Report

Lumb and Ervine dominate Nottinghamshire

A round-up from the latest action in the County Championship

Cricinfo staff
20-Aug-2009

Division One

Michael Lumb converted his overnight century into a double and Sean Ervine weighed in with a hundred of his own to lead Hampshire to a massive first-innings total against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. Resuming on 345 for 3 on the second morning, Hampshire lost Tom Burrows - caught by Bilal Shafayat off Charlie Shreck - but little did the hosts know that their next breakthrough would be 208 runs away. Lumb built on his score of 103 and achieved a career best of 219 - his maiden double-hundred - while Ervine cracked 104 off only 128 balls. Lumb was eventually caught behind off Samit Patel and his dismissal resulted in a flurry of lower-order wickets. Patel trapped Dominic Cork and Imran Tahir lbw for ducks to complete his four-wicket haul before Hampshire declared on 654 for 8. Facing such a mammoth total, Nottinghamshire needed a sound start but their openers managed only 29 before Matthew Wood was caught by Andre Adams off David Griffiths for 10. More trouble was round the corner as Tahir trapped Mark Wagh and the nightwatchman Darren Pattinson lbw for ducks. It wasn't over, though, for Cork found Scott Newman's edge, leaving Nottinghamshire on 48 for 4, 606 runs in the deficit.
Tom Lungley struck three vital blows, cutting through the Yorkshire top order, to give Lancashire the edge in the Roses match on a rain-curtailed day at Headingley. The start of play was delayed and there was another interruption after Lancashire had progressed to 231 for 7 from 226. Mark Chilton, who was on 72 overnight, reached his century after the resumption and then Adil Rashid got rid of Nos. 10 and 11 to complete his five-for and skittle Lancashire for 276. Kyle Hogg then gave Lancashire the perfect start by dismissing Jacques Rudolph with the first ball of the innings before Lungley got into his stride. He dismissed Anthony McGrath for 17, trapped Joe Sayers lbw for as many, and caught Andrew Gale off his own bowling. Oliver Newby had also chipped in by taking a caught and bowled off Jonathan Bairstow as Yorkshire ended the second day on 131 for 5.
Click here for the report on the second day's play between Somerset and Sussex at Taunton.
Click here for John Ward's report from Chester-le-Street.

Division Two

The wickets continued to tumble at Chesterfield with 15 falling on the second day between Derbyshire and Northamptonshire after 13 fell on the first. Tim Groenewald was Derbyshire's hero, taking 6 for 61 to help dismiss Northamptonshire for 246 - they were 137 for 3 overnight - and earning a nine-run lead. Groenewald's figures included a spell of 4 for 9 in 23 balls as he knifed through the lower-order when Northamptonshire were poised to take a lead at 224 for 5. He picked up the wicket of Andrew Hall, who had collected a run-a-ball 36, by inducing a loose drive to second slip to begin the slide. Derbyshire's success with the ball was followed by a torrid time with the bat as Johann van der Wath had Wayne Madsen and Gary Park caught behind the wicket to leave them on 14 for 2. The situation did not improve and Derbyshire were 140 for 7 before Groenewald resisted with an unbeaten 45 and lifted the score to 212 for 8.
As England's top order disappointed in the deciding Ashes Test, the man who paid the price for a poor series continued his return to form as Ravi Bopara reached an unbeaten 83, to give Essex a solid reply against Surrey at Colchester, after Chris Schofield reached a maiden first-class hundred. The home side reached 221 for 3 with Bopara having so far put on 84 for the fourth wicket with captain Mark Pettini. John Maunders and Tom Westley opened with a stand of 77 before both fell in the space of two balls to Pedro Collins and Schofield. Matt Walker reached 22 before edging Stuart Meaker, who had earlier contributed a career-best 72. Schofield and Meaker took their seventh-wicket stand to 125, with Schofield finally crossing three figures after a previous career-high of 99. When he fell for 144, Meaker ensured Surrey bagged full batting points.
AJ Harris took 5 for 26 as Gloucestershire were skittled for 138 Grace Road to give Leicestershire control, although the home side stumbled to 49 for 5 after not enforcing the follow-on. James Taylor was batting at both ends of the day, reaching an unbeaten 83 in the first innings, and not out on 9 second time around with the lead on 279. Harris' spell left the visitors in trouble on 26 for 3 during an incisive opening where he bowled Kadeer Ali and Alex Gidman either side of trapping Hamish Marshall leg before. The spinners also played their part as Claude Henderson removed James Franklin for 12 and Jigar Naik bowled Chris Taylor for the top score of 50. The lower order offered very little as Harris completed his haul by removing Stephen Adshead and Ian Saxelby in three balls. After batting again, Leicestershire lost both openers to Steve Kirby - Paul Nixon failing to score from 31 balls - and Marshall's part-time spin picked up two more before the close of an action-packed day.
1st day
The Middlesex spinners shared four wickets and Steven Finn impressed with three as they took charge on the opening day against Glamorgan at Swansea. Shaun Udal, back in the side after dropping himself for the last Championship match, claimed the important wicket of Herschelle Gibbs and also collected Mike Powell. Gareth Berg made the first breakthrough when he removed Will Bragg (28) before Udal snared Gibbs when a paddle sweep found backward short leg. Powell and Gareth Rees (40) steadied the innings with a stand of 64 but they followed each other back in quick succession. Rees was Finn's first wicket, and the fast bowler followed up removing Jim Allenby and Mark Wallace - caught at third slip and gully respectively. Murali Kartik then strengthened Middlesex's grip and ended Jamie Dalrymple's innings moments before rain forced the players off although the total edged over 200 during a brief resumption.