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26-05-2025
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Northants and Glos draw as rain ends victory hopes
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, County Ground, Northampton (day four) Northamptonshire 469 & 259-6 dec: Sales 70, Zaib 56; Bailey 3-55, Akhter 2-31 Gloucestershire 379-8 dec & 214-6: Hammond 80, Bancroft 60; Conway 2-33 Northants (5 pts) drew with Glos (5 pts) Match scorecard Rain put paid to the prospect of an exciting finish at Wantage Road as Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire were forced to settle for a draw in the County Championship. The Division Two contest had been nicely poised when the weather intervened, with Gloucestershire on 214-6, needing another 136 from a minimum of 24.2 overs. Northamptonshire had set their opponents a target of exactly 350 after rattling up another 101 from the first 12 overs of the day to declare on 259-6, built around bristling knocks of 70 and 58, respectively, from James Sales and Saif Zaib. Miles Hammond threatened to spearhead a successful Gloucestershire charge with his innings of 80, while Cameron Bancroft also posted his second half-century of the game before the home side fought back. Having already shared a century partnership in the first innings, Sales and Zaib were soon speeding towards another in the morning as they extended Northamptonshire's overnight 248-run lead. Sales quickly added the single needed for his second 50 of the match, while it was Zaib who really set the tone, banging two boundaries off the back foot and lifting Tom Price over the top for six. The left-hander followed his partner to a half-century, from 58 balls, but perished hooking Archie Bailey (3-55) down the throat of deep midwicket – and Sales departed later in the same over, losing his middle stump attempting to ramp. However, Lewis McManus and George Bartlett continued to throw the bat as they added another 44 runs, both belting Graeme van Buuren for leg-side sixes to lift their side's lead to 349 and trigger the declaration. Gloucestershire began their chase solidly, scoring at around three-and-a-half an over, but lost two wickets prior to lunch, with Liam Guthrie moving one away from Ben Charlesworth to take the edge. Calvin Harrison did well to scoop up a chance at second slip to dismiss Ollie Price, and the home side might also have removed Hammond without scoring, with a top-edged sweep off the spinner looping up but falling to safety. Hammond was swiftly into his stride after the interval, dancing down the track to slam Harrison into the car park, and belting Luke Procter for successive cover boundaries as he overtook Bancroft en route to his fourth half-century of the season. A swept four off Harrison took Hammond to that landmark from 56 balls, with Bancroft following suit in the next over and, aside from an appeal against Hammond for obstructing the field – rejected by the umpires – the Gloucestershire pair looked comfortable. Having matched his first-innings score exactly, the captain attempted to hook Guthrie and swiped through to McManus – but Hammond continued to pile on runs, cutting and pulling with assurance. Yet Northamptonshire's decision to introduce Bartlett's occasional off-breaks paid dividends as he claimed his maiden first-class wicket on the stroke of tea, trapping Hammond lbw with the visitors just under halfway to their target. Bartlett made way for Harrison, who played a key role in securing two further wickets as he tempted Cameron Green to drive to short cover, and then sprang to take a thick edge at slip off James Bracey. But just as Bracey's replacement Tom Price made his way out to the middle, the rain arrived and the covers were laid in place, stifling any chance of a positive result. ECB Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay Northamptonshire head coach Darren Lehmann: "I thought it was a good declaration by Gloucestershire to open up the game a little bit. We played beautifully this morning to get the runs quick enough to give us enough time to get the overs in and it would have been a great finish to this game. "We didn't think we'd get there until Saif and Sales got going this morning and that allowed us more overs in the game so both sides had a crack at it. "They're going to be our batting middle order for a long period of time hopefully, so I'm pleased they got a few runs. I'd have loved Salesy to get a hundred but he played beautifully for the team today. "They (Gloucestershire) played the right brand as well and it was really in the balance until we got Greeny (Cameron Green) out." Gloucestershire head coach Mark Alleyne: "I think chasing 350 was a more than fair declaration, both sides had a good opportunity to win the game. "Our intention was to go all the way and in terms of run-rate, all was going well – we'd probably just lost one or two wickets more than we would have liked at that stage but we were still keen on giving it a go for those last 20 overs or so. "For me and for any coach, it's the enterprise of the lads in the team that gives you the confidence to play in this way. "There were times earlier in the season when we were a little more conservative, but we feel we're playing well enough now to take a few chances to win matches. Our declaration (on day three) was based on that premise." Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Northants and Glos draw as rain ends victory hopes
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, County Ground, Northampton (day four)Northamptonshire 469 & 259-6: Sales 70, Zaib 56; Bailey 3-55, Akhter 2-31Gloucestershire 379-8 dec & 214-6: Hammond 80, Bancroft 60; Conway 2-33Northants (5 pts) drew with Glos (5 pts)Match scorecard Rain put paid to the prospect of an exciting finish at Wantage Road as Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire were forced to settle for a draw in the County Division Two contest had been nicely poised when the weather intervened, with Gloucestershire on 214-6, needing another 136 from a minimum of 24.2 had set their opponents a target of exactly 350 after rattling up another 101 from the first 12 overs of the day to declare on 259-6, built around bristling knocks of 70 and 58, respectively, from James Sales and Saif Hammond threatened to spearhead a successful Gloucestershire charge with his innings of 80, while Cameron Bancroft also posted his second half-century of the game before the home side fought already shared a century partnership in the first innings, Sales and Zaib were soon speeding towards another in the morning as they extended Northamptonshire's overnight 248-run quickly added the single needed for his second 50 of the match, while it was Zaib who really set the tone, banging two boundaries off the back foot and lifting Tom Price over the top for left-hander followed his partner to a half-century, from 58 balls, but perished hooking Archie Bailey (3-55) down the throat of deep midwicket – and Sales departed later in the same over, losing his middle stump attempting to Lewis McManus and George Bartlett continued to throw the bat as they added another 44 runs, both belting Graeme van Buuren for leg-side sixes to lift their side's lead to 349 and trigger the began their chase solidly, scoring at around three-and-a-half an over, but lost two wickets prior to lunch, with Liam Guthrie moving one away from Ben Charlesworth to take the Harrison did well to scoop up a chance at second slip to dismiss Ollie Price, and the home side might also have removed Hammond without scoring, with a top-edged sweep off the spinner looping up but falling to was swiftly into his stride after the interval, dancing down the track to slam Harrison into the car park, and belting Luke Procter for successive cover boundaries as he overtook Bancroft en route to his fourth half-century of the season.A swept four off Harrison took Hammond to that landmark from 56 balls, with Bancroft following suit in the next over and, aside from an appeal against Hammond for obstructing the field – rejected by the umpires – the Gloucestershire pair looked matched his first-innings score exactly, the captain attempted to hook Guthrie and swiped through to McManus – but Hammond continued to pile on runs, cutting and pulling with Northamptonshire's decision to introduce Bartlett's occasional off-breaks paid dividends as he claimed his maiden first-class wicket on the stroke of tea, trapping Hammond lbw with the visitors just under halfway to their made way for Harrison, who played a key role in securing two further wickets as he tempted Cameron Green to drive to short cover, and then sprang to take a thick edge at slip off James just as Bracey's replacement Tom Price made his way out to the middle, the rain arrived and the covers were laid in place, stifling any chance of a positive Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay
Yahoo
24-05-2025
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Harrison keeps Northants in control against Glos
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, County Ground, Northampton (day two) Northamptonshire 469: Zaib 159, Sales 81, Harrison 63; Bailey 3-76 Gloucestershire 156-4: Bancroft 60, Hammond 51; Harrison 2-40 Northants 3 pts, Glos 2 pts Match scorecard Northamptonshire leg-spinner Calvin Harrison followed up a career-best knock of 63 with two wickets to keep his side in control of their County Championship clash against Gloucestershire at Wantage Road. Harrison, on loan from Nottinghamshire, shared a ninth-wicket partnership of 90 with Liam Guthrie as the home side posted a daunting total of 469, built around Saif Zaib's career-high 159. Visiting captain Cameron Bancroft defied Northamptonshire with a gritty 60 – his first half-century in seven innings – while Miles Hammond hit a more pugnacious 51, but both fell shortly before stumps to leave Gloucestershire 156-4, still 164 short of the follow-on target. Harrison finished the day with 2-40, with Luke Procter and Harry Conway picking up a wicket apiece. Resuming on 327-6, Northamptonshire built steadily throughout the morning session, with Lewis McManus square cutting Matt Taylor to the boundary to take his stand with Zaib into three figures. Taylor had McManus caught behind for 43 in his next over, persuading the right-hander to nibble outside off stump, but Zaib soon progressed to 150 for the first time as the home side pocketed a third batting bonus point. They declined to attempt a swift dash for a fourth, particularly after Zaib's marathon knock finally came to an end, slashing Archie Bailey to slip, but Harrison, who drove confidently on the off side – including an all-run four off Bailey – and Guthrie batted capably. Gloucestershire brought back Zaman Akhter, who had been wayward early on, for a second spell at the David Capel End and Guthrie immediately steered him to the long-on boundary, prompting them to switch to an all-spin attack leading up to lunch. That included the occasional off-breaks of Hammond, who continued after the interval but was soon targeted as Harrison, having passed his half-century, thumped him to the fence twice in quick succession. Fellow spinner Ollie Price made the breakthrough when Harrison reverse-swept him into the hands of backward point and, with Guthrie holing out for 33 in Graeme van Buuren's next over, it was finally time for Gloucestershire's openers to strap on their pads. There was an early scare for Bancroft, who dragged Guthrie on to his pad rather than the stumps, while Ben Charlesworth survived a hesitant inside edge off Conway in similar fashion. The pair appeared to have settled into their rhythm, but Procter's consistent spell as first change brought rewards when he found the outside edge of Charlesworth's bat and Ricardo Vasconcelos snapped up the chance at slip. However, Bancroft kept the scoreboard ticking along after tea, leg-glancing Conway to the rope and then flicking the seamer off his hips for four more while Ollie Price dropped anchor at the other end. Price had just begun to flex his muscles by sweeping Harrison for two boundaries and tried to turn the leg-spinner around the corner again – but Vasconcelos anticipated the shot and scurried around behind McManus to take the catch. New batter Hammond held firm and flourished against the spinners, scoring freely on both sides of the wicket to reach his fourth 50 of the campaign from 60 balls, sharing a stand of 80 with Bancroft. But Harrison returned to pin Hammond leg before and Bancroft departed in the next over, caught down the leg side off Conway as Gloucestershire limped through to the close. Report supplied by ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay Zaib hits century as Northants recover against Glos Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport
BBC News
24-05-2025
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Harrison keeps Northants in control against Glos
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, County Ground, Northampton (day two)Northamptonshire 469: Zaib 159, Sales 81, Harrison 63; Bailey 3-76Gloucestershire 156-4: Bancroft 60, Hammond 51; Harrison 2-40Northants 3 pts, Glos 2 ptsMatch scorecard Northamptonshire leg-spinner Calvin Harrison followed up a career-best knock of 63 with two wickets to keep his side in control of their County Championship clash against Gloucestershire at Wantage on loan from Nottinghamshire, shared a ninth-wicket partnership of 90 with Liam Guthrie as the home side posted a daunting total of 469, built around Saif Zaib's career-high captain Cameron Bancroft defied Northamptonshire with a gritty 60 – his first half-century in seven innings – while Miles Hammond hit a more pugnacious 51, but both fell shortly before stumps to leave Gloucestershire 156-4, still 164 short of the follow-on finished the day with 2-40, with Luke Procter and Harry Conway picking up a wicket on 327-6, Northamptonshire built steadily throughout the morning session, with Lewis McManus square cutting Matt Taylor to the boundary to take his stand with Zaib into three had McManus caught behind for 43 in his next over, persuading the right-hander to nibble outside off stump, but Zaib soon progressed to 150 for the first time as the home side pocketed a third batting bonus declined to attempt a swift dash for a fourth, particularly after Zaib's marathon knock finally came to an end, slashing Archie Bailey to slip, but Harrison, who drove confidently on the off side – including an all-run four off Bailey – and Guthrie batted brought back Zaman Akhter, who had been wayward early on, for a second spell at the David Capel End and Guthrie immediately steered him to the long-on boundary, prompting them to switch to an all-spin attack leading up to included the occasional off-breaks of Hammond, who continued after the interval but was soon targeted as Harrison, having passed his half-century, thumped him to the fence twice in quick spinner Ollie Price made the breakthrough when Harrison reverse-swept him into the hands of backward point and, with Guthrie holing out for 33 in Graeme van Buuren's next over, it was finally time for Gloucestershire's openers to strap on their was an early scare for Bancroft, who dragged Guthrie on to his pad rather than the stumps, while Ben Charlesworth survived a hesitant inside edge off Conway in similar pair appeared to have settled into their rhythm, but Procter's consistent spell as first change brought rewards when he found the outside edge of Charlesworth's bat and Ricardo Vasconcelos snapped up the chance at Bancroft kept the scoreboard ticking along after tea, leg-glancing Conway to the rope and then flicking the seamer off his hips for four more while Ollie Price dropped anchor at the other had just begun to flex his muscles by sweeping Harrison for two boundaries and tried to turn the leg-spinner around the corner again – but Vasconcelos anticipated the shot and scurried around behind McManus to take the batter Hammond held firm and flourished against the spinners, scoring freely on both sides of the wicket to reach his fourth 50 of the campaign from 60 balls, sharing a stand of 80 with Harrison returned to pin Hammond leg before and Bancroft departed in the next over, caught down the leg side off Conway as Gloucestershire limped through to the supplied by ECB Reporters Network, supported by Rothesay
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Zaib hits century as Northants recover against Glos
Rothesay County Championship Division Two, County Ground, Northampton (day one)Northamptonshire 327-6: Zaib 141*, Sales 81; Charlesworth 2-41, Bailey 2-61Gloucestershire: Yet to batNorthants 2 pts, Glos 2 ptsMatch scorecard Saif Zaib hit a superbly paced unbeaten 141, his highest first-class score and third century of the season, as Northamptonshire staged a sterling fightback on day one of this County Championship match against Gloucestershire at Wantage combined with James Sales (81) in a fifth-wicket stand worth 148 in 44.2 overs after Northamptonshire's top order slumped to 57-4 before Archie Bailey, 19, bowled with express pace and accounted for two of the first four wickets to fall on his return to the town of his with little pace or bounce in the wicket to assist a thoroughly disciplined Gloucestershire bowling attack, Sales and Zaib were content to absorb the pressure before pressing the accelerator. Sales played the dominant partner at first before Zaib took over, marching to his ton from 147 balls and going past his previous best of 135 against Sussex in an admirably persistent Gloucestershire bowling performance, both Bailey, playing only his third first-class game, and Ben Charlesworth picked up two wickets apiece with Northamptonshire finishing the day handily placed on refreshed their batting line-up after last week's heavy defeat by Glamorgan, bringing in Gus Miller for his first game this season and rewarding promising teenager Aadi Sharma with his senior was a familiar start though when Tom Price struck in the fifth over, trapping Ricardo Vasconelos lbw. Miller and Luke Procter looked to build a partnership amidst a miserly opening bowling partnership between Price and Matt Taylor before both fell within 10 Miller chased a wide one from Bailey and edged to second slip. The in-form Procter (20) looked in good touch again, but when Bailey came round the wicket and swung one back in, the Northamptonshire captain was trapped lbw as he moved across his started to steady the ship, steering one down to third to bring up Northamptonshire's 50 in the 23rd over, while Sharma, who looked unfazed by the occasion, cut Charlesworth firmly for four. The debutant failed to capitalise on the bowler's next delivery, a loose short ball, and pulled it straight to square was fortunate to survive a run out appeal early in his innings on 19. Graeme van Buuren threw down the stumps at the non-strikers' end with a direct hit, but Zaib was adjudged not out, although his bat appeared short of his and Zaib duly brought up their 50 partnership off 122 balls before Sales went on the offensive. By contrast the next 50 runs came in quick time off just 62 deliveries in the afternoon punched Zaman Akhter off the backfoot square for four and reached 50 when he glided Ollie Price down to third. He tucked into the off-spinner's next over too, helping himself to three further boundaries, smashing Price over mid-on and forcing him out of the upped the tempo before tea too, hitting Bailey straight down the ground and sweeping van Buuren to the ropes to bring up his half-century off 101 balls, Northamptonshire going into the tea break on was van Buuren who finally broke the partnership soon after the resumption when Ollie Price took a sharp tumbling catch at short mid-wicket as Sales played an attempted Zaib carried on unabated, taking three boundaries off Bailey, driving and pulling to good effect, although he rode his luck against van Buuren when an edge flew just wide of Bartlett, moved down the order for this game, fell cheaply when he edged behind to a Charlesworth delivery which was too close to though continued at pace to bring up his century. By comparison, his first 50 had come off 101 balls, his second off just 46. He treated the crowd to an array of shots all around the ground throughout the evening McManus (33 not out) provided excellent support, driving Taylor for four to take Northamptonshire past 300 and a second batting bonus Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay
