While international cricket and the Premier League have seen frequent changes in the hierarchy in the past year or so, the County Championship seems to be following suit. This week, Nottinghamshire inflicted a first defeat upon previous leaders Somerset while Yorkshire thumped Warwickshire inside three days to join them at the top with 142 points, both claiming a maximum 24 points. With 16 for a win, at this rate anybody except Northants could win the pennant come September.
All the Notts bowlers played a part as Somerset batsmen, Trescothick apart, were despatched for 168 on the first day, then Mullaney and Jacques overtook that total on their own. The in-form Samit Patel and Riki Wessels took the home side lead to approaching 300. Chris Jones, Peter Trego (107 not out) and a 71-run tenth wicket stand between Dockrell and Jamie Overton took the match to the fourth day but, despite Craig Overton's double-strike in the opening over, Chris Read's side wrapped up a seven-wicket victory.
Not for the first time in recent seasons, Warwickshire's batsmen let down their bowlers, to the benefit of Yorkshire. Even without Root and Ballance, the Tykes were simply too strong. They could even blood an 18 year-old slow left-arm spinner in Karl Carver and come out smelling of (White) Roses. Aaron Finch top-scored with 110. At the Riverside, Durham simply overpowered Sussex. Mark Stoneman and Keaton Jennings contributed centuries while Ben Stokes starred with the ball. His ten wickets mean he will be hammering on the England selectors' door once more. Not too vigorously, of course; he should learn a lesson from the locker incident!
Lancashire were the latest county to hammer Northamptonshire at Old Trafford. The visitors could take some comfort from leaving Lancs at 33-3, but Ashwell Prince (257 not out) and Steven Croft (156) shared a triple-century partnership. Jos Buttler and Tom Smith advanced the total to a formidable 650-6 declared, and Smith (again), Chapple, Kerrigan et al bowled the bottom side out twice by early on the last morning. Middlesex must be licking their lips for the visit of Peters et al next weekend. Don't buy tickets for Day Four!
In Division Two, neither of the runaway leaders were in action but Surrey's resurgence continued, taking them to the giddy heights of third place. Skipper Gary Wilson (160 not out) and Chris Tremlett (90) each made career-best scores in the first innings total of 522-9 declared. Angus Robson responded well with two half-centuries and number eleven Charlie Shreck struck a maiden 50 but Leicestershire were unable to prevent a ten-wicket defeat.
Young opener Daniel Bell-Drummond's 101 helped Kent to 333. Not a massive total but it was almost sufficient to beat Derbyshire by an innings. Darren Stevens and Alex Riley shared sixteen wickets, the former's 6-64 in the second innings being the most striking set of figures. Kent's win couldn't lift them above Glamorgan despite the latter failing to clinch victory over Gloucestershire at Bristol despite topping 600. The home team ground out a draw by scoring at under two an over on the last day. Earlier, Jacques Rudolph and Ben Wright produced centuries and four others passed 50 for the Welsh but their bowlers were too slow to pierce the defences of Ian Cockbain, Will Gidman and Will Tavare. The latter's uncle Chris would have been proud of his defiance and slow-scoring!
Glamorgan next travel to Worcester, Gloucestershire to Essex but the tastiest tie looks to be Hampshire's visit to The Oval where Surrey could now be strong opposition, especially if it's a spinner's wicket.
I'm on holiday at the weekend so I offer my Team of the Week a bit earlier and briefer than normal:-
Robson (Eng), Rudolph (Gla), Sangakkara (SL), Prince (Lan), Root (Eng), Mathews (SL *), Wilson (Sur +), Stokes (Dur), Stevens (Ken), Tremlett (Sur), Prasad (SL)
