County cricket: Kent v Surrey, Somerset v Notts, and more on day two - live

7m ago 15.59 BST Root and Brook together again at Lord's As Finlay Bean goes for 29. Root unbeaten on 23. But not for 20 mins – as first they’ll take tea. Let’s look at the scores round the grounds. Share

10m ago 15.56 BST Durham now well on top at Kidderminster at 93-2 in their second innings, a lead over Worcs of 153, but Alex Lees was amusingly furious when he prodded behind for four. One down. https://t.co/rU8nVSLqrJ pic.twitter.com/KXdlNPhtca — Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) April 20, 2024 Share

23m ago 15.43 BST One fifty but no torrent of runs for James Rew yet this season, out today for 12. It makes sense - counties have had a chance to try and work out his weak points. Banton still batting at Taunton, 83 not out, but he’s in danger of running out of partners. Somerset 314-7, a lead of 121. Share

31m ago 15.34 BST Was puzzling whether Lancashire just had a complete shocker yesterday, or Snater and Cook were unplayable, or the batting conditions were much more difficult. The quotes from last night were helpful: This was Snater last night: “The Dukes ball does seem to have a bit more carry and a bit more nip than last week’s [Kookaburra]. There’s a bit more green grass on the wicket than last week. And the Dukes does bring in that factor that it does a bit more than the Kookaburra. “The wicket is still quite slow, but there is still nip there, not every ball, it’s not like a snakepit or anything like that. As Feroze [Khushi] showed us, there are runs to be scored out there.” Dale Benkenstein: “what with the weather around and a wicket with grass on it. I think we would have also bowled. Having to come off and on all the time was perfect for their bowlers. But that’s not to take away an attack that is notorious for being ruthless and on their lines and lengths. They didn’t give us anything. They bowled very, very well, but I feel they have had quite a lot in their favour today. Essex lead by 110, just three down, Westley and Cox well set. Except now Cox is not well set . Esses 263-4 Share

45m ago 15.21 BST 200 for Marcus Harris! Six and a half hours, 293 balls. Very nicely done. Here he is raising his bat looking quite like Mike from Neighbours. Leicestershire 416-4, as he slams a six down the ground. View image in fullscreen Thank you Photograph: John Mallett/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock Share

1h ago 15.09 BST Root in already at Lord’s , Lyth and Masood TRJ’d quickly. Kent are all out, six short of a batting point. Three for Steel, three for Lawes, a handy 30 from Joey Evison. Let’s see how the Champs find the Dukes. Share

1h ago 14.56 BST I’m not sure what Nancy Doyle the famous Lord’s cook would say, but here is the players’ menu at Lord’s today. 🍽️ | PLAYERS DINING ROOM MENU...

As we sit here tucking into our sandwiches and soup, we look longingly across the pitch at the Pavilion, where the players are tucking into a choice of this little lot...🤤#OneMiddlesex pic.twitter.com/OjorKK2cfG — Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) April 20, 2024 You can read more about Nancy “You worry about the effing cricket Michael and I’ll worry about the effing food!” here, if you register. Share

1h ago 14.48 BST “The best there’s been,” writes Geoff Wignall. “I agree completely about Malcolm Marshall - and I’ve been watching cricket since my 1960s childhood. I don’t suppose any batter on any wicket at any time ever faced a comfortable over from him. But he’d have been 66, not 56 today.” Thanks Geoff and Romeo for pointing that out – total fail by me for ignoring my spidey senses there. Lancashire are still bowling, but not at Sam Cook any more. Hewas caught by Jennings, presumably in the slips, one short of a maiden first-class fifty. Excellent effort though. Essex, three down, already lead by 64. Both the other overnight nightwatchers were also out in the fraught forties, George Garrett caught for 48 in Kent’s 226-8 vSurrey (three more for Cameron Steel) and Somerset’s Josh Davey bowled for 45 in Somerset’s 248-7, brightened up by some free hitting from Tom Banton. The lead over Notts now 56. Share Updated at 14.59 BST

2h ago 14.35 BST Yorkshire up and running in their second innings, just noticed that penultimate man out for Middlesex, Josh de Caires hit fifty at No.8 – second highest scorer of the match. Share

2h ago 14.24 BST Not much to report in Division Two since lunch, where I went on a goose chase to mend my phone, Leicester opening their sails and billowing onwards, now 337 for – and as I type, Handscomb has gone lbw for 68 – four. Harris though, 163 and on the look out for double ton for the back pocket. Ah, and Middlesex are all out, for a handy lead of 88. Five for Thompson, four for Coad – let’s see what Root and Brook can do this time around. Northants and Sussex are both one down in the forties. Share

3h ago 13.19 BST Lunchtime scores DIVISION ONE Chelmsford: Essex 182-1 v Lancashire 146 Southampton: Hampshire v Warwickshire 441-8 Canterbury: Kent 192-5 v Surrey Taunton: Somerset 194-4 v Nottinghamshire 193 Kidderminster: Worcestershire 181-9 v Durham 244 DIVISION TWO Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire 309-3 Lord’s: Middlesex 212-8 v Yorkshire 159 Northampton: Northamptonshire 32-1 v Glamorgan 271 Hove: Sussex 25-1 v Gloucesterhire 417 Share

3h ago 13.08 BST And Sam Cook gets another life, slipping through the paws of George Bell just before lunch. Now on 48. Share

3h ago 13.02 BST A stat for Lancs fans – Sam Cook has just made his highest first-class score. Share

3h ago 12.57 BST Essex and Middlesex have taken the lead. Someset are just three behind Notts, with Banton and Davey at the crease. Kent have just lost Joe Denly, while Worcestershire Wobble, 162-9, 82 behind. Share Updated at 13.01 BST

3h ago 12.40 BST Just in case anyone else is as slow on the uptake as me. What a brilliant concept! Oh this is too good not to waste half an hour of a Friday afternoon on!

So here it is!! The new Shopping Forecast fielding positions! https://t.co/w3c0d38au0 pic.twitter.com/NbmTMBOgde — 8-Bit Cricket 🏏👾 🎮 🏕️ (@8_BitCricket) April 19, 2024 Share

4h ago 12.31 BST This seems a great initiative by the ECB this summer All first-class venues will feature players using British Sign Language on their big screens this summer

England Deaf team all-rounder Joel Harris tells us why this is a small but valuable step after he helped teach more than 70 players BSL#signlanguageweek #raisingthegame — England and Wales Cricket Board (@ECB_cricket) March 22, 2024 and while I was looking for it, I stumbled across this. Malcom Marshall, still the greatest fast bowler I think I have ever seen . Would have been 66 on Thursday. One of the all-time greats 🔥

Remembering @windiescricket legend, Malcolm Marshall, who was born #OnThisDay in 1958. #LoveLords pic.twitter.com/8UtuC95b7N — Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) April 18, 2024 Share Updated at 13.00 BST

4h ago 12.20 BST A hundred for Marcus Harris! In the party division; Gloucestershire have collected the extra batting point that Warwicks missed out on, thanks to a rollicking 45 not out from Zaman Akhter. GLos 409-9, three wickets for Danny Lamb. And the second hundred of the round is duly collected by Marcus Harris, with a classy ondrive for four. Leics 233-3, and life a struggle for the Derbyshire bowlers. Middlesex haven’t had the morning of their dreams, losing five wickets, but they are only six runs behind Yorkshire. Three wickets each for Coad and Thompson. And Jack Carson takes the final, and his third, wicket at Hove , as Singh Dale is caught and bowled for 15. Gloucestershire 417 all out. Share

4h ago 12.00 BST At Taunton, Davey and Lammonby have taken Somerset within 35 runs of Nott’s first innings 193 all out. A similar tale at Cheltenham, where the floodlights have come on but Essex are in sniffing distance of Lancashire’s 146 all out. And at the Rose Bowl, a third wicket for Liam Dawson, Briggs for 24. Warwicks 391-5 at 110 overs, just failed to pick up a fourth batting point. Share

4h ago 11.56 BST Jake Libby has collected fifty at Kidderminster, but the stabilisers are otherwise looking wobbly on the Worcestershire bike. Raine has pocketed both Holder and Waite. Worcs six down and still trail Durham by 120. Share

4h ago 11.36 BST Rain at Canterbury – Surrey having almost Gloucestershire levels of luck with the weather so far this season. Kent 144-4. Share

5h ago 11.33 BST In Division Two, Leicestershire have lost Lewis Hill, so near, yet so far, for 47; Harris in sight of his hundred – Leics 190-3. While Middlesex are enjoying the Lord’s conditiions about as much as Yorkshire’s batters did yesterday. Currently 115-5, Higgins and Eskinazi gone cheaply this morning. Du Plooy resolute on 41 not out. Share

5h ago 11.30 BST In the first half an hour, just a couple of wickets in Division One – Leaning at Canterbury, and Dickson at Taunton, though for a morale-boosting 72. No sign of greater spotted Somerset collapse as yet, 127-2. Share

5h ago 11.20 BST Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy Starts today with all eight sides playing: Birmingham: Central Sparks v The Blaze Chester le Street: Northern Diamonds v Thunder Beckenham: South East Stars v Vipers Cardiff: Western Storm v Sunrisers A reminder that the 2023 Champions were Southern Vipers, who lifted the trophy for the third time. Share

5h ago 11.14 BST An early wicket at Canterbury, where Kemar Roach removes Jack Leaning for 30; meanwhile Lancashire’s day starts in downbeat fashion when George Bell drops nightwatch Sam Cook. Share

5h ago 11.00 BST Sorry about the slow start this morning, gremlins in the system. But the weather is behaving and we’re about to start on time at all nine games. Share

5h ago 10.55 BST Weather watch Sunshine! ☀️ A glorious day for some cricket!

Who’s coming to Kidderminster today? pic.twitter.com/31e42OBZpM — Worcestershire CCC (@WorcsCCC) April 20, 2024 and the Met office is positive: a mostly dry day with variable cloud and sunny intervals…average temperatures, but feeling warm in the sun. Share

5h ago 10.51 BST Raman Subba Row - born 29 January 1932; died 17 April 2024 A lovely obit of a fascinating figure. Raman Subba Row obituary Read more Share Updated at 10.56 BST

6h ago 10.05 BST Friday's round up

Though the rain continued to fall around the country, the Dukes ball returned with a sparkle – taking 72 wickets in the day. Nottinghamshire (193), Durham (244) and Yorkshire (159) were all bowled out by shortly after tea, Lancashire (146) following soon afterwards. Harry Brook and Joe Root were two of five single-figure Yorkshire scores, both giving catching practice to the slip fielders against Middlesex at Lord’s. At Kidderminster, Durham’s Ollie Robinson did his England credentials no harm at all with a counter-attacking 55 against Worcestershire; while Sean Dickson and Matt Renshaw reduced Somerset’s deficit to 77 against Nottinghamshire. It was only at Hampshire that batting really flourished, with Alex Davies, hot on the heels of his 256 last week, the sole centurion of the day. Davies was helped by half centuries from Will Rhodes and Rob Yates – Warwickshire one of only two sides to pick up a batting point. The other was Gloucestershire, who skipped along against Sussex, with half centuries for Miles Hammond, Ben Charlesworth and James Bracey. In the other games, Lancashire lost their first eight wickets for 92 against Essex, courtesy of four quick wickets for Shane Snater and a first wicket for 19-year-old Noah Thain on his Championship debut. Feroze Khushi then hit a rapid 53 in reply. Glamorgan rebuilt from a dreadful start against Northamptonshire, thanks to an unbeaten 69 from Colin Ingram; while Derbyshire’s butterfingers alongside 77 from Marcus Harris helped Leicestershire along. At Canterbury, Zac Crawley was dismissed for five before Daniel Bell-Drummond continued his excellent start to the season for Kent with 70 against Surrey. There, and at Wantage Road, the players stood for a minute’s silence in memory of Derek Underwood and England, Northants and Surrey cricketer and administrator Raman Subba Row, who died this week aged 92. Share

6h ago 10.05 BST Scores on the doors DIVISION ONE Chelmsford: Essex 68-1 v Lancashire 146 Southampton: Hampshire v Warwickshire 340-4 Canterbury: Kent 111-3 v Surrey rain Taunton: Somerset 116-1 v Nottinghamshire 193 Kidderminster: Worcestershire 78-4 v Durham 244 DIVISION TWO Derby: Derbyshire v Leicestershire 168-2 Lord’s: Middlesex 84-2 v Yorkshire 159 Northampton: Northamptonshire v Glamorgan 203-7 Hove: Sussex v Gloucesterhire 319-8 Share

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