September 11, 2024

Toby Roland-Jones Leads Middlesex Effort, but Ollie Price Holds Firm

On the second day of the Vitality County Championship Division Two match at Lord’s, rain and strong resistance from Ollie Price helped Gloucestershire hold off promotion-chasing Middlesex. Despite only 41.4 overs being bowled due to rain and bad light, Price managed to score 56 not out, his fifth half-century of the season. Gloucestershire ended the day at 154 for 5, still trailing Middlesex by 223 runs.

Price’s innings was marked by resilience, as he faced challenging conditions with the ball moving significantly. Middlesex captain Toby Roland-Jones had earlier taken 3 wickets for 12 runs in a crucial spell before and after lunch, helping to reduce Gloucestershire from 74 for 4 to 154 for 5. Despite Roland-Jones and Ryan Higgins’ efforts, bad light and rain stopped play for the second time at 3:15pm.

Bad light and light rain caused a 40-minute delay to the start of play, and when the match finally resumed under overcast skies and with the lights on, batting was a risky endeavor. Roland-Jones’s first delivery to Cameron Bancroft edged between third slip and gully for three, setting an uncertain tone for the day. Roland-Jones and Ryan Higgins relentlessly tested both edges of the bat in favorable seam conditions. Ben Charlesworth was fortunate to survive an edge just short of the wicket-keeper, but he soon fell to a Higgins delivery, caught by Sam Robson at first slip.

Bancroft managed to ride his luck for a while, accumulating 25 runs primarily behind the wicket. However, he was eventually dismissed by a Roland-Jones delivery that jagged back between bat and pad, hitting the stumps. Bad light interrupted play again, leading to an early lunch. When play resumed, Roland-Jones delivered a sharp ball to new batter Miles Hammond, who was struck midships and required treatment. Hammond briefly returned to the crease, hitting a stylish four through cover before edging another Roland-Jones delivery to Tom Helm at third slip.

After the veteran seamer, who had just signed a one-year contract extension, dismissed James Bracey caught behind two balls later, Gloucestershire found themselves in a tough spot at 74 for 4. Ollie Price managed to hold firm, using all parts of the bat to survive, with a standout on-drive off Tom Helm among his best shots.

Price then formed a 50-run partnership with Graeme Van Buren, which lasted 67 balls before Ryan Higgins dismissed Van Buren. Price’s brother Tom came in next and weathered a bouncer from Helm, but play was eventually halted by the weather, bringing the day to an early end.

Alex Davies Surpasses 1,000 Runs, But Worcestershire Edges Rain-Shortened Day

Warwickshire captain Alex Davies became the first player in Division One of the Vitality County Championship this season to score 1,000 runs, achieving the milestone on a rain-affected second day against Worcestershire at Visit Worcestershire New Road. The 30-year-old reached his 1,000th run by hitting a boundary off Logan van Beek during the morning session, needing just 34 runs to hit the mark.

Surrey’s Rory Burns, Davies’ closest rival, was dismissed for 21 against Somerset with 974 runs. This is the second time Davies has reached 1,000 runs in a season; he first accomplished the feat in 2017 with Lancashire. Since moving to Warwickshire in 2022, Davies has scored 649 runs in his first year and 437 in his second. This summer, he has made four centuries and averages 56.88. Davies was eventually out to Ethan Brookes, who took two wickets in a nine-over spell before bad light and rain halted play at 2:15 p.m., after just 37 overs were bowled.

Weather Songs and Key Wickets: Davies Shines as Bad Light Halts Play

Spectators who stayed until the match was officially called off were treated to weather-themed songs over the club PA, including “Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head” and “It’s Raining Men.”

Warwickshire needed just four more overs to finish Worcestershire’s first innings, but not before Worcestershire earned a second batting point. On his Championship debut, Jack Home hit Chris Rushworth for back-to-back boundaries to help Worcestershire reach 300. However, Rushworth quickly took two wickets in three balls, dismissing Home lbw for 29 and then removing Amar Virdi’s off stump. Tom Taylor was left unbeaten on 36 from 49 balls.

Taylor took the new ball but only bowled five deliveries before bad light halted play, with Warwickshire at 6-0. After a brief delay, Taylor made the first breakthrough by dismissing Rob Yates, who was caught off a leading edge by Virdi. Taylor delivered an impressive spell, consistently challenging the batsmen.

Davies reached his 1,000-run milestone in impressive style, hitting Logan van Beek for two sixes and a boundary in the same over, totaling 16 runs. He celebrated his achievement with a powerful display, hitting three sixes and six fours to complete a 59-ball half-century. By lunch, Warwickshire was 76 for 1 after 20 overs.

After the break, former Warwickshire all-rounder Ethan Brookes struck with his first delivery, dismissing Will Rhodes with an inside edge caught by wicket-keeper Gareth Roderick. Brookes then claimed the big wicket of Davies, who, on 58, drove at a ball but lost his grip, inside-edging it onto his stumps, leaving Warwickshire at 91 for 3. Van Beek, switching ends, took his first wicket when Sam Hain (11) was bowled attempting to play an on-side shot just before the final stoppage of play.