County Championship Day 2 - 16th August

No new matches but plenty of play in the seven Championship matches going on. Here's what happened.


County Championship

Day 2

Surrey v Middlesex
Sur - 144 & 86-1
Mid - 232

Middlesex lost a wicket before they'd scored a run this morning and then another shortly after, but a partnership of 36 took them past Surrey's score and into a strong position. Kartik then ran through the middle order as the visitors collapsed to 188-9, with Batty also taking two in two. A stand of 42 for the final wicket though boosted Middlesex and gave them an eventual lead of 88.
     Surrey began their second innings watchfully, but couldn't prevent another early wicket. Burns (40*) and Harinath (39*) however played out the remaining overs successfully to pull the hosts back into the contest and set up an interesting last two days.


Nottinghamshire v Durham
Dur - 194 & 27-0
Not - 154

An astonishing day at Trent Bridge saw wickets tumbling and one bowler in particular thoroughly enjoying himself. In the morning Nottinghamshire continued to chip away at Durham's batting order, eventually reducing them to 123-8. Determined lower order batting however saw the visitors add 71 for the last two wickets, with Wood scoring 34 and last man Rushworth 24*.
     The real drama was yet to begin though. During the lunch interval Onions arrived from London where he had been left out of the test team. He was substituted into the Durham side and was soon opening the bowling. It only took him six balls to take a wicket with Hales lbw for 0. Lumb scored 12 before he went in the same fashion and Voges became number three when he was bowled. Onions was on fire and with the score on 50 he removed Wessels (22) and Read (0) in consequtive balls.
     Mullaney added 23 and Franks 53 to take the score past 100, but with a serious fight back on Onions returned and had them both lbw. White was caught for 13 again off Onions, his 8th wicket, while Phillips tried to up the total with a few boundaries.
     A ten wicket haul was well on the cards but in the end became impossible when Fletcher was run out. The only surprise was that Onions was the fielder! However Onions then clean bowled Carter to finish with career best figures of 9 for 67; a truly incredible effort, and to think he might not have played at all.
     Durham then battled through 12 more overs but came out on top as they survived to the close.


Essex v Glamorgan
Gla - 438
Ess - 165-0

Walters went on to 159 in the morning but regular wickets fell throughout the day. Wallace hit 36 and Wagg 54 to take Glamorgan's total past 400, while Singh finished with 4 for 91.
     Essex proved unfazed by such a high total and went to work on a good track. Westley and Mickleburgh dominated the bowling and both went to fifties. So far they have batted for 43 overs and gone undefeated with Westley on 90* and Mickleburgh on 72*.


Yorkshire v Derbyshire
Yor - 421
Der - 28-1

Lyth became the third wicket of the innings with the score on 211 when he was caught for 93. Ballance took the score past 250 but was also caught for 79. Rashid only added 12 but McGrath and Hodd put on 131 for the 6th wicket and helped Yorkshire to 5 batting points. McGrath went to a gritty 104, while Hodd made 58.
     The end came quickly as the final five wickets fell for just 9 runs, with Durston collecting 5 for 34, but the damage had been done and Derbyshire were behind the game.
     Madsen and Lineker put on 28 but Madsen fell to the final ball of the day to give the hosts a final lift going into day three.


Hampshire v Northamptonshire
Nor - 356
Ham - 125-2

Northamptonshire went on to take a fourth batting point after brilliant lower order resistance rescued their overnight position. Middlebrook made 65 and Murphy 43 as the visitors passed 300, before Willey (54) and Daggett (26*) finished off with a stand worth 55.
     Adams (48*) and McKenzie (31) put on 62 for the first wicket and Dawson made 19* before the close to keep the game even after two days.


Worcestershire v Lancashire
Lancashire won the toss and decided to bat
Lan - 219-6

Two early wickets reduced Lancashire to 17-2 but 37 from Pardoe and 35 from Ali lifted them up to 62 before two more quick wickets put Worcestershire back ahead. Pinner and Leach combinded excellently to put on 111 for the 6th wicket, taking the visitors past 200, but the run rate was low, leaving the game in the ballance.

Gloucestershire v Kent
Gloucestershire won the toss and decided to field
Ken - 29-1

Only 11.2 overs were possible as this game struggles against the weather. Key was the one wicket off the bowling of Batty for 9, while Northeast made 12* and Blake 8*.



I must appologise, but I am away for the next few days. I will do a full round up of all the play when I return.