<subs: insert title here> : County Cricket 2022

[Duncan Gardner]

Thanks all for early season updates. Bit early to be taking the hot water bottle down to Worcester...

[Gas In Name Only]

Grandstand finish at Wantage Road where Northants looked to be in reach of their target before a late clatter of wickets saw them holding on 8 down for the last four or five overs. Great stuff

[nmrfox]

Even better as Leics manage to hang on for a draw despite being hopelessly outplayed for the first 3 days. We're fighting hard to lose that wooden spoon

[Levin]

I'm planning on spending as much time as possible at the Oval tomorrow and Saturday. Looking forward to seeing Mohammed Abbas and USA international Ian Holland

[Levin]

Somerset 39/3, they really aren't starting strongly are they?

[ursus arctos]

70 for 5 wt lunch

With Surrey at 90 for 1 against Hampshire, last week's results have some additional context.

[Chris1963]

I broke my own personal record for the earliest date in any year on which I had attended a cricket match, when I was at Lords on Sunday 10th April for the fourth and final day of Middlesex v Derbyshire. It ended in a draw despite there (as far as I know) having been no stoppages for rain or bad light on any of the previous three days.

My previous earliest was Oxford University v Durham on Tuesday 14th April 1992, which was the first ever first-class match Durham had played in their history. A four-page A5 scorecard was the only souvenir of this historic occasion and only a handful of spectators were present, largely because of the heavy rain which was forecast for around lunchtime (this proved to be correct, so I left the ground then as it was obvious that there was not going to be any play in the afternoon)

[ad hoc]

I'm struggling to remember that I now support Derbyshire, because this kind of transfer of supportership is such a new thing for me (and for most people. I presume), but at least the season has started much better for "us" (I still need the quotes) than last year did.

[ursus arctos]

Somerset all out for 109

Is Retired Relegated a possibility?

[Tony C]

Dane Vilas and the evergreen Steven Croft both centurians in Lancashire’s first innings of the season at Kent. Vilas had just departed bringing Phil Salt to
the crease with a substantial score already on the board and a tiring attack to face. I’m hoping for fireworks.

No doubt I’ll get back to the BBC site to find him gone.

[Tony C]

Somerset all out for 109

Is Retired Relegated a possibility?

A surprisingly low score for a team who can genuinely be said to bat down to 10 (Siddle).

[ursus arctos]

The trend isn't pretty

389
154
109

Essex matched that in the last session for the loss of only two wickets

[Levin]

Perfect spring weather at the Oval. I expected a larger crowd.

It's not helped by there being one person in the gate checking tickets. Also, having a box office slows things down. Given everything is contactless now, how difficult would it be to have POS with a fixed fee on the gate and issue stubs to people who tap in?

[Levin]

People are allowed on the outfield again. It's back to normality

[ursus arctos]

Essex all out for 180 as Overton takes 7 for 57

There may be a game at Taunton after all

[Levin]

Shan Masood looks like a good signing for Ad Hoc's Derbyshire.

[ursus arctos]

Or perhaps not

Somerset 7 for 2 after 11 overs

[ursus arctos]

Just the 19 wickets at Taunton today

[Tony C]

Phil Salt’s debut innings for Lancashire ended on 97 in pretty decent time.

Kent started well but Matt Parkinson apparently began turning it sideways for three late wickets.

[Etienne]

Getting interesting at Taunton.

[Etienne]

Certainly for the pitch inspectors.

[irony towers]

In the space of about five minutes the Overton twins have picked up four wickets between them.

EDIT: And another one for Jamie at the start of his next over.

[Levin]

Jamie Overton takes the last three Hants wickets (over a couple of overs) two go on 222 to some short pitched stuff. The last falls on 223 and a yorker.

[Etienne]

Another one for Craig as Wheater and Rossington partnership looked dangerous.

[Etienne]

Only 11 more needed for Essex, Somerset need 2 wickets.