County Cricket, 2019

[Levin]

I don't understand the rule. If it's dark enough to require floodlights you can't use floodlights?

I'm currently sat in Costa at Chelmsford station and can't decide if I'll be best heading back to London now.

[Kevin S]

Trying to suss that out myself. Looking at the ECB regulations for the Championship it says:
https://platform-static-files.s3.ama...hip_2019vf.pdf

2.5.3 Floodlights
At matches where the home authority has confirmed prior to the commencement of the competition that floodlights are available for all days of the match in question, if in the opinion of the Umpires, natural light has deteriorated to an unsuitable level, they shall authorise the home authority to turn on the floodlights so that the match can continue in acceptable conditions. Floodlights must be made available for as many full matches as possible. If any planned use is not required, it must be taken forward to the next and subsequent match. In Day/Night matches, the floodlights shall be turned on at the tea interval or at 7.00pm, whichever is the earlier.

Now perhaps the issue here is that the verb that goes with 'match' is 'continue'. Since it hasn't started, it can't continue? And the light hasn't deteriorated because it was never good enough to start with?

[Kevin S]

Lunchtime report from BBC Essex:

Nick Gledhill
BBC Essex

A very frustrating morning for Essex who have not been able to start their game against Surrey due to persistent bad light which is not forecast to improve appreciably as the day goes on.
It is likely that Surrey will not contest the toss should we start under lights unless it’s very late in the day and they feel their batsmen can battle through to better weather tomorrow.
No-one fancied the draw going into this match but, given Somerset’s start at the Ageas Bowl, it is not likely to be good enough for Essex.
That prospect is still a long way off but the possibility increases if the stubborn low cloud cover stays put all day.

[Levin]

I've gone home. It wasn't looking any brighter and I can probably find better things to do.

Were there any day night games this year?

[Kevin S]

No, none. There were nine last year (each team played one).

[Kevin S]

Liam Dawson attempting to give Hants something to bowl at. He is on 58 not out with the team 118 for 7.

[Kevin S]

We are underway. Surrey have won the toss and chose to bat.

Live stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3ULrnySpOE

[Kevin S]

Hants v Somerset: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8PyBxH3J9U

[Kevin S]

Kinda wish they'd stayed off now. Surrey going along at a run a ball.

[Etienne]

Both Kent and Hants recovering from those slow starts. Meanwhile almost all the Division 2 teams that started solidly are collapsing after lunch.

[Kevin S]

Yes! Stoneman gone.

[Kevin S]

Spinning it back a couple of times Stoneman may have been unlucky on the LBW call - possibly heading high and/or leg side.

[Kevin S]

Commentators here not-entirely-jokingly suggest that September might be a decent time to bring in the pink ball and day/night matches.

[Kevin S]

Porter gets his second as Borthwick nicks behind to Wheater. This match is motoring along with the score at 37/2,

Here comes Ollie Pope.

[Kevin S]

Dawson made his ton but a couple of quick wickets follow and Hants are 190/9.

[Kevin S]

Surrey's batsmen at the moment - Jamie Smith and Ollie Pope - have a combined age of 40.

[Kevin S]

Hants 196 all out. Four shy of a batting point, which could cost them in the tussle for third with Yorkshire.

[Paul S]

Darren Stevens is 43 and one of the oldest (if not the oldest) players in country cricket and has just hit a career best 237 for Kent against Hampshire. That also includes a stand of 346 which is a recoprd for a sixth wicket at Kent.

[Nocturnal Submission]

Yup. Hell of a knock. 28 x 4 & 9 x 6.

[ad hoc]

the tussle for third with Yorkshire.

Is that a thing?

[ursus arctos]

Surely contesting anything with Yorkshiremen involves elements of battle . . .

[Kevin S]

Is that a thing?

I think Hampshire think it is.

[Kevin S]

Oooh, Somerset are six down in their reply...

[Kevin S]

Day 2 at the top, live streams:
Hampshire (196) v Somerset (59/7) (seven now then) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbrKqHQ3wDE
Essex (yet to bat) v Surrey (170/9) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwRlCxOH3wc

[Kevin S]

Overton bowled, Somerset eight down.