County Championship Division Two - 2016

I don't expect it to be as much used as the Div One thread but thought we should have another for Div Two.

Thanks, Guildford. Sounds like a great performance from Ben Duckett for Northants today - a career best 178*. He's clearly got buckets of talent. He's had a few issues about fitness and attitude, but with an average of around 40 after 33 matches and still only 21 he's already a very solid scoring batsman in first class cricket.

Corp, id like to take credit for me picking Duckett out a year ago..


https://www.606v2.com/t59588-promising-young-players-thread

jimbohammers wrote:Corp, id like to take credit for me picking Duckett out a year ago..


https://www.606v2.com/t59588-promising-young-players-thread

 And he's still there, Jimbo, handily placed on 282* at tea on second day.  I imagine with a bit of rain around, Northants may well declare before long.  But it would be nice if he had a chance to get a triple!

Lovely week in the Shire last week, County season starts, absolutely peed down the last two days. Typical!

Good to see Chef starting the summer well with a first innings century for Essex.

A shame that Nick Browne couldn't hang around and build a partnership with him. He's one of the long list of opening contenders for the test side who don't quite convince but could demand a chance with good form.

Tom Westley also notched up a century of his own.

Duckett is certainly one to keep an eye out for in the future. Believe he keeps too?

Gloucestershire fought back well from the cook/westley partnership

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:

jimbohammers wrote:Corp, id like to take credit for me picking Duckett out a year ago..


https://www.606v2.com/t59588-promising-young-players-thread

 And he's still there, Jimbo, handily placed on 282* at tea on second day.  I imagine with a bit of rain around, Northants may well declare before long.  But it would be nice if he had a chance to get a triple!

Corp No play since..

I see that Derbys have signed Notts seamer Luke Fletcher on loan. He goes straight into the team for the match against Gloucs at Bristol.

If he stays fit, should be a good signing. Proper bowler as well as a top bloke.

Tipped and placed an outside bet on Leicestershire to get promoted this season

Made a good start as they seem to be on the verge of a win against Glamorgan away - an impressive scalp

Liam Norwell, who usually bats no 10 for Gloucs, made a century today after coming as nightwatchman.

Olly, could be a decent bet on Leics. They look very considerably improved upon the rather abject "team" that's shown up to most of the matches in last few years.

Napier still turning in the performances for Essex. Taken 8 wickets across the two Sussex innings. Also scored 45 in Essex first innings. Certainly not the world's worst no 9.

With 18 overs to go and 6 wickets left, Essex need 104 more to beat Sussex. Cook's still there on 111. With only one promotion place on offer this season, they really should go for it ....

Game on now at Hove, Essex 7 down and need 77 off 60 odd balls. Cook, who was dropped on 1 still there, but new ball has just been taken

Come on Sussex, need to get on to winning ways here to get back to div 1 asap

Bad luck, Gregers. Essex bat it out for a draw. I can understand them doing that once they went 7 down with 70 odd still needed but thought they should have had more of a go earlier. Ryder taking 98 balls for his 35 seemed particularly unhelpful.

Sure, a team should play for a draw if facing defeat. However, if having a fair chance for a win, they need to go for it and especially with only one promotion slot available this year.

Olly wrote:Tipped and placed an outside bet on Leicestershire to get promoted this season

Made a good start as they seem to be on the verge of a win against Glamorgan away - an impressive scalp

A very good win by 10 wickets for Leics over Glamorgan. Already looking like a good tip, Olly! Glamorgan are no mugs although they do seem to have fallen away a bit since I saw them beat Surrey at Guildford last June.

It would be a remarkable turnaround for Leics to get promoted but they've made some decent signings since last season and have clearly started this one well.

I'll stick with Sussex as my tip for promotion although Essex didn't help them today (or probably themselves!).

guildfordbat wrote:Bad luck, Gregers. Essex bat it out for a draw. I can understand them doing that once they went 7 down with 70 odd still needed but thought they should have had more of a go earlier. Ryder taking 98 balls for his 35 seemed particularly unhelpful.

Sure, a team should play for a draw if facing defeat. However, if having a fair chance for a win, they need to go for it and especially with only one promotion slot available this year.

Thought Essex ruined any chance of either side winning today, ryders innings was a waste of time. As you said a draw doesn't help either side really. Typical cook innings as well but others should have played around them

Leics won't get promoted but it's great to see that they are moving in the right direction now

Strange innings by Ryder, especially considering his natural attacking intent

Outside bet for an England call up.. Bell-Drummond?

Kent must be frustrated with season so far. First match, at Worcs, all four days rained off. In the current match, at tea on second day, they still haven't reached end of their own first innings (223 - 8).

jimbohammers wrote:Outside bet for an England call up.. Bell-Drummond?

Another outside shout... Joe Clarke. Hundred today, first teenager to tour with the Lions last winter since Joe Root. He is clearly well though of, if he starts the season fast you never know.

I can see him playing for England in the future, JDizzle. Doubt he'sready yet...

Yeah, I suspect it is unlikely this summer. Probably behind at least Vince and Ballance in the pecking order, but stranger things have happened!

Things a bit one sided atm at Chelmsford.

In reply to Essex's 441/8 declared, Northants are 6/4 at lunch!

In flagging Glamorgan's young off break bowler Andrew Salter mid way through last season as one to keep an eye on, I appeared to give the poor lad a kiss of death. Anyway, glad at least for his sake to see he's so far picked up 3 wickets today against Derbys in his first Championship start of the season.

Should be an interesting last day at Bristol. Glos 186 in front with four wickets remaining, pitch doesn't seem too bad so hopefully if we can whip through them this morning for around 50/60 runs, then it's a chase-able target, especially with Moeen in the side, Clarke seemingly in excellent nick and Ross Whiteley's hitting down the order.

Hi Mat - yep, that looks like it could be a good last day at Bristol. I make Worcs favourites but you'll need wickets early on to stop Worcs getting away with a draw.

Morning Guildford,

Yeah getting early wickets will be crucial, Dent seems to be batting very well thus far, he's the man that we need to get. A lot rests on Matt Henry it would seem, extra yard of pace could make all the difference and had a good spell late last afternoon so should be full of confidence.

Gloucs holding Worcs up. Partnership of 64* and Dent reaches his century.

Meanwhile rearguard action by Northants. Azharullah 9* off 63 balls batting with Rossington.

Appears Gloucs have all but put out any hopes of a Worcs win

Looks like Gloucs now hitting out to set a declaration target. 21 scored off that last over from Moeen Ali!

Tables turned for Mat and his Worcs boys! They're 44/2 needing another 300 and then some for the win or more realistically to bat out the day for the draw.

Well that didn't work out as planned.

Moeen still there, not really his ideal situation, his rearguard action currently being 50 not out at a strike rate of 78 with 9 boundaries. Keep on blocking!

100 for Moeen!

Glamorgan's top order is fragile beyond belief. Something we already knew, but shows absolutely no signs of improving. Not even Rudolph can get in amongst the runs to plaster over the issue.
Hopeful Aneurin Donald comes of age quickly or Graham Wagg continues to accumulate runs from lower down the order - both massively unfair expectations or requests.
Coupled with a fairly toothless attack, I fear a place at the very bottom of the pile beckons this season.

Glam lower order coming to the rescue. Wagg 40, and Meschede 62* and Salter 13* have so far put on 44*. 238 - 7.

Olly wrote:Tipped and placed an outside bet on Leicestershire to get promoted this season

Made a good start as they seem to be on the verge of a win against Glamorgan away - an impressive scalp

Bowled Sussex out by mid afternoon today.

Kent rattling along in reply to Glam. Wagg's last over just went for 17. 78 - 1. Bell-Drummond aggressive.

Yep. Another disappointing day for Glamorgan. Saved only by another rearguard action turning 124/6 into a face saving 260.
Fully expect DBD to add to his century from last week and put Glamorgan to the sword, building a big lead.

Leicestershire building a huge first innings lead over Sussex (200+ with six wickets in hand).  Looks like they're on target to maintain excellent start to the season.  Early stages but they are looking good for Olly's outside bet for promotion....!

Meanwhile Glam certainly have their work cut out to save match against Kent.

Apparently we've spent the winter break forgetting how to bat, bowl or field... Shocking 2 innings if cricket from Sussex. Hopefully we can bat our way to a draw

Graham Wagg puts up a fight for Glamorgan once again (how often will I type that this season??). A 200+ partnership with David Lloyd to take a perilous 72 run deficit with 5 wickets down to a 143 run lead for 6. At least setting Kent a target and not giving them a day off tomorrow.

Wagg's just gone for 106 as I type. Great effort. It's now effectively 153/8.

After 3 games he is Glamorgan's top scorer with 257.

Bell Drummond and Latham chase down 190 without loss. Kent win by 10 wickets. Too easy.

Another hundred for JDizzles man Joe Clarke, as Worcestershire are firmly on top against Glamorgan

Two tons in two games for Dolly too. Now if only our bowling could fire at the same time.

Strings Philander wrote:Glamorgan's top order is fragile beyond belief. Something we already knew, but shows absolutely no signs of improving. Not even Rudolph can get in amongst the runs to plaster over the issue.
Hopeful Aneurin Donald comes of age quickly or Graham Wagg continues to accumulate runs from lower down the order - both massively unfair expectations or requests.
Coupled with a fairly toothless attack, I fear a place at the very bottom of the pile beckons this season.

Glam lost their first 4 wickets for 40 against Worcs today. They are being massively outplayed in this match, although it's possible that rain will come to their rescue.

An amazing effort from Joyce and Wells yesterday, forecast is iffy though so a declaration may come soon this morning

Monty Panesar making his first CC appearance of the season at home for Northants against Kent. Soon into the action but no early rewards. Currently has figures of 6-1-22-0.

Dolly Jnr Jnr fell for 99 today, so close to three champo tons in a row! Joe Clarke currently nearing 50 and Worcester have passed 200 for the loss of 2 wickets on the first day against Sussex at New Road.

packofwolves wrote:Dolly Jnr Jnr fell for 99 today, so close to three champo tons in a row! Joe Clarke currently nearing 50 and Worcester have passed 200 for the loss of 2 wickets on the first day against Sussex at New Road.

82 for Joe Clarke in the end. In scintillating form. D'Oliveira got 150 in the Birmingham League yesterday too... And Ombersley still lost!