Key eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureTanya's roundupTime wheeled to sepia at Chelmsford, with Alastair Cook unbeaten on 64 at stumps on a good day for Essex. Kent, who had chosen to bat on a greenish pitch and with frowning skies, were dismissed by tea, with Sam Cook and Jamie Porter pocketing three wickets each.Surrey’s Jamie Smith gambolled to an unbeaten 120, his second century of the season, in the London derby against Middlesex at Lord’s, backed up by 79 from Rory Burns who has suffered a forlorn summer with the bat.Lancashire were rescued from the indignity of 150 for seven by an unbeaten partnership of 145 between George Balderson (94) and Tom Bailey (a career-best 75) on the Edgbaston pitch which hosted the Blast final.A career-best 145 from Derbyshire’s wicket-keeper Brooke Guest frustrated Division Two leaders Durham. Guest’s carefree hundred came after Durham won the toss and bowled, but the overhead conditions were trumped by a true pitch, especially once the sun peeled up the blackout blind. There were two wickets for Matthew Potts, Scott Borthwick and Ben Raine. Haider Ali had time to thrash Matt Parkinson for six before suffering a brain fade and being stumped after attempting a run when an lbw appeal against him was turned down. In the race to 1,000 runs, Leus du Plooy needed just 21 but was out for two.Another candidate for the race, James Rew, was caught 26 runs short of the magic four figures. Somerset were all out for 351, after Northamptonshire’s Jack White grabbed five for 77.Carnage at Oakham school where 18 wickets fell, nine Worcestershire batters between lunch and tea after they’d finished a sensible morning 74 for one. But Leicestershire’s innings proved even more fragile, collapsing to 88 for eight. Fifteen wickets too at Trent Bridge, where Nottinghamshire rattled through Hampshire, only to come unstuck themselves, 87 for five at stumps, still trailing by 79. At a rainy Headingley, Yorkshire took six quick Sussex wickets.Another busy Championship Wednesday, even as Ashes events unrolled at Old Trafford. Sir Alastair rolling back the years, Lancashire lancsing up and recovering, and wickets a go-go at Oakham School and Trent Bridge. That’s it for today, thanks for the messages, I’ll be back tomorrow, this time at Cheltenham. Bye!Updated at 19.48 BSTClose of play scoresDIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex 106-0 v Kent 207Lord’s: Middlesex v Surrey 312-5Northants: Northamptonshire v Somerset 351Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 87-5 v Hampshire 166Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Lancashire 295-7DIVISION TWODerby: Derbyshire 317-6 v DurhamOakham: Leicestershire 88-8 v Worcestershire 178Headingley: Yorkshire v Sussex 120-6Oh, and Leicestershire? (50-5)100 for Jamie SmithMust pop back to say bravo Jamie Smith, another classy ton, this time off 137 balls. The pick of the Surrey batting this year. He has company in Clark (20); Surrey 277-5.Time for me to write up for the paper but do chat on below the line, round the grounds.Still no resumption at Headingley, where Sussex are stranded on 62-5. Elsewhere in the party division, Derbyshire power on, 273-5, Guest 123 not out; Leicestershire 20-1 following Worcestershire’s 178.In Div one: Balderson and Bailey have rescued Lancashire, 247-5; Hampshire all out 166 v Notts, who begin their innings; Somerset 282-7 – no thousand runs for Rew today -; Surrey 241-5, Smith 85 not out; and Browne and Cook whizzing along against Kent, Essex 56-0.Hampshire’s bowlers have a bit to do. An enormous amount to do actually. All out for 166, and that only thanks to forties from Gubbins and Fuller. Three wickets each for Hutton, Paterson and James. Hope Notts are ready.Haider Ali’s brain fade in full:One of the most unusual wickets you'll see!An LBW appeal is turned down against Haider Ali but the Derbyshire batter goes for a run and is stumped out by Ollie Robinson #LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/Wgvz6tjBak— LV= Insurance County Championship () July 19, 2023
Since Bairstow’s selection for the Ashes, Foakes hasn’t been able to pull out a real come and get me innings – this time out for 20, Surrey 230-4.Pennington showing his teammates how much he’ll be missed, as he has Patel caught in his second over. Leics 6-1.While Jack White has five at Northampton, Somerset 260-6. Rew still there.The BBC have Rew resplendent on 953 runs in their averages. Assuming, dangerously, that was up to date at the start of the day, he needs just 47 today to reach the fat thousand. Currently on 21, he needs 26. Pls advise if that is wrong!A hundred for Brooke GuestDoughtiness from Derbyshire at No. 3 – 181 balls, 15 fours. Two in a row to boot! On a good batting pitch, Derby press on, 239-3. Bit of turn for Parky, still on his loan-turn in the north east.Updated at 16.47 BSTAn intriguing read for a spare five minutes:Cricket SA have a problem. They planned a T20 franchise league for the Jan-early Feb window but now they also have Test #cricket in that time. And the players are contractually bound to play in the T20 league. Now what?https://t.co/IoHETCSHfO#NZvSA— Firdose Moonda () July 19, 2023
Things rattling along quickly at Oakham School, Worcestershire all out for 178, three wickets each for Mulder and Salisbury. Azhar Ali the top scorer with 34. And Leicestershire, in reply, are 2-0, slips awaiting.Browne and Cook are out in the middle at Chelmsford, just two tinkling onto the scoreboard. While George Bartlett picked up fifty just before tea as he and James Rew – eyes on four figures – took Somerset through till tea. Somerset 226-4.Tea-time-ish scoresDIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex v Kent 207Lord’s: Middlesex v Surrey 188-3Northants: Northamptonshire v Somerset 218-4Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Hampshire 84-6Edgbaston: Warwickshire v Lancashire 184-7DIVISION TWODerby: Derbyshire 203-3 v DurhamOakham: Leicestershire v Worcestershire 161-9Headingley: Yorkshire v Sussex 61-5 rainBartlett and Kohler-Cadmore providing a steadying hand for Somerset in a stand of 77 at The County Ground, Somerset 215-3. Ah, Kent are all out for 207, Qadri left stranded on 19, Stewart a quick-fire 34, Compton 47 at the top and not much else.At Lord’s Middlesex make the breakthrough – and it be Burns, a second for Higgins, for a hard-fought 79. Surrey 163-3. Enter Ben Foakes.Vince gone (in a mini-slump?) for 22, then James gets Brown two balls later. Gubbins a sniff away from fifty. Hampshire 81-4.And a wicket at the Test as Moeen grabs a sweaty Labuschagne for 51.Mitchell gone, Lamb follows, Lancs in a pickle: 155-7.The surprise package of the day award goes to Derbyshire who are fizzing along against Durham, 169-2, half centuries for Madsen and Guest.We’re underway again at Headingley, but no great joy for Sussex who have lost Carter for 2, the third Sussex player to fall in single figures. Ibrahim, who became the Championship’s youngest half-centurion at Headingley in June 2021, joins Alsop (20). Sussex 46-4.Rather against all the odds, Leicestershire have managed to hold onto Rehan Ahmed and Rishi Patel.More good news for Foxes fans. Along with Rishi Patel, that's two great talents committing themselves to the county. https://t.co/RMy54XJxVl— Jon Culley () July 18, 2023
Gubbins and Vince, butchers of longstanding quality, in at Trent Bridge after Holland and Middleton were both out for ducks. Hampshire 41-2.Daryl Mitchell stands between Lancashire and a Lancs-up – currently 116-5, Salt adn Bell out in single figures. Two for Hannon-Dalby. Lancs 120-5.I don’t know what was in the Oakham lunch boxes, but Worcestershire have taken a pretty tumble after lunch: Roderick, Haynes, Hose and D’Oliveira all back in the dressing-room. Mulder 3-27.Fifty for Rory Burns!Runs at last. Only the second of the season for the ponytailed prince.. Surrey’s hundred up in 36 overs.Lunchtime scoresDIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex v Kent 92-4Lord’s: Middlesex v Surrey 77-1Northants: Northamptonshire v Somerset 107-1Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Hampshire no play yet today, rainEdgbaston: Warwickshire v Lancashire 84-3DIVISION TWODerby: Derbyshire 74-2 v DurhamOakham: Leicestershire v Worcestershire 74-1Headingley: Yorkshire v Sussex 24-3 rainWe’re back with Duke’s this morning, but not much success for the bowlers round the grounds – much though they complained about the Kookaburra. But I think the Kookaburra typically went soft around 30 overs – so perhaps we’ll see the difference after lunch. Incidentally, soapy-palmed Essex have dropped another.Potts, unlucky not to have played a part in the Ashes, biding his time till Broad and Anderson finally hang up their boots, makes a breakthrough at The County Ground. Derby 61-2.A wicket for Ed Barnard at Edgbaston, with the ballsy Bohannon gone for 33. Lancs 66-2.If you are feeling more internationally inclined, Geoff has the latest from Old Trafford:At Headingley they’re taking lunch at 12.50, and sending out the umpires to sniff around at 1.10.In Division Two: rain.Sussex, 24-3, rescued from Fisher, holed up at Headingley, Worcestershire, 48-1, lost Libby for 24, (Scriven) just before the fat drops started falling at Oakham School. And Derbyshire are 53-1 against Division Two’s runaway leaders Durham. Brooke Guest looking typically at home, 26 off 36 balls.A great read on the women’s Ashes:A stroll round the Division One grounds with an hour of play gone:Simon Harmer is already bowling at Chelmsford, where Essex are 38-3, a run-out following that two-in-two for Sam Cook.At Lord’s, Surrey have lost Sibley for 3, to Ryan Higgins, but the out-of-sorts Burns remains, unbeaten on 15. Surrey 30-1.Somerset are 48-1 at Northants, Lammonby caught for 3. James Rew, favourite in the race for 1000 runs, still two wickets away from having a bat.Jennings and Bohannon plugging away at Edgbaston, Bohannon rather more quickly, Lancashire 35-1.And no play yet at Trent Bridge.Cooking on gas: two in two for Essex’s Sam Cook Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty ImagesUpdated at 12.05 BSTNice work by Leicestershire – hope some schools broke up early and the team get lots of eager beavers.If you're at Oakham today, come and have a go at our cricketing activities. 🏏Our Community Team will be running All Stars and Dynamos cricket on the playing fields behind the Pavilion until 5pm. ⏰ https://t.co/gD2KAzM4ca— Leicestershire CCC 🏏 () July 19, 2023
A wicketless morning for Leicestershire’s bowlers so far. Worcestershire, who will lose Pat Brown to Derbyshire at the end of the season – won over by more red-ball opportunities -, as well as Josh Tongue and Dillon Pennington to Notts, are 36-0.As noted BTL, very strange goings-on at Lancashire with Rob Jones, who made an excellent century at Blackpool, albeit in a (just) losing cause, seemingly punished for moving to Worcestershire for more game time by being removed from the first team for the rest of the season.The statement from Mark Chilton seemed to have three totally unconnected paragraphs:“Ultimately, Rob has decided that he believes he will get more opportunity across all formats to progress his career at Worcestershire and while we are disappointed to lose him, we respect his decision.“We have taken the decision that Rob won’t feature in our First Team plans for the rest of this season - as we focus on players who will be at the club next season and beyond. Discussions are ongoing between Lancashire and Worcestershire as to what the remainder of Rob’s season entails.“Rob has been an extremely popular member of the dressing room and has always given 100% for the Red Rose. We thank him for his services and wish him all the best with his new chapter at New Road.”But at the same time Danny Lamb, who will move to Sussex at the end of the season, is playing against Warwickshire. Confused shrug. And at Edgbaston, Lancs are 24-1 after being inserted by Warwickshire.Hat-trick ball for Matthew Fisher too, at Headingley. Tricky morning for the creche, 18-3. Clark, Haines and Coles back in the playroom.Sam Cook on a hat-trick: Muyeye and Denly in his pocket. Kent 28-2.Division Two tableDurham (9) 155Leicestershire (9) 108Sussex (9) 106Glamorgan (9) 95Worcestershire (9) 92Yorkshire (8) 80Gloucestershire (9) 65Derbyshire (8) 63Another drop at Chelmsford – Critchley this time lets one through his fingers. Kent 18-0, having a much-needed helping hand.Quite a change in the Div One race, from what seemed early season like a Surrey smash n grab. Essex on a roll, four in a row, and Warwickshire well in the chase with a game in hand.Division One tableSurrey (9) 139Essex (9) 126Warwickshire (8) 116Hampshire (9) 113Somerset (9) 100Lancashire (8) 90Nottinghamshire (9) 89Kent (9) 74Middlesex (8) 63Northamptonshire (8) 47Update from Trent Bridge: pitch inspection at noon.Harmer, who uncharacteristically dropped one (or two?) at Blackpool, lets one slip past . Kent 9-0.Updated at 11.25 BSTRain at Trent Bridge where Nottinghamshire are in desperately seeking victory – no Championship wins since May – but we’re rolling elsewhere, with everyone’s wickets still intact (as I write…)All change please, all change:Some transfer news:Rob Jones will leave Lancashire to join Worcestershire after turning down a new contract with the Club.Thank you and the very best of luck in your next chapter, .🌹 #RedRoseTogether— Lancashire Cricket () July 18, 2023
FixturesDIVISION ONEChelmsford: Essex v KentLord’s: Middlesex v SurreyNorthants: Northamptonshire v SomersetTrent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v HampshireEdgbaston: Warwickshire v LancashireDIVISION TWODerby: Derbyshire v DurhamOakham: Leicestershire v WorcestershireHeadingley: Yorkshire v SussexUpdated at 10.23 BSTPreambleGood morning and welcome back! This is the penultimate round before we break for August, with much still up in the air in the 2023 chase for the title. The skies are questioning over Manchester this morning, and much of the country, but I think we’ll have enough to run along with. The Met office verdict:“Residual rain will clear from central and eastern England to leave a day of sunshine and showers. Showers will be most frequent and heaviest across central and eastern areas.”Lots to look forward to with Essex, fresh from victory against Lancashire, taking on grotty-round-the gills-Kent; an all-London clash at Lord’s; Northants entertaining big-scoring Somerset; and two big beasts clashes – Notts and Hants at Trent Bridge and Warwicks and Lancs at Edgbaston.In Division Two: Durham prepare to eat up Derbyshire at The County Ground; Leicestershire move to their outground at Oakham school, and Yorkshire entertain Sussex at Headingley. The Cheltenham festival starts tomorrow, with Glamorgan the visitors.