Rob Keogh's 158no inspires Northants comeback against Hampshire

Keogh’s previous top score in six first-class matches was 44, and his perfectly-paced innings came after Hampshire had dominated the first session.

Northants ended the first day on 323 for six with Keogh, called in at the last minute following injuries to David Willey and Graeme White, having faced 280 balls and struck 23 fours. Matt Spreigel was 61 not out.

Reece Topley and Greg Smith helped promotion hopefuls Essex took full control of their match against Worcestershire at Chelmsford.

After 19-year-old paceman Topley returned career-best figures of six for 29 as the visitors were routed for 102, Smith followed up his century against Gloucestershire in the previous match with 94 as the home side reached the close on 199 for four.

Home batsman Ben Wright was the only man to reach a landmark as 15 wickets fell on the first day of Glamorgan’s clash against Kent at the Swalec Stadium.

Wright claimed the lone half-century as Kent’s Darren Stevens took four for 34 in 15 overs including the first three wickets to fall.

He helped reduce Glamorgan, who won the toss, to 158 all out in 60 overs before Kent also struggled to reach 102 for five by the close, trailing by 56 runs.

All-rounder Will Gidman returned career-best bowling figures as Gloucestershire assumed the upper hand against Leicestershire at Bristol. Gidman claimed six for 15 as the visitors were shot out for 117 in 41.2 overs.

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Jamshed determined to make Test comeback

Russell's sixes, Shakib's 6 for 6

ESPNcricinfo presents the top five moments from the inaugural Caribbean Premier League

Australia's era of decline

Fundamental issues remain with how the game is run in Australia, although the country's sporting problems are not restricted to cricket

Signs of development but much to do

Australia's Ashes performance wasn't far off what was expected: a wholehearted, often impressive, bowling attack but an inconsistent batting order, although there are signs of promise

Light fades on Oval party

It was a celebration of England. A celebration for Test cricket. It was loud. It was fun. It was nonsensical.

Swann's swag, and Smiths' success

Also, Bradman's nemesis, most runs in a Test without a century, hundreds in final ODIs, and double-oh partners

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Jamshed determined to make Test comeback

    Being Monty

Rob Steen: There have been many players before Panesar who had to deal with prejudice of all sorts. One way to counter it is to celebrate your difference

    Cooky's mistake, and the turning points of the Ashes

Plus the inevitable obligatory urine jokes, by Dave Podmore

    Swann's swag, and Smiths' success

Ask Steven: Also, Bradman's nemesis, most runs in a Test without a century, and double-oh partners

A tale of two Ashes books

Samir Chopra: Two college professors, of politics and philosophy, in two different continents, connect through their common love of cricket

View the original article here

Jamshed determined to make Test comeback

Russell's sixes, Shakib's 6 for 6

ESPNcricinfo presents the top five moments from the inaugural Caribbean Premier League

Australia's era of decline

Fundamental issues remain with how the game is run in Australia, although the country's sporting problems are not restricted to cricket

Foreign flavour in Caribbean fest

For an inaugural season, the Caribbean Premier League has managed to pull in some of the biggest names in cricket and their impact on the league has been impressive

When Atherton's men broke the hoodoo

The Ashes were long gone and England were in disarray, but a young captain and a greenhorn bowling trio produced a victory to remember

Light fades on Oval party

It was a celebration of England. A celebration for Test cricket. It was loud. It was fun. It was nonsensical.

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Nunez, Lillibridge ignite Yankees rally off Rangers closer Nathan in 5-4 comeback win

YANKEES 5, RANGERS 4

ARLINGTON — Brent Lillibridge was headed for goat-ville Tuesday night after his sixth-inning fielding error opened the door for a big inning by the Rangers.

Instead, he found himself playing the role of hero for the first time since joining the Yankees — and took his manager off the hook following a questionable pitching change.

Lillibridge’s RBI single in the ninth inning lifted the Yankees to a 5-4 win over the Rangers in front of a stunned crowd of 42,739 at Rangers Ballpark.

“You come in here as a new guy, you want to just make the plays, do your job, not make too many waves and get yourself comfortable,” Lillibridge said. “I was able to make up for (the error) in a big win. I was just excited to help.”

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Eduardo Nunez had tied the game moments earlier with a triple that scored Vernon Wells, handing Joe Nathan, who closed the All-Star Game after Mariano Rivera pitched the eighth inning, his second blown save in 33 opportunities this season. The ninth-inning heroics saved Joe Girardi from being a goat himself for his decision to pull Phil Hughes with two outs in the sixth despite a low pitch count and what had been a strong performance by the righthander.

“I thought Phil battled,” Girardi said. “I didn’t think he had his best stuff tonight but I thought he found a way to keep us in the game.”

Boone Logan made the decision look foolish, serving up a go-ahead, two-run home run by Mitch Moreland that had the Yankees headed straight for their fourth loss in five games since the All-Star break before the unlikely combo of Nunez and Lillibridge rescued them.

“It could have been a bad night for us, but to get this win was big,” said Hughes, who allowed three unearned runs in 5.2 innings. “Hopefully it gives us some momentum going forward.”

The Yankee bats showed some early signs of life, snapping a 22-inning streak without an extra-base hit in the third as Melky Mesa and Austin Romine each doubled against starter Alexi Ogando for a 1-0 lead. Ichiro Suzuki added an RBI infield hit in the inning. Hughes worked out of jams in the first and third, stranding two runners on base in each inning. His lone strikeout of the game came in the third against Nelson Cruz with two men on base, a huge turning point that helped him escape the inning.

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