Championship Div 1 - May 22

County Championship 22 May - Division 1

My Grandma used to say "If you can see Bluebell Hill, it's going to rain. If you can't, it is raining already." How true in this early summer, 2003. Once again, the inclement weather had the last word on day 2 of the current round of championship games.

Essex v Surrey, Chelmsford

Day 1 close Surrey 337-8 (Bicknell 117*, Thorpe 52, Napier 4-73)

Martin Bicknell's career-best 141, which included 17 fours and one six was the highlight of the second day's play at Chelmsford which saw the championship leaders take a stranglehold of this game against local rivals Essex. A few lusty blows by Saqlain assisted Surrey in reaching 376 before they were finally all out in the 100th over.

Essex will be delighted to see the back of Martin Bicknell because he continued his golden match with a sensational spell with the ball, grabbing three wickets and being largely responsible for reducing the hosts to 17-4.

Half-centuries by Andy Flower and Jonathan Dakin helped to redress the balance somewhat, together with a rapid 42 by Ronnie Irani which helped Essex to eke out a total of 252.

There was barely time for Surrey to start again before the weather intervened to end the day's play an hour before the scheduled close.

Surrey 376 (Bicknell 141, Azhar Mahmood 77, Thorpe 52, Napier 4-82, Brant 3-94) and 7-0, Essex 252 (Dakin 59, Flower 51, Bicknell 4-67, Ormond 3-68)

Surrey lead by 131 with all 10 second wickets standing


Leicestershire v Middlesex, Leicester

Day 1 close Middlesex 201 (Noffke 40, Maddy 5-49, Masters 3-33), Leicestershire 19-3 (Keegan 2-12)

Less than three hours of play was possible at a murky Grace Road today before heavy rain washed out play. Brad Hodge and Darren Stevens held out until lunch, but runs were exceedingly difficult to come by.

Eventually, the batsmen cracked in the face of accurate seam bowling in exceedingly helpful conditions and Simon Cook bagged four victims in the gloom. When the rain washed out play for the day, the home side were still 65 runs in arrears on first innings with just two wickets to fall.

Middlesex 201 (Noffke 40, Maddy 5-49, Masters 3-33), Leicestershire 136-8 (Cook 4-33, Keegan 3-40)


Sussex v Nottinghamshire, Horsham

Day 1 close Sussex 330-5 (Montgomerie 105, Cottey 58, MacGill 3-96)

Two further centuries and a case of mistaken identity were the highlights of a thoroughly dominating display by the home side on the second day at Horsham.

Under new ECB regulations, Sussex had nominated Kevin Innes as the man to step aside provided James Kirtley, released by England this morning, could make it back to Horsham before the start of the third day. He did better than that - he reached the ground just in time to see Innes record his maiden first-class century.

It was young wicket-keeper Matthew Prior who stole the show though, as he totally dominated the Nottinghamshire bowlers in a sparkling innings of 133 which included 15 fours and six maximums. Prior and Innes added 157 in an hour and a half of swashbuckling play which had the visitors rattled.

Sussex eventually declared on a huge 619-7, leaving Nottinghamshire a tricky 24 overs to negotiate, losing Jason Gallian for 36 before bad light had the last word.

The case of mistaken identity? The Press Association have credited Kevin Innes's century to James Kirtley. Sorry chaps, it doesn't work like that.

Sussex 619-7 (Prior 133, Montgomerie 105, Innes 103*, Elworthy 3-107, MacGill 3-172), Nottinghamshire 85-1 (Welton 45*, Gallian 36)


Warwickshire v Kent, Edgbaston

Day 1 close Warwickshire 195-7 (Troughton 120, Saggers 3-41)

Neil Smith and Melvyn Betts proved stubborn obstacles in Kent's mission to wind up the Warwickshire innings. Barely 30 overs were possible in a day of dreadful light and showers as the pair added 80 in two hours.

After the dismissal of Betts for a valuable 46, just five minutes more play was possible before rain frustratingly had the last word once again.

Warwickshire 280-9 (Troughton 120, Betts 46, Saggers 4-50)


Posted by Eddie