County cricket day four: Essex survive Ethan Brookes onslaught to grab first win
A thunder and lightning 88 from Ethan Brookes took Worcestershire to within sniffing distance of victory on a morning of high drama at Chelmsford,Starting the day needing 110, with four wickets in hand, Worcestershire quickly lost three, which stung Brookes into an astonishing array of hitting, finding the rope even with every Essex fielder stationed on the boundary,But with 28 needed, and just after flaying Porter over fine leg for his seventh six, Brookes palmed the ball in the air and Porter threw himself into a caught and bowled down in the dust,Brookes put out a questioning arm and a fired-up Porter briefly looked as if he was going into the ring,But the umpire gently intervened, the finger was raised and handshakes followed.
It was Essex’s first win of the season.At Canterbury, what had been a plodding final day blew up spectacularly after Kent tripped up during a nominal chase of 413 in 41 overs.Tom Price rattled through the top order with four for 33 and, at 97 for six, Gloucestershire smelt blood.But an unbeaten 54 from Zak Crawley, and staunch support from Grant Stewart, took Kent home.Middlesex beat Glamorgan by nine wickets at Lord’s, despite stoical batting from Chris Cooke and Ned Leonard.
The players wore black armbands and the flags were lowered in memory of the late umpire Jeff Evans.Elsewhere, the weather flattened the chances of a result.At Old Trafford, play only got under way at 4.30pm, with Leicestershire trying to squeeze seven wickets out of a session, even putting boundary patrollers in the stands to ensure the ball got back to the middle quickly.But Marcus Harris and Josh Bohannon guided Lancashire to safety in a partnership of 79.
Rain, bad light and the deadpan bats of Ed Barnard and Olly Hannon-Dalby thwarted Nottinghamshire’s hopes of victory against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.An unbeaten 86 from Jonny Bairstow ensured Yorkshire’s innings didn’t collapse at Chester le Street, against a Durham side without their injured seamers Paul Coughlin and Brendan Doggett.Afternoon rain added a full stop to the match.Surrey continued their uneasy start to the season, the champions drawing their third match in succession.Sussex’s Tom Haines and Dan Hughes were able to bat their way to handshakes after Surrey had lost seven for 100 in the morning session, the left-arm spinner James Coles finishing with five.
Sean Dickson and Tom Abell batted Somerset to a draw against Hampshire,And that is that, for round three,Well done Zak Crawley and bad luck Gloucestershire,Thanks for your company over these last four days – have a lovely bank holiday evening,We’ll be back on Friday for round four.
Bye!Chester le Street: Durham 427 DRAW WITH Yorkshire 307 and 277-6Chelmsford: Essex 179 and 317 BEAT Worcestershire 202 and 266 by 28 runsSouthampton: Hampshire 336 DRAW WITH Somerset 184 and 163-2Hove: Sussex 435 and 132-0 DRAW WITH Surrey 490Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 and 181-6 DRAW with Nottinghamshire 367DIVISION TWOThe County Ground: Derbyshire 307 and 202-3 DRAW WITH Northamptonshire 500-8decCanterbury: Kent 393 and 116-6 DRAW with Gloucestershire 472 and 333-5decOld Trafford: Lancashire 263 and 90-3 DRAW with Leicestershire 491-8decLord’s: Middlesex 470-9dec and 59-1 BEAT Glamorgan 199 and 329 by nine wicketsAnd breathe!Canterbury: Kent 393 and 116-6 DRAW with Gloucestershire 472 and 333-5decKent 14 points, Gloucestershire 16.And then there was one.Five overs left at Canterbury, four wickets needed, but Crawley still there.Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 and 181-6 DRAW with Nottinghamshire 367Warwicks points, NottsLord’s: Middlesex 470-9dec and 59-1 BEAT Glamorgan 199 and 329 by nine wicketsMiddlesex 21 points, Glamorgan one Kent suddenly six down…With Middlesex close to victory at Lord’s, Zak Crawley putting together a Kent reaguard to defy Gloucestershire and the rain looking like it has defeated Nottinghamshire, time for me to write up.Do chat on below the line.
Players off for bad light and suspect that is that...lots of oohs, a few ahhs..
.but no genuine chances produced during that mini session.And as I type this, there is mizzle to boot.Stick a fork in this one.Lancashire’s blushes saved by the weather and, lately, Harris (34) and Bohannon (45).
Old Trafford: Lancashire 263 and 90-3 DRAW with Leicestershire 491-8decLancashire 11 points, Leicestershire 15Crawley has found some more reliable company in Joey Evison.Kent 80-4.Update from Lord’s (thank you Romeo) ”Covers coming off at Lord’s.I don’t think there been much rain at all, if any.Only strip (hover) and run-ups were covered.
Still looks pretty dark, mind.”It is also dark at Old Trafford, where the floodlights are not yet on and the close fielders are breathing down Bohannon’s neck.Another win for the weather.Southampton: Hampshire 336 DRAW WITH Somerset 184 and 163-2Hampshire 13 points, Somerset 11The rain continues to fall at Lord’s.And we have some Rehan Ahmed from the Jimmy Anderson end.
Lights now on at Edgbaston and unless there is a dramatic turn of events in the next 10 minutes or so, this one is heading for a draw.Great to see Josh Tongue haring in (even if the red socks are bugging me) but OHD is very much his equal so far.Sixty balls of defiance so far from the big man.YJB speaks after the draw with Durham:“Really pleased to get out of that the way that we did.Obviously, losing the toss we would have had a look to bowl as well.
We actually went alright there,“We left a few out there (first innings), and a few softer dismissals,As a group, we’ll look to improve on that,I think that’s a fairly easy fix, if I’m honest,There’s a lot of talent within the group.
“They put us under pressure.For two of their guys to get 150, it’s exactly what Division One cricket is about.It’s probably the biggest difference between that and Division Two - when a teams’s on top, they don’t let you off.And that’s a lesson we can learn as a group.”Another one slips between Cox’s gloves, Bohannon again, and it feels like the air has left the balloon.
And a fourth for Tom Price! This time it’s Jack Leaning.Suddenly this is looking very spicy for Kent.Time for a Hollioake pep talk.And the champions start the season with three draws.Sussex one win and two draws.
Hove: Sussex 435 and 132-0 DRAW WITH Surrey 490Surrey 15 points, Sussex 14.At Canterbury, Kent have lost another – Muyeye, a third for Tom Price.Crawley still standing tall on 23.Kent 48-3.Leicestershire have posted spare bodies in the stands to throw back the ball to the bowler as quickly as possible.
We think there are 16 people in Old Trafford to see Cox drop Bohannon, on 10, off Holland,Chester le Street: Durham 427 DRAW WITH Yorkshire 307 and 277-6 Durham 15 points, Yorkshire 13 pointsHere come the umpires, black armbands on their left arms, in memory of Jeff Evans,Leicestershire too,Holland has the ball,Four slips.
And a caramel egg from Paul Edwards.Seven overs gone at Edgbaston and just the one run off the bat of Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who could easily have run three after a crisp straight drive.First time watching Farhan Ahmed in the flesh for me and it’s quite the spectacle, the young offie standing at the top of his mark legs apart like a baseball pitcher about to wind up on the mound, before skipping in with good energy and getting some excellent purchase on the ball.And while the rest of the country takes tea, things have got underway at Edgbaston.Time for me to cycle to OT for the denouement.
Back shortly.Kent’s chase of 413 already looks green about the gills – Tom Price has removed both Ben Compton and Daniel Bell Drummond in the six overs possible before tea.Kent 8 for two.DIVISION ONEChester le Street: Durham 427 v Yorkshire 307 and 277-6 rain stopped playChelmsford: Essex 179 and 317 BEAT Worcestershire 202 and 266 by 28 runsSouthampton: Hampshire 336 v Somerset 184 and 159-2Hove: Sussex 435 and 132-0 and v Surrey 490Edgbaston: Warwickshire 93 and 163-6 v Nottinghamshire 367 DIVISION TWOThe County Ground: Derbyshire 307 and 202-3 DRAW WITH Northamptonshire 500-8decCanterbury: Kent 393 and 8-2 v Gloucestershire 472 and 333-5dec Kent need 405 to winOld Trafford: Lancashire 263 and 16-3 v Leicestershire 491-8dec no play yet todayLord’s: Middlesex 470-9dec and 16-1 v Glamorgan 199 and 329 Middx need 43 to win, rain stopped playIf the rain stays away.There will be 24 overs for Lancashire to survive.
…with 43 needed for a Middlesex win.The hover cover chugs into place.Tom Haines is well on the way to his second century against Surrey of the match, 68 not out of 128-9.Rob Key is probably on the stream right now.Though on the back of his century yesterday, Rehan Ahmed could be a Bazball choice if they decide not to go with Crawley.
Interesting to see if he bowls later at OT, he didn’t in the first innings but we think he had a sore finger.Middlesex are going out swinging, with rain on the way.And lose their first wicket, Max Holden, having a heave-ho at Leonard, caught by Northeast.And on come the floodlights.Stronger whispers of a restart at 4.
30 at Old Trafford.The groundstaff are mopping with purpose.With 36 overs remaining.Nottinghamshire, you’ll remember, need just four wickets for victory.The sun has been spotted in the Manchester area.
And that’s the end of the Glamorgan innings, Bashir hooking Brookes into the hands of Toby Roland-Jones for one.There are currently three games still going: at Lord’s, where Middlesex need one wicket and then 58 runs before the rain catches up with them.At Canterbury, where Gloucestershire lead by 407.Another wham-bam half century for van Buuren.Time for a declaration?And at Hove, where Haines and Hughes are going through the motions.
And with Bairstow stranded on 86, the covers come on,Official news at Edgbaston is a 3,30pm start if no further rain,Keen to see if Oliver Hannon-Dalby can make his maiden first-class century,Just 100 runs short as it standsNow Leonard, who attempts a hot-headed, off-balance, reverse-sweep at Gohar – possibly not the coach’s shot of choice.
Goes for a neat 47.Glam 352-9.
Travel body accuses government of ‘sabotaging’ UK tourism industry
The government has been accused of “sabotaging” the UK’s tourism industry, after figures showed international visitors spent more than £2bn less last year than they did before the pandemic.The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) – which found in a new study that people visiting the UK spent £40.3bn in 2024, down 5.3% on 2019 – said that the government has made “deliberate policy choices” that had created “barriers to travel”.The policies singled out include the lack of tax-free shopping, increasing air passenger duty and introducing electronic travel authorisations
US stock markets fall again as Trump calls Fed chair ‘a major loser’
US stock markets fell again on Monday as Donald Trump continued attacks against the Federal Reserve chair, Jerome Powell, who the US president called “a major loser” for not lowering interest rates.“There can be a slowing of the economy unless Mr. Too Late, a major loser, lowers interest rates, NOW,” Trump wrote on social media.In recent days, Trump has amped up attacks against the Fed chair, pushing Powell to lower interest rates to offset the inflationary impacts of the new tariffs.Trump is pressuring the Fed to cut rates, likely to appease the stock market, which plummeted after he announced his newest slate of tariffs
Tech overload for teachers and parents | Letter
I am a parent of two and I teach at a university. I read Dr Robert Harrison’s letter (14 April) with scepticism. He writes eloquently of students using technology in “healthy, purposeful, and life-enhancing” ways. This sounds lovely, but very far from the reality that we are living.My five-year-old’s school has furnished parents with no fewer than five technology platforms where we interact with the school; this does not include the many parent WhatsApp groups
Drones could deliver NHS supplies under UK regulation changes
Drones could be used for NHS-related missions in remote areas, inspecting offshore wind turbines and supplying oil rigs by 2026 as part of a new regulatory regime in the UK.David Willetts, the head of a new government unit helping to deploy new technologies in Britain, said there were obvious situations where drones could be used if the changes go ahead next year.Ministers announced plans this month to allow drones to fly long distances without their operators seeing them. Drones cannot be flown “beyond visual line of sight” under current regulations, making their use for lengthy journeys impossible.In an interview with the Guardian, Lord Willetts, chair of the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO), said the changes could come as soon as 2026, but that they would apply in “atypical” aviation environments at first, which would mean remote areas and over open water
NFL hall of famer Shannon Sharpe accused of rape in Nevada lawsuit
NFL hall of famer Shannon Sharpe has been accused of sexual assault and battery by a former partner in a lawsuit filed on Sunday in Nevada.The woman says she met the 56-year-old Sharpe, who is now an ESPN analyst, at a Los Angeles gym in 2023 when she was 22. A two-year consensual relationship ensued, during which she alleges he raped her.“A woman can say ‘yes’ to consensual sexual relations with a man ninety-nine times, but when she says ‘no’ even once, that ‘no’ means no,” the lawsuit states. “Defendant Shannon Sharpe, a man who is accustomed to getting what he wants, completely fails to understand this basic concept
Wisden calls World Test Championship a ‘shambles’ and makes case for reform
Wisden hits the shelves this week and, as well as unveiling its latest batch of award winners, it has trained its sights on the International Cricket Council. The World Test Championship, the book argues, is a “shambles masquerading as a showpiece”.The publication of the sport’s annual bible is timely, with the future of the WTC discussed recently at ICC meetings in Zimbabwe. In typically opaque fashion, the sport’s governing body is yet to announce the outcome of the debate.Sources suggest the 2025-27 WTC is likely to remain the same, with nine teams and an asymmetrical two‑year fixture list producing two finalists
Parents must make tough choices on smartphones, says children’s commissioner for England
It’s not too late to stop Trump and the Silicon Valley broligarchy from controlling our lives, but we must act now | Carole Cadwalladr
British firms urged to hold video or in-person interviews amid North Korea job scam
‘Don’t ask what AI can do for us, ask what it is doing to us’: are ChatGPT and co harming human intelligence?
Italian opposition file complaint over far-right party’s use of ‘racist’ AI images
From Sidemen to MrBeast: how YouTube and its creator economy took over TV