts. Still a long way behind but a reasonable chance now of salvaging a draw. Hants and Surrey will be hoping Lancs hold out tomorrow and that fellow relegation contenders Notts don't get the win.

Hi Guildford, frustrating evening session for Hampshire last night. Was looking like a lead of a 100 but then the last 2 batsmen decide to put on 70 for the last wicket

Agree, great credit to Stoneman to try and get a result.

jimbohammers wrote:Hi Guildford, frustrating evening session for Hampshire last night. Was looking like a lead of a 100 but then the last 2 batsmen decide to put on 70 for the last wicket

Agree, great credit to Stoneman to try and get a result.

Hi again Jimbo - Hants need to be careful that they don't feel almost obliged / get suckered into making an early declaration. Whilst you want the win, you don't want to lose either. It'll be easier (ie less difficult) for Durham to smash their way to a victory target in, say, the final session and a bit of the middle session than for Hants to take 10 wickets in the same time. Even if you get early wickets, Durham still have the option of shutting up shop.

Hants still need to play Surrey twice. The Oval faithful are banking on two wins there to probably see us safe. What they need to realise is that the same probably applies to you.

Your not wrong Guildford, in a way it sort of puts Durham on top.

Meanwhile Roland Jones (can't be far away from England?) is on 72 from 48 balls vs Yorkshire

Well earned victory for Middlesex against Yorks. 

Meanwhile, Lancs showing Surrey how it should be done.  Lancs, batting first, had inadequate sub 300 first innings against Notts and conceded a substantial lead. So far, very similar to the Surrey/Warks match. However, unlike Surrey, Lancs did not fold in their second innings and are about to draw the match, having batted 134 overs for 304 - 7.

jimbohammers wrote:

Meanwhile Roland Jones (can't be far away from England?) is on 72 from 48 balls vs Yorkshire

Turns out he's pretty close...

jimbohammers wrote:

jimbohammers wrote:

Meanwhile Roland Jones (can't be far away from England?) is on 72 from 48 balls vs Yorkshire

Turns out he's pretty close...

Good call, Jimbo.

A safety first approach from your boys yesterday and hardly scintillating cricket before the rain came but still the right thing to do imo. Anything else would have only increased the likelihood of a Durham win. Nothing wrong with taking the points for a draw at the Emirates Riverside but you'll clearly need to look for wins elsewhere, particularly at least one against relegation rivals Surrey.

Meanwhile - as the Corporal suggested - a fighting and professional display by Lans with the bat second dig to salvage a draw against Notts at Trent Bridge. Good for both Hants and Surrey that Notts didn't get the win.

Guildford

The Hampshire/Surrey games will be huge.

Table toppers Middlesex have Somerset 28-1 early on.

Hampshire 21-0 at Warwickshire.

Surrey's game with Yorkshire starts tomorrow.