County Cricket Round-Up - 25th August 2013

Ravi Bopara set up Essex's victory over Derbyshire.

There were wins for Durham and Lancashire as the 15th round of matches in the LV= County Championship drew to a close. Meanwhile, Essex and Glamorgan kept their Yorkshire Bank 40 semi-final hopes alive ahead of the final round of matches tomorrow.

Durham are rapidly emerging as Yorkshire’s strongest contenders for the LV= County Championship Division One title. They completed a massive victory over last-placed Surrey at Chester-le-Street and now trail Yorkshire by only 25.5 points with a game in hand. Resuming on 52 for three, Surrey were all out for just 169 in their second innings to lose by an innings and 144 runs. Hashim Amla made a spirited and fluent 89, but only three other men reached double figures as Mark Wood ended with career-best figures of five for 44.

Lancashire had little difficulty in wrapping up victory over Worcestershire on the final day at New Road. They now have a 34-point lead over Northamptonshire at the top of Division Two. The loss of Moeen Ali early on meant the match was never going to last too long today. Night-watchman Jack Shantry made a valiant 31, while Joe Leach scored 20 but the home side were all out for 241, leaving Lancashire needing just 88 to win. Kyle Hogg, Glen Chapple and Tom Smith ended with three wickets apiece. Luis Reece then hit 56 not out off 51 balls to take the visitors home by nine wickets in 19 overs.

Essex kept their slim hopes of Yorkshire Bank 40 progression alive by easing to victory over Derbyshire at Colchester. Ravi Bopara led their charge to 259 for seven by hitting 88 off 87 balls, while Greg Smith (30 off 37 balls), James Foster (41 off 24) and Graham Napier (23 off 10) all chipped in. Derbyshire’s young batting line-up then crumbled under pressure and they were bundled out for 152. Billy Godleman was the sole bright spot with 60, but four of their top six fell in single figures. Reece Topley emerged as the pick of an impressive Essex attack with four for 26, while Tymal Mills and Tim Phillips took two wickets each.

In Group C, Glamorgan moved up to second by walloping Leicestershire. The Welsh side piled up 303 for six from their 40 overs after electing to bat at Swansea and then restricted the Foxes to 235 for six. Gareth Rees (45 off 62 balls) and Mark Wallace (50 off 40) put on 84 in 12 overs, with Chris Cooke then smashing 85 from only 76 balls from number three. Murray Goodwin then continued his fine 2013 season by blitzing 48 off only 19 balls as the Glamorgan batsmen plundered 120 runs from the final 10 overs of the innings. Left-arm spinner James Sykes was the pick of the attack with two for 37, with Nathan Buck and Ben Raine also each picking up a brace of wickets.

Leicestershire then quickly slumped to 25 for three and 53 for four in their run chase and looked to be heading for a huge defeat. However, Niall O’Brien and Michael Thornely combined to add 133 in 22 overs. O’Brien fell eight short of his century to the excellent Jim Allenby (3-37), while Thornely made 68 off 62 balls. Tom Wells then added some spice to proceedings, blasting four sixes to finish on 32 off 12 balls. Glamorgan’s spin pair of Andrew Salter and Dean Cosker were again impressive and conceded just 66 from runs from 16 overs between them.

Tomorrow’s YB40 Fixtures: (all matches start at 1345 BST)
Group A, Kent v Nottinghamshire at Canterbury
Group A, Warwickshire v Northamptonshire at Edgbaston
Group A, Worcestershire v Sussex at New Road
Group B, Derbyshire v Hampshire at Derby
Group B, Durham v Surrey at Chester-le-Street
Group B, Lancashire v Essex at Old Trafford
Group C, Gloucestershire v Somerset at Bristol
Group C, Middlesex v Leicestershire at Lord’s
Group C, Yorkshire v Glamorgan at Headingley

Weather Forecast: Any early cloud should soon burn off, leaving a gloriously sunny day throughout England and Wales. Temperatures will peak widely at around 24 degrees Celsius.

© Cricket World 2013

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County Cricket Round-Up - 24th August 2013

Twin centuries for Moeen Ali at Worcester look like being in a losing cause against Lancashire.

Durham and Lancashire look well-placed going into the final day of their 15th round LV= County Championship matches tomorrow. Meanwhile, Kent were denied by the rain at Canterbury and Glamorgan completed victory over a hapless Leicestershire.

Surrey slipped closer to defeat on a shortened day against Durham at Chester-le-Street. Debutant Usman Arshad struck twice in their second innings after they had been asked to follow-on to help reduce them to 52 for three. Jamie Harrison had earlier ended with five for 31 as Surrey were able to muster just 108 in their first innings. Wicket-keeper Steven Davies ended unbeaten with a valiant 41.

In Division Two, Kent were frustrated by the weather in Canterbury, with no play possible at all on the final day against Gloucestershire. The visitors remained on 307 for nine, still needing an unlikely 92 more for victory.

Glamorgan wrapped up victory over last-placed Leicestershire by an innings and 37 runs at Swansea. Resuming on 134 for two, Leicestershire lost regular wickets and were all out for 268. Dean Cosker did the bulk of the damage, taking three wickets at the start of the day en route to figures of four for 88. Fellow spinner Andrew Salter took three for 66. Leicestershire’s last-wicket pair did at least show some fight. Josh Cobb (46 not out) and Alex Wyatt put on 50 before Graham Wagg (1-34) dismissed Wyatt for 28 to end proceedings.

Lancashire are nicely placed going into the final day against Worcestershire. They have reduced the home side to 166 for five in their second innings in spite of another century from Moeen Ali. Ali is unbeaten on 101, but the next highest score for the Pears was Thilan Samaraweera’s 17. Luke Procter and Tom Smith had earlier extended Lancashire’s first innings to 441 by sharing 136 for the seventh-wicket. Both men fell short of centuries as Alan Richardson and Graeme Cessford dismissed one each en route to four-wicket hauls.

Tomorrow’s Fixtures: (start times in brackets, BST)
day four, LV=CCD1, Durham v Surrey at Chester-le-Street
day four, LV=CCD2, Worcestershire v Lancashire at New Road
Group B, YB40, Essex v Derbyshire at Colchester (1345)
The home side have an outside chance of reaching the semi-finals if they win their final two games. They welcome back Owais Shah from a hamstring injury into their 12-man squad. Gautam Gambhir is set to make his debut in the competition.

Essex squad: Mark Pettini, Gautam Gambhir, Ravi Bopara, Owais Shah, Ryan ten Doeschate, Greg Smith, James Foster (captain), Graham Napier, Tim Phillips, David Masters, Reece Topley, Tymal Mills.

The Falcons are already out of contention for the last four and will take the opportunity to have a look at former Nottinghamshire and Unicorns batsman Scott Elstone. He has been named in their squad alongside Matt Higginbottom and Billy Godleman. Skipper Wayne Madsen has been rested.

Derbyshire squad: Chesney Hughes, Wes Durston, Paul Borrington, Scott Elstone, Richard Johnson, Alex Hughes, Ben Slater, Tony Palladino, Alasdair Evans, Tom Knight, Matt Higginbottom, David Wainwright, Billy Godleman.

Group C, YB40, Glamorgan v Leicestershire at Swansea (1300)
The home side are very much in the hunt for the semi-finals but need to win both of their matches to have a realistic chance of progressing. They have named an unchanged 13-man squad, but may be tempted to include off-spinner Andrew Salter in the playing eleven on this occasion.

Glamorgan squad: Gareth Rees, Mark Wallace, Chris Cooke, Marcus North (captain), Jim Allenby, Murray Goodwin, Ben Wright, Graham Wagg, Dean Cosker, Michael Hogan, Simon Jones, Andrew Salter, Alex Jones.

Weather Forecast: Showers remain a possibility tomorrow, especially for the south of the country. The south-east will be worst hit initially before they move west. However, there will be far fewer than was the case today, with plenty of sunny spells in between. Temperatures will peak at around 22 degrees Celsius.

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County Cricket Round-Up - 21st August 2013

Adam Voges top-scored for Middlesex on a disappointing day at Derby.Action Images / Steve Paston Livepic

Derbyshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Glamorgan and Kent all enjoyed good days as the 15th round of the LV= County Championship continued around the country today.

Bottom side Derbyshire had the better of the second day against title contenders Middlesex. They first prolonged their first innings to 385 before reducing Middlesex to 197 for six by stumps. Wayne Madsen ended the home side’s innings with 138, while Tim Groenewald hit 49 from only 48 balls from number ten. Matt Higginbottom then struck thrice in the visitors’ reply, with Adam Voges’ 69 the top score as they lost regular wickets.

A mammoth unbroken fourth-wicket stand between two Warwickshire young guns gave the defending champions hope on what looked like being a disappointing day two against Somerset. The Bears slumped to 38 for three in the morning as George Dockrell and Peter Trego shared the wickets, but Ateeq Javid and Laurie Evans put on 245 to take them to stumps on 283 for three - a deficit of just 57 runs. It was Evans’ third first-class ton and the first of Javid’s increasingly promising career.

Adam Lyth fell narrowly short of three figures as Division One leaders Yorkshire reached stumps on day one against Nottinghamshire on 327 for eight. Lyth made 95 and helped Yorkshire weather the storm from Luke Fletcher (5-66) and Harry Gurney (3-60) who took all of the eight wickets to fall between them. Lyth found good support from Adil Rashid and the pair put on 65 for the fifth-wicket with Rashid eventually going on to make 78. Liam Plunkett then chipped in with a useful 41.

Division Two promotion hopefuls Northamptonshire are in complete control at the halfway point of their match against Essex. Andrew Hall and Steven Crook both made 63 as the visitors were finally dismissed for 531 at Colchester. Crook and Hall added 101 for the seventh-wicket after Rob Keogh had departed for 38. Essex then slipped to 187 for five by the close as Trent Copeland and Crook each picked up a brace of wickets. It could have been worse for the hosts but for a late unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 84 between Ryan ten Doeschate (47 not out) and James Foster (39 not out).

Michael Hogan took five for 43 as Leicestershire were bowled out for 203 by Glamorgan on the opening day at Swansea. Opener Greg Smith top-scored with 40 and helped the Foxes reach 100 for two at one stage. However, Dean Cosker and Andrew Salter supported Hogan well with two wickets each and they lost their last eight wickets for 103 runs. Ollie Freckingham and Alex Wyatt, though, gave Leicestershire hope by combining to reduce Glamorgan to 36 for three at the close in their reply.

A century from Ben Harmison and an unbeaten 98 from Darren Stevens helped Kent enjoy the better of the first day against Gloucestershire. Following a poor start that saw them slip to 20 for two and 46 for three, Harmison and Rob Key began the home side’s recovery with a stand worth 67. Key was caught behind off Benny Howell for 53 to make it 113 for four, but Stevens and Harmison went on to add a further 133. The latter finally fell but not before completing the fifth century of his first-class career. Kent ended on 334 for six.

Tomorrow’s Fixtures:
day three, LV=CCD1, Derbyshire v Middlesex at Derby
day one, LV=CCD1, Durham v Surrey at Chester-le-Street
Both sides need wins but for totally different reasons. Durham have an outside chance at winning the title but will have to do so without a clutch of players. Graham Onions (broken finger) and Calum Thorp (hamstring) are both injured, while Ben Stokes is on England Lions duty. Ryan Buckley is also not included. Into the 12-man squad come Jamie Harrison, Usman Arshad and Gareth Breese.

Durham squad: Mark Stoneman, Keaton Jennings, Scott Borthwick, Will Smith, Paul Collingwood (captain), Michael Richardson, Phil Mustard, Mark Wood, Gareth Breese, Jamie Harrison, Chris Rushworth, Usman Arshad.

Surrey, meanwhile, are firmly ensconced in the relegation battle, but are boosted by the arrival of new overseas player Hashim Amla. Also included in the Championship squad for the first time is Tom Curran.

Surrey squad: Hashim Amla, Arun Harinath, Rory Burns, Vikram Solanki, Gary Wilson, Zander de Bruyn, Steven Davies, Gareth Batty (captain), Jon Lewis, Tim Linley, Jade Dernbach, Zafar Ansari, Tom Curran.

day two, LV=CCD1, Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire at Trent Bridge
day three, LV=CCD1, Warwickshire v Somerset at Edgbaston
day three, LV=CCD2, Essex v Northamptonshire at Colchester
day two, LV=CCD1, Glamorgan v Leicestershire at Swansea
day two, LV=CCD2, Kent v Gloucestershire at Canterbury
day one, LV=CCD2, Worcestershire v Lancashire at New Road
The home side host leaders Lancashire but simply must win if they are to keep any vague hopes of challenging for promotion alive. The visitors will pick from a 13-man squad that includes Arron Lilley as the lead spinner owing to the absences of Simon Kerrigan and the injured Stephen Parry. Steven Croft is not included.

Lancashire squad: Luis Reece, Paul Horton, Ashwell Prince, Simon Katich, Andrea Agathangelou, Tom Smith, Gareth Cross, Wayne White, Glen Chapple (captain), Kyle Hogg, Arron Lilley, Oliver Newby, Luke Procter.

Weather Forecast: It will be another mostly dry day tomorrow with any showers this time confined largely to the east where it will be mostly overcast. The west will see the best of the sunshine with temperatures there peaking at around 23 degrees Celsius.

County Cricket News In Brief:
Warwickshire have reportedly made 28-day approaches for out-of-contract Somerset duo Jos Buttler and Nick Compton. The club, however, are confident that they are close to agreeing new terms with Compton according to ESPNcricinfo.

Geoff Cook has will return to Durham first-team coaching duties tomorrow for the first time since suffering a heart-attack earlier this year. Cook will work alongside interim coach Jon Lewis.

Former Glamorgan coach Matthew Maynard has ruled himself out of returning as head coach following Matthew Mott’s departure at the end of the season in an interview with Wales Online. Meanwhile, the club are in discussion about a contract extension with fast-bowler Michael Hogan beyond the end of the 2014 season.

Brad Taylor, the 16 year-old who became the youngest Hampshire cricketer to play a first-team match since 1867 by taking on Lancashire yesterday, has said that he almost crumbled under the pressure. He told BBC Radio Solent, “While fielding I didn’t want the ball to come to me I was that nervous. It shouldn’t be like that.” Taylor actually enjoyed a good debut, taking two wickets on a flat pitch.

Lancashire have confirmed the signing of recently-retired Zimbabwe fast-bowler Kyle Jarvis on a three-year contract as a Kolpak player.

Yorkshire have said that Azeem Rafiq and Joe Sayers will each be out for about a week after picking up injuries. Sayers has pain in his Achilles tendons, while Rafiq has split the webbing on his right hand.

The PCA are to conduct ‘hair-testing’ on all county cricketers over the next month as they aim to help those players struggling with recreational drug use. Any player who tests positive will receive help from the ECB’s Chief Medical Officer Nick Peirce and will be dealt with confidentially. The move follows the death of Tom Maynard last year, which was attributed partly to recreational drug use.

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County Cricket Round-Up - 22nd August 2013

Nick Compton is closing in on a century at Edgbaston.

Derbyshire, Durham, Yorkshire and Glamorgan will all be pleased with the position that they find themselves in at the various stages of their LV= County Championship matches in the 15th round of fixtures.

A draw is the likely result heading into the final day at Edgbaston with Somerset 66 runs ahead on 133 for two in their second innings. Nick Compton celebrated his new three-year contract by ending on 83 not out and will still have his eye on a winter tour place. George Dockrell had earlier ended with six for 96 to prevent Warwickshire’s first innings lead from reaching three figures. Overnight centurions Laurie Evans and Ateeq Javid didn’t add substantially to their overnight scores as the Bears lost regular wickets. Darren Maddy ended not out on 40, while last-man Jeetan Patel clubbed 20 off 21 balls.

A fast-moving day three at Derby saw the home side close in the ascendancy. They took two Middlesex fourth innings wickets before the close to leave the visitors on 25 for two in pursuit of a tricky 297 to win. Ollie Rayner had earlier given Middlesex hope of victory by hitting an unbeaten 52 to haul them up to 249 in their first innings and then taking five for 67 to help skittle Derbyshire out for 160. Richard Johnson was the only home batsman to pass 50.

Scott Borthwick hit 135 as Durham closed day one on 309 for five against Surrey. Chris Tremlett sent a message to the England selectors after being left out at The Oval and took all five wickets to fall. Borthwick, though, ensured that it would be the home side’s day by adding 187 with Will Smith (87) for the third-wicket.

Steven Patterson and Ryan Sidebottom shared nine Nottinghamshire first innings wickets as Yorkshire took complete control at Trent Bridge. It could have been even worse for the home side as they slipped to 65 for eight, but Ajmal Shahzad and Andre Adams lifted the total to 150 by making an unbeaten 41 and a 17-ball 39 respectively. Nottinghamshire then lost regular wickets in their second innings after being asked to follow-on and reached stumps on 118 for four. They still trail the title favourites by 139 runs.

In Division Two, there was no play on the third day at Colchester, with Essex on 187 for five in their first innings in reply to Northamptonshire’s mammoth 531.

Glamorgan’s batsmen enjoyed a terrific day against Leicestershire, with Murray Goodwin doing his hopes of a new two-year contract no harm at all by hitting 178. The veteran Zimbabwe-born batsman shared 140 for the fifth-wicket with Jim Allenby (76) and a mammoth 189 with his captain Mark Wallace for the sixth. Wallace finally departed to former Durham all-rounder Ben Raine for 86, with Goodwin falling in the next over to leave Glamorgan on 445 for seven at stumps - a lead of 242 runs.

Gloucestershire closed day two against Kent on 80 for none after dismissing the home side for 474. Openers Michael Klinger (31 not out) and Chris Dent (44 not out) survived the 28 overs that they faced from the Kent bowlers prior to stumps. Kent had earlier extended their first innings to 474 as Darren Stevens completed his century and James Tredwell (48) and Calum Haggett (44 not out) chipped in.

Kyle Hogg took four for 57 as Worcestershire were bowled out for 287 on the first day at New Road by promotion likely lads Lancashire. Moeen Ali continued his stellar 2013 season by hitting 104, while Tom Fell made 43 before being run-out by Luis Reece. The two put on 91 for the fourth-wicket before the Pears lost their last seven wickets for 72 runs.

Tomorrow’s Fixtures:
day four, LV=CCD1, Derbyshire v Middlesex at Derby
day two, LV=CCD1, Durham v Surrey at Chester-le-Street
day three, LV=CCD1, Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire at Trent Bridge
day four, LV=CCD1, Warwickshire v Somerset at Edgbaston
day four, LV=CCD2, Essex v Northamptonshire at Colchester
day three, LV=CCD1, Glamorgan v Leicestershire at Swansea
day three, LV=CCD2, Kent v Gloucestershire at Canterbury
day two, LV=CCD2, Worcestershire v Lancashire at New Road

Weather Forecast: Tomorrow will start sunny but a band of cloud will role in from the west and cover much of the country by the end of the day. It should, however, stay mainly dry with highs of between 21 and 26 degrees Celsius.

County Cricket News In Brief:
Nick Compton has agreed a three-year contract extension with Somerset, ending speculation that he might leave the county. Compton said, “I’m aware of interest from other clubs (particularly from Warwickshire) but I’ve played some of my best cricket here and I’m grateful to the club and its members who have given me such great support.”

Kent all-rounder Matt Coles has left the county after turning down the offer of a new contract. Coles has had injury-hit 2013 season and has felt the need to go elsewhere in order to further his England aspirations. Meanwhile, middle-order batsman Alex Blake has told the Kent Messenger that he remains hopeful of being offered a contract extension.

Warwickshire have agreed a loan-deal with Worcestershire seamer Richard Jones for the final month of the season. Jones has fallen out of favour at New Road in recent times and will bolster a Bears bowling attack that is beset by injuries and England call-ups.

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County Cricket Round-Up - 23rd August 2013

Simon Katich hit a brisk century for Lancashire at Worcester.Action Images / Jason O'Brien Livepic

Yorkshire look almost inked in for the title after completing victory over Nottinghamshire and then watching Middlesex slip up against Derbyshire and Warwickshire be thwarted by the rain against Somerset. Elsewhere, Lancashire and Durham are nicely placed at the halfway point of their matches.

Derbyshire did their hopes of avoiding relegation no harm at all by defeating Middlesex on the final day at the County Ground. Chasing 297 to win, Middlesex slipped further from their overnight 25 for two to 121 for seven as Mark Footitt and Peter Burgoyne each struck twice. Gareth Berg and Ollie Rayner (46 not out) effected a recovery with an eighth-wicket partnership of 85, but Berg’s dismissal for 71 left the tail with too much to do. Footitt had Toby Roland-Jones caught behind for 14 to finish with four for 65, while Burgoyne dismissed last-man Tim Murtagh to end with three for 66 as Middlesex were all out for 240. The defeat puts a severe dent in their title aspirations, while Derbyshire are, momentarily at least, out of the relegation zone.

Leaders Yorkshire extended their advantage at the top to 33 points by wrapping up a 10-wicket win over relegation-threatened Nottinghamshire. Skipper Chris Read hit 58, while Andre Adams chipped in with a brisk unbeaten 31, but the home side were able to manage only 266 in their second innings, leaving Yorkshire needing just 10 to win. Ryan Sidebottom and Adil Rashid finished with three wickets apiece.

Warwickshire were unable to pull off the victory over Somerset despite Jeetan Patel taking five for 67 to help end the Somerset second innings at 255. Nick Compton fell early on for 91 to Keith Barker (three for 71), while Alex Barrow (39) and Piyush Chawla (26) made useful contributions. That left the defending champions needing a none-too-tricky 189 in the fourth innings but they were denied by the weather. The umpires took the players off for bad light with them requiring a further 66 in 18 overs and they were never to return. Varun Chopra was on 55 not out with the score on 123 for three.

Surrey had collapsed to 97 for six by stumps on day two at Chester-le-Street as Jamie Harrison and debutant Usman Arshard each took a brace of wickets. Durham had advanced their first innings score to 421 earlier in the day in spite of Chris Tremlett. The scorned England man ended with career-best figures of eight for 96 from 33 overs. Umpire Mark Benson was taken ill during the day, with local umpire Phillip Reine standing as his replacement before reserve umpire Paul Baldwin arrived to officiate alongside Michael Gough.

In Division Two, Ryan ten Doeschate hit a century as Essex drew against Northamptonshire at Colchester. Essex began on 187 for five in reply to the visitors’ 531 but avoided the follow-on thanks mainly to ten Doeschate and James Foster who took their sixth-wicket partnership to 180 before Foster departed five short of his century. Graham Napier then made 45 and David Masters an unbeaten 37 as the hosts passed the follow-on mark and were finally all out for 396. Northamptonshire then reached 54 for none in their second innings before the draw was agreed.

Leicestershire will still entertain thoughts of escaping with a draw against Glamorgan after closing day three at Swansea on 134 for two in their second innings; albeit still trailing by 171 runs. Ned Eckersley continued his impressive season by hitting an unbeaten 54 and adding 69 with Niall O’Brien (29) for the second-wicket. Glamorgan had earlier declared their first innings at 508 for nine, with Michael Hogan making a breezy unbeaten 13-ball 27. Ben Raine ended as the pick of the visitors’ attack with four for 98 from 23 overs.

Declarations by both Gloucestershire and Kent set up an interesting fourth innings run chase at Canterbury. The visitors, who are still hopeful of gaining promotion, look like coming off second best after reaching stumps on 307 for nine in their pursuit of 399. Charlie Shreck took four for 65 and helped cause Gloucestershire to slip to 13 for three early on. A terrific maiden century from wicket-keeper Gareth Roderick, however, shored up the middle-order and gave them hope. Roderick ended on 152 not out and shared a stand of 109 with Tom Smith (32) for the seventh-wicket.

Simon Katich hit an unbeaten century as Lancashire closed the second day at New Road on 272 for five in reply to Worcestershire’s 287. The visitors lost Glen Chapple early on for a duck, but Luis Reece hit 59 and added 77 with Paul Horton (30). Ashwell Prince then made 52, but it was Katich who advanced the game on a rain-hit day. He ended on 104 not out off just 89 balls to keep Lancashire’s dreams of a crucial win very much alive.

Tomorrow’s Fixtures:
day three, LV=CCD1, Durham v Surrey at Chester-le-Street
day four, LV=CCD1, Glamorgan v Leicestershire at Swansea
day four, LV=CCD2, Kent v Gloucestershire at Canterbury
day three, LV=CCD2, Worcestershire v Lancashire at New Road

Weather Forecast: Heavy and frequent showers are forecast for the east and centre of England throughout tomorrow, with only Wales and the western third of the country expected to remain dry. Temperatures will therefore be lower than today, peaking at between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius.

County Cricket News In Brief:
Derbyshire have been docked two points for next season’s Yorkshire Bank 50 competition after being found to have prepared a poor pitch showing excessive turn for their match against Durham on 15th August. The home side made 217 for eight from their 40 overs in the televised fixture, but three spinners then took all ten Durham wickets as they were bundled out for 110 in reply. Meanwhile, the club have confirmed that they are interested in signing Kent all-rounder Matt Coles who turned down a new deal at Canterbury yesterday.

Middlesex have signed batsmen Andrew Balbirnie and Ryan Higgins on full-time contracts. Balbirnie was already on a summer contract but has now finished his degree at Cardiff University, while Higgins has completed his A-Levels and was star performer for England Under-19s during their tri-series against Pakistan and Bangladesh earlier this month.

The former vice-president of Yorkshire CCC Charles Fenton OBE has passed away at the age of 82 according to a statement on the club’s website. Fenton was also a chairman of the Charitable Youth Trust, a successful businessman and High Sheriff of Yorkshire.

© Cricket World 2013

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