County Championship Round 3 Discussion Thread

[Shelsey93]

8 more Championship games start tomorrow, including the meeting of last year's top two. Fans of all teams are more than welcome to discuss the matches this thread - lets get closer to the number of posts in the Surrey thread; they thrashed us last week!

These are the matches to be played:

Division 1

Lancashire v Warwickshire @ Liverpool - Commentary link http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01fnp58 (BBC 5LSX/BBC WM/BBC Coventry and Warwiskshire)

Lancs 250 (Brown 46, Maddy 4-39) and 148 (Prince 51, Patel 5-52, Barker 5-54) Warks 329 (Clarke 140, Maddy 112, Kerrigan 4-89) and 71-5 (Porterfield 22*, Kerrigan 3-34)

Warwickshire won by 5 wickets

Middlesex v Durham @ Lord's - Commentary link http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/17755449 (BBC London)

Middx 188 (Dexter 65, Onions 6-45) and 179 (Simpson 47, Onions 4-28) Durham 238 (Stokes 45, Finn 3-55) and 82-6 (di Venuto 29, Finn 4-43)

Match drawn

Nottinghamshire v Somerset @ Trent Bridge - Commentary link http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/17755451 (BBC Nottingham)

Notts 162 (Read 104*, Trego 5-53) and 169-4 (Taylor 38*, Trego 2-62) Somerset 445-2 dec (Compton 204*, Suppiah 124, Hildreth 102*, Phillips 1-42)

Match drawn

Surrey v Worcestershire @ The Oval - Commentary link http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/17755453 (BBC London/ BBC Hereford and Worcester)

Surrey 140 (Roy 38, Richardson 6-47) and 224 (Hamilton-Brown 76, Richardson 4-81) Worcs 119 (Cameron 41, Meaker 6-39) and 94-1 (Klinger 69*, Jordan 1-4)

Match drawn

Division 2

Derbyshire v Leicestershire @ Derby

Leics 324 (Cobb 105, Sarwan 105, Footitt 3-43) and 169-4 dec (Boyce 65, Footitt 2-36) Derbys 180 (Palladino 38, White 5-54) and 91-0 (Guptill 67*)

Match drawn

Glamorgan v Hampshire @ Swalec Stadium

Glam 103-9 dec (Bragg 45, Balcombe 5-33) and 256 (Wright 104, Walters 54, Riazuddin 5-61) Hants 156 (Dawson 32, Waters 7-53) and 204-8 (Ervine 75, Wagg 3-43)

Hampshire won by 2 wickets

Kent v Gloucestershire @ Canterbury - Commentary link http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/17755572 (BBC Kent)

Gloucs 255 (W. Gidman 56, Young 55*, Davies 4-43) and 257-7 dec (Marshall 74, A. Gidman 70, Coles 3-55) Kent 150 (Stevens 54, W. Gidman 5-43) and 94-2 (Key 32*, Young 1-18)

Match drawn

Yorkshire v Essex @ Headingley - Commentary link http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/17755455 (BBC Leeds)

Yorks 246 (Jaques 126, Mills 4-62) and 214-4 dec (Root 67, Smith 2-31) Essex 199 (Bopara 117*, Sidebottom 5-30) and 26-2 (Westley 12*, Shahzad 2-7)

Match drawn

[Fists of Fury]

Poor forecast for Lancs v Warks, though it could be a low scorer, giving us chance of seeing a result. Comes down to who applies themselves best, in that case. Ian Bell back for Warks looking for form, could be a big boost. As JIm Troughton said in the post-match press conference last week, "there is nothing better than a hungry Bell". Should be a good one.

[JDizzle]

The big game, in my eyes at least, comes from Trent Bridge and places Notts against Somerset. Notts, despite looking far from their best especially in their batting performances, are 2 from 2 and looking to maintain their excellent start to the season. Somerset will be looking to expose Notts's batting frailties with Philander, who had a disappointing game at Warks, and Kirby especially whilst trying to fix their own wobbles with the bat. Trescothick has yet to fire and he is the Cidermen's key man and if he can fire it will give confidence to the rest of the order to back up their skipper and perform. His wicket will be crucial.

Prediction for this game: My head says Notts's bowling is stronger and this will prove key in the match and will swing it in their favour, but my heart says Somerset to win with two James Taylor's tons the only defiance!

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Yorks v Essex could be an interesting one, with both teams confident of mounting a strong promotion challenge.

Glam will be desperate to score at least 200 in an innings for first time this season. They will probably struggle again if the pitches are damp.

Kent will want to continue their flying start to season against Gloucs who did unexpectedly well (in my eyes at least) in their last match.

[Shelsey93]

Middx-Durham could be very tasty, with Finn bowling at a team whose batting struggled last week, and Strauss against Onions and co. who went well.

My predictions? Wins for Warks, Middx, Notts, draw at the Oval in Div 1; Derbys, Hants, draws at Canterbury and Headingley in Div 2

[guildfordbat]

... Fans of all teams are more than welcome to discuss the matches this thread - lets get closer to the number of posts in the Surrey thread; they thrashed us last week!

Don't overlook that Goochie and JimBobGooner's summer contracts with 606v2 have just been finalised. They should both be back tomorrow - more valuable to the Surrey posters than Strauss and Finn to the Middlesex team!

[jimbohammers]

Glamorgan 10-1. 10 runs off 8 overs

Balcombe picks up from where he left off in the last game

[Shelsey93]

That's good going for Glamorgan this season, jimbo

Rain spoiling precedings everywhere else. Gloucs reached 6-1 before the rain came at Canterbury.

[jimbohammers]

Shelsey

Glamorgan 22-2 now. Wood picks up a wicket

[Shelsey93]

Back on at Canterbury and Coughtrie out. 14-2.

[guildfordbat]

Back on at Canterbury and Coughtrie out. 14-2.

I hear from a reliable source that Benny Howell at Gloucs is one to watch (if that doesn't jinx him, nothing will!).

[jimbohammers]

He played for hampshire and we released him at the end of the season. On his day he he is very good. Think he got 85 in a 20/20 game last season

[Shelsey93]

He played for hampshire and we released him at the end of the season. On his day he he is very good. Think he got 85 in a 20/20 game last season

Was surprised that Hants released him - part of a massive clear-out. Scored a one-day 100 on TV as well.

Notts v Somerset is underway as well. Philander and Dibble out (both injured) for Somerset and Adams (virus) for Notts. Gurney in for Notts, and Gregory and Meschede for Somerset.

[guildfordbat]

Howell was certainly in decent form at the start of this week for Gloucs seconds. On Monday he hit 60 odd in a Trophy (40 over) game whilst on Tuesday he scored an unbeaten double hundred on the first day of the Championship match. All against Surrey seconds!

[jimbohammers]

And we let him leave

[jimbohammers]

Briggsy picks up a wicket. Glamorgan 54-4 now

[Shelsey93]

Notts are 20-4 against Somerset at lunch, with Trego (3-11) taking the new ball and doing most of the damage. Who needs Philander?

[JDizzle]

Come on! Trego would average 13 internationally with the ball as well then.

[jimbohammers]

Glamorgan 87-7 now. Balcombe with 3 wickets

[jimbohammers]

Wow Balcombe with another 5-fer.

He took 11 wickets in the first game

[Shelsey93]

Wow Balcombe with another 5-fer.

He took 11 wickets in the first game

Good bowler. Did well at Kent at the end of last year.

Play now abandoned for the day at Lord's, The Oval and Headingley without a ball bowled.

[guildfordbat]

Hi Jimbo - Balcombe's certainly on a flyer at the moment.

He went out on loan to Kent last season and I saw him bowl well for them against Surrey at the Oval. From memory, he got a fivefer then as well.

[Guest]

Only 10 overs bowled at Derby today, Leics 24-1, Boyce being the man to go.

[jimbohammers]

Shelsey, Guildford

Hampshire Cricket ‏ @hantscricket

While we r hanging around watching it rain again, here's a stat-. Balcombe has taken 49 champ wickets in his last 6 and a but games!!

[guildfordbat]

Jimbo - incredible stat!

[jimbohammers]

Hampshire Cricket ‏ @hantscricket

Nobody can quite believe it here but Glamorgan have declared!!! 103-9 off 42 overs. Restart still at 6pm

[Shelsey93]

Can't understand the declaration. I assume they think it will be good bowling conditions now, and don't want to waste time with the tailenders. But runs could be at a premium!

[jimbohammers]

Would of thought they would of sent a tail-ender in to have a slog and try and get 15+ more runs first?

[Shelsey93]

Would of thought they would of sent a tail-ender in to have a slog and try and get 15+ more runs first?

Exactly my thoughts. They probably saw that this will be a short session, and thought we'd be better bowling than wasting time with 10 and 11. But a poor decision in my view.

[jimbohammers]

Agreed Shelsey

[ChrisfromStroud]

Maybe they just didn't want to be all-out for less than 105 yet again....

[guildfordbat]

Agree the Glam declaration was odd.

To increase the chances of a win with all the rain about and to perhaps take the proverbial in retaliation, Hants could consider declaring now! They're only 70 odd behind which is negligible against the hapless Glam.

Not too serious an idea - Hants won't want to waive the batting bonus points. However, it would be fun!

[Corporalhumblebucket]

Glam season goes from bad to worse!

[Corporalhumblebucket]

My predictions? .... draw at the Oval in Div 1;...

Looking quite a good bet!

[Shelsey93]

Strauss's return to the county game didn't go well - bowled second ball by Onions, and Denly and Robson have also gone now to leave Middx 3-3.

Meanwhile, Notts have slumped to 106-9 at Trent Bridge and there have been seven consecutive maidens (but no wickets) to start the day at Aigburth.

[jimbohammers]

Notts were 106-9, now 158-9, great effort

[jimbohammers]

Hampshire stuttering gonna have to rely on the bowlers to get a good score again!

[Shelsey93]

Chris Read playing a fine captain's innings of 104* to rescue Notts from 20-4 and 106-9 to a final total of 162.

Yorkshire going well against Essex at Headingley - 80-1 with Phil Jaques, playing his first game as an England qualified player, is 54*.

[Shelsey93]

Marcus Trescothick has apparently gone down injured - looks like an ankle. He won't open and, by all accounts, will probably be out for some time. That's a blow for Somerset.

EDIT: That brings up the 500 post landmark

[jimbohammers]

Where is cricketfan these days?

[JDizzle]

Oh for God's sake Somerset. We let off Warwickshire in our last match when we should have won and bowled them out when they were 8 down, and now we've done it again. Runs are at a premium on these pitches and you can't gift them away to a 10th wicket partnership however well Read was playing. And now Tres is down! It just goes from bad to worse!

[Shelsey93]

Lancashire have reached their first batting point thanks to a flurry from Glen Chapple. They've somehow avoided any rain at all today at Liverpool, though the commentary is saying that it has been raining all day in Manchester.

[jimbohammers]

Hampshire

[hodge]

article in the telegraph saying South Africa have requested Philander be rested at intervals so he is fresh for Saffer tour later in summer, which is why he isn't playing against Notts.

[Guest]

Leics doing well at The County Ground, 217-3 at the last check, with Sarwan on 91 and Cobb on 62.

[guildfordbat]

Glam's Muddy Waters continues his fine form with 7 wickets as Hants are bowled out for 156.

However, that's still a lead of over 50 for Hants and should go a fair way to getting them a win. Glam's declaration on 103-9 looking increasingly stupid in a low scoring match.

[guildfordbat]

My predictions? .... draw at the Oval in Div 1;...

Looking quite a good bet!

Poor decline for Surrey from 48-0 to 123-7 at close of rain interrupted second day. However, with more rain forecast, any bets on a draw still look pretty safe ....

[JDizzle]

On an unrelated note, Durham MCCU bowled Northants out for 248 and are 47-1 in reply! Restoring some pride after the 18ao debacle...

[Shelsey93]

You would think that Lancashire, Leicestershire, Gloucestershire and Yorkshire are in commanding positions in their matches, though further weather interruption could hinder them.

Nice to see Neil Dexter back in the runs, with his first 50 since last May, just days after temporarily relinquishing the captaincy. However, that match will surely be a draw after so much rain.

Batting clearly isn't impossible, as Cobb, Sarwan and Jaques have displayed. But in each case support for the 1 or 2 batsmen to get in has been lacking.

On England watch, Strauss made 0 from 2 balls, Bell 18 and Bopara is an unbeaten 26.

More rain forecast tomorrow unfortunately - my club's pre-season friendlies have already fallen by the way side.

[ChrisfromStroud]

You would think that Lancashire, Leicestershire, Kent and Essex are in commanding positions in their matches

Er... are you sure?

Kent are 119-6 in reply to Gloucs 255-10.
Essex are 72-5 in reply to Yorks 246-10.

I've seen better "commanding" from Corporal HB.

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