County Cricket

Tom Poynton was forced to announce his retirement from professional cricket today, while on the field, the bowlers managed to redress the balance after a day dominated by batsmen yesterday.

As the ninth week in the NatWest Twenty20 Blast drew to a close, Notts Outlaws leapfrogged to claim the pole position in the North Group while Gloucestershire have managed to extend their stay at the top of the South Group. Here are a few key statistics for the upcoming 10th week of the tournament.

Aneurin Donald struck a century in a session for Glamorgan in what was the highlight of a day in the Specsavers County Championship where batsmen were generally more prolific than the bowlers.

There were comprehensive wins for Birmingham Bears and Gloucestershire over Leicestershire Foxes and Essex Eagles respectively in the NatWest T20 Blast today.

Gloucestershire wrapped up a convincing 61-run win over leaders Essex shortly after lunch on day four of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash at the Cheltenham College Ground.

There were wins in tonight's NatWest T20 Blast action for Durham, Hampshire, Kent, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Middlesex, and Worcestershire.

An intriguing final day is in store at the Cheltenham College ground after Essex closed day three of their Specsavers County Championship Division Two clash with Gloucestershire on 16 for one having been set 213 to win.

As we enter the 13th week of the County Championship, Middlesex and Essex continue to top the Division One and Division Two points table respectively. Let us now take a look at a statistical round up of the upcoming week.

Led by an outstanding all-round performance from Liam Dawson, Hampshire beat high-flying Glamorgan by 25 runs in the NatWest T20 Blast South Group at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

Australian Travis Head, who has joined up with Yorkshire's squad for their final four NatWest T20 Blsat North Group matches, says he is ready to contribute as they look to make it four wins in a row in the competition.

Sussex will be without Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman for their NatWest T20 Blast South Group clash with Hampshire tomorrow (Friday 15th July) due to a further delay to his arrival in England.

Adam Lyth scored a double-century as Yorkshire and Surrey drew their Specsavers County Championship clash while Daniel Lawrence passed three figures to help Essex into the lead against Gloucestershire.

Jimmy Neesham played a starring role with bat and ball as Derbyshire Falcons kept their NatWest T20 Blast hopes alive with a six-wicket win over Lancashire Lightning in Derby.

There was high drama at Taunton where Middlesex beat Somerset by two wickets in the final over of play to consolidate their position at the top of Division One of the Specsavers County Championship.

For the second year in a row, the NatWest T20 Blast North Group clash between Leicestershire Foxes and Notts Outlaws was abandoned due to heavy rain in the East Midlands.

Rain interrupted proceedings significantly in the Specsavers County Championship today, but in what play that was possible, Worcestershire thrashed Northamptonshire and Somerset got their noses back ahead against Middlesex.

Almost exactly 100 years after his death at the Battle of the Somme, Warwickshire cricketer Percy Jeeves will be honoured when the P. G. Wodehouse Society plant a tree in his memory during the Cheltenham Cricket Festival.

After week eight in the NatWest Twenty20 Blast, both Northamptonshire Steelbacks and Gloucestershire managed to consolidate their position as the leaders of the North and South Group respectively. The action-packed ninth week is ahead of us and here is a statistical preview.

Such is the nature of the NatWest T20 Blast that there are a few East Midlands derbies for fans to enjoy and the latest one to look forward to sees Leicestershire Foxes host Notts Outlaws at Grace Road tomorrow evening (Tuesday).

Adam Wheater struck an unbeaten double-century, Middlesex fought back against Somerset, Worcestershire pushed clear of Northamptonshire and rain frustrated Surry and Yorkshire in today's Specsavers County Championship action.