County Championship round-up
Wisden CricInfo staff29-Jul-2005Division OneEssex v Middlesex, Chelmsford
Scorecard
Simon Cook picked up two late wickets – including Andy Flower,
caught by Owais Shah for just 7 – to even things up on a day
dominated by the bowler. Middlesex made just 214, with Jon
Dakin returning figures of 4 for 57. Ben Hutton top-scored with
45. It didn’t look to be enough, when Darren Robinson and the
impressive Will Jefferson put on 104 for the opening wicket, until
Cook’s late intervention.
Notts v Warwickshire, Trent Bridge
Scorecard
Mark Wagh made 73 and Ashley Giles chipped in with 38 as
Warwickshire slumped to a disappointing 222 all out. Charlie
Shreck (Nottinghamshire’s new fast bowler from Cornwall, not a
jolly green giant) picked up 4 for 33. But when Notts batted,
they were in dire straits at 15 for 3 before Darren Bicknell (61),
Chris Cairns (44) and Bilal Shafayat (37 not out) hauled them
back into contention.
Surrey v Lancashire, The Oval
Scorecard
Surrey’s bid for a fourth title in five years didn’t get off to an
ideal start, as Lancashire’s batsmen made full use of superb
batting conditions at The Oval. Stuart Law and Mal Loye both
made unbeaten centuries as Lancashire finished the day on 391
for 2. Earlier Iain Sutcliffe – like Loye making his debut for Lancs
– made an accomplished 70.
Division Two
Derbyshire v Glamorgan
Scorecard
Derbyshire were in trouble at 72 for 4, but Michael Di Venuto’s
aggressive 121 – the first Championship hundred of the new
season – and Luke Sutton’s unbeaten 77 ensured that they
dominated the latter part of the day. For Glamorgan, Darren
Thomas picked up 4 for 69.
Gloucs v Somerset, Bristol
Scorecard
It was the Richard Johnson show at Bristol. Gloucestershire made
just 203, with Jonty Rhodes chipping in with a bright and breezy
42. Johnson, who finished with figures of 3 for 27, then walked
out to bat with Somerset in disarray at 36 for 6. His response
was magnificent – an 84-ball 106, with 17 fours and four sixes,
that meant his side finished the first day only 28 behind.
Worcs v Hampshire, Worcester
Scorecard
Wasim Akram finished the day with 2 for 62, but Ben Smith led
the way for Worcestershire with a doughty 104 in his first match
as their official captain. His predecessor Graeme Hick also
chipped in with 72.
Yorkshire v Northants, Headingley
Scorecard
Darren Gough returned to competitive cricket with a wicket from
his third delivery in Yorkshire’s County Championship opener.
Gough had been sidelined for nearly nine months, but showed
little sign of rustiness as he claimed the wicket of Mark Powell.
After Powell edged a low catch to wicketkeeper Richard Blakey,
Gough went on to trap David Sales and Gerard Brophy leg-before
in quick succession to finish with 3 for 40. Northants were
bowled out for 184, and Yorkshire finished the day on top at 210
for 2, with Matthew Wood unbeaten on 109.
University matches (Day 1 of 3)
Cambridge UCCE v Kent, Fenner’s
Scorecard
Michael Carberry, the former Surrey batsman who joined Kent in
the off-season, and Robert Key both made centuries in an
opening partnership of 258, as Kent made light work of the
paper-thin Cambridge attack.
Sussex v Cardiff UCCE, Hove
Scorecard
Richard Montgomerie and Tony Cottey both made hundreds for
Sussex after Mushtaq Ahmed’s legspin had fetched him 6 for 20
against hapless University opposition.
