Gus Atkinson had the Surrey faithful purring on the day he was given his county cap.With his tiptoeing, tightrope approach and tightly knit hands, he made the ball spit like an overheated wok against Somerset.In his first over he hit Sean Dickson on the hand, who retired hurt, and later removed a softened-up Archie Vaughan, did James Rew for pace and greeted Kasey Aldridge with a missile at his neck.Jordan Clark, all muscle to Atkinson’s venom, did most of the rest, picking up five wickets, including two in two balls.Some oomplah from Lewis Gregory took Somerset to a first batting point and beyond.

A series of injuries had left Durham looking behind the fridge for fast bowlers.But their makeshift seam attack made mincemeat of Worcestershire, who were whistled out for 162.Jake Ball, arriving on a two-match loan from Somerset, celebrated with five for 47, while quickfire South African Codi Yusuf (signed on the recommendation of David Bedingham) ran in at full pelt, picked up two wickets, and worried a few more.Durham then lost four quick wickets of their own.Josh Tongue fizzed like magnesium at Trent Bridge.

Regularly hitting the high 80s, with a gravelly yorker, he pocketed five wickets, three of them in one over, as Sussex were dismissed for 169.It was his second five-fer of the season; Brett Hutton grabbed four for 53.Captain Haseeb Hameed ticked along to 67 not out in Nottinghamshire’s reply.There was another hulking England hopeful in action at Bristol, where Leicestershire’s Josh Hull pinned big Cameron Green lbw, but Gloucestershire were mainly undone by five wickets from Ben Green, another Somerset loanee.James Bracey’s unbeaten 93 took Leicestershire past 250, before Gloucestershire encountered batting problems of their own.

David Lloyd (93) and Harry Came (73) ensured that Derbyshire had a relatively serene day against Middlesex.A very lively last half hour at The Oval, well played Lewis Gregory to haul Somerset to a batting point and beyond.Some cracking bowling too from Gus Atkinson and Jordan Clark.Thanks for all your messages, that’s it from us for today – we’ll be back tomorrow.Bye!DIVISION ONETrent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 164-3 v Sussex 169The Oval: Surrey v Somerset 283-9New Road: Worcestershire 162 v Durham 55-4DIVISION TWODerby: Derbyshire 267-5 v MiddlesexBristol: Gloucestershire 252 v Leicestershire 91-4Some amusing, and clever, heave-ho by Lewis Gregory and the injured Sean Dickson for the last wicket is deeply frustrating Surrey.

And as Ben Duckett has a huge flash and gets caught behind, time for me to write up for early deadlines on a Friday.Do chat on BTL.Aldridge and Gregory have resorted dead bats and indifference as a go-slow settles over The Oval.Five wickets for Jake Ball here at New Road, Jacob Duffy driving and ultimately edging into the slips cordon where George “Lethal” Drissell held on at the second attempt.Ball let out a huge “come on” before being swarmed by his new team-mates.

A sweet moment for an experienced bowler who has slid down the pecking order at Somerset and it sees Worcestershire 162 all out.Time for a look at Ben McKinnie, the Durham opener who would be as tall as the floodlights if the ground had any.Ethan Brookes was looking to roll over his golden form from last week’s breathtaking near-miss at Chelmsford, driving Worcestershire past the 150-mark, eight wickets down, with a couple of sweetly struck boundaries.But an attempt to propel Jake Ball through the cathedral window has just caused his downfall, a top edge and a smart catch at long leg giving Durham’s loan ranger his fourth of the innings.Worcestershire 156 for nine.

DIVISION ONETrent Bridge: Nottinghamshire 28-0 v Sussex 169The Oval: Surrey v Somerset 164-5New Road: Worcestershire 143-8 v DurhamDIVISION TWODerby: Derbyshire 173-2 v MiddlesexBristol: Gloucestershire 250-9 v LeicestershireAldridge jerks his head out of the way – another slippery delivery from Atkinson, straight at the neck.A satisfying south London roar as James Rew is done for pace by Gus Atkinson.In Division Two, everything in Derbyshire’s garden continues to be lovely.David Lloyd moves into the 90s, Harry Came the 50s.Derby 161-1.

And some boundary biffing by Josh Shaw has taken Gloucestershire to the heady heights o 208-8, Bracey 61 not out,And as I press send, Tom Lammonby loses his stumps, for 76,Somerset 152-4,Around the grounds, as Jordan Clark delivers hot potatoes,Sussex have been Hutton-Tongued – all out for 169.

Tongue 5-44, Hutton 4-54.Rehan Ahmed makes up the rest.Lammonby has found some fluid-looking company in James Rew, Somerset 152-3.Durham’s new purchases/loans have them sitting pretty at New Road, Worcs 134-6.Just been chatting to Ryan Campbell while his new signing, Codi Yusuf, was making a fair old impression on his new head coach out in the middle.

First went Henry Nicholls, his fighting knock halted on 40 lbw by a ball that nipped in, then Matthew Waite flashing uppishly to backward point for eight.Yusuf was whistled up from South Africa at very short notice on the recommendation of David Bedingham and is here on a two-month deal as cover, fresh from playing in the final of the four-day competition over there.Worcestershire 116 for six on what is a very sluggish outfield.An edge, a seven-league boot leap for Jordan Clark, and Tom Banton is caught behind from a beauty.A few minutes later, Surrey go up again in unison, but this time no cigar.

Somerset 149-3.The slips are in jumpers now at The Oval – as Lammonby digs out a yorker from Jordan Clark.Rory Burns, in instantly identifiable sunhat, is busy at mid off.From folded arms and sunglassed stare, to ball polishing energy.Lammonby ticks over to 72, Banton has passed the 20 barrier.

Some cracking work by the people behind County Cricket day.The idea- to get as many people as possible to attend a county cricket game - is being supported by the ECB this year.Men’s CC day 2o25 falls on Sunday June 29, Women’s CC day on Sunday July 6.TWO BITS OF EXCITING NEWS Number 1: We've already said that County Cricket Day will be taking place on Sun 29 June, but we're very excited to announce… WE'LL BE ADDING A WOMEN'S COUNTY CRICKET DAY ON SUNDAY 6 JULY 2025 #CountyCricketDayA recovery of sorts at Bristol, at the hands of that man Bracey (44 not out).Zaman Akhter has just been a third wicket for Green, on loan from Somerset for the first seven rounds of the season.

Andy Bull’s cracking piece on cricket in America, an extract from Wisden.I haven’t seen this but have heard that it is not for the faint-hearted.An early wicket after lunch here at New Road, Ben Raine getting his first of the day as he traps Adam Hose in front.Nipped in a fraction from a fullish length and struck below the knee roll.Decent fightback before the interval by Hose and new recruit Hairy Knuckles Henry Nicholls but Worcestershire are 77 for four as the familiar figure of Brett D’Oliveira scampers out to the middle.

Easy, captain: a trotting Haseeb Hameed collects James Coles for 37.A second wicket for Tongue.Sussex 108 for five.Here at The Oval, Tom Lammonby has fifty and Tom Banton has joined him to disprove his feast or famine season.Somerset 107 for two.

📹 Offered up - and comfortably taken by the skipper.Sussex are 89-5.#NOTvSUS | 📺 https://t.co/odtZgMvjZm https://t.co/xkNLbwRs7F pic.

twitter.com/1ZBlo0V6sjAnother wicket at The Oval, Tom Abell, caught behind, daydreaming.Worrall the man.Somerset 100-2.Thanks to Yas Rana for tipping me off about this – New Zealand cricket have invested in Major League cricket.

They are going to to be joint partners in a new franchise, investing as a way of “diversifying their income”.It is the first time an ICC member has invested in a franchise in this way.New Zealand chief exec Scott Weenink:“As franchise cricket grows globally, NZC needs to adapt to seize strategic opportunities that ensure the sustainability of our cricket network.“This helps diversify our revenue streams, expands our global brand and fan base, and creates new talent development and retention pathways for both our players and coaches.”Atkinson, just capped, runs in, arms squeezed , tip-toeing – and there’s the wicket! Vaughan caught behind for 36.

A dabble too many.Somerset 98-1.At the start of lunch, Gus Atkinson was awarded his Surrey County Cap for his outstanding contributions to the Three Feathers! 🧢🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/QlWDKWwE0SA large plate of spicy beans and potato wedges later, and the sun has disappeared and Dan Worrall has the ball once more.

Ian Holland already has a post-lunch wicket as the Gloucestershire melt continues at Bristol: 94-7,Bracey 14 not out in an hour,DIVISION ONETrent Bridge: Nottinghamshire v Sussex 75-4The Oval: Surrey v Somerset 87-0New Road: Worcestershire 75-3 v DurhamDIVISION TWODerby: Derbyshire 90-1 v MiddlesexBristol: Gloucestershire 87-6 v LeicestershireTime for one over of Dan Lawrence before lunch: legs, arms and Vaughan cracks him to backward point,Lawrence rubs the ball on his shirt and Lammonby edges past the gap at slip and down to the rope,Off they stroll, Somerset’s morning: 87 for 0.

Lunch scores to follow as the pigeons settle and the groundsman walk on with their wheelbarrow.Gloucestershire are now 85 for six, a couple of wickets for the lesser-known Green – Ben.Bracey prepares for another rebuild.In the other Division Two game, Lloyd and Came have had a productive morning at the County Ground, the one wicket to fall: Jewell caught off TRJ.Derbys 80 for one.

So many familar faces popping in here at The Oval, cricket journalists using it as their base to work from.As lunch approaches, an aperitif:𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗.🪦Hull traps Australian international Cameron Green (4) plumb in front.A big wicket from the big man on his return.👊GLO 46/5#Foxes🦊 pic.

twitter.com/XceP5ht6Z9Big Josh Hull traps Big Cameron Green.All that beasting that he talked about to Ali paying dividends.Worcestershire could have been forgiven for being quietly chuffed that England were resting Matthew Potts for this one, worsening something of an injury crisis for Durham’s seam stable.Jake Ball has arrived on loan and nipped out three early wickets, however, and now Codi Yusuf, a South African right-armer who absolutely sprints in, is testing out the Pears with some slippery stuff, pace-wise.

A quick google tells me Allan Donald has previously flagged him up as one to keep an eye out for.High praise indeed.Lots of appeals by Surrey, but Somerset have had a perky first hour and twenty minutes.Vaughan looking the real deal.A generous couple of handful of spectators now in their seats, crowding the pavilion and scattered around the stands.

Don’t mess with this woman! Great portrait and fantastic to think of her looking down on everyone in the Long Room.The new portrait of Charlotte Edwards is unveiled in the Long Room at Lord’s.Edwards says that artist Hero Johnson has “captured everything about me”.pic.twitter