Olly Stone shines for Notts, Surrey’s Sibley hits century: county cricket, day two – as it happened
Nottinghamshire’s Olly Stone, whose fragile body has broken with heartbreaking regularity, blew away Leicestershire in their East Midlands derby.His bowling, fierce and with chopstick-sharp accuracy, torpedoed stumps and tortured batters.Figures of five-for-41 were his best for Notts, a first five-wicket haul since 2019.Earlier, Ben Green had finished with seven for 112 as Notts’ innings ended on 490.At Taunton, Somerset’s innings subsided much as Yorkshire’s had.
Jack White collected four for 41 as Somerset lost their last seven wickets for just 73.The in-form Tom Abell reached 50 and Will Smeed, easing his way into red-ball cricket, was left unbeaten on a careful 36.Thomas Rew, brother of James, was out for a duck on Championship debut, before rain wiped out much of the day after lunch.With an England opener slot potentially up for grabs, Durham’s Emilio Gay didn’t fluff his lines, 75 not out at quite the lick at Lord’s.Ben McKinney, also mentioned in dispatches, delivered a more sedate 46.
Earlier, Ryan Higgins collected his first century for nearly two years, and Zafar Gohar added 56 as Middlesex passed 400.Ben Raine was the pick of the Durham bowlers with five for 58.But if Brendon McCullum decides to change tack, he need glance only over to the Oval, where the stolid and steady Dom Sibley finished unbeaten on 116 for Surrey, his second hundred in successive games.Rory Burns and Ryan Patel collected more rapid half-centuries, and Sussex’s Henry Crocombe, who hit Burns on the hand before dismissing him, zipped through an impressive spell.Luis Reece played an innings to remember at Canterbury, thrashing five sixes to get Derbyshire closer to Kent’s first innings score of 352 than looked likely.
He and Shoaib Bashir (12) added 56 for the last wicket as the visitors reached 304, much to Kent’s frustration.Rain stopped play, but not before Rory Haydon had spoilt Zak Crawley’s afternoon, trapping him lbw for 15.Ricardo Vasconcelos’ second century of the season was an entertaining one, hauling Northamptonshire in front of Worcestershire at New Road.Saif Zaib, whose outstanding form last year won him several awards, danced to a quick 75.At Southampton, there was a first Championship double century for Kiran Carlson, and a career-best 143 for Zain ul Hassan, before Glamorgan declared and the rain rolled in to stall Hampshire’s reply.
That’s it for now, hurray for Olly Stone, great to see him storming in, and Ben Raine, Ben Green and the centurions round the grounds.We’ll be back tomorrow, good night!Division OneSouthampton: Hampshire 58-0 v Glamorgan 536-7decLeicester: Leicestershire 220-8 v Nottinghamshire 490Taunton: Somerset 274 v Yorkshire 162 and 13-0The Oval: Surrey 292-2 v Sussex 358-9decDivision TwoCanterbury: Kent 352 and 38-2 v Derbyshire 304Lord’s: Middlesex 430 v Durham 135-1Northampton: Northants 366-5 v Worcestershire 306And rain at Canterbury too, where Rory Haydon just had time to pluck out Zak Crawley and Ben Dawkins, Kent 38-2.Time for me to write up now, but BTL remains open.Actually they’ve called it a day at Lord’s too, the rain good news for London gardens.Durham 135-1.
Emilio Gay, a name that has dropped into England conversation this summer, has 75 at nearly a run a ball at Lord’s,Another name to mull over, Ben McKinney, is unbeaten on 46,Durham 135-1; Middx toil on,Will Smeed, stranded on 36 in Somerset’s 274, spoke to the reporters’ network after play at Taunton:“I’m loving the challenge of playing red ball cricket and it’s great being part of a winning team,It’s completely different to white ball cricket, but I’m enjoying batting without scoreboard pressure and looking forward to contributing a really meaningful score.
“I think it’s a good cricket wicket - if you bowl well, you can make it hard for the batsmen, but there is also a lot of value for your shots out there.We need to create pressure from both ends and not allow them to get too far ahead.”A hundred in successive matches for big Dom, whose stolid presence at the crease has been Surrey’s gain since he returned from Edgbaston.Now 115 not out in Surrey’s 289-2.Patel caught off Carson for 67, Ollie Pope now tilting at windmills.
Switched to the Grace Road stream.Olly Stone thunders a couple of bouncers past Scriven, who then pulls him for four just past the scoreboard.Tries again and gets hit firmly somewhere in the midrift.Stone vigorously polishes the ball and polishes again.They call it a day in the south west.
Sunshine and showers due tomorrow, so hopefully you get some play DP.Four slips rise as one as Olly Stone plucks out Ben Green’s off stump to make that five wickets for 23, bowling like fire and leaving Leicestershire’s first innings in ruins at 117 for seven.Kent finally get rid of Luis Reece, caught behind for 84, a third wicket for Matt Milnes.What a crucial innings that was for Derbyshire who were in a a bit of a hole before he started hitting out.He and Shoaib Bashir added 56 for the last wicket.
The deficit just 48.Division OneSouthampton: Hampshire 19-0 v Glamorgan 536-7dec rain stopped playLeicester: Leicestershire 109-4 v Nottinghamshire 490Taunton: Somerset 274 v Yorkshire 162 and 13-0 rain stopped playThe Oval: Surrey 245-1 v Sussex 358-9decDivision TwoCanterbury: Kent 352 v Derbyshire 304Lord’s: Middlesex 430 v Durham 77-1Northampton: Northants 280-4 v Worcestershire 306A fabulous hundred for Ricardo Vasconcelos and 73 not out from last year’s batter of the season Saif Zaib, has suited Nothants very well.They’ve just gone in for tea, 280 for four, only 26 behind Worcestershire.And at Lord’s, this is a Ryan Higgins day, out for 131, he now has the first wicket of Durham’s innings – Alex Lees for 12.They’re taking tea round the grounds, scores to follow.
Some big hitting by Luis Reece is bring that Kent total within sight.My son has just walked in with news of the Celebrity Traitors line-up, sadly no cricketers make the cut.Chris Woakes would be a fabulous traitor, no-one would suspect him.At Grace Road, Olly Stone, another who seems to have slipped down the England pecking order, has two wickets, Leicester are four down for just 101.A long hard climb lies ahead.
At Canterbury, Luis Reece brings up his fifty with two huge why-not sixes in three balls off Jas Singh.Derbyshire 260-9.Just spotted that they’re off for rain in Southampton too, with Hampshire 19-0.And another, a fourth for Dudgeon, Rory Haydon lasted just two balls.Kent form a happy huddle.
The ball after cracking a Style Council four, Ben Aitchison chips a catch to Sam Northeast for 26.Derbys 257-8Time to change the stream.Youtube is not keen on me watching Kent, would rather I did a “Kettlebell workout”, but tune in just in time to see Luis Reece thrashing Keith Dudgeon for four.Nice little partnership here between Reece and Ben Aitchison of 36 for the 8th wicket.Derbyshire 239-7, trail by 113.
Clark finds some bounce on a somnolent afternoon and cracks Patel on the helmet as he fancies a hook.I think he’s ok, but the physio runs on for a concussion check.Surrey 202-1, Sibley an 181-ball 81 not out.And Middlesex are all out for a not- to-be-sniffed-at 430.The last wicket was TRJ, a first first-class wicket for injury sub Luke Robinson – well done! This was him, bubbling with excitement last night.
“To be handed this opportunity by Cambo (coach Ryan Campbell) shows he has faith in me.It’s a dream come true, I’ve worked so hard for this moment and to be here is amazing.“There weren’t that many nerves really, just excitement – this is such a good place to play cricket and I was just excited to get going.“When Leesy (captain Alex Lees) said I was coming on to bowl, I couldn’t wait to get the ball in hand and give my all for the badge – that’s what I’ll do every time I pull this shirt on.”John Simpson has just dropped Ryan Patel on 11, gets a consoling bottom pat from James Coles at first slip.
Wasn’t particularly tricky, just fell out of the gloves.Clark the bowler.At Lord’s, but its been a long old slog for Durham.Middx 422-8, Gohar bowled for 56, Higgins for 131.Callum Parkinson has slogged through 31 overs, Kemar Roach sub Luke Robinson has bowled 12.
Everything in the Kentish garden continues to be rosy – Derbyshire have lost two more wickets since lunch and at 187-6 still trail by 165,Three wickets for Dudgeon,Olly Stone has removed Rishi Patel at Grace Road, both openers gone now for 57,Leicestershire 2025 would have pushed on, I’m a bit more worried about Leicestershire 2026,This is interesting from Raf on England’s Women’s World Cup squad.
She’s not overly impressed with Charlotte Edwards’ decision to stick with the status quo.And Hampshire begin the long chase down of 536.This already feels like a 5pm handshakes on Monday affair.Crocombe with the breakthrough at The Oval! Burns fancies driving him away but instead drags on for 77, yanks his bat in frustration.Surrey 148-1.
After a brisk start, Leicestershire have lost the talented Jake Weatherald for 14.Dillon Pennington the wicket taker.Bet there are some tasty cakes for sale from the Friends of Grace Road stall, really enjoyed my trip there in the first round.Just time for Yorkshire to reach 13-0 before the rain starts falling.The forecast looks pretty damp for the rest of the day.
Things are getting underway after lunch around the grounds.I had a humous sandwich and planted some beans, the dog chased a couple of squirrels who like to tease by running along the fence.And the first wicket goes to Hampshire, Cooke for 13, though Glamorgan do have 500…Two in two for Matthew Revis at Taunton, leaves Smeed stranded on 36 and the Somerset innings finished in time for Friday fish and chips.Time for a sandwich here, back soon.Division OneSouthampton: Hampshire v Glamorgan 500-5Leicester: Leicestershire 9-0 v Nottinghamshire 490Taunton: Somerset 274 v Yorkshire 162The Oval: Surrey 120-0 v Sussex 358-9decDivision TwoCanterbury: Kent 352 v Derbyshire 132-4Lord’s: Middlesex 372-6 v DurhamNorthampton: Northants 138-2 v Worcestershire 306Don’t you love to see Dom Bess’s scallywag dirty knees? He’s just removed Lewis Gregory before lunch.
Somerset 274-8.Excellent work by Ben Green, who has almost single handedly restrained Notts.His best bowling figures too.Notts lost 6 for 95 this morning, Joe Clarke out in the 90s for the third time this season – his average must be insanely good, I’ll dig it out in a minute.Not much happening at The Oval, so flick back to Taunton, where Will Smeed is still in, 34 not out – five short of his highest f-c score.
Great news that Brian the cat has slunk back to the ground.Somerset are really trudging through the morning, but have inched the lead over Yorkshire up past 100.Somerset 268-7.A pause at The Oval where Burns has been hit on the hand, throws his glove down in pain.But with some magic spray he continues, Surrey 107-0.
A quick dally around Division Two:A first century for two years for Ryan Higgins, keeping the good ship Middlesex afloat at Lord’s.Durham toil on, wicketless this morning.Middx 357-6.Kent have winkled out three Derbyshire batters, two to Keith Dudgeon.Harry Came, Caleb Jewell and Matt Montgomery all back in the pavilion for not much.
Wayne Madsen and MArtin Andersson with the rebuild.Derbys 117-3, trail by 235.And Ricardo Vasconcelos has an unbeaten 65 in Northant’s reply to Worcestershire’s 306.Northants 123-2.Have been keeping an eye on Ollie Robinson on the stream from The Oval, but Sibley and Burns are ploughing on, largely unbothered, and that’s the hundred partnership, courtesy of a sweep from Burns and a misfield
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