Review day one of 2014’s penultimate round of LV= County Championship games as Middlesex and Hampshire were frustrated by Somerset and Kent in their respective relegation and promotion clashes.
By Rob Barnett, Will Jackson & Callum Dent
6.40pm - Here is the state of play in the six matches after day one:
Craig Kieswetter, returning to action following a lengthy injury-enforced absence, was one of three half-centurions as Somerset limped to 266 for five after they were asked to bat by relegation-candidates Middlesex at Taunton.
Chris Nash struck a stunning 178 to lift Sussex to 358 for nine after winning the toss against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.
Bad light and drizzle ensured there was no play possible between Durham and Northamptonshire at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Promotion-chasing Hampshire were frustrated as unbeaten centuries from Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Northeast in a fourth-wicket stand of 226 took Kent to 312 for three at the Ageas Bowl.
An unbroken 58-run stand between Ravi Bopara and James Foster moved Essex to 153 for three, a lead of 15, after Jesse Ryder’s 5-50 helped dismiss winless Leicestershire for just 138 at Grace Road.
Derbyshire, for whom skipper Wayne Madsen has 48, are 17 runs behind Surrey on 164 for five at the Kia Oval. In-form paceman Mark Footitt took six wickets and first-class debutant Harvey Hosein claimed a record-breaking seven catches as the hosts, who lost the toss, managed just 188.
And we are off for bad light and that will be stumps..Derbyshire 164-5...Madsen 48*, Hosein 4*
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 15, 2014
6.11pm - Surrey are ending the day in style as Meaker accounts for Alex Hughes. Derbyshire, trailing by 35, are 146 for five.
CLOSE OF PLAY on Day One at Trent Bridge. Sussex finish the day on 358/9, @chrisnash23 starring with 178, @CraigCachopa 48 & @Ben_Brown26 46
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) September 15, 2014
5.46pm - Derbyshire are having a little wobble in the capital. Linley snares another one when Wes Durston edges to slip.
Essex close on 153 for three, a lead of 15 over Leicestershire.
5.36pm - Sussex are on the brink now as youngster Wood collects his second scalp, having Steve Magoffin caught behind for a third-ball duck.
Kent reach 312 for three at the close courtesy of unbeaten centuries from Bell-Drummond and Northeast.
5.35pm - Cheteshwar Pujara's poor form on these shores continues at the Kia Oval. The India batsman, who featured in his country's 3-1 Investec Test Series defeat to England, is bowled by Tim Linley for 16. Derbyshire are 99 for three.
Somerset end the day on 266 for five against Middlesex at Taunton.
Wicket: Brown nicks Fletch to Samit Patel, who catches it at the third attempt. 353-8 #NottsvSuss
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) September 15, 2014
5.20pm - Rain takes the players off at Grace Road with Essex 153 for three, 15 ahead.
5.18pm - Northeast follows Bell-Drummond to three figures at the Ageas Bowl. The pair's fourth-wicket stand is now worth 202 and frustrating promotion-chasing Hampshire.
5.14pm - Sussex lose a seventh wicket at Trent Bridge as England international Chris Jordan edges Luke Fletcher behind to Chris Read.
Derbyshire 68-2..Slater LBW b Linley 34
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 15, 2014
4.46pm - James Hildreth becomes the third Somerset batsman to raise their bat for fifty today.
4.41pm - Derbyshire lose their first wicket with 62 on the board at the Kia Oval, Stuart Meaker removing Billy Godleman for 28.
4.31pm - Charlie Shreck makes a welcome breakthrough at Grace Road, having Nick Browne caught behind for 44 to leave Essex trailing by 43 on 95 for three.
50 PARTNERSHIP! Another good opening stand between Godleman (26*) and Slater (22*); Derbyshire 51-0 (13); trail by 130 #SURvDER
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 15, 2014
4.20pm - Chris Nash's superb 235-ball knock ends on 178. The right-hander falls lbw sweeping at Gray Keedy.
4.16pm - Daniel Bell-Drummond advances to a century at the Ageas Bowl. The Kent opening batsman moves to the milestone off 227 deliveries and his stand with Northeast is now worth 141. Hampshire need a breakthrough!
4.10pm - Ollie Rayner is the man to break the 84-run fifth-wicket partnership between Kieswetter and James Hildreth. The spinner bowls Kieswetter for 69 to reduce Somerset to 203 for five.
3.54pm - Kent are frustrating promotion-chasing Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl. Sam Northeast has 50 of his side's 195 for three.
Hard to think cricket was being played at The @BrightonHoveJob County Ground only three days ago! @Grassjunkie pic.twitter.com/sICieugaEc
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) September 15, 2014
3.50pm - That is it for the day at the Emirates Durham ICG.
3.49pm - Craig Kieswetter is enjoying a triumphant return to the Somerset side following his nasty facial injury. The wicketkeeper-batsman, playing his first game since July, moves to a 56-ball half-century at Taunton.
3.47pm - The light deteriorates at the Emirates Durham ICG, meaning the toss is delayed again.
A huddle of significance as Indian star @VarunAaron is awarded his county cap! Team news shortly… pic.twitter.com/hGieaLmdNp
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) September 15, 2014
3.39pm - England Under-19 seamer Luke Wood claims his maiden first-class wicket shortly after the interval at Trent Bridge. Michael Yardy provides Michael Lumb with a catch at gully to leave Sussex 257 for five.
3.30pm - Essex, on 72 for two, trail Leicestershire by 66 at tea.
Play will commence at 4pm, providing the weather stays fair. Toss to take place very shortly.
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) September 15, 2014
STAT! Hosein, on first-class debut, youngest wicketkeeper to take seven Championship catches in an innings #P2bD pic.twitter.com/ivZjOX5ENU
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 15, 2014
3.14pm - Surrey are all out for 181. The last pair put on 51 but Wilson is eventually the last man to go, for 70, as tea is taken around the country.
3.13pm - Double breakthrough for Nottinghamshire as Keedy has Luke Wright lbw on the sweep for just four.
Wicket: Cachopa shapes to hit Gary Keedy into the Trent, but edges it straight to Alex Hales at slip. 252-3 #NottsvSuss
— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) September 15, 2014
2.58pm - Rob Taylor gets the breakthrough for Leicestershire and there's no second let-off for Westley as he's given out leg before. He strikes again in the same over, removing Jaik Mickleburgh in similar fashion.
Meanwhile, Nash has passed 150 as Sussex rack the runs up and Gary Wilson has made an important half-century for Surrey.
2.38pm - It's been a fairly serene start for the two Essex openers, with just the one chance which saw Tom Westley dropped in the slips on nought.
Sussex are marching on, reaching 200 in under 50 overs with Chris Nash and Craig Cachopa going well.
WICKET! Dernbach trying to get a move on but White bowls him for eight and Surrey are 130-9 (42) #SURvDER
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 15, 2014
2.21pm - With the weather still somewhat gloomy in Durham, an early tea will be taken at 2.40pm and there will be an inspection at 3pm.
Tom Abell reached 50 for Somerset before being run out by Neil Dexter.
2.16pm - Footitt has another! Stuart Meaker departs for an 11-ball duck and he's another who has been snaffled by Hosein behind the sticks.
Nash drives through the covers for four for his first century of the season. Well batted Nashy! @chrisnash23 . Sussex 176 for 2 #GOSBTS
— Sussex CCC (@SussexCCC) September 15, 2014
2.02pm - Two wickets in two balls gives Footitt five in the innings! The left-armer has Arun Harinath lbw and Gareth Batty edges behind first ball to hand Harvey Hosein five catches on debut.
Bell-Drummond (50*) has moved to his half-century. Kent are now 119-3 in the afternoon session. #LVCC
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 15, 2014
1.46pm - Leicestershire have been bowled out for 138. Graham Napier picks up his third wicket, leaving Redfern stranded on 54.
1.44pm - Footitt has a third wicket in a superb spell after lunch. Jason Roy is the latest to fall.
WICKET | Shreck made an entertaining 16 but has been bowled by Napier. 124-9. Redfern has brought up his 50
— Leicestershire CCC (@leicsccc) September 15, 2014
1.26pm - Dan Redfern has shone on what has otherwise been another poor day for Leicestershire. He has reached a half-century after lunch.
Middlesex secure a first bonus point after Toby Roland-Jones has Johann Myburgh caught behind for 34.
1.18pm - There have been two wickets to fall immediately after lunch as Surrey's Steven Davies and Sussex's Ed Joyce fall to Mark Footitt and Luke Fletcher respectively.
Vikram Solanki follows his partner back to the pavilion, falling to the same bowler to leave Surrey 75 for four.
1.00pm - There is no immediate prospect of play at the Emirates Durham ICG, as the umpires remain unhappy with the light.
Seriously proud moment receiving my full county cap today, thanks to everyone at @surreycricket pic.twitter.com/HPHorHepIb
— Jason Roy (@JasonRoy20) September 15, 2014
12.42pm – As promised, here’s the lunch scores:
Sussex are going well at 110 for one , with Chris Nash unbeaten on 70, versus Nottinghamshire after winning the toss at Trent Bridge.
Somerset are 63 for two against Middlesex , who inserted the Taunton hosts.
Bad light is preventing the toss between Durham and Northamptonshire at the Emirates Durham ICG.
Leicestershire are in deep trouble on 90 for eight versus Essex , who won the toss. Jesse Ryder has figures of 5-50 at the Essex County Round.
Having won the toss, Kent are 86 for three facing Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.
Surrey are 68 for two against Derbyshire , who chose to field first, at the Kia Oval.
12.37pm – Leicestershire lose another on the stroke of lunch, Graham Napier having Ollie Freckingham caught behind. Divison Two’s basement boys are 90 for eight!
Hampshire also strike, Imran Tahir having Brendan Nash lbw for 39 to end a stand of 60 with Daniel Bell-Drummond.
It’s lunch in the five games that have had play this morning. We’ll soon round up the scores.
And congrats to Zafar Ansari @roryburns17 @JasonRoy20 who have been awarded their County Caps pic.twitter.com/03menrI3kD
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 15, 2014
12.19pm – Ryder has a five-for and Leicestershire are 79 for seven! Jigar Naik is the latest in the procession, trapped lbw.
Burns is caught behind for 24 off Wayne White, leaving Surrey 63 for two.
35 - Jesse Ryder has 35 @LV_Cricket wickets at an average of 20 this season. Between 2003 and Feb. 2014 he took 55 first-class wickets. Way.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) September 15, 2014
12.05pm – Ryder makes Rob Taylor his fourth victim, leaving sorry Leicestershire 65 for six.
Nash raises an impressive fifty on a green pitch at Trent Bridge where Sussex are 84 for one.
WICKET! Harvey Hosein gets his first catch in first-class cricket! Ansari knicks White through to Hosein for 22; Surrey 47-1 (17.5) #SURvDER
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 15, 2014
11.45am – Leicestershire are 51 for five! Ryder gets a third scalp, trapping Niall O’Brien in front.
UPDATE: The light has not improved sufficiently so lunch will be taken at 12 o'clock. Umpires will inspect if it has improved post-lunch
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) September 15, 2014
11.35am – It gets worse for Leicestershire, who are 43 for four after Ryder cheaply cleans up Josh Cobb.
Tim Murtagh bowls Nick Compton to leave Somerset 32 for two.
Sussex move past 50 with Chris Nash and Ed Joyce going well.
11.11am – Leicestershire slip to 35 for three as Greg Smith, who was earlier dropped by wicketkeeper James Foster off Masters, falls to that combination.
Coles bags a second scalp, this time having Ben Harmison held at second slip.
Surrey start steadily with openers Zafar Ansari and Rory Burns still at the crease.
Not good news from the middle as the pitch cover is brought back on and mist descends around the ground. Light remains the big issue
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) September 15, 2014
10.58am – Essex strike twice in two overs, Jesse Ryder trapping Angus Robson in front and David Masters having new man Ned Eckersley caught behind for nought. Leicestershire are therefore 29 for two.
Somerset and Sussex each break through, Marcus Trescothinck falling to Gurjit Sandhu and Harry Gurney having Luke Wells caught behind.
Bad light - another inspection at 11am
— Durham Cricket Club (@DurhamCricket) September 15, 2014
10.37am – The first wicket of the day goes to Hampshire and Matt Coles, who bowls his former Kent captain Rob Key for nought in the second over.
Out to the middle pic.twitter.com/wKhclRWqfF
— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 15, 2014
10.30am – The action in five of the six contests is getting under way. Stay here for the latest updates.
10.20am – While waiting for the action to start in 10 minutes, why not read our comprehensive Division One and Division Two previews?
We are delighted to announce that @AlexWakely1 has been appointed Captain for the 2015 season in all formats. pic.twitter.com/32lqwDplFc
— Northants Cricket (@NorthantsCCC) September 15, 2014
10.12am – Here’s what’s happened at the coin-flips:
Sussex and Kent opt to bat while Middlesex, Essex and Derbyshire choose to field . There will be an inspection at the Emirates Durham ICG at 10.30am.
10am – Hello and welcome to our LV= County Championship blog. The penultimate round of 2014 games starts today with the matches, like last week’s, beginning at 10.30am. News of the tosses follows shortly. Here are the fixtures:
Durham v Northamptonshire, Emirates Durham ICG
Nottinghamshire v Sussex, Trent Bridge
Somerset v Middlesex, Taunton
Hampshire v Kent, Ageas Bowl
Leicestershire v Essex, Grace Road
Surrey v Derbyshire, Kia Oval
The players warming up with a bit of football this morning! News from the toss is on the way.. #LVCC pic.twitter.com/yKWlQHWSx1
— Hampshire Cricket (@hantscricket) September 15, 2014