County Championship 2023

[Arthur Crabtree]

Funnier if it started raining.

[Durhamfootman]

that's fair enough, powelly, but sometimes cricket does tend to rather shoot itself in the foot

[Durhamfootman]

good to have you back, btw

[Arthur Crabtree]

Some nicely balanced games.

[Durhamfootman]

tea update

Essex and Sussex polish off Middlesex and Durham respectively

Kent and Worcs are closing in on victories over Northants and Derbys

Lancs and Leics are both hanging on in there, leaving Surrey and Yorks with work to do to secure wins that perhaps should have been fairly comfortable

Glamorgan and Somerset are both in danger of falling apart if they aren't careful in matches that should really have been very comfortable draws. They still might be, but there is a hint of danger, just a hint, in both games that Gloucs and Warks will be trying to capitalise on

[Arthur Crabtree]

Can't work out if Leics are going for these runs or not.

[Durhamfootman]

well, I popped out for half an hour with Leics needing 91 runs and came back to find they ned 5 runs with an over and a half to get them

I think that's what Stokes would term as 'taking the game deep'

And there it is........ a superbly timed run chase, from Leics of all counties

[Durhamfootman]

Chris Wright spanking 7 fours in the last few overs

[Arthur Crabtree]

Yes good win. A big chase. Presume Wright's innings was a bit of an afterthought.

[Durhamfootman]

and Leics effectively lost a player early on day one

[Durhamfootman]

there were quite a few last innings centuries in round one.... Josh Bohannon, Rishi Patel, Jake Libby, Sam Hain and Ben Compton that I can think of.

and some big partnerships all scored on day 4 pitches. Whether it's just the nature of early season pitches I don't know, but I would hate it if the counties were going back to the days of rolling out lifeless rock hard pitches, or preparing roads to try and help the batters play Stokesy England cricket on.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Blimey, they've been playing again.

A lot of wickets around in CC1. Mostly into second innings.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Anderson and Broad playing.

Two ball zero for Stu.

[Durhamfootman]

Woakes is back

another ton for Hain

a first ton of the season for Bedingham

7fer for Lewis Gregory

Durham lose 3 wickets in 7 balls to go from a strong position to something more like a salvage operation, but doing it reasonably well

Notts, Lancs and MIddlesex under the pump a bit

Leics continue their uncharacteristically serene progress

[Durhamfootman]

only the Durham and Essex games are up and running today