Former Test opener makes it two centuries in three matches, to the delight of his Lancashire team and coaching staff
Marcus Harris is continuing to make hay with Lancashire, taking advantage of a couple of let-offs to compile his second century in what’s turning into a record-breaking English summer for the former Test opener.
The ever-reliable left-hander, who’s become a firm favourite with the Old Trafford-based county since joining last year, was dropped twice on a tricky morning at Chester-le-Street after Lancashire had been asked to bat by Durham.
But taking advantage of those reprieves even as wickets were falling around him, there still felt an inevitability about the 33-year-old ‘Harry’ carving his way expertly towards the 35th first-class hundred of his career and his fifth championship ton for Lancashire.
His five-and-a-half-hour vigil was the bedrock of Lancashire’s innings as they battled their way to finish the day on 7-356, with Harris still at the crease on 135no, having struck 19 fours and shared a stubborn unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 64 with paceman Tom Bailey.
It followed the knocks of 125 and 66 that Harris compiled in the opening game of the season against Derbyshire at Old Trafford.
It all left Lancashire’s assistant coach Will Porterfield marvelling: “He’s been incredible, carrying on from where he left off last season. We got a few stats sent through. It’s the most runs (1,364) anyone has scored in their first 24 innings in a Lancashire shirt. Long may it continue!”
Another former Test opener Cameron Bancroft has been looking for a change of fortune for the second division side he captains, with Gloucestershire having lost their first three matches of the season.
Bancroft had been going along nicely, if sedately, for 40, until he was caught at square leg, but Miles Hammond’s unbeaten 140 then guided the visitors to 6-287.
At Trent Bridge, England fast bowler Josh Tongue took five Warwickshire wickets for defending division one champions Nottinghamshire, who were without their injured Australian quick Fergus O’Neill.
Tongue’s scalps included Aussie Test allrounder Beau Webster, who was bowled for 25 in Warwickshire’s 8-375 that relied heavily on Ed Barnard’s captain’s knock of 134no.
Joe Root made his first championship appearance of the season but was forced to wait to get bat in hand as Yorkshire opted to bowl first and struggled to subdue Sussex, who compiled 6-373 in their division one match at Headingley.
John Simpson ended the day unbeaten on 101 out of 6-373, after Aussie Daniel Hughes had fallen early in the day for 10.
2026 County Championship division two standings
Team
Matches played
M
Wins
W
Losses
L
Drawn
D
Deductions
Ded.
Batting Bonus
Bat
Bowling Bonus
Bowl
Total points
PTS
1
LAN
3
2
0
1
0
6
8
54
2
NOR
3
0
0
3
0
10
9
43
3
MSX
3
1
1
1
0
5
9
38
4
DUR
2
1
0
1
0
7
6
37
5
WOR
2
1
0
1
2
2
4
28
6
DBY
2
0
1
1
0
8
6
22
7
KEN
2
0
0
2
0
0
3
19
8
GLO
3
0
3
0
2
0
5
3
Legend
M: Matches played
W: Wins
L: Losses
D: Drawn
Ded.: Deductions
Bat: Batting Bonus
Bowl: Bowling Bonus
PTS: Total points
Australians in the 2026 County Championship
Derbyshire: Caleb Jewell
Glamorgan: Nathan McAndrew (June)
Gloucestershire: Cameron Bancroft, Gabe Bell (first six matches), Liam Scott (June)
Hampshire: Jake Lehmann
Lancashire: Marcus Harris
Leicestershire: Jake Weatherald
Northamptonshire: Nathan McSweeney, Harry Conway (first two months only)
Nottinghamshire: Fergus O’Neill (April-June only)
Surrey: Sean Abbott (first half of season)
Sussex: Daniel Hughes
Warwickshire: Beau Webster (first half of season)
Yorkshire: Sam Whiteman, Jhye Richardson (until mid-May)
