County cricket day three: Essex v Surrey, Somerset’s Banton out for 371 – live

Well batted Max Holden – a sixth first class century and a much needed one for Middlesex who were tottering but now lead Lancs by exactly 100 runs with six wickets left to build an imposing target. How are your nerves Hampshire fans? Tom Prest and Liam Dawson are at the crease with the score on 93-4 and another 55 runs needed to get the win over Yorkshire – Dom Bess currently has 2-18, another couple will make things very interesting… DIVISION ONE Chelmsford: Essex 582-6 dec v Surrey 307-8 – Essex lead by 275 runs Southampton: Hampshire 249 & 86-4 v Yorkshire 121 and 275 – Hants need 62 runs to win Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 579-9 v Durham 378 – Notts lead by 198 runs Taunton: Somerset 670-7 dec v Worcestershire 154 & 196-4 – Worcs trail by 320 runs Edgbaston: Warwickshire 454 v Sussex 528 & 11-0 – Sussex lead by 85 runs DIVISION TWO The County Ground: Derbyshire 391 & 93-1 Gloucestershire 222 and 259 – Derbyshire win by nine wickets Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 229 & 162-7 v Leicestershire 427 – Glamorgan trail by 36 runs Lord’s: Middlesex 260 & 171-4 v Lancashire 359 – Middlesex lead by 72 runs Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 143 and 114 v Kent 231 and 171 – Kent win by 145 runs. That’s tea in most places, time for a spin around the grounds… Derbyshire have lost opener David Lloyd to Tom Price but only need 69 more runs to seal the win against Gloucs. Ed Barnard is skittled by a shooter from Danny Lamb and Kai Smith falls in the next over to leave Warks 428-8 and still 100 runs adrift of Sussex at a sun dappled but breezy Edgbaston. Things are hotting up on this third afternoon of round one! Hampshire need 127 more to beat Yorkshire – Middleton and Stoneman ticking along nicely on 27-0. We could also see results come in today at Derbyshire – Mickey Arthur’s men have polished off Gloucs for 259 and will start their chase of 90 runs needed for victory any moment. Middlesex have crept to a 23 run lead over Lancashire but they’ll need a whole lot more to get out of their hole with six wickets left, add two wickets to the score and it won’t be pretty for the north Londoners. Finally, Glamorgan are six down and still 97 runs adrift of Leicestershire – the midlanders might well get over the line today too. Peter Gimson is keen for some Banton v Rew chatter: “Regarding Banton - he deserves huge credit for his innings. It looks like he’s spent a lot of time developing his first class approach and this is worthy of praise. However, I’d rather see him back this innings up with a few more efforts before his name gets banded round for England. This was only his 4th first class century after all. I’m not doubting his ability, but it feels a bit premature to me. Conversely, batting away at the other end was young (but not the youngest) Rew, who scored his 9th century. That to me is closer to England call up. Without wanting to turn this into an England selection discussion, I’d also have thought that Rew’s skillset would compliment the current England batting lineup more than Banton’s. Just my two pence worth - given the track record of recent England selections, I imagine Banton has already leapfrogged Rew. Hey ho!” Jack Leach (remember him?) is in the wickets at Taunton and Worcs are staring down the barrell. Kashif Ali, the SACA graduate who had a blistering start to the season last year is Leach’s third victim and the Pears are in danger of going mouldy today – 400 adrift and four wickets down in their second innings. Brad Wheal took four second innings Yorkshire wickets and the impressive Sonny Baker chipped in with 2-58. 22 year old Baker has got some real chutzpah and has been impressing for England Lions this winter. Wisden’s Yas Rana had a really interesting chat with him on the Wisden pod a few weeks ago and our very own Taha Hashim caught up with him last week. Anyone who keeps a notepad on them at all times is fine by me. Keep your eyes on young Sonny for sure. Yorkshire are all out for 275 in Southampton! Adam Lyth didn’t carry his bat in the end, falling in pursuit of quick and big runs but the resulting chance of a swirling catch is well snaffled by Kyle Abbott off Brett Hampton. Hampshire have started their chase, they need 148 runs to seal the win. Lyth has given Yorkshire a sniff, Fletcha Middleton and Mark Stoneman will look to get Hants off to a solid start. Jordan Clark and Ben Foakes are scrapping away for Surrey in Chelmsford. Plenty of bodies around the bat as Simon Harmer whirls away and threatens edge, pads and stumps. A dicey single is scampered just before the new ball is taken, Jamie Porter is going to do his worst. Surrey trail by 368 with four first innings wickets in hand. Time for me to knock up a quick cucumber sarnie of my own. Ahem. I’ll flick the wireless on in the kitchen. Keep an eye on the place here for me. Adam Lyth is battling away for Yorkshire! He’s just gone to his century in the moments after lunch – an epic knock off 263 balls and approaching 400 minutes at the crease. Yorkshire lead by 143 runs. It could get exciting down in Southampton later this afternoon… Righto, players returning after a cucumber sarnie and glass of Tizer. An intriguing afternoon awaits! Thanks for all your comments BTL – Tanya is just busy, not poorly or anything, she’ll be back at the helm tomorrow. And all fine at my end too, nothing like a bit of Sunday morning childcare drama to get the blood pumping. Restored to zen like levels of calm by the ebb and flow of county cricket. Northants new Head Coach has been speaking to the Beeb, fair to say Boof ain’t pulling any punches with his side going down in the early moments of day three… “We need to bat a lot better - simple as that… the batting was really disappointing and the boys need to take some accountability for that.” He was particularly scathing of the trio of batters who shouldered arms in Northants second dig - “Bats cost about £500 or something like that - you might as well use it!” DIVISION ONE Chelmsford: Essex 582-6 dec v Surrey 186-6 Surrey trail by 396 runs. Can Essex pull of a big scalp in round one? Southampton: Hampshire 249 v Yorkshire 121 and 255-8 Yorkshire have eked into a 127 run lead but only have two wickets left in the hutch. Hampshire will fancy a relatively short chase. Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 413-6 v Durham 378 Notts lead by 35 runs. Are you ready, are you ready for a draw? Taunton: Somerset 670-7 v Worcestershire 154 & 58-2 Alas no Brian Lara surpassing score from Tom Banton, Worcs trail by the ever so small margin of 458 runs. Edgbaston: Warwickshire 320-5 v Sussex 528 Warks trail by 208 runs, Mousley and Barnard at the crease and inching them nearer to the South Coast side’s first innings total. DIVISION TWO The County Ground: Derbyshire 391 v Gloucestershire 222 and 202-6 Gloucs in trouble, leading by 33 runs with only four wickets left. 2025 is Derbyshire’s year, surely? (I’m hopelessly biased by birth) Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 229 & 40-4 v Leicestershire 427 Glammy trail by 158 runs and are in the mire with four second innings wickets already winkled. Lord’s: Middlesex 260 & 78-3 v Lancashire 359 Middlesex feeling the heat at HQ – trailing by 21 with seven wickets left to set Lancs a decent target. Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 143 and 114 v Kent 231 and 171 – Kent win by 145 runs. Uh oh. Lunch is a matter of minutes away, we’ll take a tour around the grounds then. Sun beating down at Chelmsford as Harmer gives Jordan Clark’s defence an examination. This weather is quite something eh? Set fair for next week too. Harmer is normally in full snood until about mid June. I got sunburnt at Lord’s on Friday. First day of the season and a pink schnozz by mid afternoon*. Glorious. *Always remember to SlipSlapSlop kids. UV is not cool. No sooner had I posted about Foakes keeping out Sam Cook than Simon Harmer had winkled out Ryan Patel at the other end! Harmer has reeled off five maidens in a row, talk about pressure. Crank up David Bowie and Queen. Patel looked to leave but got a thin edge to a turning ball, Surrey are feeling the pressure here in round one, a danger of having to follow on and bat for survival on the final day – who had that on their round one bingo card? That is also Harmer’s 950th first class wicket – fifty more for four figures – he’ll get that this season, no? Thanks so much Daniel and apologies for the mad dash all. Toddler’s eh? Maybe I jinxed Banton’s record attempt by vacating? The universe does work in mysterious ways. Glad to see BTL is open and thrumming with cricket-y discourse, my returning post is an ode to next cab off the England Test rank (surely?) Sam Cook. Essex have got Surrey on the rack at Chelmo and Cook nearly sneaks one under the bat of Ben Foakes to add to the south London misery. The ball was squeezed out by the handsome one and bounced a smidge over the bails. Close but no Montecristo. Cook has it on a string, are you watching Rob Key? Righto, Jim is now back from his graze at fine leg and ready to steam in off his long run, so I’m tossing him the ball. Peace out. At Bristol, Ben Charlesworth is waving his bat to the crowd having raised his century; Gloucestershire now lead Derbyshire by 17 at 186-5 in their second dig. Back at Taunton, Worcs are 30-1, but England all-rounder Jack Leach is finding a bit of turn, building pressure with dots. Poor old Dan Lawrence just can’t catch a break. He’s been caught by Jordan Cox, off Harmer, for 3 – and batting at six. I wonder if Ben n’ Baz regret trying to make him an opener when he clearly isn’t – not on the basis of one low score here, but generally speaking. Was that ruse ever likely to succeed even in a minor way? Also in trouble are Glamorgan. Leicestershire’s 427 gave them a 198 first-innings lead, with the hosts now 23-3 in their second, all three wickets to Ian Ian Austin’s Holland’s medium-pacers. At haitch-cue, Middx are in deep against Lanky. Replying to the visitors’ Marcus Harris-inspired 359 and trailing by 99 on first dig, they’re now 22-3, all three wickets to Tom Bailey. Wickets in consecutive balls at Chelmsford, Smith bowled by Snater for 25, then Burns caught behind off Harmer for 73; Surrey are now 154-4 in response to Essex’s 582-6d, Dan Lawrence and Ben Foakes at the wicket. Wicket at Taunton! Overton finds a peach that swings in and bounces, catching Roderick on the back pad. The way he looks around, he knows he’s toast, and sure enough up goes the finger. Worcs are now 16-1. Zak Crawley, by the way, managed 1 and 31 in that match; I know we’re told he’s not in the England squad to be consistent, and maybe there’s a touch of the Michael Vaughans about him – he’s built for Tests, discount everything else – but still. It’s all over at Wantage Road, where Kent have won; George Bartlett was left high and dry on 60 not out, with Keith Dudgeon taking a monumental 7-36. Back at Taunton, Somerset are trying to put the squeeze on Worcestershire, who are 11-0 responding to that 670-7d. Craig Overton and Josh Davey are kicking up heat, but Gareth Roderick, 5 not out, and Jake Libby, 3 not out, are hanging in there. At Taunton, chat in commentary is that when someone scores a triple-ton, the most likely result is a draw, which I guess raises a question: should you, sometimes, put the individual landmark ahead of the team? Mike Atherton once declared with Hick on 98 not out… It cut no ice with the too-tough Yorkshireman. He publicly humiliated Hick on more than one occasion. It got to him, no question. As did the moment at the Sydney Cricket Ground on the awful 1994-95 tour when Atherton called him in on 98. It was the most miserable of times for England. One banner said it all: ‘If the Poms bat first, tell the taxi to wait.’ Morale was low, getting lower - and Atherton’s declaration, although not without merit in cricketing terms, did not help. To this day, it rankles with Hick and remains an embarrassment for Atherton. Keith Fletcher, the then England coach, recalls in his autobiography: ‘Hick should have been given more specific instructions and not scratched around as he did, but he was too sensitive over the whole issue. Atherton didn’t consult me over his declaration, which I was somewhat peeved about, but Hick hardly spoke to me for a month. He thought I was party to this decision and I never disabused him because I felt I had to stand by the captain’s declaration.’ The former Somerset player Peter Roebuck wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald: ‘England’s declaration seemed about right. Slow in the morning, they hurried impressively after lunch. That Hick fell short of his third Test century is neither here nor there. It is a team game, and England had batted long enough. Hick had his chance, and failed to score from his last three balls.’ Hick, who had batted for nearly four-and-half hours, sees it this way: ‘To say I was disappointed would be putting it very politely. It created a bad atmosphere in the dressing room. It went very quiet. And even when we took the field, it was very flat. Athers has said since maybe it wasn’t the right decision. We spoke about it that evening. I wasn’t happy. I’ve got a lot of respect for Athers, though, and it’s no big deal now. We’ve talked about it since. ‘However, if I was in his position, I’d let the chap get his hundred. We didn’t have a lot to cheer about at the time and I think a player scoring a hundred would have given us something to feel good about, a bit of a lift. We had dominated the Test and could have won it.’ At Chelmsford, Rory Burns is 73 not out and Jamie Smith has 17, as Surrey fight back against Essex; Ollie Pope was out earlier today for 45 It really is impossible to bat in England at this time of the year, etc etc, your dibbly-dobbling Ian Austins and Mark Ealhams of this world are just lethal. OK, we’ve been focused at Taunton for a while, so let’s have a look around the grounds: Surrey, 136-2, trail Essex, 583-6d, by 466 runs. Warwickshire, 243-4, trail Sussex, 528, by 281 runs. Nottinghamshire, 318-5, trail Durham, 378, by 60 runs. Yorkshire, 121 and 216-6, lead Hampshire, 249, by 87 runs. Gloucestershire, 222 and 140-4, trail Derbyshire, 391, by 29 runs. Middlesex, 260 and 6-1, trail Lancashire la la la, 359, by 93 runs. Glamorgan, 229 and 10-0, trail Leicestershire, 427, by 188 runs. Ahahahaha I love this game! Worcestershire come out to bat and Banton has all the gear to go and field at short-leg. Banton’s 371 is the 21st-highest individual score ever – he slots in just below Mahela Jayawardene’s 374 for Sri Lanka v South Africa in 2006 and just above Don Bradman’s 369 for South Australia v Tasmania in 1936. The list, without him yet entered, is here, I’m not going to say I’m disappointed, but I’ve definitely scored more than that in both garden and corridor. My sense is Banton was given the hurry-up by Gregory because he played at pretty much everything this morning, but it’s been a decent enough start to the season. And how nice to see the fielders congratulate him as he departed, before raising his bat one last time snd surveying a scene he’ll remember forever. Three hundred and seventy-one; you’d take it. He has one swipe too many, edges, and is caught behind. That’s the end of a mind-boggling and potentially career-revitalising knock; well batted, young man, well batted. Somerset declare on 670-7. So what should Lewis Gregory, Somerset captain and 35 not out, do here? Er, nothing, because…. And of course, this was also a decent little knock. Oh dear. It’s not going well for Worcestershire, I’m afraid. First, Gregory slogs to long-off and is dropped – they run one – then Banton reverses four to deep backward point. He’s not just taking liberties, he’s taking absolute liberties, 362 not out, and, as I type, he smites six down the ground. I’m old enough, I’m afraid, to remember Harvey Fairbrother’s 366 for Lancashire v Surrey in 1990, also to remember Graeme Hick’s 405 not out – in this fixture but for Worcs – in 1988 – but the way Banton’s going, he wants a shy at Brian Lara’s 501 not out for Warwickshire v Durham in 1994. We’re up to 371 now. Banton takes a single to mid off, raising his 350, and then looks for bigger shots, caning off the toes to square-leg and almost destroying the fielder’s shin in the process, then miscueing as he comes down the track; they run two more, then an uppish cover-swipe adds one more, taking him to 357. Oh man, Vic Marks’ voice. It’s summer, mates! Hello there, Jim’s had to take a short breather at fine leg, so this is Daniel Harris stepping in in the meantime. Come on Tom! Scores On The Doors DIVISION ONE Chelmsford: Essex 582-6 v Surrey 109-1 Southampton: Hampshire 249 v Yorkshire 121 and 189-6 Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 297-5 v Durham 378 Taunton: Somerset 637-6 v Worcestershire 154 Edgbaston: Warwickshire 223-3 v Sussex 528 DIVISION TWO The County Ground: Derbyshire 391 v Gloucestershire 222 and 128-3 Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 229 v Leicestershire 426-8 Lord’s: Middlesex 260 v Lancashire 353-9 Wantage Road: Northamptonshire 143 and 107-7 v Kent 231 and 171 Hello and welcome to day three of the first round of the County Championship. Tanya is indisposed today so I’m afraid you’re stuck with me BUT do not slam your laptops shut and fling your phone into the nearest tributary just yet - we’ll have some fun and follow proceedings together, above the line, below the line, play straight down the line and maybe even flick away off the pads with aplomb. The sun is shining and the runs are flowing around the shires, particularly in Taunton where Tom Banton continues his career renaissance. Here’s the aforementioned Aldred’s round up of a remarkable day yesterday: Banton makes history with 344 Be gone Harold Gimblett, Viv Richards, Justin Langer – there is a new man in town. Tom Banton’s astonishing 344 not out against Worcestershire eclipsed them all, the highest score by a Somerset player – and marks the revival of a blazing young gun, whose star had dimmed but is now aflame. It was also an innings that will have gladdened the hearts of the England selectors, with Banton said to be in their thoughts for Tests this year as they look to build a small pool who play across all formats. It wasn’t all cider and sausages, at 39 for three on Friday afternoon, concentration had been crucial. But by the penultimate ball yesterday, Langer’s 342 in sight, Banton threw caution to the wind and flat-packed a boundary to rapturous applause and handshakes all round. “It’s a weird feeling,” he said, “and I was a bit emotional up there in the dressing room. This is the best day I’ve had in cricket and will probably be the best day I’ll ever have. “These days don’t come along very often and you have to make the most of them. I won’t lie, I was pretty tired out there and I kept saying to myself: ‘Just keep batting, keep going’. There were a few moments when I felt I wanted to be back in the dressing room, but I wanted to go for it [the record] tonight, so I tried to play my shots when possible.” If he was dropped in the 300s by a tiring Worcestershire, it was an aberration – this was a innings of power but also finesse. He didn’t hit a six until he had passed 200 – quite a display of discipline for a man who has graced the Big Bash, the Indian Premier League and the Pakistan Super League. He is also now the joint owner of the earliest triple in Championship history, sharing the record notched up by Sam Northeast on 5 April last year. Banton’s partner in a record fifth-wicket stand of 371 was James Rew – whose second season last year was a more crunchy experience than the first. But his 152 was gloriously heady – and his and Banton’s efforts left Somerset fans walking away from the ground in disbelief, the scoreboard reading 637 for six. There were runs galore at Chelmsford, where Essex’s centurions Matt Critchley and Michael Pepper tucked into Surrey – Dan Lawrence whisking down 35.2 overs against a club where he barely bowled. After the excitement of Sam Cook pinning Dom Sibley leg before in his second over, and having Ollie Pope dropped on 10, Surrey then dropped anchor, with Pope and Rory Burns adding 101 on a gentle pitch. Simon Harmer toiled away, but in sunglasses, not his customary April snood. Edgbaston also proved rich pickings, John Simpson’s 181 helping Sussex to 528. Rob Yates’s unbeaten 113 led Warwickshire’s reply. A misbehaving sprinkler system delayed play at Trent Bridge, where Australian Fergus O’Neill duly collected his fifth wicket, on debut. Durham then picked away at Nottinghamshire’s lineup. Jonny Bairstow made an exuberant 56 against Hampshire, the new Yorkshire captain dropped three times before he passed 20, and eventually dismissed by Sonny Baker for the second time in the match. The lead is 61, but with just four second-innings wickets left. In Division Two, Marcus Harris made a hundred on debut for Lancashire against Middlesex at Lord’s, proving an excellent prop for the flaky middle order. Twenty wickets fell at Wantage Road, where the writing is on the wall for Northamptonshire against Kent; Derbyshire’s Wayne Madsen collected his 40th first-class century, against Gloucestershire, and Leicestershire captain’s old and new, Lewis Hill and Peter Handscomb, made hay against Glamorgan.