Roundup: aggravated Gloucestershire make Durham wait
Rain rudely interrupted the County Championship on bank holiday Saturday but there was evening controversy at Chester-le-Street. Kasey Aldridge had bowled Durham to almost-victory with four for 47, giving him nine wickets in the match, leaving his side four to win. But with the floodlights on and filthy skies, Gloucestershire refused to bowl spin and the umpires said it was too dark for pace.
Mark Alleyne, the Gloucestershire head coach, explained: “Forty-five minutes before we lost the last wicket, it was too dark to play, which would have been consistent with all the other days that we played.
“I was really surprised that Carse was allowed to bowl to [James] Bracey at the time. He got him out, then took off straight away. So, yeah, we had probably 50 minutes of cricket there that we probably shouldn’t have done.
“They asked if we would bowl our spinners to finish the game. Of course, we said: ‘No, we’ll bowl our quick bowlers,’ in which case it became bad light, so we’ll come back tomorrow.
“I mean, we’ve been outplayed, of course, but there’s certain parts of the game that we feel we were really hard done by some really poor decisions, in my view, and I hope they get a chance to look back at those, but one of the poorest is playing in the light that we did for so long.
“So, with that in mind, we thought we’d hedge our bets and see if it might rain all day tomorrow, so you never know.”
At Scarborough, over 31.5 overs, Leicestershire’ s Sheridon Gumbs and Rishi Patel saw off the best that Yorkshire could throw at them on a damp bowler-friendly day. A draw looks almost inevitable, offering some succour to both sides trying to escape the drop.
After a four-hour rain delay at Sophia Gardens, Sonny Baker quickly polished off Glamorgan , to finish with four wickets (over three days), and Hampshire held a one-run advantage on first innings. Nick Gubbins and Ali Orr made a confident start to the second innings, racing to a 70 run stand until an unimpressed Gubbins was given out lbw to Mir Hamza.
There was no play at all at New Road, Northampton, Derby, Edgbaston, Hove and Chelmsford.
Thanks for sticking with us through the dampness of the day. It looks as if there will be only one result this round, at Chester le Street, but not without controversy after Gloucestershire refused to bowl spin and the umpires said it was too dark for Durham to try and hit the four runs they needed to win against pace. Glos playing hard ball, and the forecast dodgy for tomorrow.
More on this on Sunday, the final day of August cricket this year. Have a lovely evening.
Chelmsford : Essex 279 v Surrey 183 and 51-4 no play today
Sophia Gardens : Glamorgan 161 v Hampshire 162 and 124-2
Hove : Sussex 250 v Somerset 202 and 167-2 no play today
Edgbaston : Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire 299-7 no play today
Scarborough : Yorkshire 263 v Leicestershire 84-0
Derby : Derbyshire 79-3 v Middlesex no play today
Chester-le-Street: Durham 384 v Gloucestershire 137 and 250 Durham need 4 to win
Northampton : Northamptonshire 74-0 v Kent 345 no play today
New Road : Worcestershire 12-1 v Lancashire 180 no play today
With cricket only at Sophia Gardens (Hants 91-2) , time for me to go and write up a few paragraphs. BTL is open for comment.
Bad light stops play at Chester le Street
With lashings of rain due tomorrow, Gloucs could still get out of this in one piece.
JT Langridge’s lusty innings at No. 11 comes to an end, caught for 36, but he’s done enough to make Durham have to bat again. As long as the light allows.
Ali Orr’s bails a g0-g0 . VDG the bowler. Hampshire 90-2.
The Blaze beat Essex by nine wickets in semi-final one of County Cup finals day
In the five-over shoot out at OT, Emma Jones (26) led Blaze to an easy win.
The Blaze 46-1 (off 3.3 overs) BEAT Essex 44-3 (off 5 overs) by nine wickets.
Six overs lost at Sophia Gardens, Ali Orr and Toby Albert are back out, shadows now elongated, sun milky white. Hampshire 90-1.
Sai Kishore is doing his best but Durham are just one wicket away from victory. at CLS. Colin the demon Ackermann five overs, 2-35, Ben Stokes 17 overs, 0-35.
Make that 177-8, another catch for Robinson, the attacking Killeen winkled out by Ackermann second ball. I’ve got to disappear briefly now, hopefully Glos can last till I return.
A second for Brydon Carse and it’s the Gloucestershire cement, a nasty inswinger that Bracey 31) edges behind, though I suggest Bracey dooesn’t agree. Glos 173-7
And that’s almost the full set – stumps at six grounds but still eventful cricket at Sophia Gardens and Chester le Street.
123 overs lost so far in this match. But a result is still possible tomorrow, with both sides desperate to rise above the drop.
The umpires are checking the light at CLS, but it passes the test for now. Durham press on. Glos 164-6, Bracey 29 not out, Killeen 14 not out. Carse with the ball.
A hopeful Leicestershire captain Ian Holland:
“ Sheridon and Rishi have played really nice there. Not losing a wicket is always nice. It was pretty challenging conditions. The wicket looks good, but it still nipped and swung.
“They left the ball well, played late and never left their bubble. It was a good result from the day for us.
“It looks to be very tight, the table. I don’t know what it is stats wise, but there are a lot of teams who can still win and can still go down. There’s a lot to play for, and it’s going to be a pretty exciting last four games after this.”
A delighted, dancing Hamza celebrates a wicket at Sophia Gardens. Gubbins is not so happy, gesturing with his bat and then striding up the pavilion steps with the purpose of a man who might be about to throw things around the dressing room. Hampshire 70-1.
Wet, wet, wet . Still a chance of a result tomorrow with a sporting declaration – Somerset go into the final day leading by 119.
They’re taking tea at Sophia Gardens, with Hampshire a breezy 68-0, Gubbins 39, Orr 27.
Durham are closing in , a ninth match-wicket for Kasey Aldridge. Daz Ahmed is on his way after blazing for glory and losing his stumps. Glos 139-6, Aldridge 4-32.
Unfit for fielding and generally very soggy.
Matthew Potts is the most successful bowler in either division (with 52 wickets at 17.98), followed in Div 2 by Ben Sanderson (47 at 18.57) and Ben Aitchison (46 at 20.30)
Kyle Abbott (47 at 15.35), leads Div 1, then Ethan Bamber (44 at 24.61) and Craig Overton (37 at 19.21.)
I missed that Nottinghamshire’s Joe Clarke became the first man to a thousand runs yesterday – three centuries, six fifties, average 70.46. Next in line are Tom Abell (833, average 75.72), Dan Lawrence (788, 65.66) and Kiran Carlson (761, 44.76). David Bedingham is the only man close in Div 2 – 943 runs at 78.58.
Thanks to Mes for sending me some photos of his seed potatoes - 19 bins worth! End of season dinner CCLive dinner on you?
Chelmsford : Essex 279 v Surrey 183 and 51-4 no play yet today
Sophia Gardens : Glamorgan 161 v Hampshire 162 and 46-0
Hove : Sussex 250 v Somerset 202 and 167-2 no play yet today
Edgbaston : Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire 299-7 no play today
Scarborough : Yorkshire 263 v Leicestershire 84-0 rain
Derby : Derbyshire 79-3 v Middlesex no play today
Chester-le-Street: Durham 384 v Gloucestershire 137 and 132-5
Northampton : Northamptonshire 74-0 v Kent 345 no play today
New Road : Worcestershire 12-1 v Lancashire 180 no play today
A third for Aldridge! Tommy Boorman pushing thoughtfully forward and snaffled behind by Robinson, for five. Durham 132-5.
Runs are suddenly flowing at Sophia Gardens, where the shadows squat under the boots of Orr (17) and Gubbins (19). But Kellaway’s first over goes for just one. Hants 38-0.
Hang the big names, first-innings five-wicket man Kasey Aldridge is the knife. Now Cameron Bancroft fends him away to the hand of Alex Lees at third slip. Glos 125-4, over to Bracey and Boorman to rebuild.
But now, four balls into a testing over, Kasey Aldridge makes the ball spit and Hammond, high backlift, edges behind. Gone for 44. Glos 112-3…
The huge floodlights stare unblinkingly over CLS, where Bancroft and Hammond are frustrating Durham successfully. Glos 112-2.
I don’t know if it is the cameras, but it looks very murky at Sophia Gardens, the three slips shining like florescent life buoys as van der Gugten runs in. Hampshire 1-0.
Scrap that 3.20 restart at Hove, the rain has returned.
In bright sunshine at Sophia Gardens, Glamorgan have nudged almost to parity, and that will have to be enough as Timm van der Gugten uppercuts Sonny Baker to a diving James Fuller at third man. Four wickets for Baker. Hampshire have a one run first-innings lead.
After nine overs on the trot from Ben Stokes, Alex Lees prises the ball out of his hand and gives it to Kasey Aldridge. Glos 101-2..
The second complete washout in three days in Birmingham.
Surrey willll be quite content to retreat to their hotel.
This time the umpires decide it is too wet. Not hosing it down but annoyingly constant. Yorkshire wander off, the stoical crowd remain perched on the bleachers. Leicestershire 84-0 .Patel 41, Gumbs 39.
If they could just get a session or so in today, this match is one of the few that could end in a result. Glamorgan 13 behind, one wicket in hand.
They’re playing through the rain at Scarborough, as Revis goes off after pulling something or other. The umpires chat and decide to press on. Gumbs and Patel still keeping Yorkshire out.
If the rain stays away. Will Tom Lammonby be able to find the fluency of last night. He resumes 74 not out, Somerset with a lead of 119.
He gives a little salute with the bat. Seven fours, 80 balls. A great little innings against this Test attack. If he can lead Gloucestershire safely till tea, the weather may help out.
After a rest, a change of ends for Brydon Carse. And Hammond pulls him for four immediately to race to 48.
Miles Hammond i s having fun at CLS. He sends Potts spinning to the rope with a glide down the wicket and an obedient high elbow. Bang. Glos 71-2.
And it’s starting to spit at Scarborough.
From my wander around at lunch I spotted a good handful of sizeable hollows in the Scarborough outfield, ankle-turners in waiting. A glorious driven four by Gumbs off Ben Coad. Leicestershire 70-0.
Bathos in the battle of the chasing pack. Northamptonshire currently trail Kent’s first innings 345 by 271 runs.
Something more pitiful than petering to a close. Derby (still) 79-3..
Play is restarting at North Marine Road. It’s a bit chilly and rather grey.
Chelmsford : Essex 279 v Surrey 183 and 51-4 no play yet today
Sophia Gardens : Glamorgan 149-9 v Hampshire 162 no play yet today
Hove : Sussex 250 v Somerset 202 and 167-2 no play yet today
Edgbaston : Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire 299-7 no play yet today
Scarborough : Yorkshire 263 v Leicestershire 43-0
Derby : Derbyshire 79-3 v Middlesex no play yet today
Chester-le-Street: Durham 384 v Gloucestershire 137 and 50-2
Northampton : Northamptonshire 74-0 v Kent 345 no play yet today
New Road : Worcestershire 12-1 v Lancashire 180 no play yet today
Patel and Gumbs have done well in this truncated session, calm and careful, but not too careful. They are applauded off as we take lunch at Scarborough, Leics 43-0.
A good handful of spectators at North Marine Road, scattered on the wooden bleachers like piles of washing waiting to be carried upstairs. At CLS, Bancroft drives Aldridge silkily for four through the covers.
Inspired by a conversation on the BBC, is this Gloucestershire v Durham game the biggest CC mismatch this century?
A couple of bowling changes at CLS , but not exactly respite, as Potts and Carse are replaced by Aldridge and Stokes. Though well played Miles Hammond who sends Stokes spilling away for a couple of fours in his first over. Glos 33-2.
I’m enjoying the different shapes of the Yorkshire cordon – the barrel chested YJB, the neat and tiny Adam Lyth, the lean lampost-like George Hill and man of the people Dom Bess. Gumbs, in a baggy (nylon) jumper lets a ball from Cliff pass harmlessly by. Leics 29-0.
Patel ushers White off his hip for four with a satisfying crunch. He’s only got four more games left for Leicesteshire, before moving to Southampton for 2027. Leicestershire 27-0
Wicket 52 for Matthew Potts. Ollie Price plays what looks pretty immaculate defensively, but the ball has jagged and up goes the finger, caught Robinson 3. Glos 7-2.
Three slips lick their lips at Chester le Street. Carse and Potts are menacing in swing bowling heaven. Carse is marching back to his mark with purpose.
Alas poor Gloucestershire. Joe Phillips drives and third slip Ackermann gobbles it up. 0-1.
Incidental Scarborough flotsam and jetsam: YJB was chatting to his little boy when I came in, who was holding tightly onto a blue ball. And the England Lions Strength and Conditioning man was spotted yesterday in the pavillion. Just under an hour late, YJB leads the players out. I’m hoping for another fifty from young Sheridon Gumbs.
Some entertaining heave and ho from the Durham tailenders. Carse has gone after bashing a couple of fours and a six, but Potts has read the same cue card. But now he’s out too. Durham 384, lead Glos by 247, which will probably be plenty.
Lunch at 1.10. Everyone out in the middle practising and the groundstaff are sanding (? )the outfield.
Remaining cloudy this afternoon. England and Wales will have with spells of rain and showers, heavy at times. Elsewhere, it will be drier with a few showers or patches of rain. Windy in the far south.
Could we stay cautiously optimistic? Anyway, they’re underway at Durham, who lead Gloucestershire by 197, with two wickets in hand. I’ve just got to disappear for 20 mins, back shortly.
An optimistic Mitch Killen yesterday, who joined Gloucestershire on Wednesday on loan.
“I think the boys bowled pretty well, I think we stuck at it pretty well. Maybe leaked a few too many runs, a few four balls and stuff. I think as a unit we stuck at it pretty well to keep them down, it’s quite a good side we’re playing against and they’re quite aggressive, so to keep the run rate at a decent pace is good.”
“You’ve always got to look to win the game, so I think for us, it’s just a case of batting time.”
Unfortunately for Gloucestershire, the sun is blazing in the north east.
Related: Archer illuminates fading summer as Pakistan’s marzipan men melt away | Barney Ronay
Hmm, ther e are an awful lot of delays around, everywhere in fact except Chester le Street – though that might be to come.
The wet patches on the wicket need a closer look.
Roundup: Yorkshire fireworks light up Scarborough
Despite a morning washout, play broke out at Scarborough and Yorkshire ’s tail wagged entertainingly against Leicestershire. George Hill bashed a merry 62, while Dom Bess and Ben Cliff added fireworks to please a crowd dressed in pink and purple to support the local Saint Catherine’s hospice.
John Simpson’s unbeaten 64 was crucial in giving Sussex a small first- innings lead at Hove as Craig Overton (four for 66) and Lewis Gregory (three for 55) fought back with the ball. Somerset’s Tom Lammonby then made batting look easy with a breezy 74 not out.
A couple of days after announcing his retirement at the end of the season, Dean Elgar jigsawed a crucial century for Essex. The South African struck around for nearly four hours, backed up by a silky 43 from Charlie Allison. Rahul Chahar grabbed six wickets but Surrey then slumped to 51-4, still 45 behind.
There was a century of a different hue for Durham ’s David Bedingham, hit off 99 balls and full of punchy gorgeousness. It was his fifth ton of the Championship season. Ben Stokes biffed 45 before Sai Kishore floated one between bat and pad as Durham built a lead of 194 over Gloucestershire.
There was no first hundred of the year for Zak Crawley, removed by Ben Sanderson for 89, as Kent had a staircase-and-trapdoor kind of day in the Division Two eye-baller. They lost eight for 94 against excellent Northants bowling, then added 89 for the last two wickets thanks to Daniel Bell-Drummond’s captain’s knock of 70.
Nottinghamshire endured a terrible start to the day at Edgbaston against Warwickshire . Haseeb Hameed and Freddie McCann were both dismissed for ducks, but the in-form Joe Clarke knitted a support blanket with a stylish hundred, ending the day unbeaten on 146 as he passed the 1,000-run mark for the season.
Lancashire were invited to bat at New Road on a dish-dirty morning, and though Keaton Jennings opened with a studied 55, he had to watch the middle order cascade away. Ben Walkden and Tom Bailey added late-order fibre, with four wickets for Worcestershire ’s Beyers Swanepoel.
Glamorgan tootled to 149-9, just 13 behind Hampshire at Sophia Gardens as the game heads to a one-innings shootout, while there was time for Middlesex ’s Ryan Higgins to take two wickets at Derbyshire .
Chelmsford : Essex 279 v Surrey 183 and 51-4
Sophia Gardens : Glamorgan 149-9 v Hampshire 162
Hove : Sussex 250 v Somerset 202 and 167-2
Edgbaston : Warwickshire v Nottinghamshire 299-7
Scarborough : Yorkshire 263 v Leicestershire 12-0
Chester-le-Street: Durham 331-8 v Gloucestershire 137
Northampton : Northamptonshire 74-0 v Kent 345
New Road : Worcestershire 12-1 v Lancashire 180
Hello. Wherever you are, here is the salve of county cricket to carry you through the day. There are lots of people about on a Scarborough bank holiday Saturday, walking dogs along the North Bay and making early sandcastles, maybe some of them will make it to North Marine Road. We’ll be here all day, do join us.
Rain rudely interrupted the County Championship on bank holiday Saturday but there was evening controversy at Chester-le-Street. Kasey Aldridge had bowled Durham to almost-victory with four for 47, giving him nine wickets in the match, leaving his side four to win. But with the floodlights on and filthy skies, Gloucestershire refused to bowl spin and the umpires said it was too dark for pace.
This report is published with credit to theguardian.com. Full available text from the wire is above. Read on theguardian.com →
Source: theguardian.com · Tanya Aldred at Scarborough. Published 29 Aug 2026, 06:47 pm.
