It was slip-catching heaven at Taunton, with Somerset’s fielders gobbling seven in Glamorgan’s first innings, and James Rew scooping up the rest. Ben Kellaway was the only man to pass 50. Somerset’s innings started under lights, but a milky sun eventually emerged to light the way and allow Somerset to steal a march on their Championship rivals, whose matches were curtailed by rain.
Charlie Bennett’s pain was Jamie Porter’s gain at Chelmsford after the young seamer limped off after three overs. To a background of autumnal slate, Porter then grabbed three for 32 for Essex against Sussex, who chose to bat and progressed in fits and starts. Sam Cook pocketed the 500th dismissal of his professional career.
At the Oval, Yorkshire limped along from the ignominy of one for three, which included an elegant flying catch by Ben Foakes to dismiss Will Luxton for a duck. James Wharton and Matthew Revis added 89, but Yorkshire then lost four for 21, including Jonny Bairstow, who stamped and delivered a pitch-perfect slip catch to Ollie Pope. Dan Worrall bowled beautifully for three for 24.
After making a sudden U-turn on the selection of Scott Kuggeleijn, relegation-threatened Hampshire were in trouble on the field as well. Rob Yates and Dan Mousley both embroidered half-centuries as Warwickshire piled on 141 for one between the showers. David Bedingham passed 1,000 runs for the season in the process of an elegant fifty against Northants.
There had been rebuilding to do after Durham slumped to 16 for two, a wonder ball by Luke Procter plucking out Ben McKinney’s middle and off stumps and pinging them in different directions, while Will Rhodes was brilliantly run out by James Sales. Meanwhile, Division Two promotion rivals Kent had a so-so day against Worcestershire, losing five for 25 in the evening session. Daniel Bell-Drummond pinged 52.
After two months on the sidelines with a dodgy calf, Jimmy Anderson showed Lancashire what they’d been missing by reducing Middlesex to 20 for two. But Max Holden and Leus du Plooy steadied the ship on a damp, dark day at Merchant Taylors’ School. Gloucestershire’s dismal season continued, after choosing to bat and being reduced to 62 for five against Derbyshire.
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