It was a week of sun and showers, even in Taunton, but Somerset still had the measure of Sussex. Their six wicket triumph inside three days too the Cidermen to the top of Division One for the first time in ages. That elusive first Championship is still another eight matches away but it's a great feeling to see them in that position at the halfway stage. Ed Joyce and that bete noire Steve Magoffin threatened to derail the victory charge but a spirited late-order innings from Craig Overton, four wickets in four balls from Alfonso Thomas and some final big hits from Craig Kieswetter took us past the finishing line with a day to spare. Magoffin's first innings 6-60 took his career first class wicket tally past 400 and he remains one of the most dangerous seamers on the county circuit.
Yorkshire could have gone top had they not drawn against Nottinghamshire. James Taylor and Chris Read struck the only half-centuries in the game but too much play was lost on the first two days to achieve a result. There was less rain at Edgbaston but Warwickshire's even contest with Lancashire leaves the counties sixth and seventh in the league, respectively. The visitors' Steven Croft fired only his seventh century in four-day cricket.
In Division Two, the two leaders met at Worcester and the resulting draw leaves them dead level on points, 34 clear of third placed Essex. Worcestershire's 'keeper Ben Cox finally made his debut hundred, then Saed Ajmal's 7-63 forced Hampshire to follow on. However, England's loss was the county's gain as Michael Carberry helped stave off defeat with 125, aided by a predictably swifter 85 from Glenn Maxwell.
Evergreen Darren Stevens is also no slouch with the bat and his first day 105 for Kent came at more than a run a ball. However, Tom Westley (116) and Ravi Bopara (162) shared a second-wicket stand of 247 for Essex and their hosts were content to play out the final day for a draw. Essex's signing for the T20 season, Jesse Ryder is normally renowned for his brutal batting but this week he produced not one, but two five-fors with the ball!
It was also a week to remember for David Wainwright. The Derbyshire spinner took 5-54 and delivered a patient century as his side completed a nine-wicket win over Leicestershire, who had at least matched their neighbours for the first two days. Niall O'Brien top scored for the struggling home team in both innings but captain Ramnesh Sarwan continued his woeful form.
It wqas a rollercoaster affair at Bristol. Dunn, Tremlett and Roy rolled Gloucestershire over for 112, then Surrey coasted (see what I did there...?) to a mammoth 626-6 declared. Solanki and Roy each reached three figures while Rory Burns fell on 199, easily his best score so far. With two days left, Surrey must have fancied their chances of achieving a second success in the league this summer. However, Michael Klinger and Ian Cockbain dug their heels in and contrived to prevent a loss which looked almost certain when they faced a first innings deficit of over 500!
Derbyshire are now only nine points adrift of Amla and co and will leapfrog them by beating them next week. Hampshire could put even more daylight between themselves and promotion-chasers Essex in their clash at the Rose Bowl while Worcestershire have an easier task at winless Leicester.
