Twenty years after their last Championship title, Middlesex have made a near-perfect start to their 2013 assault. It was another low-scoring affair this week, and the seam attack again proved too strong for their opponents, Derbyshire. Tim Murtagh, surely one of the best London-born bowlers never to have played for England, led the second innings demolition with 5-12, but Steve Finn and Toby Roland-Jones each weighed in with cheap wickets in a game where Derby always struggled. Shiv Chanderpaul needs more support if they are to avoid the drop.
Warwickshire moved second after thumping Durham by 318 runs. Putting his troubled times behind him, Tim Ambrose top-scored with 105 to set up a stiff target for Collingwood and co. However, the two Chrises, Wright and Woakes were instrumental in blowing Durham away for under 100. IN this form, a successful title defence could be on the cards. At The Oval, Alviro Petersen scored 167 and 91 on his Somerset debut, but centuries from Rory Burns and Steven Davies ensured a draw after Graeme Smith was dismissed three balls into his new county career.
In Division Two, Glamorgan surprised me by beating both Worcestershire and the weather at Cardiff, their first home win against these opponents for 42 years! Michaels Hogan and Reed reduced Worcester to a mere 123 on day one, but it was Jim Allenby's 78 and 4-27 which sealed the 10-wicket victory. Only Northamptonshire stand above them, following an innings defeat of Essex. Tough for Graham Napier, whose rapid 73 not out and 6-93 deserved to win something. However, David Willey surpassed that all-round performance, hitting 76 and taking 8-110 in the match. The home side also had their two Aussie bowlers Trent Copeland and Stephen Crook to thank, but for their runs not wickets. They, along with Willey, added an incredible 228 for the final two wickets to turn the match in their favour. Essex bowlers were flayed by the spirited tailenders for more than six an over - and Saj Mahmood wasn't even playing!
In the other game, Leicestershire and Kent played out a draw in which batsmen were definitely on top. Kent led the way with runs all the way down the order before the home team compiled almost 500. Max Boyce and teenager Shiv Thakor each reached three figures and put on 181 for the sixth wicket, leaving time only for Rob Key to reach his 47th first-class ton before declaring to call time on the contest.
This week, there are a number of local derbies to spice things up a bit. In Division One, Durham host Yorkshire and Derbyshire meet Notts, but the tie of the week could well be Sussex's visit to Surrey. Rory Hamilton-Brown and Chris Jordan should appear against their former colleagues, but both counties have quality throughout their respective squads. A tough one to call.
