Tanya Aldred"s county cricket roundup With his parents watching and waving from the Riverside car park, Chris Rushworth became Durham’s leading wicket-taker as he overtook Graham Onions during their 258-run drubbing of Worcestershire. A hard chance had come and gone before Jack Haynes ticklishly edged Rushworth into the hands of David Bedingham in the slips to bounteous celebration at his 528th wicket for the county. Rushworth finished with four for 52, Mark Wood pocketed three wickets, and Brydon Carse two. Daryl Mitchell, Jake Libby and Jack Haynes battled hard, but a middle-order collapse of four for two gave Worcestershire little hope of lasting the day. Durham lie second in Group One. Essex lie back rejuvenated, in their familiar position at the top (of Group One) and looking down, after an innings and 15 run grilling of Derbyshire, despite 147 overs being lost to rain. Simon Harmer, bowling unchanged from the River End, added three wickets to the nine he slurped up in the first innings; while Ryan ten Doeschate, agile as an alley cat, scooped up three more catches, six in the match, crouched under the helmet at short leg. Derbyshire’s top order resisted in parts, but like roast potatoes tumbling into a baking tray, lost five for 33 at the close. They take just a point from the game and are slumped at the bottom of the group. The players eventually made it out into the middle at Sophia Gardens at 4.15pm, with Yorkshire wide-eyed with the possibility of forcing a win. However, a sparkling innings of 88 not out from birthday boy Kiran Carlson, wristy and impudently poised at the crease, ensured a draw. Carlson now has four fifties and two hundreds this season, and won’t have done his prospects any harm by shimmering in front of the Sky cameras and Joe Root. Yorkshire go to the top of Group Two, five points ahead of Lancashire who have a game in hand. Glamorgan lie third. “I don’t think we should get carried away, said Matthew Maynard, Glamorgan coach, afterwards. “Kiran has had a fantastic start to the season, he is a wonderful player, he is very positive, you can see that in his movements. He’s just got to concentrate on the next match and that’s Kent and try and get as many runs there. Things like the England Lions, selections, are totally out of his hands. Sometimes you can get caught up in stuff like that but it is important not to.” A Sussex attack shorn of the injured Jofra Archer couldn’t run through Kent at a damp and soggy Hove. Jack Leaning made a patient and unbeaten 127 in a fourth- wicket stand worth 172 with Ollie Robinson, who scurried along to 85. The Sussex captain, Ben Brown later empathised with Archer, who warmed up with the teams before play started but did not take the field. “The issue here is a sad one for Jofra. He’s a champion cricketer, so talented and so gifted, but at the moment he cannot do what he wants to do, he cannot do his skill. Jofra did the right thing playing in the second XI game the previous week, and we all want him to be fully fit and firing for England and for the Ashes and things like that. We tried to do what was right for Jofra’s career, and he needed to play in this match to prove his fitness, but it just hasn’t worked out this week.” Sussex and Kent, who are still winless, prop up the Group Three table. The rain continued to bellow down at Taunton and the match between Somerset and Surrey was abandoned without a ball being bowled on the final day. Both sides take nine points from the game, leaving Somerset in second place in Group Two, four points behind leaders Gloucestershire, who have a game in hand. Surrey are fourth. That’s it from me for this round, thanks for sticking with us through the gloom and torrential downpours. Three draws and three results: not bad, considering the interruptions. Simon will be back on Thursday - till then, good evening! Group 3 table Yorkshire 98 (played 6) Lancashire 93 (played 5) Glamorgan 69 (played 6) Northants 68 (played 5) Sussex 64 (played 6) Kent 49 (played 6) Glamorgan draw with Yorkshire They shake hands at Sophia Gardens - a worthy effort by Yorkshire to push for a result but ultimately the rain was the winner. A more than handy unbroken partnership of 47 between Chris Cooke and birthday boy Kiran Carlson, who sparkled for 88 not out. And that, is that! It would be very timely for Kiran Carlson to make a century in front of Joe Root... Sussex draw with Kent Sweet unbeaten 127 from Jack Leaning and 85 from Ollie Robinson ensured that Kent’s second innings was a much more sedate affair. They finish on 387-4, and Kent avoid defeat for the third time this season (to go with three losses). Sussex still have just the one win, their chances in this rain-affected match weren’t helped by the injury to Jofra Archer which left them a bowler short in the second innings. Some Sunday afternoon thoughts float in from Finbar Anslow: “Thought you might like some perusals about cricket in 2021 from a distant Somerset fan. For the first time in 30 years I’m actually able to sit in my living room and watch live cricket. This is indescribably wonderful. (As well as somewhat excruciating when Somerset are batting) Not only that but it’s recorded so I can choose my own highlights. I WOULD PAY FOR THIS! Reasonably good quality streaming, replays and pleasant, informed commentary. Doesn’t get much better this side of Taunton. “So the county championships really bubbling along nicely, crowds about to return and some great internationals coming up, oh and in 2 months something called the hundred is due to start. “Difficult to know what to make of it and hard to get excited. There’s a lot of cricketing money tied up there so it has to succeed and it’s supposed to bring lots of new fans to the game so why do I feel so luke warm? I guess the fact that it’s an artificial creation with some radical changes, rather than an evolution doesn’t help, plus the cramming of another competition into a really busy Summer; but my main problem is the difficulty of identifying with any particular team. As a fan you need to feel some connection with a team though it may not be crammed with local talent, even The IPL is based on major cities. “The names do not inspire and that really doesn’t help.Maybe something positive will come from it albeit unintentionally; some young talent will have to be blooded much earlier to fill the gaps in the counties, who knows, it might even be good for cricket. Have a good Sunday.” Thank you! Kiran Carlson playing beautifully, currently 63 not out. Just checking out where he went to school, Whitchurch High School - the same comprehensive as Gareth Bale - which, according to Wiki, has the most astonishing sports facilities: A large, floodlit astroturf pitch on the lower school site, used mainly for hockey and football (1997) A sports recreational hall, located on the lower school site, A sports recreational hall with a fitness suite, changing rooms and classrooms located on the upper school site (2006) Ten floodlit, five-a-side football pitches with clubhouse and parking located on the lower school site, available for community use outside of school hours (2007) Extensive playing fields on both the upper and lower school sites which are used for home matches by the schools rugby and football teams Traditional school gym with climbing equipment, ropes, gymnastic apparatus and crash mats on the lower school site A large vertical climbing wall and horizontal bouldering wall on the upper school site (2011) 15 m swimming pool on the lower school site There’s a breathless hush etc... as David Lloyd pads up to Ben Coad. Glamorgan 121-4 (AKA 40-4) The two remaining games will sort out the positions in Group three - though it feels like Lancashire and Yorkshire have rather got that one sewn up. And what do you know, they’re on the field at both Hove and, at last, Sophia Gardens. Group two table Gloucestershire 95 (played 5) Somerset 91 (played 6) Hampshire 82 (played 6) Surrey 68 (played 6) Middlesex 44 (played 6) Leicestershire 40 (played 5) Group one table Essex 76 (played 6) Durham 73 (played 5) Notts 73 (played 5) Worcestershire 70 (played 6) Warwickshire 67 (played 5) Derbyshire 41 (played 5) Durham beat Worcestershire by 258 runs! Durham’s second win of the season! Four for Rushworth, three for Wood, two for Carse, one for Borthwick as Durham win their second home match in a row at a canter. Worcestershire all out for 164 - rather a collapse after the partnership of 79 between Jake Libby and Daryl Mitchell. And things sprinting to a close at The Riverside where Ben Cox has become Chris Rushworth’s fourth wicket. Tongue and Morris have two long hours to hold the final frontier. Essex beat Derbyshire by an innings and 15 runs! Essex leapfrog up the Championship table to sit pretty once more at the top of Group One as Hughes is befuddled by Sam Cook and squirts a catch to Paul Walter. The world spins once more upon its usual axis. A 4.15 start confirmed at Sophia Gardens where Yorkshire have 28 overs, minus a change of innings, to whip off the remaining seven Glamorgan’s wickets and knock-off the required runs. Unlikely, I wager. And the ball after pinging Porter to the boundary, Stanlake plonks him into the hands of Tom Westley. Derbyshire 248-9 and Essex just a hush away from victory. Big Billy Stanlake might pick up Alex Hughes and put him in his pocket. Essex fielders scurrying hither and thither to keep the overs ticking over. Rushworth! This time it is Leach, lbw for 5 ,as Durham turn the screw. Worcestershire 150-8. Teatime scores Group one Riverside: Durham 246 and 389-5dec v Worcestershire 213 and 146-7 Durham need three wickets to win Chelmsford: Essex 412-3 dec v Derbyshire 146 and 236-8 Derbyshire trail by 30 runs * Group two Lord’s: Middlesex 172 and 101 LOST TO Hampshire 208 and 66-3 BY 7 WICKETS Taunton: Somerset v Surrey 206-4 MATCH ABANDONED Group three Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 149and 108-3 v Yorkshire 230 all out No play yet today - play due to start at 4.15pm Hove: Sussex 256 v Kent 145 and 343-3 Rain delay - play due to restart at 4pm still in play Alastair Cook doesn’t drop (this) one. 32 runs short of making Essex bat again, Derbyshire lose their eighth wicket, Critchley for 25, flapping at Jamie Porter. Hope at Sophia Gardens: “There will a further inspection from the umpires at 3.40pm with a view to start at 4.15pm with 28 overs remaining.” Seems Worcestershire have run their course of draws. They lose their seventh wicket and their fourth for the addition of two runs as Ed Barnard lasts just nine balls before nicking to Stuart Poynter. Worcs 144-7 And another catch for Ten Doeschate! (His third). Another wicket for Harmer! (His twelfth). Hudson Prentice trudges off and Derbyshire are 226-7. These games are now scurrying to a close. They’re taking tea at Hove where it is raining agin, Kent 343-3. The umpires are due to be inspecting at Sophia Gardens, but the outfield is very soggy. That man Ten Doeschate again! A low catch grabbed with both hands at forward short leg, and a second wicket for Harmer!, Derbyshire 218-6 and down the ninepins tumble. Oh dear, Worcestershire. Last hope Jake Libby follows the crowd as Mark Wood zips one in for 36. They’re now 135-6 and have lost three for one... At The Riverside, a tumble of timber. Mark Wood followed up Rushworth’s record-breaking wicket with one of his own, before Rushworth traps Wessels lbw for a duck. Worcestershire have lost three of their middle order for 16 runs and at 135-5 need the clouds to come rolling in fast. A hundred for Jack Leaning! He pulls off his helmet, is hugged warmly by Ollie Robinson. Much better effort this time round by Kent against a Sussex attack shorn of Jofra Archer. Jack Leaning and Ollie Robinson have now put on 117 for the fourth wicket at Hove where, barring a ridiculous collapse and a gung-ho run chase, Kent, 197 runs ahead, look safe. Leaning is now 91 not out, and Robinson 64. Chris Rushworth becomes Durham"s leading wicket taker! Wicket number 528 is Jack Haynes who tickles generously to first slip. Worcestershire 124-3 And so the bell tolls. A fifth wicket falls at Chelmsford as Leus du Plooy makes his way past the rickety Chelmsford seating and back to the dressing room. Derbyshire, 193-5, have now lost two wickets for no runs. Has anyone been watching closely at Hove? Is Jofra Archer on the pitch? There’s a huge bank of cloud puffing up at Chelmsford where Madsen gives Ten Doeschate another opportunity to display his athleticism, a one-handed effort at full stretch on his belly. Derbyshire 193-4. And Harmer, after two dropped catches, has his first wicket. Has this set the marble running inexorably down the marble run? An inspection is due at 3pm at Sophia Gardens - would it be too bad to suggest this is a fruitless endeavour? Lunchtime-ish scores Group one Riverside: Durham 246 and 389-5dec v Worcestershire 213 all out 90-2 Worcestershire need 333 to win Chelmsford: Essex 412-3 dec v Derbyshire 146 and 164-3 Group two Lord’s: Middlesex 172 and 101 LOST TO Hampshire 208 and 66-3 BY 7 WICKETS Taunton: Somerset v Surrey 206-4 MATCH ABANDONED Group three Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 149and 108-3 v Yorkshire 230 all out No play yet today - rain Hove: Sussex 256 v Kent 145 and 253-3 Seems I took lunch when it was all happening. At The Riverside, Worcestershire are two down. Daryl Mitchell for a nearly-run-a-ball 62, caught off Wood and Tom Fell four overs later, lbw to Carse for just one. The magnificent Jake Libby remains as ever, 21 not out. Worcestershire 90-2. The Cricket Paper falls open to a big piece on potential candidates for Dom Sibley’s opening spot, should he still be unfit. Zak Crawley, Sam Robson, Adam Lyth, Jake Libby and James Bracey are the names shackled identified as potential spot fillers. Each of them averages in the 30s in first-class cricket, Adam Lyth has the highest of 38.49. The Test squad will be announced on Tuesday. And on the dot of lunch, Alastair Cook drops du Plooy off Simon Harmer, a shoulder-high effort that slipped through the fingers. Lunch at Chelmsford, Derbyshire 164-3, still trailing Essex by 102 runs. They’re on again at Chelmsford, and will take lunch at 1pm, and the players are out at The Riverside. Play is due to start at 1.10 at Hove. The Bancroft fall-out continues. David Saker, England’s former bowling coach and the Australian bowling coach at the time of Sandpapergate, is vague but regretful. “There was a lot of people to blame. It could have been me to blame, it could have been someone else. It could have been stopped and it wasn’t, which is unfortunate.” In Manchester, it is warm and the dog is sun-bathing whilst idly catching flies. It seems they’re currently lunching at Chester le Street, in the hope of starting at 12.45. Will it be Worcestershire to bat out two sessions or Durham to grab ten wickets? Chris Rushworth needs just the one to snatch the leading first-class wicket taker cape from Graham Onions. And on come the covers at Chelsmford, with Derbyshire 145-3, still 121 runs behind. I like to think cricket crowds aren’t generally like this - though internationals and copious alcohol are a pretty grim combination at times. Showers seem to be on their way at Chelmsford, so Harmer needs to get his magic fingers twitching . Alastair Cook stands at first slip - for how much longer I wonder? He’s out of contract at the end of the year. Incidentally, and completely out of sync with the mood of the match, Wayne Madsen got off the mark with a six. What a shame: an off cutter does for Brooke Guest for 65 in Sam Cook’s first over. A nice little maiden half century that. Derbyshire 118-3 Somerset v Surrey: match abandoned as a draw The endless rain, the soggy outfield, the forecast. Both Surrey and Sussex take nine points each - Somerset now sit just four points behind the Group Two leaders Gloucestershire. Can’t help thinking this is the start of a crumble - Derbyshire lose Billy Godleman for 45, lbw to Porter, after two and a half hour’s resistance. Derbyshire 111-2. I think this is a great idea! My kids used to spend all their pocket money on football stickers or cards. Oh, innocent days. They would have loved cricket cards to collect. Wish it was county cricket teams though - will you swap my Darren Stevens for your Tim Murtagh? In the first quarter of an hour, I’m afraid we’ve only had play at Chelmsford, where Derbyshire have shuffled on to 105-1, still 161 behind. So far Harmer has bowled 17 wicketless overs. Outlook: wet But play is due to start on time at Hove and Chelmsford. Scores on the doors Group one Riverside: Durham 246 and 389-5dec v Worcestershire 213 all out 60-0 Worcestershire need 363 to win Chelmsford: Essex 412-3 dec v Derbyshire 146 and 97-1 Derbyshire trail by 169 runs Group two Lord’s: Middlesex 172 and 101 LOST TO Hampshire 208 and 66-3 BY 7 WICKETS Taunton: Somerset v Surrey 206-4 Group three Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 149and 108-3 v Yorkshire 230 all out Hove: Sussex 256 v Kent 145 and 220-3 Saturday"s round-up On a very rain-delayed day at Hove there were concerns over the fitness of Jofra Archer, playing in his first Championship game of the year. Archer suffered a recurrence of the elbow problems which meant he flew home before the one-day series in India and missed the IPL. To the seeming surprise of Ben Brown, the Sussex captain, Archer did not open the bowling from the Sea End and in fact didn’t bowl at all on day three, having sent down just five overs on day two. Sussex confirmed that he would not bowl again in the match, which would seem to make him a long shot for the Test squad against New Zealand, named on Tuesday. “I think there was some confusion about the state of Jofra’s [right] elbow,” Ian Salisbury, the Sussex coach, said afterwards. “Ben thought he was going to bowl but his elbow was sore. Any time that Jofra can’t bowl you’re going to be frustrated as a leader, or as a team. But it happens. In sport people get injured. That’s life. That’s sport. He’s still willing to be out there because he wants Sussex to win.” Zak Crawley danced to 85 as Kent made a better fist of their second innings. Joe Root was bowled for 99 after resurrecting Yorkshire’s innings alongside his captain Steven Patterson. Root, wearing a huge short-sleeved jumper, played the difficult pitch with touch-perfection. But, after being somewhat marooned in the 90s, he got an inside edge to a ball from Dan Douthwaite, which squirted on to his stumps. The No 11 Ben Coad lasted two balls, leaving Patterson unbeaten on 47 and Yorkshire with an invaluable first-innings lead of 81. Glamorgan’s second innings stuttered, with Marnus Labuschagne, yet to find his mojo, out for a three-ball duck, stumps splattered. Kiran Carlson and David Lloyd then applied a steady hand as the shadows grew. Essex’s Simon Harmer took a career-best nine for 80 as Derbyshire limped to 146 all out. Bowling with variation and a bounce in his step after a couple of skimpy matches, Derbyshire’s batsmen tumbled like dominoes on a slope, losing six for 43. Harmer was denied all 10 by part-time spinner Dan Lawrence, for the second time in his career. Following on, Derbyshire’s innings started badly when Luis Reece was bowled for nought, but Brooke Guest batted sweetly to make his maiden first-class fifty. Middlesex’s batting once again proved flaky in the face of Kyle Abbott and Mohammad Abbas, as they collapsed to a seven-wicket defeat to Hampshire. They staggered to 101 in their second innings, the highest score captain Peter Handscombe’s 24. Hampshire needed just 66 to win, a race against the weather, but Sam Northeast eased them home. Abbott finished with 11 for 85 in the match. Centuries from Durham’s Will Young and Jack Burnham, his first since 2016, and 86 from Ned Eckersley, who ping-ponged six sixes, left Worcestershire with a tricky final day at the Riverside.