Cricket

#CountyChampionship #Cricket #DurhamCCC #EmilioGay #SurreyCCC

Sep 16, 2024
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Emilio Gay Joins Durham on Loan for County Championship Clash

Emilio Gay, a prolific top-order batsman, will bolster Durham's County Championship campaign as he joins the team on loan for their crucial clash against Surrey at the Kia Oval. This move comes after Durham captain Scott Borthwick was sidelined for the remainder of the season due to an elbow injury.Gay, 24, has been in scintillating form for Northamptonshire this season, amassing 919 runs at an impressive average of 57.43 in just ten matches. His standout performance was a career-best 261 against Middlesex in April.Despite being out of contract at the end of the season, Gay has agreed to join Durham on a two-year deal from 2025. However, he has now accelerated his move to the club to feature in their final two Championship matches against Surrey and Kent.Alex Lees will assume the captaincy for Durham for the rest of the season. Gay's arrival is a significant boost for Durham, who currently sit fifth in Division One in their first season back in the top flight after an eight-year absence.Surrey, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back from their shock defeat to Somerset last week. They currently hold an eight-point lead over Somerset but still have to face Essex in their final match at Chelmsford.Surrey's morale took another hit on Saturday when Somerset also ended their hopes of a domestic double in the T20 Blast semi-final. With England's ongoing white-ball series against Australia limiting player availability, Surrey were without four key players in that contest.They now face the prospect of missing more personnel for the last rounds of the Championship. Gus Atkinson is already ruled out with injury, and Ollie Pope is a particular doubt with England set to depart for their Test series against Pakistan in just over two weeks.

Aug 22, 2024
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Roland-Jones Leads Middlesex Charge on Rain-Hit Day Against Northamptonshire

Middlesex seized the initiative on a rain-affected opening day against Northamptonshire at Merchant Taylors' School, thanks to a superb bowling performance led by Toby Roland-Jones.Roland-Jones, Middlesex's leading red-ball wicket-taker this season, justified his decision to bowl first under overcast conditions, claiming 3 for 34. Tom Helm, who had a fiery opening burst, supported his skipper with 2 for 41 as Northamptonshire struggled to 167 for 7 in the 44.4 overs played.Emilio Gay, with a resilient 42, provided the main resistance for Northamptonshire, who handed a debut to seamer Dominic Leech, who joined on loan from Yorkshire ahead of a three-year contract at Wantage Road next season.Morning rain prevented any play before lunch, and it was 1:25pm before Middlesex's bowlers could take advantage of winning the toss. Indian Test opener Prithvi Shaw made a positive start against some friendly offerings from Ethan Bamber and Roland-Jones, dispatching two leg-side half-volleys and driving two glorious shots through the covers. However, an injudicious attempted pull off Roland-Jones ended his fun, with the ball skying to Mark Stoneman at point.Tom Helm struck next, luring Ricardo Vasconcelos into a pull shot that ballooned to Roland-Jones at wide mid-on. The 30-year-old then produced a dream delivery, bringing one back from outside off-stump to bowl Northamptonshire skipper Luke Proctor, the stump careering back almost to wicketkeeper Jack Davies.George Bartlett gave Sam Robson the first of three slip catches, and while Rob Keogh briefly launched a counter-offensive, he also found the hands of the former England opener with an edge off Henry Brookes.Gay, who departs for Durham at the end of the season, batted with greater control than his teammates, using his height to defend off the back foot and driving through the extra cover region. Roland-Jones eventually dislodged him with a brute on the stroke of tea, which lifted from around fourth stump and caused Gay to edge to slip, again caught by Robson.Roland-Jones removed Justin Broad for an eight-ball duck soon after the resumption, but Lewis McManus and Ben Sanderson stopped the bleeding before rain drove the players from the field. They returned 90 minutes later, and 14 deliveries proved enough for the batters to raise a valuable 50-partnership before bad light intervened.

#EmilioGay #Glamorgan #Northamptonshire #TimmvanDerGugten #VitalityCountyChampionship

Jun 24, 2024
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Gay's Half-Century Anchors Northamptonshire's Batting Effort

Northamptonshire's Emilio Gay anchored their batting performance with a composed half-century on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship clash against Glamorgan in Cardiff.Opting to bat first, Northamptonshire posted 279 all out, with Gay's 65 serving as the cornerstone of their innings. Luke Procter and Gus Miller also contributed valuable runs, helping the visitors recover from a mid-innings slump.Glamorgan's bowlers, led by Timm van der Gugten, Andy Gorvin, and James Harris, shared nine wickets among them. However, Northamptonshire's resilience in the face of adversity allowed them to post a challenging total.Harris struck early, dismissing Ricardo Vasconcelos and Prithvi Shaw to leave Northamptonshire reeling at 19 for 2. Gay and Procter steadied the ship with a 90-run partnership, but Gay's dismissal to Gorvin triggered a collapse.Procter and Rob Keogh added 48 runs before Glamorgan's bowlers tightened their grip. Gorvin trapped Lewis McManus lbw, while Liam Patterson-White fell to a catch at point.Miller and Raphael Weatherall combined for a 37-run stand, taking Northamptonshire past 250 and securing their first batting bonus point. Miller's impressive debut innings included two sixes, helping his team reach a potentially formidable total.Glamorgan's openers, Eddie Byrom and Billy Root, negotiated the final seven overs of the day without incident, leaving their side trailing by 243 runs.

#CameronBancroft #CountyChampionship #EmilioGay #Gloucestershire #Northamptonshire

May 12, 2024
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Bancroft Century Puts Gloucestershire on Verge of Victory Against Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire's hopes of salvaging a draw against Gloucestershire hang in the balance after Cameron Bancroft's unbeaten century propelled the visitors to a commanding position on day three at Wantage Road.Bancroft, in his second stint with Gloucestershire, anchored the visitors' second innings with a resolute 130 not out, guiding them to a formidable 319 for 5 declared. The Australian opener's knock, coupled with Graeme van Buuren's brisk 67, extended Gloucestershire's overall lead to 557.With almost four-and-a-half sessions remaining, Gloucestershire set their sights on dismissing Northamptonshire for a second time. However, Emilio Gay and Luke Procter provided stubborn resistance, frustrating the visitors' bowlers. Gay, who registered his second successive half-century, shared a 106-run partnership with Procter (45 not out) as the hosts closed on 144 for 2.Gloucestershire's bowlers encountered a degree of movement from the home seamers, with Liam Patterson-White claiming three wickets in the morning session. The left-arm spinner, on loan from Nottinghamshire, dismissed Ben Charlesworth, Ollie Price, and Miles Hammond.Despite losing wickets, Bancroft remained unyielding, steadily accumulating runs. James Bracey also contributed with a quickfire 34 before holing out to mid-off. Van Buuren, with his aggressive innings, maintained Gloucestershire's momentum, hitting four maximums.Northamptonshire's chase got off to a shaky start as Gay survived two close calls before being trapped lbw by Ajeet Singh Dale. However, the left-hander responded with a flurry of attacking strokes, driving Zafar Gohar to the boundary on multiple occasions.Gay's luck ran out late in the day when he miscued a delivery from Marchant de Lange to midwicket. Nightwatchman George Scrimshaw joined Procter at the crease, helping Northamptonshire reach stumps without further loss.With a target of 558 looming large, Northamptonshire face an uphill battle to avoid defeat. Gloucestershire, on the other hand, will be confident of securing their first Vitality County Championship win since 2022.

#EmilioGay #GeorgeBartlett #Leicestershire #Northamptonshire #VitalityCountyChampionship

Apr 26, 2024
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Northamptonshire Dominate Day One Against Leicestershire

Northamptonshire's batsmen put on a dominant display on the opening day of their Vitality County Championship match against Leicestershire, reaching 337 for 6 at the close of play. Emilio Gay, George Bartlett, and skipper Luke Procter all scored half-centuries to lay the foundation for a strong total.Gay, who has been in impressive form this season, led the way with a fluent 88 from 110 balls. He was particularly severe on the Leicestershire bowlers in the morning session, hitting 16 boundaries. However, he was eventually dismissed by Scott Currie, who bowled him off an inside edge.Bartlett, who joined Northamptonshire from Sussex in the winter, showed his class with an unbeaten 71. He played with great determination and grit, helping to consolidate the innings after Gay's departure. Procter also played a valuable role, scoring 64 from 164 balls.Leicestershire's bowlers struggled to make early inroads, with only Tom Scriven managing to take a wicket in the morning session. However, they bowled with better control in the middle session, with Currie and Rehan Ahmed impressing.Ahmed, who is on loan from Leicestershire, was particularly impressive, giving little away from the pavilion end. He eventually broke the fourth-wicket partnership between Procter and Bartlett, bowling Procter for 64.Scriven took another wicket with the new ball, finding the edge of James Sales' bat. However, Bartlett remained firm, reaching his half-century from 114 balls. Northamptonshire lost Saif Zaib before the close, but they will be confident of building a big total on day two.

#EmilioGay #LukeProcter #Middlesex #Northamptonshire #VitalityCountyChampionship

Apr 13, 2024
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Gay's Century Powers Northamptonshire to Dominant Position

Northamptonshire's Emilio Gay celebrated his 24th birthday in style, smashing an unbeaten 165 to lead his team to a commanding position on day one of their Vitality County Championship match against Middlesex at Wantage Road.Gay, who has now scored five first-class centuries, found an able ally in skipper Luke Procter, who contributed 73 in a 189-run partnership that eclipsed Northamptonshire's previous highest second-wicket stand against Middlesex.After being put into bat, Northamptonshire lost opener Jason Broad early on, but Gay and Procter took control, frustrating the Middlesex bowlers on a docile wicket. Gay looked vulnerable early on, but grew in confidence, playing some attractive shots and taking on the short ball.Procter, who had made 92 against Sussex in their previous match, was solid in defense and played some crisp attacking shots. The pair took Northamptonshire to 106 for one at lunch and continued to score at a steady pace after the break.As Middlesex resorted to short-pitched bowling, Procter was struck under the armpit by Roland-Jones, but otherwise remained largely untroubled. Gay, on the other hand, took a more attacking approach, pulling and driving with authority.Gay reached his century in style, slashing Higgins through point for his ninth boundary. After the interval, Procter fell to de Caires, but Karun Nair joined Gay and added 86 runs before being dismissed for 41.With the new ball, Ethan Bamber and Roland-Jones found some movement off the seam, but Gay remained unfazed, playing some exquisite shots and taking Northamptonshire to a dominant position of 311 for three at the close of play.