Foakes hits unbeaten century while Sussex see off Worcestershire
Ben Foakes diligently hit his highest first-class score on an Edgbaston pitch constructed from fast bowlers’ tears.Foakes reached his hundred with two consecutive sixes off Rob Yates and was unbeaten on 174 when Matt Fisher was the last man out after a 10th-wicket stand of 158 in 58 overs.Alex Davies enforced the follow-on – he must have agreeable bowlers – but a thunderstorm intervened and put both Surrey and Warwickshire out of their misery.An Ollie Robinson special knocked out Ben Gibbon’s off stump to take Sussex to a second win of the season.It was an unstinting and skilful 29.
2 overs from Robinson, a Norman castle of a man, running in despite an ankle injury.Jake Libby’s 167 on his favourite pitch – Hove is where he has made the three highest scores of his career – had threatened to carry Worcestershire to victory, until he was caught off Fynn Hudson-Prentice shortly after the new ball was taken, and Robinson was winkled out the rest.The second new ball wasn’t enough to give Yorkshire a win against Essex at Chelmsford, on a day so warm that the stewards were given free ice lollies.With 11 men around the bat, Jonny Bairstow breathing down their necks, the last pair of Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer saw off the final over.The key partnership was between Matt Critchley and Michael Pepper, a 77-over marathon lasting until the ball before tea when Pepper was lbw to George Hill, who finished with a career-best nine wickets in the match.
Well done Simon Harmer, bad luck Yorkshire.That’s the end of round six – thanks for sticking with us, Lancs-up, bowler-eating pitches and all.We’ll be back on Friday, have a lovely evening.1 Nottinghamshire (played 5) 912 Warwickshire (played 5) 793 Sussex (played 5) 724 Surrey (played 5) 715 Essex (played 5) 616 Hampshire (played 5) 587 Durham (played 5 ) 588 Yorkshire (played 4) 539 Somerset (played 5) 5210 Worcestershire (played 5) 21DIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex 123 and 273-9 DRAW WITH Yorkshire 216 and 426-6decTrent Bridge: Notts 333 and 345 BEAT Hampshire 196 and 116 by 366 runsHove: Sussex 284 and 256 BEAT Worcestershire 180 and 313 by 47 runsEdgbaston: Warwickshire 665-5dec DRAW with Surrey 504 and 15-0DIVISION TWOCanterbury: Glamorgan 549-9dec BEAT Kent 212 and 176 by an innings and 161 runsCounty Ground: Northamptonshire 238 and 273 BEAT Lancashire 276 and 165 by 70 runs.Everyone round the bat, but Simon Harmer sees Essex home.
A cracking match, down to the last dime,Nine wickets for young George Hill,Chelmsford: Essex 123 and 273-9 DRAW WITH Yorkshire 216 and 426-6dec Essex 11 points, Yorkshire 11,One last over… can Moriarty break the code?A 26-ball 0 not out from Porter…Twelve minutes left at Chelmsford…To those of you who were reading carefully earlier, Rob Smyth did get on the case (thank you so much Rob),England have had 20 No.
4s during the Tendulkar/Kohli era.Over to Rob:“It doesn’t include nightwatchmen, I’ve only included people who were the first choice for at least two consecutive Tests in that position (eg Maynard - dropped after two in 1993 but he was the designated No4 for those Tests).“(In order of first appearance as regular No4, starting June 1992 v Pakistan) Smith, Stewart, Maynard, Thorpe, Hussain, Vaughan, Hick, Bell, Pietersen, Collingwood, Root, Vince, Ballance, Duckett, Ali, Malan, Pope, Denly, Stokes, Lawrence.”Through the gate! A prodding Rajitha is done by Moriarty and Yorkshire need just one more wicket for victory.As Dom Bess completes his 32nd over, I’d better start to write up for the paper, but will drop back if anything happens at Chelmsford.
Six close fielders, as Moriarty wipes his sweaty hands on his trousers.Rajitha prods, prods, flays one for four.Harmer watches calmly from the non-striker’s end, his shadow tickling the umpire’s boots.Sixteen overs left.Two wickets for Yorkshire to take.
While I was moving rooms, Suits ruthlessly replacing Essex v Yorks on the TV, Jack White removed Shane Snater for a (32 ball) duck,Essex eight down,Robinson removes Gibbon’s off stump! Jogs a quarter circle of celebration and is mobbed by his teammates,A second win of the summer for Sussex,Hove: Sussex 284 and 256 BEAT Worcestershire 180 and 313 by 47 runsMeanwhile, at Chelmsford, Essex have lost two wickets since tea.
Dom Bess getting in on the act and bowling Noah Thain, before George Hill removed danger-man Critchley for a magnificent 75.Essex 209-7.And Robinson gets his reward! Tom Haines runs in from deep square leg to collect a haphazard swivel-pull from Singh.52 needed.Nine wickets down.
Ollie Robinson, who has sent through 28 overs, comes again,He has, says the commentor, been grimacing,And I spy a limp,Leans into the wind, thunders in,Taylor lets it fly by.
Well played centurions, well toiled bowlers,Edgbaston: Warwickshire 665-5dec DRAW with Surrey 504 and 15-0Warwickshire 13 points, Surrey 11No joy at Hove, they take tea with everything still in the balance for the last session of the match,Worcestershire need 59, Sussex two wickets,A breakthrough at Essex with the last ball before tea,A unanimous lbw appeal by all the close Yorkshire fielders, and the umpire agrees.
A knackered-looking George Hill drops to a squat of exhaustion/delight and is surrounded by his teammates.Pepper can’t believe it, the end of a really doughty innings of 68.Essex 199 for five.They’re continuing to play for 20 mins at Hove, to see if Sussex can snaffle the last two wickets.I’m just off to make a quick cup of tea.
DIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex 123 and 199-5 v Yorkshire 216 and 426-6dec Essex need 321 to winTrent Bridge: Notts 333 and 345 BEAT Hampshire 196 and 116 by 366 runsHove: Sussex 284 and 256 v Worcestershire 180 and 294-8 Worcs need 66 to winEdgbaston: Warwickshire 665-5dec v Surrey 504 and 15-0 rain stopped playDIVISION TWOCanterbury: Glamorgan 549-9dec BEAT Kent 212 and 176 by an innings and 161 runsCounty Ground: Northamptonshire 238 and 273 BEAT Lancashire 276 and 165 by 70 runs.Come friendly rain and fall on Birmingham.Another wicket at Hove, and it is the big one, Jake Libby for 167.A second wicket for Hudson-Prentice, a delighted Sussex frolic about.Two wickets needed for Sussex, or 74 runs from the Worcestershire tail.
Is it too soon to say I think Essex have done this? Unbeaten sixties from Pepper and Critchley and no sign of a devil in the pitch.Twenty minutes till tea.Third slip James Coles leans to his right and casually pockets a passing edge from Waite.Karvelas’s third wicket.Worcestershire 286-7.
Libby still there on 167 but Sussex nearly there.Admirable agreeableness from the bowlers.We may yet get to see Jason Roy in whites again.Ed Barnard gets the final wicket at last, Fisher caught behind for 40.Foakes is unbeaten on 174, as strolls off, long sleeves still buttoned, 174 not out in seven and a bit hours.
Surrey 508 all out, 161 behind,I can’t see Warwicks enforcing the follow-on,1 Leicestershire (played 5) 952 Derbyshire (played 5) 743 Middlesex (played 5) 654 Kent (played 5) 575 Northamptonshire (played 5) 566 Glamorgan (played 5) 527 Gloucestershire (played 5) 518 Lancashire (played 5) 50Belatedly, an email from Tim Maitland (sorry Tim, I missed this from this morning):“While I understand that one shouldn’t draw too many conclusions from watching 10 minutes of highlights, Lancashire’s approach to chasing down what shouldn’t have been too taxing a target of 235 at Northampton should only be viewed in the style of a five year old watching Dr Who in the 1970s: through your fingers, from behind the sofa,“Unless they’d collectively decided there were so many demons in the pitch, the only feasible approach was to swing hard and often before meeting the ball with their name on, it’s hard to understand what Bell, Jennings and Harris were thinking when they got out,“On a happier note, I spent a bit of time looking at the collected works of Nottinghamshire this year and what really stands out is that no-one really stands out.
They’ve had contributions from everywhere and win or draw, appear to have had the upper hand in pretty much every game they’ve played.“In reverse order, they’ve had centuries from up and down the order: Liam Pattinson-White batting eight, Jack Haynes (5), Freddie McCann (3), Haseeb Hameed (1), Jack Haynes (5 again), Kyle Verreynne (6) and Lyndon James (8).“It’s been a similar story with the bowling: No sooner does uncapped Aussie Fergus O’Neill leave after taking 21 wickets including two five-fors in his four games, than Mohammed Abbas takes a first innings five-fer that pretty much sets up the win over Hampshire.They’ve also had five wicket hauls from Josh Tongue (twice), Brett Hutton and Lyndon James.It all looks very sustainable.
“I suppose the one test might come if the opening pair of Hameed and Ben Slater creak a bit.The second innings against Hampshire was only the second time this season they’ve both failed to contribute (the other being the first innings of the draw against Essex when both were gone with just four on the board).Opening stands of 62, 113, 81 and 62 have given them several solid platforms to build on.”He acknowledges the applause, then resumes.He pats his Kookaburra in his crease and is beaten by Ollie Robinson, and again, as he flays haplessly at Robinson but the ball flies over the slips to the rope.
Worcs 262-8, the target now 99,Foakes and Fisher’s partnership passes 150 and has lasted nearly two sessions at Edgbaston,Everything happening at a half-pace down in Birmingham,The follow-on nearly averted,Surrey 496-9.
The new ball at Hove too.Waite pings a Robinson full toss to the rope.Back To Chelmsford, where Revis has a weary tread back to his mark and, apparently, stewards are being given free ice lollies.The grass is dry, the sun hot, and the second new ball due soon.Critchley and Pepper have put on 121 and, more importantly, stuck to their task.
James Hayes is plugging away for Sussex with the ball – in his first Championship game,He was recommended by Peter Moores, when Sussex were looking around for a loan player to help their injury crisis,A wicket, a wicket! D’Oliveira’s off stump a-dancing into the distance, ball slipping between bat and pad, very happy Tom Clark,Four more wickets for Sussex to snaffle,Amazing continuity.
Sachin Tendulkar moved up to No4 in India's batting order in early 1992,Virat Kohli took over the job in late 2013,Obviously they missed a few Tests here and there, but that is 33 years of unbelievable stability,Good luck to the next guy,.
.England have had a few more.Robin Smith was the No.4 for the first Test of that acrimonious series against Pakistan in 1992, Joe Root the man in possession today.I need to get Rob Smyth on the case.
Ben Foakes has now accumulated 165, his highest first-class score, and this last-wicket partnership is worth 141 – the largest of Surrey’s innings.Everyone at Edgbaston now playing for handshakes in three hours or so.Everyone back out and here we go again.DIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex 123 and 131-4 v Yorkshire 216 and 426-6dec Essex need 389 to winTrent Bridge: Notts 333 and 345 BEAT Hampshire 196 and 116 by 366 runsHove: Sussex 284 and 256 v Worcestershire 180 and 199-5 Worcs need 162 to winEdgbaston: Warwickshire 665-5dec v Surrey 461-9 Surrey trail by 204 runsDIVISION TWOCanterbury: Glamorgan 549-9dec BEAT Kent 212 and 176 by an innings and 161 runsCounty Ground: Northamptonshire 238 and 273 BEAT Lancashire 276 and 165 by 70 runs.And that’s lunch round the grounds – well played the batting teams!Spin from both ends at Hove as well –as James Coles comes on to complement Jack Carson just before lunch.
Worcestershire are half way to their target/have survived a third of the day.And there it is! Libby’s 13th first-class hundred for Worcestershire, and his first this year.He pulls off his helmet, waves his bat around the ground and gets a bear hug from D’Oliveira.Ten minutes till lunch, with Worcestershire 180-5, need 181 to win.Jake Libby inches through the nineties…This is excellent stuff by Essex as Yorkshire wait for a mistake
How to make potato salad – recipe | Felicity Cloake's Masterclass
This summer classic is the happy proof that not all things labelled as salad have to feel like penance for helping yourself to all the fried chicken or barbecued halloumi. Far fresher and zingier than gloopy, ready-made versions, this is the perfect recipe to make the most of those dense, fudgy early potatoes, and easy to customise according to taste and circumstance.Prep 15 min Cook 15-20 min Serves 4600g waxy potatoes Salt ½ tsp dijon mustard 1 tbsp red-wine vinegar 2 tbsp neutral oil, such as sunflower1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 115g good mayonnaise, ordinary or plant-based (see step 6 for a homemade option)3 spring onions 2 tbsp capers and/or chopped gherkins 2 anchovies (optional)1 small bunch chives 1 handful fresh parsley, leaves and soft stems 1 handful fresh mint leaves1 tbsp wholegrain mustardPotato salad demands a waxy variety, and preferably ones that are new enough that their skins are still flaky and thin, rather than spuds that have been in cold storage for months. Jersey royals are my favourite, but other good (and widely available) options include celandine, ratte, arran, pink fir apple and vivaldi, though farm shops may have even better options on offer.Choose potatoes that are fairly even in size, and preferably small enough easily to boil whole; you may need to cut any larger ones in half to ensure they all cook through in roughly the same time, but try to minimise this, because potatoes cooked whole in their skins will have a better texture
Tea-licious! 17 awesome ways to use earl grey, from ice-cream and cocktails to strudel and salad
Who’d have guessed there’s so much you can do with bergamot-flavoured tea? Apparently you can even drink itAs you may already know, the title of Britain’s Best Loaf 2025 was awarded to a brioche that was flavoured with lemon curd and earl grey tea. The inventor – Miyo Aoetsu, who runs a baking business from her home in Derbyshire – says the loaf was inspired by a recent Japanese trend for foods that combine the flavours of lemon and earl grey. But outside Japan, how many recipes can there be that use earl grey as an ingredient? Here are 17, just for starters.The first, and most basic, is for earl grey itself. The connection between the tea and the 2nd Earl Grey, in whose honour it is sometimes said to have been concocted, is sketchy and possibly nonexistent
Song He Lou, London W1: no neon, no bunting and not much jostling for tourist dollars – restaurant review | Grace Dent on restaurants
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José Pizarro’s recipe for slow-roast pork belly with spring onion mojo verde
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Helen Goh’s recipe for matcha madeleines | The sweet spot
Delicate, shell-shaped madeleines are always irresistible, but their charm fades quickly, because these little cakes tend to dry out within hours. To counter that, I’ve taken an untraditional turn by incorporating a little oil and milk to keep them soft and spongy for a couple of days. Matcha, the finely ground green tea powder, comes in a range of grades; use the best you can afford, but don’t be tempted to add more for the appealing colour – the sweet, grassy notes can tip into bitterness in an instant.Prep 5 min Chill 2 hr Cook 1 hr Makes 24For the madeleines80g unsalted butter, plus 10g extra, softened, for greasing50ml sunflower oil, or other neutral oil 60ml milk1 tbsp matcha – I use Clearspring150g plain flour, plus extra for dusting1¾ tsp baking powder¼ tsp fine sea salt3 large eggs 140g caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla extractFor the glaze and topping120g icing sugar, sifted2 tbsp milk ¼ tsp matchaA pinch of salt 40g desiccated coconutMelt the butter in a small saucepan on a low heat. Take off the heat, whisk in the oil, milk and matcha, then set aside to cool
Core principles: the return of ‘real’ cider
“When I started out 10 years ago, only three of the makers here were even in business,” says Felix Nash, gesturing to the reams of golden bottles that line the shelves of his shop. I’m at the Fine Cider Company in London Fields, east London, with its founder, having arrived with the hope of lapping up all that fine cider has to offer inside a neat hour. (Spoiler alert: I leave thirsty and inspired.)Although much of recent cider-making history is defined by mergers and mass-market production, there’s also an exciting re-emergence of terroir-focused production, though that is something Nash claims has always been a part of the UK’s agricultural DNA: “One of the first things the Royal Society ever published was on perry and cider, when John Beale, an early fellow, recognised that an apple variety called redstreak grew particularly well in certain parts of Herefordshire, a concept we now understand as terroir.”These days, much of the UK’s cider production is mass market, which has to be only 35% apple concentrate, and the fruit can come from just about anywhere
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