Tanya Aldred The Somerset cider wagon has started to roll, after a victory within two days at Northamptonshire’s County Ground. They dismissed the hosts for 154 in their second innings on a pitch with somewhat haphazard bounce – some shooting low, others grazing the eyebrows. It had been a topsy-turvy game throughout, and Sunday was no different. The day belonged to Jamie Overton, soon to move to Surrey, who first made a career best 68, some of them with brother Craig: they smashed 14 fours and seven sixes between them as Somerset built up a lead of 321. He then muscled four for 26 as Northants, steady at first thanks to 50 from Ricardo Vasconcelos, then collapsed disastrously, losing six for six in 24 balls as they tumbled to defeat. Four wickets too for ex-Northants player Jack Brooks to complement his smash and grab 36 at No 11 on the first day. It was Somerset’s second win in the Bob Willis trophy; they play Warwickshire next, on Saturday. Glamorgan made a good fist of chasing Worcestershire’s mammoth 455 for eight declared, with Billy Root and Kiran Carlson both striking unbeaten fifties as the afternoon drifted into the evening. Earlier, Graham Wagg and Michael Hogan stuck grimly to the task, taking three wickets, each as both Jake Libby and Brett D’Oliveria passed 150. Jordan Cox, a 19-year-old only opening because Joe Denly and Zak Crawley were away with England, made his maiden first-class hundred as Kent seized control of the match against Sussex. Only two wickets fell all day as Cox (167) and Jack Leaning, (110) – who came to Kent from Yorkshire last winter – put on an unbeaten 231. Simon Harmer once more wove his irresistible magic as a young Surrey team were bowled out for less than 200 by Essex. Harmer, 2019’s leading wicket-taker, knitted six for 67 as his partner in crime Jamie Porter grabbed four for 53. Afterwards Harmer told reporters that he usually got the last laugh at Chelmsford, because of the turn and bounce. Only Will Jacks passed 50. At Trent Bridge Nottinghamshire had one of their better days, after a career-best century from Tom Moores gave them a 91-run lead over Yorkshire. Moores’ innings, full of audacious strokes, was the first time he had passed 50 in two years. Joe Weatherly was out two agonising runs short of his hundred as Hampshire tiptoed into a first-innings lead over Middlesex at Radlett. He was supported by 50 from captain Sam Northeast and a swinging cameo from the England white-ball player Liam Dawson, who collapsed while playing a defensive shot and was carried off in obvious pain with an achilles tendon injury. A rollicking hundred from Wayne Madsen put Derbyshire on top at Grace Road as they charged to a first-innings lead of 209. Leicestershire will have to draw strongly on their memories of last week’s win to come out of this game unscathed. At Chester-le-Street, Lancashire nurdled a 100-run lead over Durham, thanks to a 75 of infinite patience by Josh Bohannon. It was cricket for the purists at Bristol after Warwickshire ground their way to a first innings lead of 20 over Gloucestershire. Matthew Lamb made a valuable 65 in more than three hours on a lugubrious pitch; Matt Taylor took two quick wickets as the day drifted to a close. Congratulations Somerset on a rollicking win - they know how to do it in style. Those Overton boys - just shows England’s strength in bowling, that neither of them have managed to hold down a regular spot. Otherwise, good days for Notts’ and Glamorgan’s batsmen and you can’t write that very often. Brilliant too from Jordan Cox, and Wayne Madsen, Jack Leaning, Tom Moores and Joe Weatherley - and here’s to poor Liam Dawson, carried off the field with an achilles tendon injury. That’s it from me, thanks for joining in on a sleepy Sunday. Have a lovely evening, goodnight! And with Northants 136 for four, needing a not impossible 186, I better write up the blog. Keep an idle eye on The County Ground. Jordan Cox bats on and on at Canterbury - 145 not out. Sussex will be spitting their chips if Ollie Robinson doesn’t play for England in the next Test. An understatement to say they’re missing him. Also missing Chris Jordan, who had surgery for a bicep injury last month. Kiran Carlson (35) and Billy Root (41) rebuilding for Glamorgan after they lost two wickets for five runs in early afternoon. Now 127-2 but a Eiffel Tower’s worth of stairs away from Worcestershire’s 455. This could be a turn-up - Warwicks now 162-5, still 48 behind Gloucestershire. A second wicket for George Scott. Lancs have lost two wickets since tea - but Bohannon still stonewalling, 71 not out. Notts doing what they haven’t done since the advent of CAdbury’s DarkMilk bar and batting all the way down - 253 for 6 and only 11 runs behind Yorkshire. Noooo! First Ben Brown, now Joe Weatherley out for 98. That man Murtagh, Hants 212 for five. Tea-time scores Chester le Street: Durham 180 (Lees 66; Gleeson 3-32) v Lancs 199-5 (Bohannon 65 not out) Grace Road: Leicestershire 199 (Dearden 70; Melton 4-22) v Derbyshire 287-52 (Madsen 103) Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 231-6 ( Mullaney 50) v Yorkshire 264 (Thompson 98; Nash 3-20) Bristol: Gloucestershire 210 (Charlesworth 51; Hannon-Dalby 6-33) v Warwickshire 133-4 The County Ground: Northants 67 (Coverton 4-12) and 104-3 (Vasconcelos 52 not out) v Somerset 166 (Sanderson 5-28) and 222( Joverton 68, Coverton 53; Berg 4-64, Sanderson 6-61). Northants need 218 to win. New Road: Worcestershire 455-8dec (Libby 184, D’Olivera 174; Hogan 3-59, Wagg 3-66) v Glamorgan88-2 Chelmsford: Essex 262 (Khushi 66; Clarke 3-26) v Surrey 136-5 (Jacks 70; Porter 3-35) Canterbury: Kent 220-1 (Jordan Cox 111 not out) v Sussex 332 (Brown 98; Podmore 4-85) Radlett: Middlesex 252 (Andersson 92; Stevenson 4-71) v Hampshire 204-4 (Weatherley 98 not out, Northeast 51) More on Jordan Cox: a wicketkeeper for England U19s, he had a disappointing World Cup at the start of the year; averaging 27.6 in six games (England were knocked out by Australia) after being touted as one of their star batsmen. Tea scores to follow. At Chester-le-Street Lancashire have gone into the lead by just chugging along. Lead now 6, with Josh Bohannon 62 not out in four hours. It’s tea at Chelmsford, where Will Jacks and Laurie Evans put on 80, but Simon Harmer, 2-45, is on the prowl Well played Kent’s Jordan Cox! Just 19, he has come through the Kent academy and played U-19 cricket for England Alas, Northants, not so mighty now. 51-3 after a not bad start. Keogh caught and bowled by ex-Northants man Jack Brooks. A nice afternoon for batting, it seems. Fifty for Will Jacks with Surrey 102-4. Fifty for Joe Weatherley, Hampshire 150-3. Fifty and out for Mullaney, Notts 163-5. Jordan Cox not far off his century, Kent 158-1. And a hundred at last for Wayne Madsen, just bowled by Davis for 103. A gorgeous still summer day here in Manchester. If I had an orchard I would wander through it a Laura Ashley skirt plucking daisies. As it is, you can have an update on Lancashire v Durham: Ben Raine has snatched a second Lancashire wicket, Liam Livingstone, for 23. Lancs still 42 runs behind but six wicket remaining. At Grace Road, Derbyshire are entirely dominant, though Wayne Madsen seems to have been stuck in the 90s for eons. Craig Overton takes the ball from the pavilion end and nearly gets Ben Curran first ball. Oh, and second ball too. I’m grateful to LongHop BTL for this : Craig Overton in three bowling innings so far this season - 15 wickets at 7.36You’d get fairly long odds on those figures getting any worse in the second innings here too. Joe Clarke run out for 35 at Trent Bridge - cue for a Notts-up, but perhaps not this time, Mullaney still there. Glamorgan off to a un-tarnished start, 14-0, after Worcestershire’s mammoth 455-8 declared. A rosy parchment arrives from John Burton: “I don’t suppose I’m the only one to feel a warm sentimental glow when reading “D’Olivera 174” - even we now mostly count as old-foggies :-)“ And Joverton goes to his seventh first-class fifty - what a match for the Overtons - perhaps their last in the same Somerset side. I find that quite sad - though quite understand why Jamie fancies a change. From Mes: “Cricket romantics (and old people in general) must be thanking their lucky stars that any rumours surrounding Jimmy Anderson’s rumours have been extinguished by the ever-reliable Ali Martin. It is true that the veteran has underperformed compared to the golden period he has had in recent times.” “I didn’t know Ali Martin was a veteran. And as for underperforming compared to his golden period, it’s true that he hasn’t single handedly relegated Lancashire in the last couple of seasons. But still. All it takes is a magic jinx. Oh. Sorry. I see now.” And, regular as clock work, a post-lunch wicket at Northampton, Somerset 198-9. Ben Stokes withdraws from England squad for the summer to spend time with family in New Zealand Stokes will fly to Christchurch and will play no further part in England’s cricket this season. More to follow. Lunchtime scores Chester le Street: Durham 180 (Lees 66; Gleeson 3-32) v Lancs 102-3 Grace Road: Leicestershire 199 (Dearden 70; Melton 4-22) v Derbyshire 209-2 (Madsen 78 not out) Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 105-3 v Yorkshire 264 (Thompson 98; Nash 3-20) Bristol: Gloucestershire 210 (Charlesworth 51; Hannon-Dalby 6-33) v Warwickshire 55-3 The County Ground: Northants 67 (Coverton 4-12) v Somerset 166 (Sanderson 5-28) and 175-8 (Coverton 53; Berg 4-47) New Road: Worcestershire 455-8 (Libby 184, D’Olivera 174; Hogan 3-59, Wagg 3-66) v Glamorgan Chelmsford: Essex 262 (Khushi 66; Clarke 3-26) v Surrey 36-3 Canterbury: Kent 103-0 (Cox 52 not out) v Sussex 332 (Brown 98; Podmore 4-85) Radlett: Middlesex 252 (Andersson 92; Stevenson 4-71) v Hampshire 101-3 More on that sensational for five minutes fake news about Jimmy Anderson, from Abhijato Sensarma “Cricket romantics (and old people in general) must be thanking their lucky stars that any rumours surrounding Jimmy Anderson’s rumours have been extinguished by the ever-reliable Ali Martin. It is true that the veteran has underperformed compared to the golden period he has had in recent times. Is it old age catching up with him, or simply bad luck? Either ways, he will be ‘rested’ for the upcoming Test against Pakistan. But let’s be honest - when the player belongs to his class, he’s going to silence the critics when he returns sooner rather than later!” At what age do you become “old people in general” Abhijato?! Lunch scores to follow. On radio commentary from the Somerset-Northants game, they think that any problems are in the batsmen’s heads rather than with the pitch. And that those who have played without fear - Joverton, Coverton and van der Merwe - have have done the best. Somerset lead now nearly 300. Or as our Northants correspondent says: Bell-Drummond and Jordan Cox having no problems at all against the de-OllyRobinsoned Sussex attack 86-0. Bizarre scorecard from Chelmsford - Mark Stoneman 4 not out off 58 balls; Jacks 25 not out off 35 balls. Patel and Borthwick out for ducks - both wickets to Porter. Surrey 32-2. Ian Bell and Will Rhodes rescuing Warwicks from a dodgy start. 15-2 has become 42-2; while Madsen and du Plooy take Derbys to within 20 runs of Leicestershire’s first innings. Let’s see how Lancashire are doing? Not bad, at 76-2, with Bohannon and Vilas comfortably in double figures. Confusing moment there when I wondered why Hass wasn’t on the scoresheet. Over to Trent Bridge, where he’s been out for 21 - Notts now 65 for 3 with wickets for Olivier, Leech and Patterson. Cancel that Jimmy whisper - Ali Martin has reassured me that it is very much NOT the case. Get all your dodgy rumours here! In other news, Craig Overton and Roelof Van der Merwe are throwing the bat in a partnership of 53 with potential for growth. Somerset’s lead already a probably unassailable 205. Rumours from a reliable source that Jimmy Anderson might be about to retire - would make Ollie Robinson’s late call up logical..... And still Worcestershire flow serenely on: Jake Libby now 161 not out and D’Oliverira 140 not out.Heavy labouring by the Glamorgan bowlers. Make that 53-6... Three wickets gone in the first half hour at Chelmsford as the human kitchen sink unit Rikki Clarke grabs two and Gus Atkinson dismisses Simon Harmer to finish the innings. Meanwhile Somerset in with a chance of challenging Northants’ 67 all out; currently 54-5. Tom Banton out for two. Cue music for the usual tail-end rescue. Ben Sanderson grabs his second wicket - his seventh of the game -as Northants continue to scythe through the Somerset “batting.” Somerset 50-4, a lead of 149. Or in the words of our Northants correspondent: