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Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Matt Henry takes four wickets on opening day against Durham
Matt Henry took four wickets for Somerset but 20-year-old Mitch Killeen's late strike helped Durham just shade the first day of the Rothesay County Championship match at the Banks Homes Riverside, writes Paul Edwards, ECB Reporters' Network. Despite Ollie Robinson's 52 and a half-century stand for the last wicket, the home side were dismissed for 253 in their first innings in a match between teams who possess identical records and are currently separated by a handful of bonus points in the Division One table. Having accounted for three top -order batsmen, Henry returned figures of four for 60 but Somerset were 63 for three in reply at the close with the wicket of Tom Lammonby falling to Championship debutant Killeen for 24 just seven balls before the close. The day's cricket began in atrocious fashion for the home side when their captain, Alex Lees, inside-edged Henry's first ball of the game onto his off stump ands departed for a golden duck. Ben McKinney and Emilio Gay then repaired the home side's innings with a 65-run stand in 20 overs before McKinney was caught behind by James Rew for 30 when he played outside a ball from Josh Davey that was angled in to him from around the wicket. Gay had already been dropped on 26 at midwicket by Jack Leach off Migael Pretorius when McKinney's wicket fell but the former Northamptonshire batsman could not capitalise on his escape. Instead he was dismissed for 41 a quarter of an hour before lunch when he top edged a pull off Henry to Tom Abell at long leg. Read more Somerset cricketers looking for third straight win Somerset women fall to defeat in one-day game Third successive victory for Somerset Women at Warwickshire Having seen Lewis Gregory lose the toss, Somerset's bowlers were probably satisfied with a lunch score of 96 for three. And they would have been ecstatic a few minutes after the resumption when the palpably dangerous Bedingham shuffled across his stumps, looked to work the ball to leg and was lbw to his fellow South African, Pretorius, for 17. Robinson responded to that reverse by taking hitting three fine fours in four balls of an over from Craig Overton and all this seemed to set the tone for a session in which quick runs were traded for wickets. Having made 51 runs off 45 deliveries since his lunch and reached his half-century in 61 minutes off 52 balls in all, Robinson was caught by Rew off Henry when he nicked a ball of full length towards first slip. only to see the diving keeper complete a fine catch. Graham Clark then made 15 in 21 minutes before apparently snicking Josh Davey down the leg side to Rew and his departure left Durham on 185 for six in the 50th over. Colin Ackermann was bowled by Overton for 30 and five balls later, Raine was leg before to Pretorius for 25. Tea arrived with Durham on 227 for eight, 131 runs having been scored and five wickets taken in the session's 34 overs. Five balls into the evening session, Mitch Killeen's first innings in Championship cricket ended when he was caught by first slip Lewis Gregory off Henry for a 15-ball nought but Codi Yusuf and Minto then batted as calmly and sensibly as most of the top order to take Durham to their first bonus point of the innings. And not content with adding the 23 runs necessary for that landmark to be reached, the pair put on exactly 50 before Minto, who made 67 as a nightwatchman-opener last week, was caught by Lammonby at square leg off Pretorius for 34. Yusuf was unbeaten on 16 and Pretorius finished with three for 63. Somerset's first innings also began poorly when Gregory was bowled by Minto for five when his attempt to let the ball go only diverted it into his stumps but Davey and Lammonby added 42 before Davey was caught at slip off Yusuf for 24 and Lammonby was caught behind off Minto for 18
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tortured Zak Crawley's prolonged poor form leaves England with a decision to make
These are times of greed and gluttony for County Championship batters. Contrary to popular perception, April can be a great month for run-making, the pitches slow, low and not yet hardened by the summer sun; bowlers likewise still working up to full fitness and ferocity. We are but three weeks into the Championship season but already the draw has begun to dominate; it is a reflection of a flawed scoring system that Leicestershire topped the Division Two table ahead of two-win Kent after the opening couple of weeks but also evidence of the batting points on offer for those willing to gorge on some Lent runs. A scan of the centurions so far in the English summer reveals a varied bunch, particularly at the top of the order. Dom Sibley, perhaps a more complete player than when he earned his international caps, has prevented Surrey's title defence enduring an early derailment; Alex Lees, another who looks better for time out of the Test side rather than it, again looks in good touch for Durham, even if young partner Ben McKinney is rapidly bludgeoning his way into the England selectors' sights. Rob Yates and Tom Haines may not yet be in contention for higher honours but are the top-performing professionals any county would desire. Among the other century-making openers are two more makeshift options in Leicestershire's Rehan Ahmed and Essex's Paul Walter – anatomically contrasting, each has thrived in fulfilling a new brief away from their usual lower middle-order habitat. Yet there is one opener not yet having taken his place at the feast – and the problem for England is that he is their incumbent. One could have forgiven Zak Crawley for taking the Lord's name in vain after his first-innings dismissal against Gloucestershire on Easter weekend, the Kent batter caught behind via first slip's shin after Cameron Green had seemingly shelled a sitter. Chaos... but vitally the ball stays up! — Gloucestershire Cricket 🏆 (@Gloscricket) April 19, 2025 Another early exit nonetheless improved the 27-year-old's average in the first dig this summer from 0.50 to 0.67, scores of one, nought and one an illustration of the harsh realities of the top order. A buccaneering 58 to set up an outstanding fourth-innings run chase of 316 against Middlesex was a better representation of his talent, and it was pleasing to see Crawley back that up with a half-century that proved vital in Kent hanging on for a draw against Gloucestershire. But the overall picture remains troubling. We have been here before with a player of glorious gifts as yet unable to fulfil his obvious talent, of course, but even for a batter prone to feats of famine this is a prolonged tough spell. Before that second innings at Canterbury on Easter Monday, he had batted 23 times for 292 runs across formats returning from a finger injury against Pakistan in October, a horror tour of New Zealand followed by a wretched SA20 stint that saw him end his winter out of the Sunrisers Eastern Cape side. It is far from an ideal start for a year that could define both this England regime and Crawley himself. For this is no longer an inexperienced individual. Only eight Englishman have opened the innings more often than the tall Kent batter has in his 53 Tests. Displaying the differences between two cricketing cultures, Crawley has played only about 30 fewer first-class games than Virat Kohli, Test cricket's 19th-leading run-scorer. Crawley remains the great England enigma, a mystery wrapped in a riddle of contradictions and questions. The national team's faith has so far been justified by one exceptional Ashes, when he roughed up one of cricket's great seam attacks, and the fleeting, intoxicating highs in between. Yet when one would expect a domineering dasher coming into his prime to dominate – like in these early weeks – he cannot. The Crawley culture wars have long since been fought and one would not anticipate an alteration in England's approach towards an establishment figure. He is not alone in having received the management's backing based more on potential than proof, and 10 Tests against India and Australia are the sort of challenges to which he has shown the ability to rise. A strummed 77 at Sydney was a rare bright moment in England's dark last trip Down Under – one would fancy a good player of bounce and pace to go well again later this year, and he remains a perfect foil to the contrasting Ben Duckett. But there is a looming logjam at the top of the order without an obvious solution. The breakthrough performances of Jacob Bethell in New Zealand have put pressure, perhaps, on the place of vice-captain Ollie Pope, who still looks a better fit in the middle order than at No 3, given Jamie Smith is sure to return with the wicketkeeping gloves after his paternity leave. Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Stokes are irreplaceable. A squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge from 22 May is expected soon. Luke Wright, England selector, suggested last week that Bethell, yet to feature at the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Royal Challengers Bangalore, will not be called back from his bench-warming to feature, perhaps leaving him still on the outside looking in when the five-match engagement against India begins. Yet Crawley should not feel totally secure of his place. McKinney is clearly a coming force, well-liked by England and beginning to show the ability to both absorb and transfer pressure. Taller even than the lanky Crawley, there are shades of Marcus Trescothick in his stroke-making; it may be that he is called up to the squad for that Zimbabwe game. Beyond that? For the first time in a long while, England seem blessed with top-order options – and if Crawley's poor form continues, they will have a decision to make.
The Independent
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Alex Lees' half-century helps Durham close in on Nottinghamshire total
Durham trail Rothesay County Championship Division One leaders Nottinghamshire by 87 runs following half centuries from James Minto, captain Alex Lees and Emilio Gay. Gay will resume unbeaten on 74, alongside Ollie Robinson (25), after respective knocks of 67 and 82 from openers Minto and Lees helped the hosts reach 320 for four at stumps on day two at Chester-le-Street. Ben Foakes hit 86 and Kurtis Patterson registered 85 as Surrey established a 129-run advantage against Yorkshire at the Oval. The reigning champions closed on 384 for seven, with Yorkshire's George Hill taking four for 58 after his side were bowled out for 255 on day one. Archie Vaughan hit 80 as Somerset made 338 before enforcing the follow-on against Sussex at Taunton. Sussex will resume on 127 for four in the second innings, trailing by 59 runs, after opener Tom Haines made 50 before being trapped lbw by Migael Pretorius. At Edgbaston, pace bowler Kyle Abbott took five for 47 to put Hampshire in command against Warwickshire. Abbott's second five-for in successive games helped dismiss Warwickshire for 194 before the away team – spearheaded by Fletcha Middleton's 76 from 124 balls – moved on to 159 for six in their second innings to lead by 265. Essex trail Worcestershire by 259 runs after being bowled out for 157 following three wickets apiece for Tom Taylor and Matthew Waite. The hosts were 58 for five at stumps, adding to a first innings total of 358. In Division Two, England great James Anderson marked his first competitive outing since his international farewell last June by taking two wickets for Lancashire to help reduce Derbyshire to 112 for four at Old Trafford. Derbyshire trail by 346 runs after the struggling hosts, who are seeking a first win of the season, posted 458.
BBC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Durham batters fight back against leaders Notts
Rothesay County Championship Division One, Banks Homes Riverside (day two)Nottinghamshire 407: Hameed 206*; Yusuf 4-99Durham 320-4: Lees 82, Gay 74*, Minto 67; Abbas 2-74Durham (5 pts) trail Nottinghamshire (5 pts) by 87 runsMatch scorecard James Minto, Alex Lees and Emilio Gay starred with the bat as Durham fought back on day two of their County Championship clash with was well and truly Durham's morning as Minto, who came in as nightwatcher to see out one over at the end of day one, became the county's youngest ever half-centurion at the age of 17 years and 172 days. He played beautifully along with his skipper Lees to take the hosts to lunch without hit back in the afternoon, picking up three wickets including Minto for an excellent 67 and Lees for a gritty 82, but Gay remained calm and composed in the evening to pass fifty and get his side to 320-4 at the close, still trailing by 87. Minto, who had only scored 40 runs in his four previous first-class matches, looked the part with the bat as he dominated the Nottinghamshire bowling attack in the morning session with some lovely strokes and the left-arm bowler, who opens in club cricket, demonstrated skills that could see him develop into a genuine on 2-0, Minto and Lees kicked things off in the morning. The former got the first boundary of the day with a lovely cover drive for four off the bowling of Brett teenager frustrated the experienced bowling pair of Mohammad Abbas and Hutton as he played some nice shots including a delightful cut shot for four. He then played two more glorious strokes on the offside from the bowling of was happy to be a foil to Minto's aggression, but he picked up his first boundary of the day as he guided one past third for brought up his first career half-century from 61 deliveries with his eighth boundary of the day, but Nottinghamshire restricted Durham before lunch with Rob Lord and Freddie McCann keeping things got the breakthrough soon after lunch with Hutton getting Minto for a fantastic 67 as he went for one shot too many, pulling one straight to Haseeb Hameed at square leg. Lees went to his fifty soon after, with the milestone coming from 96 deliveries and he was joined in the middle by England Lions man Ben McKinney, who looked good in the early stages of his continued to underline his attacking intentions as he plundered a McCann ball straight down the ground to the boundary, but shortly after he edged an Abbas ball to Kyle Verreynne to depart for continued to tick along nicely with Gay joining him in the middle and the ex-Northamptonshire man helped Durham steer the ship in the face of some tight bowling from the then picked up a rare boundary as he pulled a Lord delivery to the rope to relieve a bit of pressure and Gay followed that up with a nice shot through the got a second life just before tea, after he edged a Lyndon James ball towards Joe Clarke at first slip but he could not take the chance with the Durham man on 30. However, they did get a big breakthrough in the next over as Lees was caught behind for 82 with Liam Patterson-White the one to get the Durham economical bowling continued into the evening session as Gay and new batter Colin Ackermann struggled to find the boundary, but the latter broke the shackles as he drove a Patterson-White ball down the ground for was making the league leaders pay for the drop as he became the third Durham player to pass fifty in the innings, with his coming from a more attritional 113 second new ball came for Nottinghamshire and runs started to flow for Ackermann who played a delightful shot off Abbas for four, but he then departed for 37 as he edged a beauty from Abbas to Verreynne behind the stumps to give the visitors a much-needed Robinson joined Gay at the crease and played a lovely shot through the covers to take Durham to the 300 mark and the pair took Durham to stumps without further loss. ECB Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Durham duo Alex Lees and Emilio Gay pile on the runs against Yorkshire
Alex Lees and Emilio Gay both scored unbeaten centuries as Durham piled on the runs against Yorkshire in the County Championship. Dom Bess was the final Yorkshire player out for 66 in a total of 307, and George Hill struck early in the Durham innings to remove Ben McKinney for only six. But from there the hosts took full control, with forker Yorkshire opener Lees ending the day on 148 and Gay scoring a maiden first-class century for Durham with 105 as they reached 264 for one. EMILIO GAY!! 😮💨 MAIDEN DURHAM FIRST-CLASS CENTURY!!!#ForTheNorth — Durham Cricket (@DurhamCricket) April 19, 2025 Warwickshire's unbeaten start to the season is under severe threat after they were skittled for only 93 by Nottinghamshire. Brett Hutton and Fergus O'Neill took five wickets each, the latter for just 19 runs, and Notts closed on 204 for five, with Haseeb Hameed unbeaten on 75. Sussex built on their strong overnight position to reach 435 in their first innings against Surrey at Hove. Tom Haines was the star man for the hosts, finally falling for 174, while Ollie Robinson bowled Rory Burns for 16 before Surrey closed on 90 for one in response. You don't leave those. — Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) April 19, 2025 Hampshire lead Somerset by 10 runs with seven first-innings wickets remaining at Southampton. An unbeaten 47 from Migael Pretorius helped Somerset to 184 all out after they had slipped to 96 for seven, and he then bowled opener Mark Stoneman. But Nick Gubbins and Liam Dawson both posted unbeaten half centuries as Hampshire moved past Somerset on to 194 for three. Essex hit back strongly against Worcestershire at Chelmsford, opening up a 210-run lead with four second-innings wickets remaining. Having been bowled out for only 179, they restricted the visitors to 202 in their first innings, with new Sri Lankan signing Kasun Rajitha taking four wickets. Dragging the batter wider then pinning them in front. Textbook from Kasun Rajitha — Rothesay County Championship (@CountyChamp) April 19, 2025 Essex then reached 233 for six in their second innings, with Paul Walter passing his century before falling for 104. In Division Two, Ben Compton hit an unbeaten century as Kent put up a strong response chasing Gloucestershire's 472 all out. James Bracey and Marchant de Lange put on 87 for the final Gloucestershire wicket, with Bracey ending the innings unbeaten on 151. But Compton guided Kent superbly to 318 for seven, reaching 144 not out at the close, although the loss of Grant Stewart for 51 to the final ball of the day could prove costly. Leicestershire trail Lancashire by 143 runs with nine first-innings wickets remaining at Old Trafford. 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 💯 🎥 LIVE Match Centre: — Kent Cricket (@KentCricket) April 19, 2025 The hosts rallied from their overnight position to reach 263, Marcus Harris top scoring with 77 while Tom Scriven took five wickets. In response, Rehan Ahmed led Leicestershire to 120 for one with an unbeaten 61. In the battle of the bottom two sides, Middlesex are in complete control against Glamorgan after reaching 353 for four in response to the Welsh side's first innings of 199. Max Holden top scored with 107 while Leus du Plooy (85no) and Ben Geddes (51no) are approaching a century partnership. Northamptonshire captain Luke Procter is three runs short of a century as his side look to build a sizeable lead over Derbyshire. After helping bowl the hosts out for 307, Procter moved to 97 not out as Northants closed on 236 for three.
