Three batters shone in Warwickshire’s mammoth 665 for five declared against Surrey on a baked Edgbaston pitch.New Zealand’s Tom Latham hit the highest score on debut for Warwicks, with 184; Ed Barnard flamed a career-best 177, but it is Zen Malik who is in danger of becoming a motivational message.Malik came to Birmingham via six years of touting himself around the counties, SACA, Staffordshire and Glamorgan’s second XI – where he made two centuries against Warwickshire last year and was quickly hoovered up by performance director Gavin Larsen who called him “the best uncontracted player he’d seen”.And now in his second first-class game, aged 27, he lofted Dan Lawrence back over his head for an effortless, twinkle-toed, maiden hundred.Barnard continued his happy day by trapping Rory Burns lbw for 27 before stumps, but another brutal day for the bowlers seems inevitable on Sunday.

Mohammad Abbas, as slippery and as slight as ever, showed his old county Hampshire just what they were missing, with five wickets on his Nottinghamshire debut.The pick of his wickets was a gleaming marble that kissed the top of Ben Brown’s off stump and sent it dancing into the dust.Kyle Abbott’s brisk 67 kept Nottinghamshire’s lead to 137 before he pulled on his bowling boots, took the new ball and quickly removed both Notts openers.Just to keep it interesting, Notts then lost three for nine, before Liam Patterson-White and Jack Haynes steadied the ship.A lead of 308 should be more than enough with Abbas ready once more to prowl at the top of his mark.

A disciplined George Hill undressed Essex at Chelmsford, zipped out for 123 on a moody pitch that furrowed brows.There had been a resurgence of sorts from 59 for six, when Michael Pepper and Noah Thain added 46, but the end came quickly – Hill’s six for 51 his second-best Championship figures.Adam Lyth then hit his second fifty of the match as Yorkshire eased into an extremely comfortable lead.There was just time for Wharton to slam a six onto the press box before stumps.Five wickets for Fynn Hudson-Prentice, and six catches for John Simpson, put Sussex on top against Worcestershire at Hove.

Tom Taylor continued his good game with the joint top-scorer with 32, after taking five-wickets on Friday.Sussex had built a lead of 170 by stumps, despite losing both Tom Haines and Daniel Hughes without a run on the board.Run-machine Marcus Harris added a third Championship hundred to his Lancashire tally for the summer.His 121 against Northamptonshire took his total for the year to 706 – leaving a thousand runs before the end of May a tempting possibility with two rounds left.Northants bowlers were not helped by their soapy-fingered fielders.

A Lancashire first-innings lead of 38 was not imposing, but Northants second innings also failed to thrive,Ben Kellaway duly picked up the nine runs he needed for his maiden first-class century, but kept going with increasing confidence, flaying Matt Parkinson for three successive sixes to finish 181 not out when the declaration came,At 549 for nine, it was Glamorgan’s highest score against Kent,Then came the Kentish collapse, though from 23 for five, 156 for eight at stumps was a tablecloth of plenty,Chris Benjamin’s 68 not out was his highest score for Kent.

“Theoretically, you meant to put the scoreboard out of your mind,” said a phlegmatic Adam Hollioake, the Kent head coach, “but we’re all human beings, and unfortunately, scoreboard pressure does exist.”That’s all from us for tonight, great to see Mo Abbas back in his bowling boots.Till tomorrow, bye!DIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex 123 v Yorkshire 216 and 114-1Trent Bridge: Notts 333 and 171-6 v Hampshire 196Hove: Sussex 284 and 66-3 v Worcestershire 180Edgbaston: Warwickshire 665-5 v Surrey 98-1DIVISION TWOCanterbury: Kent 156-8 v Glamorgan 549-9decCounty Ground: Northamptonshire 238 and 140-6 v Lancashire 276I suppose I should start writing.I leave Yorkshire with a goodly lead, Lyth 61 not out; Notts 97-6, a lead of 234; Sussex 34-3, a lead of 138; Surrey one down – Burns to man of the moment Ed Barnard.In Division Two, Benjamin is hanging on in Kent’s first-innings debacle (124-7); and Northants are five down, have lost Keogh, the lead just 78.

Do keep chatting BTL, we’ll remain open till late,A Hopps-o-gram from Chelmsford:Yorkshire spectators had been speculating how a crash of wickets at Chelmsford might also bring a similar crash in ticket prices for tomorrow,Alack, such financial husbandry is no longer an option as Yorkshire’s openers have built on their first-innings lead of 93 with impressive old-school deliberation,Finlay Bean has had a good game: comparatively,He probably needs to be told this because he is only averaging 15 for the season, but his scores of 31 and 19 have helped Yorkshire solidify their innings on both occasions.

He has shared in 72 for the first wicket, out of 216 in the first innings, 71 second time around, his innings ending when he failed to pull Noah Thain through the leg side,Adam Lyth has again looked on top of his game,There has been a surprising lack of turn for Simon Harmer,This is very much Yorkshire in the ascendancy,I think I just saw Chris Benjamin, almost imperceptively, shake his head as Grant Stewart has a huge hack and plays onto his stumps.

Kent 109 for seven,Sue Redfern sends an unhappy yet limping Jack Leaning on his way, lbw Fernando,Kent 104 for six,There’s never a dull moment in this round – Sussex have started their second innings at 0-2, the opening pair gone,And Notts are six down, with a lead of 221.

James the latest man to be sent on his way , a wicket for Sonny Baker.Notts 84-6.WHAT A START!!! 🔥 https://t.co/D4WOax9JEl pic.twitter.

com/0soZHWPWlAIt seems such a glorious pastoral scene at Canterbury, all long shadows and afternoon whispers, as Leaning drives Fernando to the rope.Just a shame about that 457-run deficit.I missed this story from yesterday – former Australian legspinner Stuart MacGill has been given 495 hours of community service and a 22-month intensive corrections order, – but avoided a prison sentence – after being found guilty of the supply of cocaine.Just to keep it interesting, Notts have now lost three for nine at Trent Bridge.I assume Hampshire are holding their catches this time around.

Sussex pocket a lead of 104 runs at Hove.It should be enough.Kudos to Tom Taylor for adding 32 from No.10 to go with his first innings five-fer.Bowlers seem to be doing a lot of rescuing of batters this round.

Hudson-Prentice five for 40.Haines and Hughes go again.Rory Burns and Dom Sibley tiptoe into the void – Surrey 17-0 from nine overs.After the announcment of an immediate ceasefire between India and Pakistan, it seems there may be an about turn on the IPL.The BCCI is looking to restart IPL 2025 as early as Thursday night.

Franchises have started reaching out to its overseas players and the tournament will continue pan-India.Dharamsala is unlikely to host any game.https://t.co/vgUd3vwOIpLeaning and Benjamin have already double the score since they came together at Canterbury, unfortunately Kent still trail by 497.And it’s not easy batting for the Division One leaders either, Notts are four down, the lead 187.

Just 18 for McCann this time around.SACA haven’t posted about Zen Malik yet, but Arav Shetty looks a pretty good prospect…100* and 4-33 for Arav Shetty whilst on trial for Lancs vs Glamorgan Super talent! One to watch!Scorecard - https://t.co/Mh1sZ85S3D pic.twitter.com/OW5mlTkpNHDIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex 123 v Yorkshire 216 and 28-0Trent Bridge: Notts 333 and 30-2 v Hampshire 196Hove: Sussex 284 v Worcestershire 157-8Edgbaston: Warwickshire 665-5 v SurreyDIVISION TWOCanterbury: Kent 43-5 v Glamorgan 549-9decCounty Ground: Northamptonshire 238 and 54-2 v Lancashire 276And he does it! Smacking Lawrence over his head for four.

He gets a huge hug from Barnard, and applause from Ben Foakes in his wicket-keeping gloves,Another success for SACA, and a pat on the back for Warwickshire for spotting Malik’s worth in Glamorgan second XI garb, and giving a chance to a 27 year old,Warwickshire 665 at tea,One over left before tea, Malik on strike on 99,He must face Dan Lawrence’s food mixer spin.

“Now Mohammad Abbas and Kyle Abbott don’t play for the same county anymore it’s easier for both of them to take five-fers.” So true Romeo, and Abbott has added to his first-innings tally, bowling Hameed for eight.Two overs till tea, Malik 98 not out… he and Barnard have a wee chat in the middle.Apart from Lancashire, there’s been little joy for those batting second in this round: Worcestershire 130-8 at Hove, 154 behind.Four for Hudson-Prentice.

Not a good omen for Surrey, still plugging away against Warwickshire’s 640-5, though the batting conditions at Edgbaston are blissful for batting,Kyle Abbott is single-handedly trying to keep Hampshire in the game at Trent Bridge,After five wicket in the first innings, he is the last man out and the highest scorer with 67,Notts are now batting again, a first-innings lead of 137, and poor weary Abbott has the ball again,Meanwhile, at Edgbaston, Zen Malik tries a take-that stride down the pitch and casually slams Tom Lawes back over his head.

Division TwoNorthants, I’m afraid, have had an inauspicious start to their second innings,Vasconcelos and Bartlett back in the pavilion – 19 for two,Kent are having a cover your head with a paper bag kind of day, now 23 for four in the face of Glamorgan’s 549 for nine,Two wickets each for James Harris and van der Gugten,Did Adam Hollioake’s contract have an escape clause?Approaching his highest fc score.

And a first fifty for Zen Malik! What a first couple of Championship games after winning last week’s game against Yorkshire with a six,Surrey trudge on into over 151,Warwickshire 600-5,“Make sense of anything,” Hopps is thoughtful post-lunch at Chelmsford,“Yorkshire have a lead of 93, with Essex sent packing for 123, but the ball that will strike trepidation into their hearts is the delivery from left-arm spinner Dan Moriarty which bounced and turned over the startled Yorkshire keeper, Jonny Bairstow.

The batter who missed it by a mile, Simon Harmer, might have allowed himself a smile because this pitch promises his off-spin substantial rewards.This once docile pitch is slowing and beginning to grip for seamers and spinners alike.George Hill has also benefited.He has bowled straight at brisk medium and has returned his second-best Championship figures of six for 51.The crowd incidentally, is 1,000 below Friday’s figure of 2,600 – not for the first time are Essex’s Championship crowds lower on a weekend.

Make sense of that.Make sense of this pitch.Make sense of anything.”As Essex are winkled out for 123.That Yorkshire lead a very handy 93 on this pitch of various hues.

Three wickets for Ben Coad and one for Dan Moriarty in his first match of the season.In the other Division Two game, Northants are fighting back at the County Ground.From 184-3, Lancs are bowled out for 276, a lead of 38, bigger than a teaspoon, smaller than a good sprinkle.Three wickets each for Conway and Procter.Unfortunately for Kent, this means they have to bat.

Eight balls in, they are five for one.Finch, lbw James Harris four.Ben Kellaway left unbeaten on 181.Great stat but……Luis Reece? Luckily cricinfo is on hand:Reece made an immediate impact when he opened the innings for Lancashire in the Championship, averaging 55.53 and being named as the county’s Young Player of the Year as they won promotion from Division Two