It was a welcome return to the County Championship this week, even if the weather played its part in proceedings. Durham remain top of Division One despite drawing their rain-affected game against Yorkshire. Paul Collingwood marked his return to first-class cricket with a century but the chance of a result was negligible and once Tykes' skipper Andrew Gale reached three figures on the final day, he and Phil Mustard shook hands on a draw.
Down at Trent Bridge, Lancashire advanced to within seven points of the leaders with a game in hand, enjoying what turned out to be a comfortable six-wicket win over Notts, who have picked up an unfortunate losing habit. Paul Horton's first innings 99 was beaten by captain Stephen Moore's solid second innings 124 not out after the champions were dismissed for 216. It would have been over much sooner were it not for an eighth wicket stand of 119 between Franks and Adams, the former passing 50 for the second time in the match. For the victors, Saj Mahmood claimed two 'five-fors', although he went for five an over each time, too.
Last year's runners-up Somerset also look to have blown their chances of that elusive title by succumbing to Warwickshire again. Boyd Rankin's first innings 4-41 and Rikki Clarke's 4-34 in the second left Trescothick's men in tatters, with only the captain and Nick Compton emerging with much credit. Jim Troughton's team have recovered well this season and are now up to third.
Poor Hampshire remain winless and rooted to the bottom after being tonked at Worcester. Vikram Solanki struck an excellent 173 and import Shakib al-Hasan played his part, while only Neil McKenzie and veteran 'keeper Nic Pothas showed any resistance with the bat in the second innings.
In Division Two, Northants took a firm grip at the top by thrashing hapless Leicestershire by an innings and 155. David Lucas and Jack Brooks swung the new ball to devastating effect on day three, taking five cheap wickets apiece as the home side slumped to 48 all out in only 25 overs. At Lord's, the match never looked like reaching the third day after 23 wickets fell on the first! Middlesex bowled Kent out for 87 on the first morning, Tim Murtagh taking 5-27, then Azhar Mahmood's 6-36 reduced the home county to 153. Batting seemed to get better as time wore on, and the match's highest partnership so far was the 92 put on for the 10th wicket by Mahmood and Cook! However, Middlesex opener Sam Robson showed them all how it's done, steering his side to a nine-wicket victory. They keep all 19 points, too, after the ECB inspectors decided not to penalise Middlesex for an unfit pitch.
In the other fixture, Gloucestershire leapfrogged Surrey to win a low-scoring match by four wickets. Ian Saxelby took ten wickets and skipper Alex Gidman's unbeaten 76 steered his side to victory inside three days. Now it's mostly back to Twenty20 for the next few weeks, and the eagerly-awaited arrival of the Indian tourists who got off to a winning start in Jamaica today.
