Renshaw thrives, Lyon twiddles thumbs in county action

Matt Renshaw has begun his third spell at Somerset with a fine half-century on a day when rain continued to thwart Nathan Lyon's hopes of really spinning into action in his first county championship match at rain-hit Old Trafford.

With the elements conspiring against play in several games on Sunday, there was plenty of runs on offer at Kent's lovely Canterbury ground where 14-Test player Renshaw, who still harbours hopes of nailing down a place as national team opener, hit 66 for Somerset in their 7-374.

Renshaw, who's been a favourite at Somerset ever since he scored a century on debut for them six years ago, was back in fine fettle, and looked set to make another hundred after being gifted a life on 58 when dropped by a diving Joe Denly off Matt Parkinson's leg-spin.

But the one-Test England bowler Parkinson, on debut for Kent, was quick to strike in the next over with a beauty that pitched outside off and spun sharply to beat the left-hander's defence and hit the middle stump.

Renshaw had batted for nearly three hours and faced 141 balls, striking nine boundaries in his innings as Somerset went on to go past Kent's total of 284. 

Wes Agar, who had gone for a duck in Kent's innings, took 1-45 off his 17 overs, getting captain Lewis Gregory caught for one.

Test star Lyon had been hopeful of having an early crack at champions Surrey's batting lineup after having been tossed the new ball for a couple of overs at the end of Saturday's play to try to make quick amends for his golden duck in Lancashire's 202 all out.

But once again the rains came at Old Trafford with only 21 balls able to be bowled on Sunday's penultimate day with Surrey having moved to 0-15.

One Australian who did see some action was NSW paceman Chris Tremain, the 32-year-old former one-day international player who did better with the bat than ball for Northamptonshire against Sussex at Hove.

Tremain, who has a first-class century to his name, made a useful unbeaten 22 as the Northants No.11, helping them finish on a total of 371, but then took 0-62 off just 12 overs as Sussex homed in on the total on 6-351, largely thanks to opener Tom Haines' 133. 

Performance of the day came from Kashif Ali, who hit a second century of the match for Worcestershire against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, surpassing his first-innings 110 with 133 from just 128 balls. His side were on 2-237, leading by 264 going into the final day.

Australians in the 2024 County Championship

Durham: Scott Boland, Ashton Turner (T20s only)

Essex: Daniel Sams (T20s only)

Glamorgan: Marnus Labuschagne

Gloucestershire: Cameron Bancroft, Beau Webster

Hampshire: Michael Neser, Ben McDermott (T20s only)

Kent: Xavier Bartlett, Wes Agar

Lancashire: Nathan Lyon

Leicestershire: Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris

Northamptonshire: Chris Tremain

Somerset: Matthew Renshaw

Surrey: Sean Abbott

Sussex: Nathan McAndrew, Daniel Hughes