Category: Photography

Surrey v Somerset

A look at developments in the match currently taking place between Surrey and Somerset at The Oval, a composite Surrey/ Somerset XI and two photo galleries,

This post will feature a look at goings on in the match between Surrey and Somerset at The Oval, two photo galleries (reminder, click on the first photo in a gallery to view that gallery as a gallery and see the pictures at a larger size) and a composite XI (see feature image) for these two counties.

THE CURRENT MATCH

The latest round of county championship fixtures got underway yesterday morning, and the obvious fixture to follow was Surrey v Somerset. Surrey won the toss and decided to bowl first. At lunch, when Somerset were 87-0 (albeit with Sean Dickson having been injured and at least temporarily removed from the action) Somerset would have been the happier side. In the afternoon session the Surrey bowlers made things happen with a vengeance, and at 187-7 it was looking like their day. A fightback, to which the injured Dickson contributed by coming in to support Gregory at the end of the innings saw the Somerset innings end too late in the day for the Surrey reply to begin, with a total of 283 on the board. Jordan Clark had five wickets in the innings, and Atkinson, one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the year after his sensational start in test cricket last season, had also fared well with the ball. Somerset’s bowling was not at full strength – they had lost Matt Henry, the NZ ace, before the match started, and between the toss and the start of play Craig Overton suffered a back spasm, with Surrey (who would have been entitled to refuse to allow a change to be made after the toss) graciously acceding to Somerset’s request to replace him with Josh Davey. Burns and Sibley made it to lunch still together and with no serious alarms, the score then being 99-0. Barring a brief passage of play in which Burns went for 76 and Pope for 3 things have continued to look pretty comfortable for Surrey. They are currently 173-2, with Sibley 47 not out and Jamie Smith 26 not out. Sibley has just been bowled by Leach for 53 and it is 188-3. Surrey have passed 200 while I have been prepping this post for publication – the score is now 205-3, Smith 39 and Foakes 12.

GALLERY ONE

A SOMERSET/SURREY COMBINED XI

I refer readers to my all time XIs for each county (here and here) which will cover a lot of the players not mentioned in this post and give more details about the members of the XI. As the feature image shows I have made two changes to the Somerset XI since that post was created – golden age amateur Lionel Palairet gives way at number three to James Rew (although I have acknowledged it I consider his wicket keeping something of a red herring in terms of where his actual value lies), and Dom Bess, who I should never have named in the first place, has been replaced by Somerset’s actual great off spinner, Brian Langford. There is also one change to the Surrey XI, Foakes replacing Alec Stewart as keeper and middle order batter.

  1. Jack Hobbs (Surrey, right handed opening bat, occasional right arm medium pacer).
  2. John Edrich (Surrey, left handed opening bat)
  3. Ken Barrington (Surrey, right handed batter, occasional leg spinner)
  4. Graham Thorpe (Surrey, left handed batter, occasional right arm medium pacer)
  5. Peter May (Surrey, right handed batter).
  6. +Ben Foakes (Surrey, right handed batter, wicket keeper)
  7. *Sammy Woods (Somerset, right handed batter, right arm fast bowler, captain)
  8. ‘Farmer’ White (Somerset, left arm orthodox spinner, right handed batter)
  9. Joel Garner (Somerset, West Indies, right arm fast bowler, right handed batter)
  10. Jim Laker (Surrey, off spinner, right handed batter)
  11. Tom Richardson (Surrey, right arm fast bowler, right handed batter)

I designate Leonard Braund as ‘twelfth’: he has connections to both counties involved, having started at Surrey before moving west, as an all rounder (and he did open for Somerset quite often by the way) he could replace at least ten of the players in this XI without absolutely hamstringing it, and he was noted as an expert slip fielder which at least offers hope that he could perform competently behind the stumps as well.

Aside from Rew, now in the Somerset XI, but not capable of dislodging any of that Surrey 3,4 and 5 from the composite side as yet there are two other players who have emerged since I created the original XIs on which this post draws who have to be mentioned: Jamie Smith, currently England’s chosen test match wicket keeper (though somewhat miscast in that role in my view), who is a quality player, but I who will not name as keeper ahead of Foakes, and who has not yet done enough to claim a front line batting place, and Gus Atkinson, who for all his great start at the highest level has a way to go to be a serious threat to any of Garner, Richardson or Bedser (in the Surrey all time XI). It has been my policy when creating these XIs for counties or composites of two counties to only allow myself one overseas player, which is why Waqar Younis cannot be accommodated (Garner’s great height lends extra variety to the pace attack, which is why I plumped for him).

GALLERY TWO

Sunrisers Hyderabad v Mumbai Indians (So Far)

A little look at the Sunrisers Hyderabad innings which has started today’s IPL match (Sunrisers Hyderabad v Mumbai Indians) and two photo galleries.

Today’s IPL match is between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians. It is just approaching the halfway stage as I begin this blog post.

AN ATROCIOUS START

By the time I got back from my post lunch walk the match was underway. Sunrisers Hyderabad were 9-1 when I joined the coverage. That very soon become 9-2, and then two more wickets fell before the Power Play was done. The low water mark saw SRH 13-4 after 4.1 overs. When Aniket Verma was out after 8.3 overs the score was 35-5, and SRH felt impelled to use their ‘impact sub’ to bolster the batting, which meant that Mohammad Shami, presumably their intended ‘impact sub’ would be confined to the bench.

PHOTO GALLERY ONE

An important reminder: if you click on the first image in a photo gallery you can view the entire gallery as a slide show AND see the images at a larger size than they appear in the post. I have two galleries in this post. The first features largely pictures from Monday evening and from yesterday either side of work, with a couple from today, and the second is all today. This is the first…

THE REVIVAL

Abhinav Manohar, the chosen ‘impact sub’ teamed up with Heinrich Klaasen to get SRH back into it. Klaasen was out to the final ball of the 19th over by when the score had risen to 134. Manohar has just gone, his dismissal making it 142-7. A single accrued after that and then another wicket off the final ball of the innings. This means that SRH had a total of 143-8 to defend, modest by IPL standards, but a lot more than it looked like being at the halfway stage, and we have recently seen Punjab Kings successfully defend a mere 111, bowling their opponents that day, Kolkata Knight Riders, out for just 95. The sheer awfulness of the SRH start probably means that they are on a bit of a high due to their recovery, and mutatis mutandis MI.

GALLERY TWO

Here is my second gallery…

Day Four – Here, There and Everywhere

A look at the state of play as the current round of championship matches approaches a conclusion, and a large photo gallery.

The current round of county championship fixtures is drawing to a conclusion. Some games are already over, either through definite results being achieved or through weather induced abandonments. This post has a look round some of the grounds.

ESSEX v WORCESTERSHIRE

This match did not make it as far as the lunch interval, but did make it further than looked like being the case at one point. Worcestershire resumed on 185-6, still 110 short of victory. Jamie Porter bowled superbly, and at 202-9, with 93 required to win it looked done and dusted. Ethan Brookes batted superbly, with number 11 Jacob Duffy blocking every ball he was left to face, and the target started to come down. Brookes was in sight of a century and the deficit was down to 28 when Porter took a low return catch to claim the final wicket, his sixth scalp of the innings and eighth of the match. Brookes stood there, but eventually the umpires told him to go and the match was confirmed as over. The final margin was 28 runs, and Brookes, in a match where almost everyone had found batting a challenge had scored 88, almost half of them in sixes. While Porter was the best bowler on either side in this match the key contribution for Essex was Paul Walter’s second innings century, which helped Essex to top 300 in that innings and left Worcestershire a target that was just too tough for them. Brookes is definitely one to watch for the future, as is young Essex all rounder Noah Thain. Paul Walter has been a revelation this season after Essex moved him up to open – while his 104 in this match was his first century of the season he had mad big contributions in both Essex’s previous matches.

THREE WAY
BATTLE AT LORD’S

Middlesex have had by the far the better of things against Glamorgan, but the third participant there, the weather, may be having the final say – the players were taken off for bad light just before tea with Middlesex only 39 runs from victory with nine wickets standing, and since then the threatened rain has actually materialized which may well have saved Glamorgan.

THE WHITE FEATHER

This week’s cowards are Gloucestershire, who, in full control against Kent, batted on and on until their lead was 410 and there was almost zero possibility of them bowling Kent out a second time.

A DELAYED START

Nottinghamshire must have been worried that they would not get the chance to attempt to take the last four Warwickshire wickets to seal an innings victory but that game has just got underway. Five overs have been bowled since the resumption, 31 more are possible and Nottinghamshire still need four wickets. There is an even more delayed start scheduled – Lancashire v Leicestershire will get underway at 4:30PM with Leicestershire needing seven wickets to win it.

CONFIRMED DRAWS

Yorkshire v Durham and Derbyshire v Northamptonshire have been confirmed as draws, Sussex v Surrey and Somerset v Hampshire are surely destined to go the same way.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Today being damp has brought the snails out in force…

A ‘public libraries’ 50p in circulation, currently in my wallet.
Ann uncirculated version from an FDC in my possession…
…and one in a presentation box, also in my possession


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A Classic Contest at Chelmsford

A look at the match between Essex and Worcestershire that is now approaching a conclusion and a photo gallery.

Another round of County Championship matches got underway on Friday. I missed the first two sessions of Friday, the beginning of Saturday and the post tea session of Saturday due to various commitments, but have been following the action when able to. My focus this round has been on Essex v Worcestershire, and it has been a fine match.

A PITCH ON WHICH NO ONE IS REALLY ‘IN’

The pitch at Chelmsford has been offering something to the bowlers all the way through this match. There were no individual 50+ scores in the first two innings (Essex 179, Worcestershire 202). By the time I had to leave at tea yesterday Paul Walter had reached the first 50 of the match and was looking as near to settled as any batter had managed on that surface. I was to find out when I checked on what had happened on my return that he had completed a century and that youngster Noah Thain (a native of Cambridgeshire, which has produced some mighty cricketers over the years, most notably Jack Hobbs and Tom Hayward both of Surrey) was closing in on a 50 of his own. This morning Thain completed his half century, his first such score in first class cricket. He did not add many more, going for 54, but the Essex tail wagged more than a little, Harmer and especially Snater who got to within sight of a 50 of his own batting well for the home team. In the end Essex had amassed 317, at least 100 above par for this surface. It was expected that there would be time for two overs of the Worcestershire second innings before the lunch interval, but Porter dismissed Jake Libby with the second ball of the innings, and in the end that wicket extended the first over to a sufficient extent that Worcestershire did not have to face another before lunch. Through the afternoon session Essex kept picking up wickets. Kashif Ali did manage to become the first Worcestershire batter to reach an individual 50 but had not advanced his score from that point when Harmer, on for an exploratory over before the tea interval, got him. Brett D’Oliveira and Matthew Waite then defied the bowlers for a time, but just as I started this post D’Oliveira was caught by Walter off Porter. As things stand at the moment Worcestershire are 171-6, needing 124 more to win. Though Essex, thanks largely to Walter with that century, are heavy favourites this match has been an absorbing contest, helped to be so by the fact that batters have had to work hard for their runs and bowlers have got full rewards for doing the right things. Kasun Rajitha, the first Sri Lankan to play for Essex, took a five-for in the first Worcestershire innings. Sam Cook has been rested for this game on the advice of the ECB, which tells me that an England cap is coming for him, as it should be given his first class record (318 wickets in FC cricket at 19.77 a piece).

PHOTOGRAPHS

This gallery starts with two pictures from Friday, then a number from yesterday, and a few from today to round things out (I have several other galleries ready to go should I choose to use them)…

I spotted this red admiral on the walk home from Boal Quay Car Park after the seal trip on Friday.
An example of why I like having dandelions growing in my back yard.

Sun and Seals

A look back at a trip I took with my parents yesterday to see the seals at Blakeney Point. This post has a huge photo gallery.

My parents are in Norfolk at the moment, and yesterday we went out to see the seals. This involves catching a boat from Morston Quay, and at this time of year where the pups are still quite young no disembarkation is allowed at Blakeney Point where the seals congregate. Morston Quay is not accessible to a non-driver, so this is an activity that I could only participate in with the assistance of someone who drives. This post is largely to share the very large photo gallery that the trip yielded.

THE DAY IN DETAIL

First thing in the morning it was cloudy in King’s Lynn, but there never felt like being a threat of rain and in the course of the car journey to Morston Quay the clouds completely dissipated so we arrived at our destination. The breeze was sufficient to require a jumper to be worn, though there was enough heat in the sun that it was fairly clear that absent the breeze the jumper could have been discarded. The boat trip, in our case with Beans Boats, involved going out to the landward side of Blakeney Point (although a stout craft, and equipped with all the necessary safety devices the boat was not suitable for going into the open sea beyond Blakeney Point), making several passes alongside the area where the seals were congregating (there were also a few seals out in the water, as the gallery will show) and then returning. I think everyone got splashed with sea water during the journey. We had originally hoped to have lunch at a pub called The Hero, but that establishment was absolutely packed out, so we looked elsewhere. In Burnham Market, just inland, and therefore not as busy as those places right on the coast, we found a place called The Nelson and had an excellent meal there. We then returned to King’s Lynn.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Although the seals were the stars of the day, there were also some interesting sea birds on show. Enjoy the gallery…

I took a few pictures throjugh the car windows during the journey from Lynn.
I also took some pictures at Morston Quay before boarding the boat, starting with this one.
The boat we were to travel in coming back from its previous trip.
The seal pics start here.
Some pictures of seals in the water.
The gallery ends with pictures at The Nelson

Two Nailbiters

A look back at two superb finishes in successive evenings and two photo galleries. a snail special and a regular gallery.

On Monday evening the last match to finish in the County Championship had the best finish of all of them. Yesterday evening saw a remarkable conclusion to that day’s IPL match, between Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. This post looks back at both matches, and also incorporates two photo galleries.

DURHAM v WARWICKSHIRE

I switched over to this match when Surrey v Hampshire was confirmed as a draw. At the point I joined the coverage Warwickshire were closing on the target, but were also eight wickets down, with Michael Booth and Ethan Bamber together at the crease. There were 15 runs still wanted when Matthew Potts shattered Booth’s stumps and Bamber was joined by Vishwa Fernando. It was soon apparent that if these last 15 runs to be scored then Bamber would have to do most of the work. Potts and Ben Raine, with seven wickets between them in the innings, were bowling in tandem at this point, and it was clear that both would keep going until the issue was settled one way or another. Warwickshire clawed their way towards the target. The scores eventually drew level. The 93rd over of the Warwickshire innings, with scores level as stated, was bowled by Raine, and off the third ball thereof Bamber hit a six and Warwickshire had won by one wicket at the death. Incidentally, although it was unavailing on this occasion I commend Durham for their second innings declaration at 276-8, which actually made the fourth innings meaningful (Leicestershire were especially culpable for overcaution in their match with Derbyshire this time round, as Sussex had been against Warwickshire in the previous round).

PHOTO GALLERY 1: SNAILS

Yesterday there was a small amount of rain after a prolonged dry spell, and one effect of this change in the weather was to bring the snails out – especially in the evening when the weather was warm and dry once more…

This snail was in a frame along with a shell-less cousin.

PUNJAB KINGS DEFEND 111

Punjab Kings were all out for 111 batting first in yesterday’s IPL match. The IPL has become known for absurd scoring – there have been occasions this season when a score double that put up by Punjab Kings yesterday would have been impossible to defend – so few would have held out any hope of a defence on this occasion. When Kolkata Knight Riders were 62-2 at the high water mark of their own innings very few indeed would have seen any possible conclusion other than the seemingly obvious. I joined the coverage with the score at 73-4, still looking pretty solid for the chasers. However, at this point Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh all fell very quickly and it was 76-7. Three runs later Harshit Rana fell to make it 79-8. At this point Vaibhav Arora got a one place promotion from his usual slot, with Anrich Nortje being held back. For the next over Punjab went for the kill, giving Yuzvendra Chahal his fourth and final over. Andre Russell took 16 runs from it, reducing the ask to 17. The next over was bowled by Arshdeep Singh, with Vaibhav Arora on strike. The number 10 negotiated the first five balls, though could not score off any of them. The sixth ball was a superb bouncer and all Arora could offer was a fend that sent the ball into the gauntlets of Josh Inglis to make it 95-9. Jansen accepted responsibility for bowling the 16th over. Russell aimed a big drive at the first ball of it, feeling that he had to end the match before a Punjab bowler could get to Nortje, and succeeded only in dragging it into his stumps. Punjab had entered the record books – their 111 is the lowest total ever to have been successfully defended in an IPL match. The closing stages of this match were, as with Durham v Warwickshire a day earlier, utterly compelling. This low scoring contest was far more fun than one side scoring 240 and the other side then making that look a failure.

PHOTO GALLERY 2

Here are the rest of my photos…

The Closing Stages of the County Championship Round Two

A look at what is happening as the second round of County Championship 2025 fixtures draws towards a close.

Those matches that have not already been decided are into the final session of play for this round of county championship matches.

HEADING FOR A DRAW

Surrey and Hampshire are still in action at The Oval. Yesterday evening saw a splendid spell of fast bowling from Sonny Baker. A combination of the fact that Surrey wanted quick runs for a declaration and the youngster nailing some searing yorkers saw him claim 5-26 in a five over spell. That gave him innings figures of 5-80, his maiden first class five-for. Surrey declared at 342-9, an overall advantage of 377. A bizarre mini-session then ensued, with Surrey chopping and changing bowlers according to the extent to which the umpires were worrying about the light. Rory Burns, with two wickets in a 203 match first class career, even gave himself an over (the alternatives at that stage with pacers ruled out were the even more comical offerings of Sibley and Pope). Hampshire, imagining that an early close due to the light was inevitable, sent Brad Wheal in to bat as a night watcher with 13 overs still scheduled. Then when he was out Hampshire then sent Baker, the bowling hero, in as a second night watcher. He too failed to make it to the close, and at that stage Surrey looked favourites. However, only one wicket has fallen today, Fletcha Middleton late in the morning session. Since then Nick Gubbins and Toby Albert have staged a very impressive rearguard action, which looks likely to save Hampshire, though the new ball has generated a little excitement.

ELSEWHERE

Yorkshire made a bit of history last night when they completed a victory over Worcestershire by the margin of 504 runs, the biggest runs margin ever in a first class county match (the overall FC record is 725 runs for a game in India, with the test record the 675 by which England beat Australia at the Exhibition Ground in Brisbane in 1928, the first test ever played in Queensland’s capital city). Somerset have been beaten by Sussex after a gallant but unavailing last wicket stand between Lewis Gregory and Jack Leach). Last week I criticized Sussex for overcaution. This week I am putting Leicestershire on blast for downright cowardice. Coming into today they were already over 400 runs ahead of Derbyshire, so an overnight declaration was surely indicated (even that looks cautious – surely they should have given themselves at least a short burst at Derbyshire last night), but no, Leicestershire batted on for almost 40 minutes, extending their advantage to 448 and more or less killing the game. Derbyshire are looking like emerging with the draw without really breaking sweat due to Leicestershire’s failure to make a serious effort to win the match when they had the opportunity to do so.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…

Championship Update

A look at developments on days two and three of this round of County Championship fixtures and a two part photo gallery.

Today is day three in the current round of championship fixtures. None of the matches have ended as yet. This post looks mainly at Surrey v Hampshire.

SIBLEY THE STAYER

Surrey are in pretty much total against Hampshire. Hampshire won the toss on Friday and opted to bowl first. Surrey reached 253, just enough for a batting bonus point. Dominic Sibley carried his bat for Surrey, scoring exactly 100 not out. Brad Wheal had 4-65, while overseas signing Brett Hampton was somewhat flattered by a return of 1-46 from 14 overs. Hampshire in reply reached 219, giving Surrey a lead of 34. It took a bit of a tail wag for them to even limit the lead to 34. Daniel Worrall and Jordan Clark took three wickets a piece for Surrey, and Lawrence, the part time spinner, nipped in at the end with 2-7 from 4.2 overs. Surrey have taken total control of proceedings in their second innings. They are currently 255-2. Sibley, still unbudgeable, is 102 not out, with Jamie Smith is 62 not out, and Ollie Pope contributed a fluent 65 to proceedings. It sums up the value of overseas signing Hampton that in an innings that is now into its 78th over he has been called upon to bowl a mere six of those overs, from which he has conceded 28 runs. Incidentally in the process of reaching his second ton of this match Sibley has ensured that his career FC average will be above 40 at the end of it. Sibley has finally gone for 105, caught by Baker off Dawson. In total across the two innings it has taken Hampshire 440 balls to find a way through him (217 without dismissal in the first jnnings, 223 in the second). Smith is really motoring now, and Hampton continues to demonstrate his inadequacy as an overseas player. Surrey are 274-3 in the 81st over, and Hampton, in his eighth over of the innings, has 0-41.

ELSEWHERE

Somerset are struggling against Sussex, though as against Warwickshire last week Sussex are showing a distinct lack of enterprise, which may yet save S0merset.

PHOTOGRAPHS

Today the gallery comes in two parts. Yesterday morning I travelled to Norwich, intending to take part in a Take Down Tesla activity at the Tesla dealership on Mile Cross Lane and then visit the Millennium Library on my way home. Unfortunately I failed to locate Mile Cross Lane, and eventually have up in despair (I have subsequently been in email contact with the organizer to explain what happened, and we have had a very civilized exchange). I did get to the library, and having carefully ensured that I had no books out on loan I was able to take out a large number – the Millennium library is of course far better stocked than any other in Norfolk. The first part of the gallery shows the pictures I took during the Norwich part of the day…

The second part of the gallery is one of my regular type galleries…

The Guildhall of St George, now into its seventh century.

County Championship Round Two

A look at goings on on day one of the latest round of county championship victories.

The second round of county championship fixtures got underway at 11AM today. I had a commitment which disrupted the morning session for me. This post looks at developments so far.

SURREY v HAMPSHIRE

Surrey drew at Chelmsford in the first round of matches, while Hampshire won their match, Hampshire have lost two old faces from previous years, Mohammad Abbas, who they decided was a spent force, and James Vince who has decided to go full-on cricket mercenary and to base himself in Dubai, while a third veteran, seam bowling all rounder Keith Barker is out for at least the first half of the season. Tom Prest is being given first shot at the vacated middle order slot, while Sonny Baker and Brad Wheal are both featuring as pace bowlers. Hampshire intended to have Jack Edwards as overseas player, but that has fallen through, and they have signed Brett Hampton, a 33 year old New Zealander with no international experience, instead. Hampshire won the toss and bowled, and started excellently with Brad Wheal and former Protea Kyle Abbott each taking an early wicket with the new ball. Hampton came on first change and has not been all that impressive, though he was gifted the wicket of Ryan Patel late in the afternoon session. Baker, the youngster, has been economical but has yet to take a wicket, Wheal is leading the way three wickets and Abbott has two. Dom Sibley has been batting right from the start and is currently on 82 not out in a Surrey score of 218-6. Hampshire have fared well, but they need Surrey all out before the close if they are to claim that their decision to bowl first has worked. As I type Jordan Clark has fallen to the left arm spin of Liam Dawson, edging an attempted cut through to Ben Brown behind the stumps to make it 218-7. Matthew Fisher has just given Baker has first wicket, by way of a return catch, and it is 227-8, with Sibley 83 not out. Roach has just joined the clatter of wickets, bowled by Dawson to make it 233-9. Sibley is 84 not out.

SUSSEX v SOMERSET

I also have an eye via cricinfo on the match at Hove, where Sussex, whose delayed second innings declaration against Warwickshire last time out condemned that match to be a tame draw (see this post) are taking on Somerset. Sussex chose to bat, and are currently 263-9.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…

This is the first of this type of butterfly I ahve seen this year. It is a woodland species, never far from the nearest tree.
There is at least one orange tip in this picture – there was pair of them flying around and I got this picture.

The Final Day of Round One of the County Championship

A look back at the final day of the opening round of County Championship 2025 fixtures, my pictures of the WNAG third birthday cake and my regular photo gallery.

Monday was day four of the opening round of County Championship matches, and I was too taken up with following the action to write about it at the time. This post looks back at the events of that final day.

TO THE WIRE

At just before 7PM on Monday the penultimate ball of the only match still in action by then, Middlesex v Lancashire, was a dot ball, leaving Lancashire eight down, but with only ball left, and therefore the draw secured. It was the fourth draw in the opening round of fixtures, but of those draws only one could be accused of dullness. Sussex unaccountably batted on in their second innings until not long before tea on the final day by when they were over 380 ahead of Warwickshire. Sussex’s refusal to declare earlier when the fourth innings would have been meaningful condemned that game to a stalemate. The next match to end in a draw was the one I listened to for most of its duration, Essex v Surrey. There was almost half an hour left when the players shook hands, but Surrey had just moved into the lead for the first time of the match, meaning that Essex needed not just to complete the bowl out of Surrey, which was far from done in any case, but also would have had to do at least some batting, Sibley had batted well for Surrey in that third innings, and Foakes followed his first innings 92 with another half century second time round. When this match ended I turned my attention to Somerset v Worcestershire where Worcestershire were mounting a determined rearguard action, while spinners Jack Leach and Archie Vaughan tried to get through their defences. By the time I joined the coverage Matthew Waite was batting with number 11 Tom Hinley. With Waite being right handed and Hinley left handed they followed a policy of Waite facing Vaughan and Hinley facing Leach so that each batter faced a bowler who was turning the ball into them. Leach had a couple of vociferous LBW appeals against Hinley turned down. Somerset did well to get into position for one final over with the clock showing 17:59 (with spinners doing the bulk of the bowling they were a country mile ahead of the required over rate so the close of play was being settled by the clock, not the over count). Leach, wheeling down his 65th over of the innings (and precisely the 200th over of the innings in total), could find no way through and Worcestershire, nine second innings wickets gone and still in deficit, had escaped with a draw. Other than Leach, whose five wickets in this marathon second innings took his tally in first class cricket to exactly 500 and to a lesser extent Vaughan, who topped 50 overs for the innings, the other person who would have been especially disappointed that Somerset could not get that final wicket was Tom Banton whose new county record 371 was not rewarded with a win. Waite had faced over 300 balls in total, and finished unbeaten on 87, while Hinley, the Worcestershire number 11, had held out for 45 balls in support of him. By now, between the definite results and the accepted draws the only game still in action was Middlesex v Lancashire, so I listened to the closing stages of that game, and for the third time in a day witnessed the ending of drawn match which was nevertheless without a hint of dullness.

CAKE PICTURES

As listeners to TMS can confirm cake and cricket have something of an association. On Sunday I mentioned the cake for the West Norfolk Autism Group’s third birthday and promised pictures of it to come. Here they are…

A first glimpse of the inside of the cake.

PHOTOGRAPHS

My usual sign off…