Monday’s round-up

Haseeb Hameed’s first opportunity to captain in Championship cricket proved tricky, Nottinghamshire hampered as both Brett Hutton and Jake Ball left the field at the Oval clutching various parts of their body. Things had started well with Rory Burns out to the second ball of the day, and again with Surrey 70 for four, but a steady innings from Ben Foakes and big hitting from Jordan Clark – who cracked his first century of the year – left the champions in a strong position.

Casey Aldridge and James Rew kept Somerset in the hunt at Taunton, coming together after a familiar top-order fumble, this time at the hands of Hampshire’s Kyle Abbott who grabbed four for 20 and a run-out. Somerset rested some key players before the Blast Finals Day but Dom Bess returned on a short-term loan from Yorkshire.

Matt Parkinson, on loan to Durham before moving to Kent, took three wickets at the Riverside to haul back Gloucestershire, including a ripper to remove James Bracey’s off stump. There were half‑centuries from Chris Dent and Miles Hammond. Kent were dismissed for 171 by Warwickshire, who were already in touching distance by stumps. Kent’s blushes had been saved by a late-order swashbuckle from Grant Stewart.

It was a carefree day’s batting for Sussex against Derbyshire at Hove, Tom Clark top‑scoring with 96 and Ollie Carter passing 50 for the third match in a row. Meanwhile Northamptonshire meandered to 219 all out against Middlesex.

At New Road, Finlay Bean and Adam Lyth knocked up 154, Yorkshire’s highest opening stand for six years, before the weather intervened. Worcestershire dropped three catches.

Scores on the doors

DIVISION ONE

Canterbury: Kent 171 v Warwickshire 155-2

Blackpool: Lancashire v Essex 12-1 rain

Merchant Taylors’ School: Middlesex 23-0 v Northamptonshire 219

Taunton: Somerset 196-5 v Hampshire

The Oval Surrey 339-8 v Notts

DIVISION TWO

The Riverside: Durham v Gloucestershire 280-6

Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan v Leicestershire no play today, rain

Hove: Sussex 376-7 v Derbyshire

New Road: Worcestershire v Yorkshire 154-0 rain

Preamble

Morning! Cloudy but fresh here in Manchester, I’d like to say it bodes well for the day but the Met office aren’t hanging out the bunting yet.

Rain clearing from the southeast during the morning. Elsewhere it’s a day of sunny spells and showers, these most frequent in the north, perhaps with thunder and hail.

Things whizzing along at Merchant Taylor’s and at Canterbury – where Kent already look in big trouble against Warwicks; Surrey have clocked together a tricky-looking total against injury-hit Notts, batters racing away at Hove, while Rew and Aldridge rescued Somerset at Taunton. I’m just off to walk the dog quickly – back soon!