Yorkshire hang on but Notts top the table

The dearth of clear results continued in week fur of the County Championship, with bat dominating the ball. There were 17 centuries but only one five-wicket haul!

With so many draws, only eight nine points separate top from bottom in Division One, but Nottinghamshire were tantalisingly just one wicket from beating Yorkshire and extending their lead. Amidst all the runfests, poor Joe Root began what will probably be his only innings for the champions with a golden duck although team-mate Alex Leez struck 92 and 107.

Durham’s ginger duo Paul Collingwood and Ben Stokes enjoyed a solid match but Jake Burnham’s maiden hundred for Surrey cancelled them out. Somerset managed to stay one point ahead of Surrey despite following on behind a substantial Lancashire first innings in which Liam Livingstone compiled an unbeaten 108, his first in red-ball cricket. James Anderson took three wickets in one over, but was frustrated by the reliable James Hildreth. Second time around, Marcus Trescothick’s 129 not out ensured there was to be no red rose success.

The Middlesex-Hampshire contest can best be summarised by Dawid Malan 121 vs Michael Carberry 107. Oh, dear. We need some pitches better suited to bowlers, and fast!

Division Two did at least provided us with a 24-point victory. The Kent openers Bell-Drummond and Latham were in fine form, while Mitch Claydon and Matt Coles captured 12 wickets between them. Glamorgan need to find top-order runs quickly if they are to challenge for promotion.

Alastair Cook’s 190 runs and Porter’s five-for helped Essex remain top but Leicestershire advanced to the dizzy heights of second after a decent display against Sussex. Their new boys Paul Horton and ex-Essex captain Mark Pettini again shored up the Leicester batting, and Ben Raine’s first innings 4-30 proved to be the best bowling performance of the week.

There was no chance of anyone winning at Northampton, as Libby and Levi swapped centuries with Hughes. Richard Kleinveldt blasted the fastest innings for Northants, falling just three runs short of three figures in just 69 balls.

The sun is expected to shine and temperatures to rise next week so could the seam and swing merchants cash in at last? Let’s hope so. Leaders Notts head to Lord’s, but Lancashire could go top by beating Hampshire. I reckon Somerset will fail at Edgbaston, though. We’re having another crap start to a summer but fortunately nobody else is winning, either!

Team of the Week:
Leez (Yor), Cook (Ess), Burnham (Sur), Hildreth (Som), Pettini (Lei), Livingstone (Lan), O’Brien (Lei +), Raine (Lei), Coles (Ken), Ball (Not), Porter (Ess)