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| Meanwhile in Chelmsford. (From Charl Willoughby's Twitter feed.) |
In the small number of overs which could be bowled on the first day, wickets tumbled and they tumbled quickly. Scott Newman departed second ball, hanging his bat just outside the off stump to allow David Masters to pick up his 22nd first-class wicket of the season so far. At the other end, Charl Willoughby was running in, finally making his home Championship debut for the club, and he was doing all the damage.
Ben Harmison went for 2, Rob Key soon followed for a low score and then Mike Powell went for a duck. Brendan Nash, who'd scored an unbeaten century in the rain affected draw against Yorkshire a couple of weeks ago, then had his off stump sent cartwheeling as Willoughby broke through his defences. Kent were 9-5 and it was up to Geraint Jones and Darren Stevens, who has this annoying habit of doing really well at Chelmsford, to see them through to the close.
Day two saw more rain and it meant only 10 balls could be bowled. Essex took no wickets and Kent added only seven runs to their overnight total. Essex are getting close to having played more games of cards in the dressing room than they have cricket on the field, so it's been a frustrating start. The words "hosepipe ban" don't really provide comfort either.
However, in the warm up before the deluge, there was still time for Alviro Petersen to turn his ankle over in the dread football warm up. Football as a cricket warm up has always provoked debate. In recent years, James Anderson has been forced to miss an England game after picking up an injury in a football warm up and who can forget the morning activities of the 2009 Headingley Test after Matt Prior's back spasm?
Back on the pitch at Chelmsford and Essex began day 3 searching for the sixth wicket. It wasn't coming. Darren Stevens and Geraint Jones dug in as Masters and Willoughby could not continue their effectiveness of the previous day's play. Tymal Mills was disappointing, perhaps not enjoying the soggy conditions of the bowler's run up, and it allowed Stevens and Jones to build a mammoth partnership.
The two settled in and Kent went past the one hundred mark with still only 5 wickets down. Essex's bowling was disappointing, Greg Smith failed to have an impact once again and Ravi Bopara could only manage one over before heading off the field with a thigh injury. The injury was a huge blow to Bopara himself, as he would surely have been hoping for another chance at 6 for England on Thursday. Away from Ravi's thigh, the rebuilding process of Stevens and Jones meant that Kent were able to pick up a batting point, something which looked unthinkable with the team in such a dire position on the first day.
Charl Willoughby finally got the breakthrough, and his fifth wicket allowing him to return the figures of 5-70, as Darren Stevens was caught at short leg by Billy Godleman. As with buses, wickets also come in clusters and Kent managed to book end their innings with a collapse. Tom Westley picked up the three wickets of James Tredwell, Mark Davies and Charlie Shreck to leave Kent 206-9. It allowed Geraint Jones to go on the attack as the young debutant of Ivan Thomas was at the other end. Jones was eventually out to Dave Masters for 88, bringing Kent's innings of 225 to a close.
Essex's innings started in yet another disappointing fashion. Cook departed for another low score. In the two first-class matches he's played for Essex since his return from England, he's yet to get into double figures. Naturally, he'll probably get man of the series against the West Indies and Essex won't see him again until next May.
In the Chelmsford late evening sunshine, Tom Westley picked up another duck, his second golden one of the season. Westley's half century against Glamorgan probably saved his place in this match, but perhaps Essex may consider Jaik Mickleburgh, who has seemed in decent touch for the 2nd XI, or hand Adam Wheater a return to the side.
Godleman looked in good touch until he was given out LBW to Mark Davies, who was bowling incredibly economically and causing the Essex batsmen trouble. Greg Smith departed for only 4 and, like Westley, when the likes of Shah and ten Doeschate return from the IPL and Napier gets back from his injury, will surely fear for his place. James Foster came in, leading to concern over whether both Petersen and Bopara would be able to bat, but when he went for 4 and then Pettini, who has been in wonderful touch for the past couple of games, went for 92, Petersen and Bopara were at the crease.
Both of them had runners, which was always going to be a recipe for disaster, so it was understandable that the runners of Tom Westley and Greg Smith were both sent back to the pavilion. However, Bopara's injury seemed worse than he anticipated, so Greg Smith was back out and it was thought he was doing the running for both the players until it was clear that Petersen was doing the running for himself.
Bopara, predictably and amusingly, got run out and he was the last man out for Essex. To have a side 9-5 and then not reach a batting point yourself is a hugely disappointing result. Kent went back into bat and reached 92-2 before declaring, but the match was declared a draw, Essex's fourth of the season. Kent head back across the Thames with 7 points, Essex finished with 6.
Essex's CB40 campaign finally began and it ended with a 7 wicket loss to Worcestershire. 99 for Moeen Ali, before he got out to Alviro Petersen, meant that Worcestershire always looked comfortable chasing a poor effort from the Eagles. Essex had begun brightly with Cook scoring 47 and Pettini carrying on his good form by reaching 64, but that was all that was really on offer from Essex as they limped along to 190-9 off 40 overs.
Bopara's thigh injury may keep him out for two weeks meaning that Essex now head off to Grace Road for their four day match on Wednesday without him and Alastair Cook, who has returned to the England set up. After Leicestershire, Essex head up to Lancashire for another CB40 match on Sunday. Essex will be hoping for sunnier skies up north, otherwise it may well continue to be a frustrating start to the season for the Eagles.
The Yorkshire Perspective
Yorkshire's horrible run of PR luck continued this week as Mitch Starc, fresh from sunnier climes, was sent packing after some paperwork was incorrectly filled out. Yorkshire's chairman, Colin Graves, handled the situation with all the gravitas one would expect - he heaped all the blame on Starc's agent, calling the issue a 'disgrace.' Nothing like a traditional warm, Northern reception to welcome Mitch to Yorkshire CCC.
Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root were both absent from Tyke duty as they headed off to Northampton to get a first look at the touring West Indies team. Adam Lyth was called in to the top of the order to replace Root, whilst Gerard Brophy took up his old position behind the stumps. Other than that, Yorkshire were unchanged as they arrived in Bristol to face Gloucestershire.
The first day was, unsurprisingly, a complete wash-out. The second day looked slightly more promising, but the weather once again turned up to ruin everyone's fun. Gale won the toss and, as is tradition at this time of the year, chose to bowl. It looked like the right decision as Bresnan removed opener Howell early to leave Gloucestershire at 9/1. This brought Gloucestershire's overseas signing, Kane Williamson, to the crease.
Having spent much of last month playing Dale Steyn's personal punchbag, Williamson took the determination of that test series out to the middle with him. There were plenty of edges and plays and misses from both Williamson and Dent, but they stayed at the crease, frustrating the Yorkshire bowlers. Patterson made the breakthrough late in the day to dismiss Dent for 62, but Williamson stuck it out.
The third day was mercifully rain free, and Yorkshire took the field looking to take early wickets. Williamson reached a magnificent hundred, an innings that will give him confidence when his native country tours England in similar testing conditions, before being dismissed by a fired up Bresnan shortly after Gidman lost his wicket.
Yorkshire's frustration at times shone through; Bresnan conceded five overthrows after a slightly over-enthusiastic attempt at a run out, and Sidebottom looked ready to kill the next batsman who played and missed at him. But both Bresnan and Patterson stuck to their guns. Bresnan picked up his 5th five-for in county cricket as he bowled the dangerous looking Hamish Marshall, before forcing Cockbain to edge to slip in his next over. But it was Patterson who looked to swing things Yorkshire's way by taking two wickets in two balls to leave Gloucestershire at 294/8.
It was then that the entertainment started. Gale replaced Bresnan with Lyth, who merrily let the Gloucestershire tail smack him around for 26 from two overs, before bringing himself on at the opposite end for his first bowl in three years. It was obvious that Yorkshire were planning to forfeit the innings - which they did, before sending Gloucestershire back out to bat. It was an incredibly competitive decision from the two captains, who came together to agree to firstly let Gloucestershire reach 300 and claim the batting points, before then settling on a target for Yorkshire to try to reach.
Last season, Yorkshire didn't play enough attacking cricket; and at times in the early stages, they've let the momentum slide. But Gale's decision showed how much Yorkshire wanted victory. The game could easily have tailed off towards a draw, with both sides pocketing the points - but the two captains forced the game back onto track, in order to give one a chance of winning.
Yorkshire's reply started off on shaky grounds, as Sayers was removed late on the third day. Jaques and Lyth guided Yorkshire to 30/1 at the close, and although Lyth fell early on the fourth day, Jaques once again took centre stage. It was a big ask for Yorkshire; Gloucestershire may not have the most vivacious bowling attack in the county, but batting dominoes has become a feature of Yorkshire's game play over the past season. Yorkshire needed 370 from a minimum of 96 over, and Jaques, given a life after a drop in the slips, took his attacking nature to Gloucestershire. Delicate strokes were mixed with punchy pulls and elegant drives through the covers. He was joined by Gale, who also took the attack to Gloucestershire, striking Young for two, six and four in his first over. Gale's attack misfired as he sent one straight down McCarter's throat at mid-on, which brought Ballance to the crease.
Ballance and Jaques made quite the partnership at the crease; their combined stance of 213 saw Jaques take the lead as Ballance quietly accumulated, whilst at the same time dispatching the looser deliveries. Jaques reached his second hundred of the season for the Tykes from 160 balls -and more importantly, he was still there as Ballance reached his 50. Their combined partnership, the perfect example of the senior/junior roles at the crease, pushed Yorkshire into a stronger and stronger position.
There were wobbles as Jaques was dismissed for a hugely impressive 160, leaving Yorkshire with 80 to chase. McGrath came and went without making a huge impact. Ballance begun to hit out as he was joined by Bresnan, who thrashed the Gloucestershire bowlers around for a while, before being bowled by Young, after making 38 from just as many deliveries. Ballance, however, stuck around; he reached his 100, the first of the season for him, before striking 4, 6 and 6 to seal the game for Yorkshire.
It could have, to coin a charming Yorkshire phrase, all gone tits up for the Tykes this week. Whilst Yorkshire were charging for the win, Shahzad took a wicket with his first ball in a Lancashire shirt, and added two more to his total. But the attacking cricket that fans had been promised reared its head in this game. The decision to chase down a total, and force a result, swung the game in Yorkshire's favour. They are now joint top of Division Two, and will be looking to carry on the unbeaten streak against Hampshire next week.
Tyke of the match
Jaques. Jaques was there in the morning, the afternoon and half of the evening session. It was a classy 160, with a balance of aggression and finesse that he carries off so well. Yorkshire were in need of a big score if they planned to chase down such a huge total - and Jaques provided them with the perfect platform.
Around the Country
The Yorkshire win was the only game across the two divisions that produced a result. In Division One, leaders Nottingham amassed their biggest batting total of the season so far against Middlesex. Michael Lumb's 162, his first for his new county, was well supported by the middle order. The England seamer shoot-out continued, as Finn took 7 across the board, whilst Broad took one, but managed to do so without having a hissy-fit. The game was drawn after Strauss spent some valuable time at the crease.
Three days of Lancashire v. Sussex were rained off. New Lanky, Ajmal Shahzad, took a wicket with his first ball, taking three overall in the game, but Lancashire were unable to bowl out Sussex after declaring for 144. Durham and Somerset was also massively rain affected. Durham's woeful season with the bat - naturally, I've tipped them to win the first division - continued as Somerset's last eleven men standing produced an excellent performance with the ball.
Surrey celebrating having KP back in the side by collapsing to 43/8. Jacques Rudolph stuck around long enough in the first innings to push Surrey over the 100 line, before they were unsurprisingly invited to follow on by Worcestershire. Worcestershire, who were without county hero Alan Richardson for the second innings, were unable to maintain any real pressure on Surrey, as captain Hamilton-Brown and Tom Maynard both made centuries to guide Surrey to the draw.
In Division Two, Matthew Hoggard celebrated his return to Leicestershire by doing what he does best - blocking the ball in the last few overs. Leicestershire, after rain affected the majority of the game, declared their first innings at 38/2. Northamptonshire then declared their second innings on 26/0. Sarwan made 94 in the second innings, and Josh Cobb continued his impressive start to the season.
In Group A of the CB40, Gloucestershire managed to pile on the runs against Leicestershire, thanks to another century from Kane Williamson. They handed the Twenty20 champions a 164 run defeat. The Netherlands were searching for their third win in as many games against Middlesex, but they ended up losing by 8 wickets as Joe Denly and Chris Rogers guided the Panthers home.
Group B saw a no result in Glasgow between Scotland and Glamorgan. In Group C, there was a 144 run victory for Sussex over the Unicorns. Derbyshire were handed a 9 wicket defeat at the hands of Warwickshire as the Bears managed to bowl the Falcolns out for a pitiful 122. Despite the early loss of Chopra, an unbeaten 81 from William Porterfield and 41 not out from Jonathan Trott saw the Bears home with 15.3 overs to spare.
Around Cricket
The majority of the West Indies Test squad has now arrived, but it still couldn't stop them from suffering a 10 wicket defeat at the hands of the England Lions. Yorkshire's Joe Root scored an unbeaten century as the Lions chased down their 197 target at the County Ground in Northampton.
Misbah-ul-Haq has stepped down as Pakistan's Twenty20 captain, but remains captain of the Test and ODI side. Their squads for the tour of Sri Lanka have been announced, with Mohammad Sami and Faisal Iqbal being recalled after a couple of years in the wilderness.
Meanwhile, Australia have announced their touring squad for the ODI series this summer, with Barmy Army favourite Mitchell Johnson returning after a winter nursing injury and Steve Smith, who has impressed at the IPL, also coming back into the fold. Highly rated youngster Patrick Cummins also returns from injury as Australia look to give their youngsters a chance to play in English conditions before the Ashes next summer.
The ICC are considering a switch hit LBW rule change, which prompted Kevin Pietersen to go off on one on Twitter before donning a beanie and sitting in the dressing room waiting for Surrey to collapse. The ICC have also picked Haroon Largot's successor as former South African wicketkeeper, Dave Richardson, has been voted as the new chief executive.
Finally, England's squad for the Lord's Test has been announced. Graham Onions returns and Ravi Bopara's thigh injury opens the door for Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow, who impressed in the England Lions match. The number 6 position has been a much talked about point for England in recent years, but there's something reassuring about having a northern ginger in the middle order.
Ben Harmison went for 2, Rob Key soon followed for a low score and then Mike Powell went for a duck. Brendan Nash, who'd scored an unbeaten century in the rain affected draw against Yorkshire a couple of weeks ago, then had his off stump sent cartwheeling as Willoughby broke through his defences. Kent were 9-5 and it was up to Geraint Jones and Darren Stevens, who has this annoying habit of doing really well at Chelmsford, to see them through to the close.
Day two saw more rain and it meant only 10 balls could be bowled. Essex took no wickets and Kent added only seven runs to their overnight total. Essex are getting close to having played more games of cards in the dressing room than they have cricket on the field, so it's been a frustrating start. The words "hosepipe ban" don't really provide comfort either.
However, in the warm up before the deluge, there was still time for Alviro Petersen to turn his ankle over in the dread football warm up. Football as a cricket warm up has always provoked debate. In recent years, James Anderson has been forced to miss an England game after picking up an injury in a football warm up and who can forget the morning activities of the 2009 Headingley Test after Matt Prior's back spasm?
Back on the pitch at Chelmsford and Essex began day 3 searching for the sixth wicket. It wasn't coming. Darren Stevens and Geraint Jones dug in as Masters and Willoughby could not continue their effectiveness of the previous day's play. Tymal Mills was disappointing, perhaps not enjoying the soggy conditions of the bowler's run up, and it allowed Stevens and Jones to build a mammoth partnership.
The two settled in and Kent went past the one hundred mark with still only 5 wickets down. Essex's bowling was disappointing, Greg Smith failed to have an impact once again and Ravi Bopara could only manage one over before heading off the field with a thigh injury. The injury was a huge blow to Bopara himself, as he would surely have been hoping for another chance at 6 for England on Thursday. Away from Ravi's thigh, the rebuilding process of Stevens and Jones meant that Kent were able to pick up a batting point, something which looked unthinkable with the team in such a dire position on the first day.
Charl Willoughby finally got the breakthrough, and his fifth wicket allowing him to return the figures of 5-70, as Darren Stevens was caught at short leg by Billy Godleman. As with buses, wickets also come in clusters and Kent managed to book end their innings with a collapse. Tom Westley picked up the three wickets of James Tredwell, Mark Davies and Charlie Shreck to leave Kent 206-9. It allowed Geraint Jones to go on the attack as the young debutant of Ivan Thomas was at the other end. Jones was eventually out to Dave Masters for 88, bringing Kent's innings of 225 to a close.
Essex's innings started in yet another disappointing fashion. Cook departed for another low score. In the two first-class matches he's played for Essex since his return from England, he's yet to get into double figures. Naturally, he'll probably get man of the series against the West Indies and Essex won't see him again until next May.
In the Chelmsford late evening sunshine, Tom Westley picked up another duck, his second golden one of the season. Westley's half century against Glamorgan probably saved his place in this match, but perhaps Essex may consider Jaik Mickleburgh, who has seemed in decent touch for the 2nd XI, or hand Adam Wheater a return to the side.
Godleman looked in good touch until he was given out LBW to Mark Davies, who was bowling incredibly economically and causing the Essex batsmen trouble. Greg Smith departed for only 4 and, like Westley, when the likes of Shah and ten Doeschate return from the IPL and Napier gets back from his injury, will surely fear for his place. James Foster came in, leading to concern over whether both Petersen and Bopara would be able to bat, but when he went for 4 and then Pettini, who has been in wonderful touch for the past couple of games, went for 92, Petersen and Bopara were at the crease.
Both of them had runners, which was always going to be a recipe for disaster, so it was understandable that the runners of Tom Westley and Greg Smith were both sent back to the pavilion. However, Bopara's injury seemed worse than he anticipated, so Greg Smith was back out and it was thought he was doing the running for both the players until it was clear that Petersen was doing the running for himself.
Bopara, predictably and amusingly, got run out and he was the last man out for Essex. To have a side 9-5 and then not reach a batting point yourself is a hugely disappointing result. Kent went back into bat and reached 92-2 before declaring, but the match was declared a draw, Essex's fourth of the season. Kent head back across the Thames with 7 points, Essex finished with 6.
Essex's CB40 campaign finally began and it ended with a 7 wicket loss to Worcestershire. 99 for Moeen Ali, before he got out to Alviro Petersen, meant that Worcestershire always looked comfortable chasing a poor effort from the Eagles. Essex had begun brightly with Cook scoring 47 and Pettini carrying on his good form by reaching 64, but that was all that was really on offer from Essex as they limped along to 190-9 off 40 overs.
Bopara's thigh injury may keep him out for two weeks meaning that Essex now head off to Grace Road for their four day match on Wednesday without him and Alastair Cook, who has returned to the England set up. After Leicestershire, Essex head up to Lancashire for another CB40 match on Sunday. Essex will be hoping for sunnier skies up north, otherwise it may well continue to be a frustrating start to the season for the Eagles.
Eagle of the Match: There's a case for Charl Willoughby, but once again I find myself going for Mark Pettini. Essex's batting is failing at the moment and Pettini is the one standing up and proving himself, something that must surely be pleasing to any Essex fan.
The Yorkshire Perspective
Yorkshire's horrible run of PR luck continued this week as Mitch Starc, fresh from sunnier climes, was sent packing after some paperwork was incorrectly filled out. Yorkshire's chairman, Colin Graves, handled the situation with all the gravitas one would expect - he heaped all the blame on Starc's agent, calling the issue a 'disgrace.' Nothing like a traditional warm, Northern reception to welcome Mitch to Yorkshire CCC.
Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root were both absent from Tyke duty as they headed off to Northampton to get a first look at the touring West Indies team. Adam Lyth was called in to the top of the order to replace Root, whilst Gerard Brophy took up his old position behind the stumps. Other than that, Yorkshire were unchanged as they arrived in Bristol to face Gloucestershire.
The first day was, unsurprisingly, a complete wash-out. The second day looked slightly more promising, but the weather once again turned up to ruin everyone's fun. Gale won the toss and, as is tradition at this time of the year, chose to bowl. It looked like the right decision as Bresnan removed opener Howell early to leave Gloucestershire at 9/1. This brought Gloucestershire's overseas signing, Kane Williamson, to the crease.
Having spent much of last month playing Dale Steyn's personal punchbag, Williamson took the determination of that test series out to the middle with him. There were plenty of edges and plays and misses from both Williamson and Dent, but they stayed at the crease, frustrating the Yorkshire bowlers. Patterson made the breakthrough late in the day to dismiss Dent for 62, but Williamson stuck it out.
The third day was mercifully rain free, and Yorkshire took the field looking to take early wickets. Williamson reached a magnificent hundred, an innings that will give him confidence when his native country tours England in similar testing conditions, before being dismissed by a fired up Bresnan shortly after Gidman lost his wicket.
Yorkshire's frustration at times shone through; Bresnan conceded five overthrows after a slightly over-enthusiastic attempt at a run out, and Sidebottom looked ready to kill the next batsman who played and missed at him. But both Bresnan and Patterson stuck to their guns. Bresnan picked up his 5th five-for in county cricket as he bowled the dangerous looking Hamish Marshall, before forcing Cockbain to edge to slip in his next over. But it was Patterson who looked to swing things Yorkshire's way by taking two wickets in two balls to leave Gloucestershire at 294/8.
It was then that the entertainment started. Gale replaced Bresnan with Lyth, who merrily let the Gloucestershire tail smack him around for 26 from two overs, before bringing himself on at the opposite end for his first bowl in three years. It was obvious that Yorkshire were planning to forfeit the innings - which they did, before sending Gloucestershire back out to bat. It was an incredibly competitive decision from the two captains, who came together to agree to firstly let Gloucestershire reach 300 and claim the batting points, before then settling on a target for Yorkshire to try to reach.
Last season, Yorkshire didn't play enough attacking cricket; and at times in the early stages, they've let the momentum slide. But Gale's decision showed how much Yorkshire wanted victory. The game could easily have tailed off towards a draw, with both sides pocketing the points - but the two captains forced the game back onto track, in order to give one a chance of winning.
Yorkshire's reply started off on shaky grounds, as Sayers was removed late on the third day. Jaques and Lyth guided Yorkshire to 30/1 at the close, and although Lyth fell early on the fourth day, Jaques once again took centre stage. It was a big ask for Yorkshire; Gloucestershire may not have the most vivacious bowling attack in the county, but batting dominoes has become a feature of Yorkshire's game play over the past season. Yorkshire needed 370 from a minimum of 96 over, and Jaques, given a life after a drop in the slips, took his attacking nature to Gloucestershire. Delicate strokes were mixed with punchy pulls and elegant drives through the covers. He was joined by Gale, who also took the attack to Gloucestershire, striking Young for two, six and four in his first over. Gale's attack misfired as he sent one straight down McCarter's throat at mid-on, which brought Ballance to the crease.
Ballance and Jaques made quite the partnership at the crease; their combined stance of 213 saw Jaques take the lead as Ballance quietly accumulated, whilst at the same time dispatching the looser deliveries. Jaques reached his second hundred of the season for the Tykes from 160 balls -and more importantly, he was still there as Ballance reached his 50. Their combined partnership, the perfect example of the senior/junior roles at the crease, pushed Yorkshire into a stronger and stronger position.
There were wobbles as Jaques was dismissed for a hugely impressive 160, leaving Yorkshire with 80 to chase. McGrath came and went without making a huge impact. Ballance begun to hit out as he was joined by Bresnan, who thrashed the Gloucestershire bowlers around for a while, before being bowled by Young, after making 38 from just as many deliveries. Ballance, however, stuck around; he reached his 100, the first of the season for him, before striking 4, 6 and 6 to seal the game for Yorkshire.
It could have, to coin a charming Yorkshire phrase, all gone tits up for the Tykes this week. Whilst Yorkshire were charging for the win, Shahzad took a wicket with his first ball in a Lancashire shirt, and added two more to his total. But the attacking cricket that fans had been promised reared its head in this game. The decision to chase down a total, and force a result, swung the game in Yorkshire's favour. They are now joint top of Division Two, and will be looking to carry on the unbeaten streak against Hampshire next week.
Tyke of the match
Jaques. Jaques was there in the morning, the afternoon and half of the evening session. It was a classy 160, with a balance of aggression and finesse that he carries off so well. Yorkshire were in need of a big score if they planned to chase down such a huge total - and Jaques provided them with the perfect platform.
Around the Country
The Yorkshire win was the only game across the two divisions that produced a result. In Division One, leaders Nottingham amassed their biggest batting total of the season so far against Middlesex. Michael Lumb's 162, his first for his new county, was well supported by the middle order. The England seamer shoot-out continued, as Finn took 7 across the board, whilst Broad took one, but managed to do so without having a hissy-fit. The game was drawn after Strauss spent some valuable time at the crease.
Three days of Lancashire v. Sussex were rained off. New Lanky, Ajmal Shahzad, took a wicket with his first ball, taking three overall in the game, but Lancashire were unable to bowl out Sussex after declaring for 144. Durham and Somerset was also massively rain affected. Durham's woeful season with the bat - naturally, I've tipped them to win the first division - continued as Somerset's last eleven men standing produced an excellent performance with the ball.
Surrey celebrating having KP back in the side by collapsing to 43/8. Jacques Rudolph stuck around long enough in the first innings to push Surrey over the 100 line, before they were unsurprisingly invited to follow on by Worcestershire. Worcestershire, who were without county hero Alan Richardson for the second innings, were unable to maintain any real pressure on Surrey, as captain Hamilton-Brown and Tom Maynard both made centuries to guide Surrey to the draw.
In Division Two, Matthew Hoggard celebrated his return to Leicestershire by doing what he does best - blocking the ball in the last few overs. Leicestershire, after rain affected the majority of the game, declared their first innings at 38/2. Northamptonshire then declared their second innings on 26/0. Sarwan made 94 in the second innings, and Josh Cobb continued his impressive start to the season.
In Group A of the CB40, Gloucestershire managed to pile on the runs against Leicestershire, thanks to another century from Kane Williamson. They handed the Twenty20 champions a 164 run defeat. The Netherlands were searching for their third win in as many games against Middlesex, but they ended up losing by 8 wickets as Joe Denly and Chris Rogers guided the Panthers home.
Group B saw a no result in Glasgow between Scotland and Glamorgan. In Group C, there was a 144 run victory for Sussex over the Unicorns. Derbyshire were handed a 9 wicket defeat at the hands of Warwickshire as the Bears managed to bowl the Falcolns out for a pitiful 122. Despite the early loss of Chopra, an unbeaten 81 from William Porterfield and 41 not out from Jonathan Trott saw the Bears home with 15.3 overs to spare.
Around Cricket
The majority of the West Indies Test squad has now arrived, but it still couldn't stop them from suffering a 10 wicket defeat at the hands of the England Lions. Yorkshire's Joe Root scored an unbeaten century as the Lions chased down their 197 target at the County Ground in Northampton.
Misbah-ul-Haq has stepped down as Pakistan's Twenty20 captain, but remains captain of the Test and ODI side. Their squads for the tour of Sri Lanka have been announced, with Mohammad Sami and Faisal Iqbal being recalled after a couple of years in the wilderness.
Meanwhile, Australia have announced their touring squad for the ODI series this summer, with Barmy Army favourite Mitchell Johnson returning after a winter nursing injury and Steve Smith, who has impressed at the IPL, also coming back into the fold. Highly rated youngster Patrick Cummins also returns from injury as Australia look to give their youngsters a chance to play in English conditions before the Ashes next summer.
The ICC are considering a switch hit LBW rule change, which prompted Kevin Pietersen to go off on one on Twitter before donning a beanie and sitting in the dressing room waiting for Surrey to collapse. The ICC have also picked Haroon Largot's successor as former South African wicketkeeper, Dave Richardson, has been voted as the new chief executive.
Finally, England's squad for the Lord's Test has been announced. Graham Onions returns and Ravi Bopara's thigh injury opens the door for Yorkshire's Jonny Bairstow, who impressed in the England Lions match. The number 6 position has been a much talked about point for England in recent years, but there's something reassuring about having a northern ginger in the middle order.
Hi Amy and Hannah
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