Cricket

Essex's Jordan Cox unleashed a whirlwind century against his former Kent teammates, propelling Essex to a commanding lead in the Vitality County Championship match at Chelmsford. Cox's unbeaten 116, featuring six towering sixes, helped Essex amass 257 for 4 in the evening session, extending their lead to 374 runs.Earlier, Kent's Ben Compton had anchored the innings for over eight hours, scoring a resolute 165 to prevent Essex from enforcing the follow-on. Compton's marathon knock was supported by Daniel Bell-Drummond's 135, but Essex's legspinning allrounder Matt Critchley proved to be their nemesis. Critchley claimed 5 for 105, including the wickets of Bell-Drummond and Compton, to restrict Kent to 413.Essex's second innings began with Dean Elgar surviving an early chance, but Garrett dismissed him for 34. Kent struck again when Feroze Khushi was caught off Garrett's bowling. However, Cox took charge, reverse-sweeping Parkinson for boundaries and launching sixes over the field. Critchley joined the party with a quickfire 25, while Michael Pepper contributed 45 not out.Essex's declaration left Kent with a daunting target of 375 to win. The match is poised for an exciting finish, with rain and high winds forecast for the final day.

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has faced relentless booing from fans at the Wankhede Stadium, raising concerns about its impact on his performance. The hostile reception began during Mumbai's first match and has continued throughout the tournament.Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen expressed his worry, stating that the negative atmosphere is affecting Pandya's game. "He's trying to act like he is so happy. He is not happy. I have been there. I have been in the firing line. And I can tell you now, it affects you," Pietersen said.Pandya's struggles were evident in Sunday's match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He conceded 43 runs in his three overs and scored only 2 runs off 6 balls with the bat. CSK ultimately defeated Mumbai by 20 runs.Pietersen believes that the booing is hurting Pandya's emotions and affecting his cricket. "He has emotions. And he is an Indian player and he doesn't want to be treated like this. So when this is happening, it's affecting him, it's affecting his cricket and something needs to happen," he said.Pandya's poor form has been a major concern for Mumbai Indians, who have lost four of their first six matches. The team's batting has been inconsistent, and Pandya's failure to contribute with both bat and ball has exacerbated their problems.The booing of Pandya has also raised questions about the behavior of fans. While it is understandable for fans to express their disappointment, the relentless and personal nature of the booing has been criticized by some.It remains to be seen how Pandya and Mumbai Indians will respond to the ongoing criticism. The team will need to find a way to improve their performances and silence the booing if they want to turn their season around.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pulled off a stunning 20-run victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium, defying expectations and successfully defending a modest total of 206.CSK's innings was propelled by a late surge from Shivam Dube, who smashed an unbeaten 64 off 38 deliveries. MS Dhoni then provided a final flourish with a 20-run cameo off the last four balls. However, it was the team's disciplined bowling that ultimately sealed the victory.Mumbai's chase began promisingly, with Rohit Sharma anchoring the innings with a century. However, Matheesha Pathirana's introduction turned the tide. The Sri Lankan pacer claimed two wickets in his first over, including the crucial dismissal of Ishan Kishan.As the required run rate climbed, Mumbai's batters struggled to keep up. Pathirana continued to impress, executing his plans to perfection and restricting the opposition to the larger boundaries. Despite Sharma's late flurry, Mumbai fell short by 20 runs.CSK's victory was a testament to their resilience and adaptability. Despite facing a formidable opponent on their home ground, they managed to control the game through disciplined bowling and smart fielding.

Glamorgan's dominance continued on day three of their Vitality County Championship clash against Derbyshire, setting a formidable target of 401 for the visitors. Chris Cooke's unbeaten 126 anchored Glamorgan's innings, supported by James Harris' 61* and Dan Douthwaite's 32.Derbyshire's bowlers struggled to contain Glamorgan's batsmen, with only Sam Conners managing to break through. Mason Crane, who had come in as a nightwatchman, provided some resistance with a 45-run stand with Colin Ingram. However, Ingram's run-out and Douthwaite's dismissal to Thomson's bowling paved the way for Cooke and Harris to consolidate Glamorgan's position.Cooke, who missed out on batting during Glamorgan's record-breaking efforts at Lord's, made the most of his opportunity, reaching his 13th first-class century. Harris joined him in a 116-run partnership, eclipsing the previous highest stand of the match.Thomson, who had taken five wickets in the first innings, continued to be a threat, finishing with career-best match figures of 12 for 201. However, Glamorgan's declaration set Derbyshire a daunting target.In the 12 overs bowled before the close, Derbyshire reached 40 for one, with David Lloyd and Luis Reece unbeaten. With the ball still turning on the pitch, much will depend on Mason Crane's performance on the final day. Glamorgan will need nine wickets to secure victory, while Derbyshire faces an uphill battle to chase down the target.

Gloucestershire's hopes of ending their winless streak in the Vitality County Championship were dealt a severe blow on the third day of their clash with Yorkshire at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol.Yorkshire, resuming on 57 without loss in their second innings, piled on the runs to set Gloucestershire an improbable target of 498. Adam Lyth led the charge with a fluent 113, while England's Joe Root contributed 51 and Harry Brook 68. George Hill also chipped in with a valuable 58.Gloucestershire's bowlers toiled hard but were unable to make significant inroads into the Yorkshire batting lineup. Ollie Price claimed the wickets of Finlay Bean and George Hill, while Graeme van Buuren accounted for Lyth and Shan Masood.In response, Gloucestershire's second innings got off to a shaky start. Chris Dent was dismissed cheaply, followed by Cameron Bancroft. Miles Hammond provided some resistance with a quickfire 35, but his aggressive approach proved costly as he was caught attempting a big hit.By the close of play, Gloucestershire had slumped to 97 for four, with Price unbeaten on 44. The hosts face an uphill battle to save the match on the final day, especially with heavy rain forecast overnight.

Sussex's dominance continued on day three of their Vitality County Championship clash against Leicestershire, as they piled up a mammoth 694 for 9 declared, the third-highest total in their first-class history. New captain John Simpson led the charge with a maiden double-century, while Danny Lamb and Ari Karvelas also made significant contributions.Simpson, a former Middlesex wicketkeeper, remained unbeaten on 205, sharing a record-breaking seventh-wicket partnership of 255 with Lamb, who scored a career-best 134. Karvelas, batting at No. 10, added a quickfire 55 off 40 balls.Leicestershire's bowlers had initially contained Sussex with the old ball, but the introduction of the new ball failed to yield the desired results. Lamb and Simpson took full advantage of the docile Kookaburra ball, punishing the Leicestershire bowlers with a flurry of boundaries.Lamb reached his century in just 108 balls, while Simpson took 197 deliveries to reach the milestone. The pair added 150 runs in the morning session alone, as Sussex's total soared past 450.Lamb's dismissal for 134 brought Carson to the crease, who contributed a quickfire 38 with two sixes. Simpson continued to dominate, adding five more sixes to his tally, before declaring Sussex's innings closed with a first-innings lead of 356.Leicestershire's second innings got off to a shaky start as Marcus Harris was caught at short leg off Carson's bowling. However, Rishi Patel and Hassan Azad steadied the ship, taking the score to 86 for 1 at the close of play.With the weather forecast predicting interruptions on the final day, Sussex will be hoping to dismiss Leicestershire for a second time and secure a comprehensive victory.

Durham's valiant resistance against Warwickshire's mammoth total of 698 for 3 declared fell short on the third day of their Vitality County Championship clash at Edgbaston. Despite a determined rearguard action, Durham was bowled out for 517, trailing by 169 runs and facing a follow-on.Alex Lees led the Durham charge with a gritty 145 off 240 balls, while Ben Raine contributed a valuable 93 off 125 deliveries. Graham Clark (76) and Ollie Robinson (60) also made significant contributions, but Warwickshire's depleted attack, led by off-spinner Rob Yates, chipped away at the Durham batting lineup.Yates claimed a career-best four for 137, including the wickets of Clark and Raine. Will Rhodes and Olly Hannon-Dalby also played key roles, with Rhodes dismissing Lees and Hannon-Dalby removing the dangerous Matt Potts.Trailing by 181 runs on first innings, Durham closed day three on 12 for two, with the daunting task of batting out day four to avoid defeat. The pitch has proven to be relatively benign, with only 15 wickets falling in three days.The match has been characterized by high-scoring innings, with both teams boasting multiple individual three-figure scores. Durham's first innings featured four centuries, while Warwickshire's first innings included six.Despite the setback, Durham remains hopeful of salvaging a draw. The pitch is expected to continue to offer little assistance to the bowlers, and the visitors will need to dig deep and show the same resilience they displayed on day three.

Nottinghamshire's hopes of a strong start to their Vitality County Championship campaign were dealt a blow on Sunday as Worcestershire's Nathan Smith inspired a dramatic collapse with the ball.Resuming on 305 for 6, Worcestershire added a crucial 135 runs to their overnight total, thanks in large part to Smith's impressive knock of 58. The Kiwi all-rounder's efforts helped the visitors post a competitive 355, giving them a slender lead of 44 runs.Nottinghamshire's response began brightly, with openers Haseeb Hameed and Ben Duckett putting on 81 for the first wicket. However, Smith's introduction into the attack turned the game on its head.In a devastating spell, Smith ripped through Nottinghamshire's top order, claiming four wickets in seven balls. Duckett (63) was the first to fall, followed by Joe Clarke, Matt Montgomery, and Jack Haynes.The collapse continued as Ben Slater and Calvin Harrison also departed cheaply, leaving Nottinghamshire reeling at 151 for 7 at the close of play. Smith's remarkable figures of 11-4-29-4 left the hosts facing an uphill battle to avoid defeat.Earlier in the day, Harrison had completed a maiden five-wicket haul for Nottinghamshire, dismissing Brett D'Oliveira, Josh Baker, and Joe Leach. However, Smith's heroics overshadowed Harrison's efforts, as Worcestershire took control of the match.With heavy rain forecast for Monday, Nottinghamshire will need to make quick progress in their second innings if they are to set a target for Worcestershire. The visitors, meanwhile, will be confident of securing a victory that would give them a strong start to the season.

Middlesex's batting prowess was on full display at Wantage Road as they piled on a mammoth 553 for 6 against Northamptonshire in the Vitality County Championship. Teenage debutant Nathan Fernandes etched his name into the history books by becoming Middlesex's youngest first-class centurion since 1862.Fernandes, drafted in to replace the injured Sam Robson, showcased his exceptional talent with a composed 103. His innings was a testament to his maturity and technical ability, as he effortlessly dispatched the Northamptonshire bowlers to all parts of the ground.Fernandes's century was just the beginning of Middlesex's batting onslaught. Max Holden and Leus du Plooy took the attack to the opposition, plundering runs at will. Holden, in particular, displayed his attacking prowess, reaching his maiden first-class double-century with a boundary off Saif Zaib.Du Plooy, not to be outdone, matched Holden stride for stride, hammering sixes over long on and stroking boundaries with ease. He reached his century in just 112 balls, showcasing his exceptional timing and power.The Middlesex duo's relentless batting denied Northamptonshire any bowling points, as they extended their partnership to a record-breaking 303 runs. Holden finished on an unbeaten 211, while Du Plooy remained on 196 not out at stumps.Northamptonshire's bowlers toiled tirelessly in the face of Middlesex's batting onslaught, but they were unable to make significant inroads. The visitors' dominance left them with a slender one-run lead over Northamptonshire's first-innings total of 552 for 6 declared.