Hick strikes majestic hundred
A round-up of all the action from the second day of the latest round of County Championship matches
Andrew McGlashan
28-Apr-2005
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Lancashire 196 and 47 for 1 trail Worcestershire 306 (Hick 176, Muralitharan 5-69) by 63 runs
Scorecard
Graeme Hick showed he is still one of the most destructive batsmen on the circuit as he flayed the Lancashire bowling around New Road. His 127th first-class century took him past WG Grace and leaves him one behind Graham Gooch on the century chart. His hundred involved a calculated assault on the Lancashire attack, after Muttiah Muralitharan had brought them right back into the match with the wickets of Stephen Peters and Ben Smith in two balls. Hick was careful against Muralitharan - but still managed to bring up his century with a six off the offspinner - and savage on the seamers. He dispatched James Anderson for 11 fours and two sixes to further dent his confidence. A final-wicket stand of 49 with David Wigley rubbed salt in Lancashire's wounds. As did the early loss of Mark Chilton - who completed a poor day after earlier dropping Hick - when Lancashire began their second innings 110 runs behind on an uneven pitch. The only bonus for the visitors was Muralitharan's figures of 5-69 on his first Championship bowl of the season.
Scorecard
Graeme Hick showed he is still one of the most destructive batsmen on the circuit as he flayed the Lancashire bowling around New Road. His 127th first-class century took him past WG Grace and leaves him one behind Graham Gooch on the century chart. His hundred involved a calculated assault on the Lancashire attack, after Muttiah Muralitharan had brought them right back into the match with the wickets of Stephen Peters and Ben Smith in two balls. Hick was careful against Muralitharan - but still managed to bring up his century with a six off the offspinner - and savage on the seamers. He dispatched James Anderson for 11 fours and two sixes to further dent his confidence. A final-wicket stand of 49 with David Wigley rubbed salt in Lancashire's wounds. As did the early loss of Mark Chilton - who completed a poor day after earlier dropping Hick - when Lancashire began their second innings 110 runs behind on an uneven pitch. The only bonus for the visitors was Muralitharan's figures of 5-69 on his first Championship bowl of the season.
Derbyshire 135 for 4 trail Northamptonshire 451 for 7 (Love 168, Shafayat 161) by 316 runs
Scorecard
Northants remained firmly in the driving seat against Derbyshire despite an improved effort of the home side. After not managing a wicket in 83 overs on the opening day, Derbyshire ended the first-wicket stand at 297 when Jonathan Moss trapped Bilal Shafayat lbw for 161. Martin Love eventually fell for 168 as his average for the season plummeted to 165. Graeme Welch had the belated reward of four wickets but the damage had already been done. Derbyshire were quickly 42 for 2 and another were on the brink of another collapse before some defiance from Hassan Adnan. However, he was trapped lbw by Steffan Jones just before the close and the follow-on looms.
Scorecard
Northants remained firmly in the driving seat against Derbyshire despite an improved effort of the home side. After not managing a wicket in 83 overs on the opening day, Derbyshire ended the first-wicket stand at 297 when Jonathan Moss trapped Bilal Shafayat lbw for 161. Martin Love eventually fell for 168 as his average for the season plummeted to 165. Graeme Welch had the belated reward of four wickets but the damage had already been done. Derbyshire were quickly 42 for 2 and another were on the brink of another collapse before some defiance from Hassan Adnan. However, he was trapped lbw by Steffan Jones just before the close and the follow-on looms.
Essex 224 for 3 (Cook 111, Bopara 71) lead Somerset 190 Essex by 34 runs
Scorecard
Alastair Cook hit a stylish century as Essex took firm control against Somerset. Cook, 20, reached three-figures from 145 balls and had hit 11 fours when he played on to Richard Johnson for 111. He was given good support from Ravinder Bopara, another of Essex's talented young batsmen, as the two added 181 for the second wicket. Bopara took 67 balls to reach double-figures but eventually found his feet and will be eyeing a maiden first-class century. The Somerset bowling was generally disappointing except for a late burst from Johnson, who also accounted for Andy Flower. The batting was equally poor in the first session and it took an aggressive 43 from Aaron Laraman to boost the score as far as 190. James Hildreth fell to the third ball of the day, trapped lbw playing across the line to Graham Napier.
Scorecard
Alastair Cook hit a stylish century as Essex took firm control against Somerset. Cook, 20, reached three-figures from 145 balls and had hit 11 fours when he played on to Richard Johnson for 111. He was given good support from Ravinder Bopara, another of Essex's talented young batsmen, as the two added 181 for the second wicket. Bopara took 67 balls to reach double-figures but eventually found his feet and will be eyeing a maiden first-class century. The Somerset bowling was generally disappointing except for a late burst from Johnson, who also accounted for Andy Flower. The batting was equally poor in the first session and it took an aggressive 43 from Aaron Laraman to boost the score as far as 190. James Hildreth fell to the third ball of the day, trapped lbw playing across the line to Graham Napier.
Andrew McGlashan is editorial assistant of Cricinfo