Latest news with #KaneWilliamson
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
How to Watch New Zealand vs South Africa: Live Stream Tri-Nations Series Cricket Final, TV Channel
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The 2025 Zimbabwe Tri-Nation Series comes to a close on Saturday as New Zealand faces South Africa in the final. The host, Zimbabwe, has been eliminated from the contest. Which side will take the final win in this series? Willow Xtra will have the action live on Saturday. South Africa's David Miller (L) is congratulated by New Zealand's Kane Williamson for his innings and scoring a century (100 runs) at the end of the ICC Champions Trophy one-day international (ODI) semi-final cricket match... South Africa's David Miller (L) is congratulated by New Zealand's Kane Williamson for his innings and scoring a century (100 runs) at the end of the ICC Champions Trophy one-day international (ODI) semi-final cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 5, 2025. More Photo by ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images How to Watch New Zealand vs South Africa Date: Saturday, July 26, 2025 Time: 7:00 AM EDT Channel: Willow Xtra Location: Harare Sports Club Stream: Fubo (TRY FOR FREE!) New Zealand has been dominant in this series, winning all four of its games with a 2.200 NRR. South Africa is 2-2 with a 0.012 NRR, while Zimbabwe lost all four of its matches to finish with the league NRR of the three at -2.253. The previous two matchups of these teams in this tournament have gone New Zealand's way. The first contest on July 16 saw New Zealand win by 21 runs, with Tim Robinson as the player of the match. The second game on July 22 was another New Zealand win, this time by seven wickets with Tim Seifert as the player of the match. This is a T20I format cricket tournament. Willow TV is the go-to place to watch cricket matches in the United States. More than 220 live cricket matches per year are available to subscribers of Fubo. Willow by Cricbuzz is the official broadcaster of various cricket leagues around the globe as well as the home of Major League Cricket. Live stream the New Zealand vs South Africa game on Fubo: Start watching now! Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Williamson hits debut ton as Middlesex pile on runs
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, Northwood (day two)Middlesex 625-8 dec: Holden 151, Williamson 114, Du Plooy 105, Cracknell 73; Zaib 3-70Northamptonshire 126-4: McManus 39, Higgins 2-17Middlesex (6 pts), Northants (1 pt)Match scorecard Kane Williamson and Leus du Plooy scored centuries as records wanted and unwanted were set on day two of Middlesex's County Championship clash with Northamptonshire at Merchant Taylors' New Zealand Test skipper Williamson's 114 came on his Championship debut for the Seaxes, while Du Plooy's unbeaten 105 was his first in four-day cricket this and Max Holden (151) took their mammoth second wicket stand to 239, eclipsing the 222 of Sydney Brown and Bill Edrich at Lord's in 1949, and with Joe Cracknell adding a blistering 73 Middlesex reached 625-8 which is their highest ever score against the Zaib took 3-70 amid the run fest, but fellow spinner Yuzvendra Chahal returned 0-175 the worst return by a Northamptonshire bowler without taking a wicket in Championship history – all on his 35th 476 to avoid the follow-on, Northamptonshire reached 54 without loss before stumbling to 126-4 by the close, Lewis McManus top scoring with 39, Ryan Higgins taking moved smoothly from his overnight 88 not out to a century completed with two runs into the leg-side. Day one centurion Holden looked a little scratchy before two boundaries took him past 150. However, no sooner had he reached the landmark when Ben Sanderson trapped him lbw on the back so often with huge stands both protagonists fell in quick succession, Williamson pinned in front by Liam Guthrie in the next the double strike the hosts hardly missed a beat, Higgins and Du Plooy sharing a stand of 67 in only 13 overs. Higgins drove the ball crisply to make 35 before Zaib struck twice in two balls, first removing the all-rounder leg-before and then trimming Ben Geddes' Northamptonshire hopes of getting the hosts for under 500 were quashed either side of lunch with Cracknell, who made 100 in the reverse fixture a month ago playing a gem of a twice cleared the ropes and cut and swept with authority, playing the dominant hand in a stand of 124 with skipper Du Plooy. He eventually fell hooking one from Dominic Leach to Guthrie at long leg and when Zafar Gohar and Toby Roland-Jones fell cheaply there were fears Du Plooy would run out of partners before reaching three Plooy, who had earlier thrashed a full toss from Chahal back over the bowler's head for six, looked unperturbed, driving stylishly and stroking the ball into the gaps. His 10th four brought him to 100 in the shadows of Helm provided great support with two huge sixes in a sprightly cameo, allowing the hosts to declare at the began brightly, McManus unfurling a flurry of boundaries, Middlesex's left-arm seamer Noah Cornwell on the receiving end of the and Ricardo Vasconcelos rattled up a 50-stand, but the left-hander played a little skittishly before edging Higgins to Du Plooy at slip, who clung on at the second Sharma was dropped on nought by Holden at long leg to deny Higgins a second wicket, but his response was to trap McManus lbw with his next soon found the edge of James Sales' bat, and though Sharma threatened to make the most of his reprieve with some wristy cuts and fluent drives he too fell to Roland-Jones in the death throes of the day. Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay
The Guardian
23-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Yorkshire v Surrey, Gloucestershire v Lancashire and more: county cricket day two
Update: Date: 2025-07-23T09:17:13.000Z Title: Tuesday's round-up Content: The sandy-stoned gorgeousness of Cheltenham college, the white hospitality tents full of bonhomie and beer – it wasn't long ago that the world's longest-running cricket festival was a healthy homage to the county game. But times have changed, and Gloucestershire lost £80,000 at last year's festival, and a similar amount the year before. The future looks uncertain, but the 2,400 who came through the gate saw an intriguing day on a butterscotch outfield, that largely dodged the menacing dishwasher clouds that swung in from the north west. Lancashire's Matty Hurst reached his hundred to a enthusiastic round of applause, after holding the innings together against the off-spin of Todd Murphy, the zippy Zaman Akhter (four for 64) and Ajeet Singh Dale, who, festival rumour has it, is off to Old Trafford at the end of the season. Kane Williamson enjoyed his red-ball debut for Middlesex, with an unbeaten 88 against Northamptonshire, a cameo companion to Max Holden's 137 – his third hundred of the summer. An eyebrow raising 22 wickets fell at Taunton, and in a Kookaburra round as well. Craig Overton hustled Durham out for 145, with six for 23; before George Drissell returned the favour for Durham, with five for 59. Tom Lammonby helped Somerset to 250, giving Durham just time to lose two wickets in the three overs before stumps. Spectators at Sophia Gardens watched an epic Kent collapse – six wickets for seven runs against Glamorgan, while at Scarborough, Yorkshire's top four kept top of the table Surrey at bay, despite the unavailability of their new signing Imam-Ul-Haq, with visa issues. There were three wickets for Dan Worrall. Rehan Ahmed danced to his third consecutive century, from 118 balls, as Leicestershire bloomed from a sub-optimal nought for two after eight balls against Derbyshire. Lewis Hill was unbeaten on 132 at stumps, while Peter Handscomb perched on 99. Essex had one of their better days of 2025, ushering Sussex out for 204, the clockwork Jamie Porter (four for 40) and Sam Cook reunited. Ethan Brookes' 80 against his old club kept Worcestershire in the hunt against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Freddie McCann and Jack Haynes pocketed half centuries for Nottinghamshire on an emerald pitch against Hampshire at Southampton. Update: Date: 2025-07-23T09:17:13.000Z Title: Scores on the doors Content: DIVISION ONE Southampton: Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 241-5 Taunton: Somerset 250 v Durham 145 and 5-2 Hove: Sussex 204 v Essex 152-4 Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire 262-8 Scarborough: Yorkshire 282-4 v Surrey DIVISION TWO Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire 357-3 Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 125-4 v Kent 155 Cheltenham: Gloucestershire v Lancashire 290-6 Merchant Taylors' School: Middlesex 319-1 v Northamptonshire Update: Date: 2025-07-23T09:17:13.000Z Title: Preamble Content: Hello! On my morning walk I was surprised to find myself dawdling past GCHQ, then accidentally bought the most expensive glass of overnight oats in Cheltenham. Play starts here, and at the Test, at 11am – gather round the fripperies box and join us.
The Guardian
22-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Yorkshire v Surrey, Sussex v Essex, and more: county cricket day one
Update: Date: 2025-07-22T19:50:07.000Z Title: Gloucestershire Content: There was an intriguing first day at Cheltenham college, a fine debut knock from Kane Williamson and Rehan Ahmed in the runs once more Tanya Aldred at Cheltenham Tue 22 Jul 2025 15.49 EDT First published on Tue 22 Jul 2025 05.00 EDT 3.49pm EDT 15:49 Tanya Aldred The sandy-stoned gorgeousness of Cheltenham college, the white hospitality tents full of bonhomie and beer – it wasn't long ago that the world's longest-running cricket festival was a healthy homage to the county game. But times have changed, and lost £80,000 at last year's festival, and a similar amount the year before. The future looks uncertain, but the 2,400 who came through the gate saw an intriguing day on a butterscotch outfield, that largely dodged the menacing dishwasher clouds that swung in from the north west. Lancashire's Matty Hurst reached his hundred to a enthusiastic round of applause, after holding the innings together against the off-spin of Todd Murphy, the zippy Zaman Akhter (four for 64) and Ajeet Singh Dale, who, festival rumour has it, is off to Old Trafford at the end of the season. Kane Williamson enjoyed his red-ball debut for Middlesex, with an unbeaten 88 against Northamptonshire, a cameo companion to Max Holden's 137 – his third hundred of the summer. An eyebrow raising 22 wickets fell at Taunton, and in a Kookaburra round as well. Craig Overton hustled Durham out for 145, with six for 23; before George Drissell returned the favour for Durham, with five for 59. Tom Lammonby helped Somerset to 250, giving Durham just time to lose two wickets in the three overs before stumps. Spectators at Sophia Gardens watched an epic Kent collapse – six wickets for seven runs against Glamorgan, while at Scarborough, Yorkshire's top four kept top of the table Surrey at bay, despite the unavailability of their new signing Imam-Ul-Haq, with visa issues. There were three wickets for Dan Worrall. Rehan Ahmed danced to his third consecutive century, from 118 balls, as Leicestershire bloomed from a sub-optimal nought for two after eight balls against Derbyshire. Lewis Hill was unbeaten on 132 at stumps, while Peter Handscomb perched on 99. Essex had one of their better days of 2025, ushering Sussex out for 204, the clockwork Jamie Porter (four for 40) and Sam Cook reunited. Ethan Brookes' 80 against his old club kept Worcestershire in the hunt against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Freddie McCann and Jack Haynes pocketed half centuries for Nottinghamshire on an emerald pitch against Hampshire at Southampton. 2.03pm EDT 14:03 The seagulls call and circle the mowers, the Cheltenham team draw out the groundsheets. Thanks for your company today, we'll be back tomorrow – have a lovely evening. 2.02pm EDT 14:02 DIVISION ONE Southampton: Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 241-5 Taunton: Somerset 250 v Durham 145 and 5-2 Hove: Sussex 204 v Essex 152-4 Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire 262-8 Scarborough: Yorkshire 282-4 v Surrey DIVISION TWO Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire 357-3 Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 125-4 v Kent 155 Cheltenham: v Lancashire 290-6 Merchant Taylors' School: Middlesex 319-1 v Northamptonshire 12.30pm EDT 12:30 I'd better write up for the paper. Apologies for missing Lewis Hill's century in Leicestershire's 320-3, and Max Holden's 133 in Middlesex's 303-1, a true Kookaburra day one. Do hang around and chat on BTL. 12.25pm EDT 12:25 Fifty for Matty Hurst… An assured fifty from Hurst and an important one for his side 📸 while at the other end George Balderson is undone by some chin-music from Zaman Akhter (4-46). Lancashire 209-6. 12.18pm EDT 12:18 Ali on Liam Dawson's big chance. 12.14pm EDT 12:14 The shot you might play after a long night of the soul. 🎬 Will Jacks finds a bit of turn to remove Luxton. 🤎 | #SurreyCricket Yorkshire battling against Surrey at Scarborough – fifties (well, 47 for Lyth) for each of the top four. Worrall three for 49. YJB now 18 not out. Yorkshire 280 for four. Updated at 12.14pm EDT 12.05pm EDT 12:05 Make that four for 17 ,as Drissell sends Banton on his way. A classic Somerset wobble. Soon Lewis Gregory and Craig Overton will appear to angrily whack 65 and save the batter blushes. 11.56am EDT 11:56 Somerset have slipped on that rogue bar of Chester-le-Street soap. After an easy start, they've suddenly lost three for five in eight balls. That man Wagner with the original breakthrough, TKC caught and bowled for 40, before Potts grabbed Davey and Rew in the same over, and Drissell did for Abell. Somerset 115-4, 30 behind Durham. 11.51am EDT 11:51 James Bracey is lying on the ground, after taking a blow somewhere painful. His teammates chew their nails, utterly unconcerned. Lovely to wander around at tea: children having fun bowling at each other in the nets, a book signing, good-humoured chatter. A cloud burst, though, seems imminent. Cody the dog, lime trees and ice-creams at the Cheltenham festival. 11.16am EDT 11:16 Time for a cup of tea and a leg stretch, back shortly. 11.16am EDT 11:16 Am enjoying watching Todd Murphy bowl, especially his little high leg dog-lift at start of his run-up walk in. Cricinfo says he is thought of as the heir to Nathan Lyon when he eventually hangs up his boots. That'll be a way away – but he's easy on the eye. 11.08am EDT 11:08 DIVISION ONE Southampton: Hampshire 62-1 v Nottinghamshire 94-2 Taunton: Somerset 62-1 v Durham 145 Hove: Sussex 204 v Essex Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire 159-4 Scarborough: Yorkshire 214-2 v Surrey DIVISION TWO Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire 241-3 Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 2-0 v Kent 155 Cheltenham: v Lancashire 169-5 Merchant Taylors' School: Middlesex 247-1 v Northamptonshire Updated at 11.15am EDT 11.01am EDT 11:01 Rehan Ahmed has been dismissed for 115, but Lewis Hill, who joined him at the crease at 0-2, is unbeaten on 85. Leics 241-3. 10.58am EDT 10:58 Still slight as a candle, James Bracey takes a quick-witted diving catch to his right to dismiss Phil Salt, before jogging a semi-circle of celebration. Lancs 160-5, a fellow traveller in today's low-scores club. 10.47am EDT 10:47 Yorkshire will join Surrey, Somerset and Middlesex and vote to retain 14 Championship matches, following a member survey. They will vote in favour of a marginal reduction in Blast games. The club vowed to 'reflect the views of its members when it places its vote.' At Cheltenham, in what is now pleasant shirt-sleeves warmth, Cameron Bancroft has just dropped Phil Salt at first slip off Akhter. 10.40am EDT 10:40 Truly, an epic performance at Sophia Gardens. From 150-5 to 155 all out. Three ducks (Parky C, Agar, Quinn) to finish things off. Three wickets for Harris and van der Gugten. Updated at 2.05pm EDT 10.36am EDT 10:36 Apologies for the delay. Vic Marks, who is signing copies of his new book, England Cricket Captains, the sequel to Alan Gibson's great book, pops up to the balcony. He says it is obviously flattening out at Taunton. Somerset 32-0. 10.12am EDT 10:12 As Hurst smack six to the right of a jolly band of drinkers in front of hospitality tent, let's wander around the grounds. Updated at 10.13am EDT 10.03am EDT 10:03 I can't work out whether the tannoy announcer has just named the Chapel End as sponsored by a local funeral directors, or Ajeet Singh Dale himself. Anyway, he accelerates in, black hair flowing behind. At Taunton, Durham, who'd done well to haul themselves up from 43-6, are finally all out for 145. Thanks largely to 42 from Ben Raine and twenties from Matthew Potts and Neil Wagner – who played half a game for Durham last year before his shoulder went. Craig Overton 6-23. Updated at 10.14am EDT 9.55am EDT 09:55 And four balls into the resumption, Josh Bohannon has a huge brain fade, quicksteps down the wicket to van Buuren, and is stumped. Lancs 106-3. 9.53am EDT 09:53 The covers are coming off here at Cheltenham, thanks to the busy groundsmen and, weather permitting, play will start at 2.55 with tea at 4.10. Five overs have been lost. A little nugget from the rainbreak – Lancashire sold 2000 tickets on the back of Sir Jimmy's wildcard selection for the Manchester Originals squad. At the same time, Rocky Flintoff was announced as a wildcard for Northern Superchargers. Updated at 9.54am EDT 9.36am EDT 09:36 For balance: Overton J. 🤩 Great to see Jamie Overton back bowling fast with the red ball in hand. 🏏 Yorkshire 142/2 in the 43rd over. 📺 WATCH LIVE ➡️ 🤎 | #SurreyCricket Both openers gone, caught off Worrall – Lyth for 47, Bean for 57. 9.33am EDT 09:33 As the rain falls again on unfortunate , this is worth a few minutes of your time – a call to arms by 's chief exec Neil Priscott. For those of you without a Cricketer subscription, lost £80,000 on last year's festival, even with the amazing Championship game against Glamorgan. They lost a similar amount the year before. 'We would like to continue it,' Priscott tells The Cricketer. 'But if we can't make it work this year, with the schedule we've got and the weather we have, then it will be really hard. We just can't keep losing money.' 'We need support. We need people to support the festival. If we continue to lose, regardless of what the domestic schedule might throw up, we can't keep doing it. But we want to keep doing it. 'If you go back pre-Hundred, pre-Covid, the festival made money. Good surpluses. It was a regular positive for the club. But since those, the schedule has changed a little bit, and it is completely different, and society is different. What used to be one of the hottest hospitality tickets in town, companies are different now. 'There is a different way that people work, and it is not necessarily spending a whole day at the cricket with 10 corporate colleagues. The hospitality market has changed markedly, and that was always one of Cheltenham's big wins. We do recognise that it's not like it was, and we shouldn't expect it to be. So, what are our expectations? We do want to make a surplus, but it is a heck of an effort.' So if you're thinking about coming down, please do! 9.20am EDT 09:20 The umpires walk out for a cursory inspection of the covers, and scurry back. 9.12am EDT 09:12 What a cracking season he's having. At the risk of sounding like a stuck record, he's looked a million dollars in the two centuries I've watched. Today, 104 not out, 121 balls, 14 fours, one six, rescuing Leicestershire from 0-2 to 146-2. Only one player has scored more County Championship hundreds than Rehan Ahmed in 2025. The 20-year-old also averaged more than 40 with the bat in the Blast… Updated at 9.34am EDT 9.04am EDT 09:04 And here comes the rain, filing in from the north west. The players stroll in with Lancashire 105-2. Hopefully it will blow over quickly. 8.59am EDT 08:59 Durham not having their best day: 76-7. OUT!!! 6 for Craig Overton!!! WPA LIVE STREAM ➡️ 8.55am EDT 08:55 An enormous black aerial blanket is approaching Cheltenham college with intent. 8.46am EDT 08:46 A lunchtime email: hello there, Anthony Aldred. 'Today an inspiring group of young elderly men and women took part in a walking cricket festival at The Oval. All had a great time with laughter as well as a good competitive spirit. A long time ago some of my children played Kwik cricket for Send Cricket Club colts on The Oval outfield during the lunchtime of a West Indies Test Match. Not quite the same but now I have done it too. Walking cricket is brilliant. I stopped playing in my early 50s and never thought I would play again yet here I am at 78 performing on a Test ground. Opened the batting too!' Well done Dad! I hope there is video footage. Updated at 10.51am EDT 8.11am EDT 08:11 Going to hunt down some lunch, back shortly. 8.10am EDT 08:10 DIVISION ONE Southampton: Hampshire v Nottinghamshire 20-1 rain Taunton: Somerset v Durham 33-3 rain Hove: Sussex 69-4 v Essex rain Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire 67-3 Scarborough: Yorkshire 82-0 v Surrey DIVISION TWO Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire 118-2 Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Kent 111-2 Cheltenham: v Lancashire 82-2 Merchant Taylors' School: Middlesex 90-0 v Northamptonshire 8.05am EDT 08:05 Some lunchtime reading, in the form of the new Hit for Six report The Danger Zone, six years after the first shocked Shane Warne into speaking out. Hit for Six: The Danger Zone focuses particular on India – and the extreme heat that some IPL games are played in. It reveals that 36 per cent of 2025 IPL matches were played in 'Extreme Caution' conditions, with an additional 12 per cent in the 'Danger' zone. It also reports that there has been a 125 per cent increase in hazardous heat days in Mumbai since 1970, with Thiruvananthapuram recording over 100 in 2024 alone. The report features voices from the Indian grassroots game, where there are none of the safeguards of franchise or international cricket. . 'All of us talk about it. My teammates and I are noticing that cricket doesn't feel the same. It's a bit scary because we don't know how bad it'll get. Mohammad Kaif, Wonders Club, Noida. You can access the report in more detail at the bottom of the page here. Updated at 9.02am EDT 7.49am EDT 07:49 Sussex dine four down, with two wickets to Khaleel Ahmed. And a wicket here at Cheltenham, as Jennings departs, disgruntled. Lancs 75-2. 7.34am EDT 07:34 I spoke to Rob Key (for the Cricket Paper) about the Kookaburra ball at the end of the last round. He was thoughtful about it 'The misconception is that we are using the ball because of the Ashes, but it is because we want the county game to replicate as much as possible the international game, where people bowl more quickly and with more skill on flatter, truer surfaces. It is a long-term vision.' 'It is a small change that has a big effect on the style of cricket played. What we are looking for is players who take on pressure and soak up pressure. We are obsessed with one to one coaching in this country but this is a game learned out in the middle, carving out runs.' On the tensions between cricketers/spectators/selectors 'If you want to get a result you probably do have to play a different kind of cricket. We are looking at the process rather than the results, which is different to the way the county DOCs look at things.' That it produces boring cricket: 'I often think that the way a game is played shows the intent of the team. If the ball is not doing much and you're scoring at two and a half an over, that's a mentality thing, and it depends on your attitude towards risk as a team. The games are not meant to be over in two and a half days.' On spinners.'We have a whole generation of spinners in the last 15 years who found themselves surplus to requirements, but if you look at the game between Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire [in the first of the Kookaburra rounds], Farhan Ahmed and Liam Patterson White bowled 110 overs between them.' Key's data deep dive showed that there was 25 percent more spin bowling in the first kookaburra round than there was in the round before. Interestingly, the decision on when and whether or not to continue with the Kookaburra lies with the county DOCs, who meet with the ECB at the end of the season. 7.20am EDT 07:20 Delays also at Taunton and Edgbaston. Here, off-spinner Todd Murphy wheels in, tea towel tucked into the waistband of his trousers. An excellent addition to the spinners in glasses club. 7.14am EDT 07:14 In Division One: Adam Lyth and Finlay Bean have taken Yorkshire to 56-0 against Division One leaders Surrey at Scarborough. Ethan Bamber and Ed Barnard chopped off Worcestershire's openers in the Midlands Derby at Edgbaston: Worcs 40-2. Durham have been briefly saved by the rain at CLS, Somerset's Craig Overton took two in two, Durham 33-3. GONE!! Craig O on a hat-trick!!! WPA LIVE STREAM ➡️ It is also raining at Southampton, where Notts lost HH early, to Eddie Jack. Notts 20-1. Sussex, who will be joined by 's Tom Price next year, on a three year contract, have lost three wickets this morning to Essex. Simon Harmer is already two overs into his work. Sussex 50-3. 6.58am EDT 06:58 With a reminder (thank you) from BTL that this is a Kookaburra round, a potter round the other Division Two games. Sam Robson and Max Holden have serenely taken Middlesex to 36-0 against Northants at Merchant Taylors'; Rehan Ahmed and Lewis Hill are making merry after Leicestershire's disastrous start, Leics 44-2; and Kent are fizzing along at five an over against Glamorgan, though they've lost Compton for 17. Kent 61-1. 6.47am EDT 06:47 Currently battling with a parasol to protect laptops from the mizzle. 6.38am EDT 06:38 Pleasingly enthusiastic applause as Wells edges behind off Akhter. Lancs 28-1. Updated at 6.38am EDT 6.31am EDT 06:31 Mark Ramprakash is a very thoughtful columnist. 6.29am EDT 06:29 There is, I'm afraid to report, some rain in the air here in Cheltenham. De Lange went off after a couple of overs and is, I think, still nursing something or other. Seagulls drifting about, a few pints making their way around the boundary edge. Lancashire 23-0. 6.13am EDT 06:13 Leicestershire's romp to Division One has hit further tacks in the road – currently one for two, with Budinger and Patel both gone for ducks. 6.03am EDT 06:03 And from the College Hall end, Ajeet Singh Dale, who was so impressive at Old Trafford earlier this season. Rumours are that he is soon headed to south London, though Lancashire were also interested. 6.02am EDT 06:02 A very enthusiastic tannoy announcer jollies up the crowd before play – and if you're thinking of coming along, bring your bank card as it is a cash-free ground. And here come , lead by Cameron Bancroft. Marchant de Lange takes the first over from the Chapel End – we were watching him in warm-up, he's built like a rugby player, all tree-trunk legs and oak-table chest. Rapid too, as Jennings edges him through the slips for four. Updated at 7.42am EDT 5.45am EDT 05:45 Looking out from the balcony at a barley sugar outfield, the clouds towering over Cleeve hill. Jimmy Anderson, still captain despite Marcus Harris' return, has won the toss and decided to bat. Overheard in the queue, Jimmy is the first knight of the realm ever to play at Cheltenham. 5.39am EDT 05:39 1 Leicestershire 157 2 Derbyshire 126 3 Glamorgan 124 4 111 5 Northamptonshire 108 6 Lancashire 102 7. Middlesex 99 8 Kent 89 5.39am EDT 05:39 1 Surrey 140 2 Nottinghamshire 139 3 Sussex 123 4 Somerset 117 5 Warwickshire 117 6 Durham 108 7 Hampshire 105 8 Yorkshire 91 9 Essex 88 10 Worcestershire 73 5.00am EDT 05:00 Part XXXXV…the votes are (starting to come) in: Surrey and Somerset have announced that they want 14 Championship games, with a return to eight teams in Division One and 10 in Division Two; Middlesex also want 14, but with ten teams in the top tier, while Durham and Lancashire support the 12/6 conference idea. The PCA, meanwhile, have put their weight behind the conference plan and a reduction in the number of games to 12, alongside a reduced Blast schedule. 'A change in format of the County Championship to 12 league games is the only reasonable option' said Olly Hannon-Dalby, PCA chair, breathing 'new life' into the competition. 5.00am EDT 05:00 Gary Naylor's excellent round-up of the Blast, as it goes into hibernation. 5.00am EDT 05:00 DIVISION ONE Southampton: Hampshire v Nottinghamshire Taunton: Somerset v Durham Hove: Sussex v Essex Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Worcestershire Scarborough: Yorkshire v Surrey DIVISION TWO Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Kent Cheltenham: v Lancashire Merchant Taylors' School: Middlesex v Northamptonshire 5.00am EDT 05:00 Good morning! Torrential rain in Manchester (good luck for the Test …) has turned into thoughtful clouds above Cheltenham, at the start of this two-week late-July dip in the Championship waters. Fortified with porridge from the cafe opposite the station, I will follow the rucksacks to Cheltenham college. Play starts at 11am – do join us to rummage around cricket, the universe and everything.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Holden hits century for Middlesex against Northants
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, Northwood (day one)Middlesex: Holden 137*, Williamson 88*, Robson 57Northamptonshire: Yet to batMiddlesex (2 pts), Northants (0 pts)Match scorecard Middlesex's Max Holden plundered an unbeaten century as he and New Zealand star Kane Williamson piled up runs on the opening day of their County Championship match against opening to accommodate Williamson's red-ball debut for the county at number three, batted right through the day for 137, his third ton of the season, with the pair adding an uninterrupted 197 to reach 319-1 at Merchant Taylors' Robson (57) shared a stand of 122 with Holden before Williamson – sampling his first taste of Championship cricket since he featured for Yorkshire in 2018 – weighed in with an unbeaten was a testing day for Northamptonshire, with Ben Sanderson their only successful bowler after they inserted the hosts in overcast conditions, while Rob Keogh sustained a serious-looking finger injury attempting to catch Williamson's ferocious Northamptonshire skipper Luke Procter absent for personal reasons, Lewis McManus took the reins for the first time in red-ball cricket and fulfilled his first duty by winning the his bowlers went through the morning session wicketless, despite a tricky opening spell by Sanderson – with Holden taking his time to settle, facing 20 deliveries before he got off the mark with a change Dom Leech struggled for consistency and Robson took advantage to steer him for successive fours as Middlesex picked up the pace, with Holden also unfurling a couple of classy straight drives to the Yuzvendra Chahal entered the attack as early as the 15th over, extracting turn as he began with two maidens, but Holden danced down the wicket to take him on, driving and sweeping with reached lunch with 90 on the board, the Middlesex pair advanced their partnership into three figures. Robson won the race to his half-century, pulling Liam Guthrie for two boundaries in an the opener departed in the next, caught behind leg-glancing Sanderson and that slowed the batting side's progress, although Williamson opened his account with a sweetly driven cover boundary off moved on to 50 with a swiped hook that flew to the rope, but soon afterwards the left-hander survived a sharp chance to short leg off Chahal – now operating in an all-spin attack alongside exquisite timing and placement, especially on the off side, Williamson mastered the bowling and progressed to his half-century three balls ahead of Holden's hundred, courtesy of a back-foot punch for four off Indian spinner returned for another spell earlier than expected after tea, with Keogh forced from the field after making a valiant but unsuccessful attempt to catch Williamson's rocket drive off his own pummelled Leech for another four to lift the partnership beyond 150 and, following the last of the day's three brief rain stoppages, he and Williamson resumed the Middlesex cut Saif Zaib to the fence and then lifted his next ball effortlessly over the top for six but, with the new ball due and the light continuing to worsen, the umpires called a halt to supplied by ECB Reporters' Network, supported by Rothesay
