Middlesex flew past Durham to take a three-point lead at the top of the County Championship. England reject, Sam Robson, kicked things off nicely with 178, then England never-quite-selected, James Harris, wrapped up the win by plundering nine second innings wickets in a single spell. They didn’t have it all their own way after Chris Rushworth and John Hastings each claimed cheap five-fors, but the Middlesex attack were just too much overall. The leaders now travel to Hove for a top-of-the-table clash with Sussex while Durham host Nottinghamshire.
At the other end of the division, things are already looking grim for Somerset. The arrival of Matthew Maynard was supposed to galvanise a side in transition, but not even skipper Marcus Trescothick could recall a three-match losing streak like this one. Worcestershire should have been easy opponents yet a 178 seventh wicket stand by Ben Cox and Joe Leach followed by a third day skittling for 90 led to a humilating innings defeat at New Road. Tres talked about some ‘soul-searching’ and that’s putting it mildly!
In Division Two, a rare win for Gloucestershire elevated them to the dizzy heights of fourth after defeating Essex inside three days. Medium pacer Liam Norwell took ten wickets as the home side’s unfamiliar Eleven succumbed rather tamely. Lancashire extended their lead at the summit with their draw against closest rivals Northamptonshire. As in other parts of the country, rain affected the result, so all Northants could do on the final day was dig in and improve their batting averages. Ashwell Prince’s 153 was in vain, but it was the home team’s number eight, Steven Crook who top-scored in the whole match, adding an unbeaten 102 to his earlier 91.
Leicestershire must have enjoyed their first innings lead over Kent at Canterbury, but nerves must have been shredded as Rob Key’s men homed in on the 315 target. Daniel Bell-Drummond reached three figures but far too slowly, and with the dangerous Darren Stevens dismissed for 34, Kent finished 42 runs short. Only 155 overs were possible at Cardiff. The game was notable only for Scott Elstone’s maiden first-class century for Derbyshire.
All in all, it was a week for seam bowlers rather than spin or the bat. For my team of the week, the batsmen almost picked themselves but some good performers like Worcestershire’s young duo Joe Leach and Charlie Morris narrowly missed out. Here’s my XI:-
Robson (Mid), Peters (Nor), Cosgrove (Lei, *), Elstone (Der), Prince (Lan), Cox (Wor, +), Crook (Nor), McKay (Lei), Harris (Mid), Hastings (Dur), Norwell (Glo)
