County Round-up Day Two: Yorkshire hold edge over Red Rose rivals.

Jack Brooks was in the wickets at Headingley.

Day Two reports

Divison One.

Yorkshire vs Lancashire - Yorkshire turn screw on Lancashire in Roses clash

Yorkshire are firmly on top in the Roses match at Headingley, having inflicted a heavy first innings deficit of 112 on their Red Rose rivals. Yorkshire closed their first innings on a healthy 308, only a seven-run improvement on their overnight score – but a far cry from the precarious position they faced on day one, at 74-5. The White Rose then ran through Lancashire's batting order to have them bowled out for a below-par 196, leaving the early season table toppers lagging behind in proceedings. The opening partnership of Tom Smith and young prospect Haseeb Hameed was moving along swimmingly, but at 46 it was ended when Smith's innings was curtailed by an outstanding grab from Gary Ballance at backward point – the first of Steven Patterson's two wickets. Hameed then followed swiftly after for well made 17, edging Bresnan to Lyth at slip - the foundations for a collapse were set. Jack Brooks then removed Luke Procter and Alviro Petersen with successful lbw appeals, before Patterson had Karl Brown caught behind for a 10-ball duck and all of a sudden Lancashire were 69-5. Liam Livingstone provided some resistance, making 60 not out to continue his fine early season form, an innings including 7 fours and 1 six. Steven Croft was the next to go, Bresnan having him caught by Leaning for 14. Tom Bailey soon followed, Liam Plunkett grabbing his only wicket of the innings. Then came somewhat of a fightback – Neil Wagner made 12 before being Adil Rashid's first victim, Zimbabwean Kyle Jarvis made a 25-ball 33 before being stumped off the same bowler and last man Simon Kerrigan was Rashid's third, but the recovery from 92-7 to 196 all out had kept Lancashire fighting. 
Yorkshire then began their second innings steadily, the opening partnership reaching 41 before Alex Lees was caught behind off Tom Smith, who bowled five maidens in his six-over spell, conceding just four runs. Jack Leaning was then sent back as quick as he made his way out, caught by a diving Smith for 4 off the bowling of Wagner, and it was a trio for Lancashire as they fought back late in the day when Ballance edged Wagner behind for 8. Heading into day three Yorkshire will be looking to kick on from their score of 77-3, but that fightback late in the day will remind the Tykes that this match is not done and dusted just yet. 


Middlesex vs Hampshire – Hampshire face battle to avoid second defeat as Middlesex look set for victory

Middlesex dominated in every aspect on day two of their clash with Hampshire and look like sealing an easy victory inside three days at Merchant Taylors' School. Having resumed on a strong 342-3, Middlesex pressed home their advantage. John Simpson made a quickfire century from 151 balls including 3 sixes, and Adam Voges continued on from his first day hundred as the Londoners eventually declared at 467-3. Middlesex then continued to emphasise the dominance they had shown with the bat, bowling Hampshire out for 131 and enforcing the follow on. Michael Carberry was first to go in the third over, to the bowling of Tim Murtagh. Murtagh then took the next two in Jimmy Adams and Will Smith and later followed that up with scalp of Sean Ervine to finish with figures of 4-33. Toby Roland-Jones, too, impressed with the ball, running through Hampshire's lower order to take four of his own - Adam Wheater, Tino Best, Mason Crane and James Tomlison all fell to the Englishman with Wheater the only of that quartet to make a score of note, a useful 21 given the circumstances. Ollie Rayner and James Fuller were the other wicket takers as Hampshire's batsmen just couldn't answer to the high-quality bowling of Murtagh and Roland-Jones. Middlesex's Australian captain Adam Voges then decided to enforce the follow-on, and Will Smith – pushed up from number three in the first innings to open in the second – fell to the second ball of the innings, caught behind off Murtagh. It looked like a formality for Middlesex, but for some relative resistance from Jimmy Adams (21 not out) and Michael Carberry (21) – the latter dismissed by James Fuller. Fuller then got through Ervine's defences to have him bowled  for a solitary run before Adams and Liam Dawson (17 not out) saw Hampshire to close on 62-3, still a mammoth 274 runs behind to make Middlesex bat again and just seven wickets remaining. It was an outstanding day for the Londoners who look like sealing victory easily on day three. 

Division Two

Worcestershire vs Gloucestershire – Shantry lights up New Road as match finely poised.

Worcestershire tail-ender Jack Shantry smashed a stunning century on Day Two at New Road, before Gloucestershire's Graeme van Buuren replied with a hundred of his own to leave the match delicately poised heading into day three, Gloucestershire still trailing by 213 runs with five first innings wickets remaining. Resuming on their overnight score of 316-8, day one centurion Tom Kohler-Cadmore added just 16 runs, but in doing so moved onto a career-best score of 169, a feat that was matched by Shantry later on. Shantry began somewhat quietly, his first fifty coming from a pedestrian 79 balls – but it was his second that sent the bank holiday New Road spectators running for cover. In essence, it was a chase for a fifth batting point, as the 110 over mark loomed – but Shantry moved from 50 to 100 in a sensational 14 balls. Given a life on 39 when a slice landing safely as fielders converged, Shantry struck two David Miles overs for a huge 44 as he amassed 3 fours and six sixes – the last of which brought up his three figures. Astonishingly, Shantry and batting partner Charlie Morris' last wicket partnership of 69 did not include a run from last man Morris, as he blocked his way to a 21-ball 0 not out. Shantry eventually fell for 106, but had achieved his target of gaining his side a valuable fifth batting bonus point, and Gloucestershire set about overhauling Worcestershire's 439 all out. The innings did not get off to the best of starts for the Bristolians, they couldn't keep Shantry out of the game as he removed Chris Dent for 5. Gareth Roderick and eventual centurion Van Buuren then steadied ship making 120 together before former fell leg before to D'Oliveira for 60. Shantry then took the key wicket of Michael Klinger for 8 before Joe Leach and Ed Barnard each took a wicket late in the day, dismissing Hamish Marshall and George Hankins respectively. It was then left to Van Buuren to bring up his first century in England, doing so in the last over of the day – but there was no taking this day away from Jack Shantry who will marvel in the role he's played in swinging this match slightly in favour of the Pears. Gloucestershire closed on 222/5, a further 213 runs behind and will face a tough day tomorrow to stave away the threat of defeat.


Kent vs Leicestershire – Rain and bad light hampers progress as Bell-Drummond continues fine form

Early rain and bad light late in the day put pay to either side staking their claim for victory on day two at The Spitfire Ground. Daniel Bell-Drummond, however, did continue his impressive early season form which has seen him mentioned by some as a possible England opener. Bell-Drummond made his sixth fifty this season as Kent laid the foundations for their innings, reaching a steady 117-2 at close. Opening partner Tom Latham fell early on to the bowling of Clint McKay, but that brought a resolute Joe Denly to the crease. Bell-Drummond and Denly added 88 together before the latter was adjudged leg before to Ben Raine for 32. Captain Sam Northeast was next in, and he made his way to 5 not out before bad light put an early end to the day, with no play possible after tea, the day was officially abandoned by the umpires at 5:45. Kent will look to push on in their batting effort tomorrow, although no result looks likely after rain on day one had interrupted play as well as the delays on day two.

Reports by Charlie Jennings (@AVCJX)