After three good days of cricket, rain swept over England on Wednesday, frustrating the likes of Somerset, Hampshire and Worcestershire who each looked odds-on to clinch victories. Yorkshire could at least look smug havig despatched Nortamptonshire inside three days, thus eliminating the lottery of the early June weather.
The struggling home team actually earned a first innings lead, thanks in part to Ian Butler's 4-41. However, Yorkshire turned things around in stunning fashion. Following a first morning duck, Adam Lyth produced a top-drawer 230, sharing a record-breaking opening stand of 375 with Alex Lees. Liam Plunkett then led the final charge to clinch a 271-run victory and a place in the England Test squad. At the Riverside, Middlesex were relieved to survive with a draw after Durham slammed Murtagh, Finn et al for 568. Mark Stoneman and Scott Borthwick enjoyed a productive second wicket partnership of 274, each reaching career-best scores of 187 and 216, respectively. Toby Roland-Jones maintained his recent fine form with another five-for/half-century duet, or maybe Middlesex wouldn't still be sitting top of the table.
Somerset forced a follow-on at Old Trafford, courtesy of an Alviro Petersen century and three wickets apiece for Peter Trego, Craig Overton and George Dockrell. Unfortunately their bid for the number one position was thwarted by a Wednesday washout. Hove also witnessed a handful of 150+ scores. Samit Patel stroked 25 boundaries in his 156 but Ed Joyce responded with an unbeaten 164. Alex Hales was let off the leash to plunder 167 in 133 balls with the intention of hastening a practicable declaration but it ultimately achieved nothing. It also did nothing to establish Test credentials of a player who cannot play a solid responsible opener's role but can be magnificent when required to score rapidly. The draw left both teams in mid-table but still within reach of Middlesex.
In Division Two, both Hampshire and Worcestershire were left high and dry within reach of easy wins. The former needed just two final Derbyshire wickets to wrap up a comprehensive victory only for a combination of dogged Alex Hughes and dour rain to ruin their opportunity. NO three-figure scores but a 5-50 for Danny Briggs. At The Oval, Moeen Ali compiled an excellent 162 but Surrey's equally famous beard-owner Hashim Amla was elsewhere being named SA Test skipper. Surrey slipped from 134-1 to 206 all out, most wickets going not to Saeed Ajmal but Jack Shantry. They followed on but batted more respectably until the weather intervened.
IN Essex, Will Bragg accumulated more valuable runs for Glamorgan but there wasn't time for the home side to face more than six overs in their chase for victory. If the rain had matched Monty Panesar's poor timekeeping his side may have succeeded. Gloucestershire leapt to third place after defeating Leicestershire by nine wickets. The match started a day later than the others, giving Michael Klinger and Benny Howell the chance to smash their way to 255 at almost seven an over. The Aussie captain must have been particularly relieved after enduring a miserable run of scores in all cricket this summer. Mid-season signing from Kent and former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones whacked 93 in the first innings, too.
Next weekend, the top two meet in a mouth-watering clash at Worcester while the bottom pair Leicestershire and Derbyshire also vie to avoid the wooden spoon. The top tier challengers will be competing to topple Middlesex from their lofty perch. Yorkshire, Somerset and Warwickshire all have home advantage, against Notts, Sussex and Lancs, respectively.
