Kleinveldt nine-fer puts Northamptonshire in control
Rory Kleinveldt came up with a dream bowling performance, picking up nine wickets in the first innings and two in the second to boost Northamptonshire's hopes of moving up the points table and stand a chance of promotion. If 15 wickets went down on Day 1 of the clash between Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire at the County Ground, the teams did outdid that effort the following day as 17 wickets fell on Day 2. The difference was that the hosts came up with a better batting display, riding on Richard Levi's ton to set a stiff target of 314. Nottinghamshire though weren't as good with the bat, losing two early wickets in the fourth innings to end the day at 33 for 2.
Starting the day at 80 for 5, in reply to Northamptonshire's first-innings total of 194, Nottinghamshire had no answers as a raging Kleinveldt ran through the batting order. Nottinghamshire could only add 71 runs to their overnight total before being bowled out as Kleinveldt finished with career-best figures of 9 for 65.
Having secured a 43-run lead, Northamptonshire lost David Murphy early in their second innings but a 147-run stand between Rob Newton and Levi provided a solid platform. Newton fell soon after crossing 50, which led to a flurry of wickets. When Levi departed after a 104-ball 115, the hosts were 206 for 5 but they managed to add 64 more to the total thanks to the efforts of Kleinveldt (48) and Nathan Buck (26).
Kleinveldt's roaring form continued into the fourth innings as he accounted for Steven Mullaney and Billy Root early in the innings. Luke Wood and Jake Libby are at the crease and the onus will be on them, as well as Cheteshwar Pujara, who fell for a duck in the first innings, to reverse their team's fortunes.
Brief scores: Northamptonshire 194 & 270 (Richard Levi 115, Rob Newton 53; Luke Wood 4-31) lead Nottinghamshire151 (Luke Wood 44; Rory Kleinveldt 9-65) & 33/2 (Luke Wood 13; Rory Kleinveldt 2-9) by 280 runs.
Useful contributions from Tom Latham, Cameron Steel and Graham Clark helped Durham close in on Sussex's first-innings total. Although the hosts lost their way in the middle to be precariously placed, Clark found support from the lower-order batsmen to help Durham to 321 for 6 in reply to Sussex's total of 346.
Starting the day at 8 for 1, Latham and Steel went about steadying the innings and laying a solid platform as they put on a century stand. Both registered half-centuries before Ollie Robinson struck in quick succession to remove the set pair, and Paul Collingwood followed soon after, to leave Durham in a spot of bother at 193 for 4. Michael Richardson fell after a promising start but Ryan Pringle assisted Clark as they added 57 runs for the sixth wicket to lead the revival.
Although Pringle became Robinson's fourth scalp, Brydon Carse assisted Clark in helping Durham past the 300 mark. They added 42 runs before bad light forced the players off the field for the second time during the day and this time, they did not return.
Brief scores: Sussex 346 (Luke Wells 112; Chris Rushwort 4-64) lead Durham321/6 (Tom Latham 77, Graham Clark 73*, Cameron Steel 73; Ollie Robinson 4-69) by 25 runs.
Gloucestershire came up with a solid reply to Glamorgan's sizeable total of 442 before rain ended the day's play abruptly at Sophia Gardens. The visitors were 281 runs behind the home team's first-innings total with nine wickets in hand. Benny Howell was unbeaten on 96 with James Robert Bracey (45 not out) giving him company.
Resuming at their overnight total of 342 for 7, Kiran Carlson and Ruaidhri Smith came up with an excellent eighth-wicket stand worth 97 runs that helped Glamorgan past the 400 mark. Smith, who contributed 38 runs in the partnership, was the ninth to depart when he was dismissed by Jack Taylor. Running out of partners, Carlson was the last to depart, dismissed by Taylor nine short of a double ton.
Gloucestershire started well in their first innings as Howell and Chris Dent added 53 runs for the opening wicket. While Smith managed to send back Dent, that was the only wicket that Glamorgan could manage on Day 2 as Howell and put on an undefeated 108-run stand to help Gloucestershire to 161 for 1 when stumps were called early due to rain.
Brief scores: Glamorgan442 (Kiran Carlson 191, Andrew Salter 84; Jack Taylor 3-50, David Payne 3-65) lead Gloucestershire161/1 (Benny Howell 96*, James Robert Bracey 45*; Ruaidhri Smith 1-27) by 281 runs.
Kent's endeavour to gain crucial points and move up the table took a beating as Day 2 of their Division two match against Derbyshire at Queen's Park was called off without a single delivery being bowled. With two days of no cricketing action whatsoever, due to a wet outfield, Kent's slim chance of promotion, has become all the more slimmer.
| Share | Tweet |
