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Key events
And confirmation of the rain’s spoilsport antics: a delayed start with no end in sight at OT and Edgbaston, play will start at 1045 at Bristol and 11am at Cardiff. Excellent news all round then for Kent – who can keep the pressure on Middlesex at Canterbury; and Sussex, in with an outside chance of promotion.
The Met Office suggests that what starts in Manchester, is heading your way:
“Rain and showers moving southeast. Feeling fresher from the northwest (can confirm this): Outbreaks of rain, which will be heavy at times, will continue to push southeast across England. Elsewhere mostly dry with sunny spells. Feeling cooler, away from the very far southeast, where still warm and humid with thunderstorms possible.”
Monday’s report
In a manner most ill-suited to the fearless way in which they have played their cricket throughout 2023, Durham were promoted to Division One with a whimper – and without even picking up a bat. The moment came just before lunch at Hove, as Leicestershire were dismissed for 108 by Sussex, collecting not a single batting point in the process, which left them unable to catch Durham – who now need just five points from their last two games to go up as champions.
Durham strode into the season determined to play attacking cricket, and stuck to their word: winning six games and gathering maximum batting points seven times. “We’re not going to Division One just to survive,” said head coach Ryan Campbell. “We’re going to try to win the thing County cricket: Lancashire v Middlesex, Kent v Nottinghamshire, and more – live.”
It was apt that on the day of Durham’s promotion for the first time since 2016, the ECB handed out sanctions to Middlesex for financial mismanagement.
By ECB decree, Durham were relegated to Division Two in 2016 because of financial irregularities, despite finishing fourth, and were docked a further 48 points the following year.
This time, the errant club is Middlesex, reprimanded for poor governance and financial mismanagement. The club has agreed to a financial plan, to be overseen quarterly by the ECB, which requires them to bring in a year-on year-profit and limits spending. The ECB will also reduce payments to the club by £150,000 – £100,000 suspended until October 2025 – and impose points penalties equivalent to maximum points for one win in each competition, also suspended till October 2025.
On the pitch, Middlesex had a slightly brighter day, after Sam Robson’s 86 inched them to a first innings 194 at Old Trafford. Lancashire started their innings brightly until Josh De Caires took the ball. At his first Championship outing at his dad’s home ground, he duped Keaton Jennings lbw first ball, before bowling Phil Salt in his next over. When Jayant Yadav bowled Josh Bohannon with a ripper, Lancashire had lost three for 16 before the light closed in.
Scores on the doors
DIVISION ONE
Canterbury: Kent 446 v Nottinghamshire 219-8
Old Trafford: Lancashire 132-3 v Middlesex 194
Edgbaston: Warwickshire 142-4 v Northamptonshire 250
DIVISION TWO
Sophia Gardens: Glamorgan 150-6 v Yorkshire 500
Bristol: Gloucestershire 377 v Derbyshire 261-6
Hove: Sussex 262 and 234-5 v Leicestershire 108
Preamble
Good morning from a soggy, soggy, soggy Manchester. The heavens opened last night and the rain continued into this morning. Unless they can work magic at OT, Josh De Caires will have to wait a while to pick up a third wicket, as autumn spreads her clothes – at least in the north.
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