County round-up: Nick Gubbins marks Championship debut with half-century against Northamptonshire

Middlesex opener Nick Gubbins on his way to a maiden half-century (Getty)

Batsman of the day

Nick Gubbins, a 20-year-old left-handed batsman who has remained under contract with Middlesex while studying at Leeds University, marked his Championship debut with a half-century against Northamptonshire.

Standing in for England’s Sam Robson, Gubbins was dropped on eight but went on to share a partnership of 128 with Chris Rogers before he top-edged an attempted pull and was caught for 54. None of the England team beaten in the Test series against Sri Lanka is playing in the current Championship round apart from Worcestershire’s Moeen Ali, who was out for 10 against Glamorgan at New Road.

Extras

Greg Cork, the 19-year-old son of the former England fast bowler Dominic, scored 12 from as many balls on his senior debut for Derbyshire in their Twenty20 match against Durham at Chester-le-Street but suffered a rocky start with the ball, which he bowls at a brisk pace with his left arm, conceding 22 in his first over. Phil Mustard hit him for four fours and a six.

Damian D’Oliveira

Worcestershire announced the death yesterday of Damian D’Oliveira, their 53-year-old academy director and former player, and the son of former Worcestershire and England cricketer Basil D’Oliveira. Damian, who had been suffering from cancer, scored more than 14,000 runs in 14 seasons at New Road, including 9,504 in first-class matches, with 10 centuries. A right-handed batsman, he also bowled off-spin, claiming 55 first-class wickets. In his coaching role he discovered many of the current Worcestershire side, including his own son, 22-year-old leg-spinner Brett, who is the youngest of his three sons.

A minute’s silence was observed at the start of Worcestershire’s match against Glamorgan at New Road, where Tom Fell followed his maiden first-class century against Leicestershire two weeks ago with his second.