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Morning all
Welcome to the county cricket live blog for second day's play of the latest round of Championship action. Our writers will be here with updates shortly. Richard Rae is at The County Ground for Sussex v Nottinghamshire and Brian Halford is at The Oval for Surrey v Warwickshire.
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Good morning from the Oval, smiles Brian Halford. Another lovely day, sunny and breezy, three pigeons pecking the pitch and a magpie patrolling the Vauxhall End. Impossible to foresee which way this excellent match will swing next. Surrey hope that Jacques Rudolph, in his last game before heading off to South Africa, will set up a daunting target for Warwickshire who know that early wickets could set them up for a win which would leave them mightily placed at the top of Division One.
Are there any more attractive walks to a cricket ground than along the Brighton-Hove promenade on a perfect English summer's day, wonders Richard Rae thoughtfully? The more so with the prospect of watching two strong teams in Sussex and Nottinghamshire. The Brighton Argus is full of Luke Wright's century in the four wicket CB40 win against Yorkshire last night - not a bad return inhis first appearance at the County Ground for ten months. A knee injury, a mystery illness believed to be Dengue Fever, and a bout of tonsilitis laid him low ever since, and as Chris Nash pointed out. he's returned looking 'a little less chubby around the face', but clearly having lost none of his batting ability. He only bowled two overs last night, and it will be interesting to see how many he bowls in this game.
Oddly, today's hours of play are 11.30-6.30 - presumably to allow the Sussex team those crucial few extra minutes to recover - before reverting to the usual 11am start for the rest of the game.The toss is taking place as I write - and has been won by Sussex, who will bat. Wells drops out to make room for Wright. Notts have left out Edwards - not sure why, maybe injury - and Mullaney, and brought in Andy Carter - a seamer I cannot recall having seen play. Lincoln lad.
Big wicket for Warwickshire, writes Brian Halford, in second over of day as Maynard, on 25, leans forward to Patel's third ball and bat-pads to Chopra at silly point. Jordan avoids pair by securing elegant single. Real spice to this game. Highly competitive cricket. Lots of appealing, some of it rather unappealing, if you see what I mean.
Surrey are 165 for 7, writes Brian Halford, 141 in front after Patel lures Rudolph into a drive and bowls him for 22 then has Batty caught at mid-on for 0. Plenty of turn for the New Zealand spinner, though Surrey will have mixed feelings about that. Tough going for them out there now but they still have to bowl on an increasingly twirl-friendly track.
Surrey are inching forward, reports Brian Halford, valuably at The Oval, 187 for 7, leading by 163, as Jordan digs in and Lewis makes important runs for the second time in the match. A good-value double might be to back Malta to win the Eurovision Song Contest and this match to finish in a tie.
Surrey 224 for 8 after intelligent batting from Jordan and Lewis, reports Brian Halford, who added 54 for the eighth wicket. Lewis chipped Patel to mid-wicket to fall for 31, having made 68 in a low-scoring match. Patel's second five-for of the season and 14 pigeons have gathered around him on the long-leg boundary in salute. Surrey 200 in front.
After Chris Nash hit Ben Phillips for consecutive boundaries in the opening over, the following hour or so has seen the Nottinghamshire seamers probing patiently and accurately and making the Sussex batsmen work very hard for their runs, reports Richard Rae at Hove. Phillips was unlucky, beating Nash regularly thereafter, and should have taken his wicket when on 19, the batsman edged a regulation catch to Adam Voges at second slip. Reaching to his left, the Aussie grassed it. Phillips did get some reward for his patience, when a painfully out of sorts Ed Joyce, having got nowhere near the pitch of the ball, drove loosely at a delivery outside off stump and gave Riki Wessells a simple catch at point. Andre Adams almost induced Joe Gatting to play the ball into his stumps soon afterwards, but Gatting and Nash have since taken Sussex past 50.
Lunch has been delayed at The Oval, reports Brian Halford because Surrey are nine wickets down: 236 for nine after Patel collects his sixth wicket, Jordan lbw for 40. Jordan looked aghast at the decision, having pushed forward and smothered ball with mixture of bat and pad.Patel so far 6 for 94, including 5 for 49 today. Surrey 212 in front
All set up for a gripping third day at The Oval after Surrey were all out for 245 just before lunch reports Brian Halford. Warwickshire need 222 to win in five sessions on a wicket assisting spinners (Patel took 6 for 95) but offering little to seamers. Decent crowd in but, after news of tantalising match situation gets round the capital, expect The Oval to be full to capacity by three o'clock.
Honours to Nottinghamshire at the end of the first session at Hove, writes Richard Rae. After first Ed Joyce and then Joe Gatting got themselves out through really poor shot selection, Murray Goodwin edged Andre Adams low to second slip, where Adam Voges took a fine one handed catch diving to his left. Goodwin has now made 70 runs in his last 11 innings, and unless he makes runs in the second innings, could be dropped for quite possibly the first time in his Sussex career. Chris Nash has made an unbeaten half century - had Voges hung on to a much easier chance given by Nash off Ben Phillips when he was on just 19, Sussex would be in much deeper trouble. Ditto if the clump across the line played by Michael Yardy at Samit Patel had gone to hand instead of a few feet wide of mid-on. Lunchtime sees Sussex on 96-3, with Nash on 62.
Chasing 222, Warwickshire are 1 for 1. Immediate joy for Surrey as Dernbach's fifth ball, fast and full, removes Chopra lbw, reports Brian Halford.
Well would you believe it, Richard Rae wouldn't, had he not seen it with his own eyes at Hove. First ball after lunch Michael Yardy tickles Ben Phillips behind square. turns at the end of the first run, decides there is another to be had - and is run out by Riki Wessell's flat throw into Chris Read's gloves, the wicketkeeper removing the bails in the same movement. Yardy is out for 5 and Sussex are 97-4.
Tense stuff at The Oval, says Brian Halford as Warwickshire chasing 222, are 26 for 1. Surrey could have have done without three no balls from Lewis who is bowling with two short mid-wickets who are pondering, perhaps, the fact that the first racing at Cartmel occurred in the 15th century when monks organised races with mules. Batty coming on for the 11th over.
Warwickshire are 31 for two after Batty comes on with his fourth ball which has Westwood superbly caught by Maynard at slip. Still some spare seats at The Oval if anyone wants to come along and witness the climax to this fine match, reports Brian Halford.
Surrey right on top after Warwickshire hit 33 for three reports Brian Halford. Troughton, sweeping, adjudged lbw to Batty for 0. Bears captain's terrible run of form goes on but this time he was unfortunate as the ball appeared to be heading well down leg side. Momentum well and truly with Surrey. Batty 2-0-2-2.
Batty has three wickets in his first 20 balls after Maddy drills back a return catch and falls for 1. Warwickshire 56 for 4, reports Brian Halford. Nine wickets in the match already for Batty who is rather excited, judging by the fact that pretty much every ball is accompanied by a yell of 'catch it' even, somewhat bizarrely, when it turns harmlessly down the leg side into the wicket-keeper's gloves. Time for a bit of Hamilton-Brown twirl too, perhaps?
No further wickets have fallen at Hove since Yardy's first ball after lunch 'Professor' (brainstorm) reports Richard Rae, but that's not to say it hasn't all being going off out there. Luke Wright has come in and has smitten and is continuing to smite the ball to all parts in moving on to 28, but should Chris Nash reach is century - and he's on 97 - he might be best advised to acknowledge the event with little more than an embarrassed grin. For why? because on 83 he was bowled by Andy Carter, an excellent delivery that cut back and clipped leg stump, the noise echoing around the ground. Carter let out a cry of triumph, Nash took a step towards the pavilion - only for both to stop in their tracks. Put simply, the bails were still in place. I should add that such was the general disbelief I walked over the to the unfortunate Carter when he returned to long leg. Yes, it hit the stumps, and hard. No, the bail didn't come off.
Gripping stuff at The Oval as Warwickshire reach 67 for 4 in pursuit of 222. Porterfield and Ambrose digging in, writes Brian Halford. I apologise for using that rather cliched term but there's no other way to describe it.
Every now and then Batty produces an unplayable ball. If he pitches one of those in the right place it will be curtains for the unfortunate recipient.
More regular updates @brainhaldorf, by the way.
Warwickshire are 82 for 4 at tea and, courtesy of Porterfield and Ambrose, have edged back into the match, writes Brian Halford. Surrey are still favourites but need to pose a greater threat at the other end to Batty.
Ptarmigans are masters of camouflage. In winter, they are completely white except for a short black tail, while in summer a brown and yellow plumage blends the bird into the lichen covered rocks.
Speculation whether this match will finish tonight. Could be coming back in the morning for one wicket or five runs!
Warwickshire are past halfway to their target at 115 for four with Porterfield (51) and Ambrose (44) having added 78, writes Brian Halford. Batty still wheeling away but Hamilton-Brown was milked a little so has turned back to seam. Dernbach on.
Warwickshire are 157 for 5 after Batty traps Porterfield lbw for 66 to complete the second ten-wicket match-haul of his career, terminate a partnership of 111 and revive a Surrey side which was becoming agitated, reports Brian Halford.
It's hard to tell how good a score Sussex's 290-6 with six overs remaining is, writes Richard Rae at Hove. Since tea, and with the old ball, Samit Patel got enough turn to suggest this dry wicket isn't going to get any easier to bat on, and it's going to be very interesting to see what Monty Panesar can do. That said, at the moment it seems to be the sort of trackw hen if you're patient you can stay in. Chris Nash played a rather tired defensive shot when he was bowled by a Harry Gurney in-swinger, Luke Wright gave Samit the charge and hit him straight to midwicket, Ben Brown was beaten by turn to edge a catch to slip, and Steve Magoffin slashed a wide one from Gurney to deep gully (Patel doing the catching at the second attempt). Notts took the new ball after 83 overs, but after just nine overs with it, Samit is back on. Much over 300, Sussex will be reasonably pleased.
That's that's all for now folks, Richard Rae will be reporting from Sussex over the weekend and the county blog will return next Wednesday. Comments will remain open on this thread until then so be sure to keep chatting and posting below the line. Have a nice weekend.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Luke Wright cashes in on good fortune for Sussex against Nottinghamshire - The Guardian
English cricket has missed Luke Wright. Unable to play for almost 10 months through injury and illness, the 27-year-old all-rounder has returned in style, scoring a flamboyant century against Yorkshire in the CB40 competition on Thursday night and following up with another fine knock in the Championship on Friday. Given how unlucky he has been, perhaps he deserved the moment of almost outrageous good fortune he enjoyed on reaching 25.
Andy Carter, an upright young seamer still trying to establish himself in the Nottinghamshire side, had already seen Adam Voges, diving to his right at second slip, just fail to hang on to a difficult chance off Chris Nash when he produced a fine seaming delivery to clip Wright's leg-stump. The noise echoed round the ground like a pistol shot and Carter cried out in triumph, only to hear shouts of disbelief from behind the stumps. Somehow or other the bails were still in place.
Wright duly went on to make it count, as indeed did Nash, who had already been dropped by Voges off the bowling of Ben Phillips when he had scored 19. Together they batted throughout an afternoon session that had begun with the Sussex captain, Michael Yardy, clipping the first ball behind square, turning for a second and being run out by a distance.
Wright got off the mark with a wristy flick to the square-leg boundary before biffing Phillips high through the covers. He has lost weight during his absence – Nash reckons his team-mate has lost the facial chubbiness which made him look so young – but there is still something of the boisterous schoolboy about his batting. He has a sense of adventure and derring-do that some see as irresponsibility and probably goes some way to explaining why, despite playing 46 one-day internationals, he has never played Test cricket. Whatever the reason for that, he is good to watch.
Nash is similarly uncapped but after scoring 84 and 98 in the previous match against Worcestershire his 128 here means he has scored over 300 runs in his last three championship innings. Together he and Wright added 145 for the fifth wicket before Harry Gurney swung one back in to beat Nash's rather tired defensive push. Wright, on 81, simply lost patience, dancing down the wicket and hitting Patel in the air to midwicket.
It had looked a good toss to win for Yardy but, apart from Nash, the Sussex batsmen found the going hard during the morning session. Ed Joyce had struggled painfully to five before driving loosely and somewhat desperately at a Phillips delivery outside off-stump and edging the ball straight to backward point.
Joe Gatting was another whose shot selection was poor, going through with an attempt to hit the left-arm spin of Samit Patel back over the bowler's head after being beaten in the flight and skying the ball towards extra cover where Michael Lumb, running in from the boundary, took an excellent catch.
So did Voges when Murray Goodwin edged Andre Adams into the slips, the Australian diving to his left to take the ball one handed barely an inch above the ground. Yardy's self-destruction brought Wright bouncing to the wicket to join Nash but once the fifth-wicket pair had departed it was a case of the tail garnering what runs they could.
The Notts batsman will have been a bit twitchy at seeing how much turn Patel extracted with his left-arm spin. Monty Panesar could take some dealing with.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Sussex RNLI warning over warm weather tombstoning - BBC News
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has warned of an increase in people jumping off piers and cliffs into shallow waters in Sussex over the weekend.
They fear the warm weather will seen a rise in so-called "tombstoning".
The RNLI said that taking part could lead to serious injury or death if a person misjudged the water depth.
In July 2011 a man suffered spinal injuries after jumping off Brighton Pier.
Mark Bell, from RNLI Brighton, said: "It's very difficult to judge the depth of the water beneath you.
"It's also surprisingly cold in the water, it's only around 10-11C at the moment and that can do all sorts of shocking things to your body when you jump in."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Sussex County Emergency Operations Center announces National Hurricane Preparedness Week May 27 thro - Sussex Countian
National Hurricane Preparedness Week will run from Sunday, May 27, through Saturday, June 2. Sussex County is urging local residents use the week to prepare now before the coming season brings a storm aimed at the coast.
Sussex County EOC Director Joseph L. Thomas says that preparation ahead of a storm is essential to limiting and preventing the loss of life.
"Based on the events of last summer with Hurricane Irene, I think everyone now realizes we are very much susceptible to tropical weather here," Thomas said in a Sussex County news release. "Hopefully, that was a wake-up call for our residents. As we enter the 2012 season, Irene can serve as a reminder of just how important it is to be ready, to have a plan, and to execute that plan when the time comes."
Hurricane Irene was the most significant threat to the mid-Atlantic region last season. Although it spared Delaware from substantial damage, the storm forced evacuations up and down the East Coast, including in Sussex County.
Forecasters are predicting a near-normal season this year. A near-normal season would have from nine to 15 named tropical systems. Of those, four to eight could become hurricanes. One to three of those could be major hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Sussex County advises its residents to take the folllowing steps to protect their families and homes.
Those who live in flood-prone or other vulnerable areas should be prepared to evacuate quickly by planning a route and having have a storm kit ready.
If a storm is approaching, residents should secure all outdoor items, especially boats.
When evacuating, the county advises traveling during daylight hours and not waiting until the last minute to purchase gasoline and supplies.
Those who are ordered to evacuate and seek shelter elsewhere should follow the instructions of local emergency managers on where to go and when.
In case of a storm, phones should be uses sparingly and only for essential calls. Emergencies should be reported to 911. Mobile phones should be charged before a storm hits and power is lost.
If a hurricane or tropical storm hits, residents should expect polluted water, limited communication, no electricity, overflowing or backed-up sewers, undermined foundations, beach erosion and heavy damage to homes and roadways.
Hurricane season begins Friday, June 1 and runs through November. For more information on storm preparation and safety, visit www.sussexcountyde.gov.
Source: www.sussexcountian.com
Asda launches fitness drive - Marketing Week
Asda is launching a health initiative designed to get local communities more active and involved in sport as part of its partnership with the Government’s anti-obesity initiative Change4Life.
The supermarket has partnered with the Fitness Industry Association (FIA) in a bid to take advantage of the increased interest in sport around this summer’s Olympic Games.
Asda will host 20 large-scale community-sporting events in playing fields or green spaces close to Asda stores around the UK, where its shoppers can try out new sports.
It hopes to help families find cheap activities they can do in their local communities that fit into their busy lives.
The supermarket will work with local charities, County Sports Partnerships and FIA members to showcase sports events including Kwik Cricket, football, martial arts, volleyball and Zumba classes.
Asda Active: Getting Britain Moving will be funded by Sport England’s Sportsmatch which awarded funds to the FIA. It will also be supported by Change4life’s sub-brand Games4Life and will leverage the Department of Health’s Chage4Life programme.
The initiative will be promoted by an online marketing campaign led by Asda, plus a digital and social media drive. It will also be promoted through local marketing channels and local stores.
Asda and the FIA will also use the events, which they hope will attract 50,000 people, as a data capture opportunity to build up a consumer panel. The organisations hope to use the data gleaned from the panel to gain insight onto the barriers and motivations to getting more people, more active, more often.
The events will run this summer, starting during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee bank holiday weekend.
Asda previously worked with the FIA as part of Change4Life’s ‘Great Swapathon” initiative which saw the supermarket distribute vouchers for discounted swimming and gym sessions.
Source: www.marketingweek.co.uk
Sussex budget plan may include tax rebate - Delaware Wave
GEORGETOWN -- Sussex County is considering a tax rebate that would effectively cut county property taxes by 7.8 percent in the coming fiscal year.
Because of a 2011 budget surplus, a 3.5 cent property tax rebate is in the fiscal year 2013 budget unveiled Tuesday. To be eligible, property owners must be current on tax payments. The proposed budget keeps tax rates steady at 44.5 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Overall, the draft budget submitted to the Sussex County Council devotes $121.1 million to operating expenses and capital projects, which is down from $140.1 million in the current budget. Most of the difference comes because of the loss of federal stimulus funds for expanding sewer systems.
The proposal includes a 2.25 percent cost-of-living raise for county employees and a smaller adjustment for retirees with pensions. It also increases grants to local law enforcement agencies to $25,000 per town, the highest level since 2009, and allows for employee merit raises.
"We took a hard look at merits to make sure they are justified when they are requested," said Sussex County Administrator Todd F. Lawson.
The county's real estate transfer tax, its largest share of income, has fluctuated in past years, cresting at $36.3 million in 2005. It's now projected to bring in $13.2 million, about the same level as last year. .
"I feel this is the new norm the county will live by," Lawson said of the projection for the transfer tax.
Increases in one part of the budget reflect pain and strife in the housing market. The county expects revenue generated by the Sheriff's Office to rise to $4 million, up from $2.8 million, with much of the increase generated by fees collected for handling foreclosures.
The county is scaling back its work to expand public sewer pipes now that about $20 million in federal stimulus money is going away. But capital spending for other projects is increasing by 50 percent to $13.2 million. The county expects to spend $4.5 million for improvements to the Sussex County Airport runway.
The budget also supports a plan to expand the public library in Greenwood and make improvements to the Milton and South Coastal libraries. In Greenwood, $3 million in state and county funds will go toward tripling the size of the current library.
Source: www.delmarvanow.com
Asda Launches Exclusive Ladies T-Shirt Fit for a Royal Lunch - Yahoo Finance
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire -05/16/12)- Ladies, you may be ready to wave your flag and hang up your bunting, but do you look the part for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations? Asda, the retail partner for The Big Jubilee Lunch, is offering shoppers an official, limited edition Big Jubilee Lunch t-shirt, designed by George and made in Britain as part of the supermarket's range of womens clothing.
This fitted white t-shirt, with a fun and bold Union Jack heart design, is great for so many occasions and perfect to wear at your jubilee celebrations this summer.
GBP 2.50 from the sale of each t-shirt will be split between two charities; the Eden Project founders of The Big Lunch and also Fields in Trust, a charity the Duke of Cambridge patrons, which protects playing fields and outdoor recreational spaces, providing a place for future generations to enjoy.
Peter Stewart, Campaign and Communications Director for The Eden Project commented: "The Big Jubilee Lunch t-shirt is a fantastic way to show support and help get into the spirit of lunching with neighbours to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. By buying a t-shirt shoppers will not only look the part, but they're also raising invaluable funds for two amazing charities. It's great to have Asda on board as our retail partner; support from one of the nation's favourite supermarkets and its shoppers is hugely important in making our Jubilee celebrations go off with a bang."
Make sure you look royally festive this summer by adding this t-shirt to your shopping list, in Asda stores from 14th May. Women's t-shirts: GBP 8 (GBP 2.50 of which will be split between two charities; the Eden Project founders of The Big Lunch and also Fields in Trust).
Notes to Editors
About The Big Jubilee Lunch
The Big Lunch is an annual event led by the Eden Project. In 2012, the event is part of the programme of events celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The aim is to get millions of people across the UK to have lunch with their neighbours in a simple act of community, friendship and fun over The Queen's Diamond Jubilee weekend of celebration.
About Fields in Trust
From sports pitches to children's playgrounds, bicycle trails to country parks Fields in Trust makes sure all kinds of outdoor spaces are safeguarded forever. To mark the Diamond Jubilee Asda have teamed up with Fields in Trust to protect over 2,012 outdoor recreational spaces in communities across the UK as a legacy from the great events of 2012 - The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge.
About George
As the pioneer of supermarket fashion, the George brand provides stylish clothes that offer both quality and value. George is sold in over 380 Asda stores nationwide as well as online with George.com with free delivery any of Asda's 542 stores. Over 237 million garments are made a year for George and the company operates a permanent 100 day 'no quibble' quality guarantee on all of its clothing.
About Asda Stores Ltd.
Founded in the 1960s, Asda today is one of Britain's leading retailers. It has over 180,000 dedicated Asda colleagues serving customers from 542 stores, including 32 Supercentres, 309 Superstores, 27 Asda Living stores, 174 Supermarkets, 25 depots and seven recycling centres across the UK. It has its main home office in Leeds, Yorkshire and its George clothing division based in Lutterworth, Leicestershire. Asda serves over 18 million shoppers a week in store and its growing home shopping business at www.asda.com serves 98 per cent of UK homes. Asda joined Walmart, the world's number one retailer, in 1999.
George at Asda
020 3003 6302
Source: finance.yahoo.com
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