In a rain-affected week, there were quite a few games abandoned without a ball being bowled. However, Essex remain star performers in the Royal London One-Day Cup and Worcestershire are the only county with four wins in the T20 Blast.
Adam Lyth scored only his second List A century in Yorkshire’s impressive win over Northamptonshire and, 24 hours later, he went and struck his third! These were no stodgy Boycott-like innings; Lyth managed 15 sixes and was instrumental in reviving the White Roses’ one-day fortunes. Their contest with Lancashire resulted in a crushing 242-run victory, as Martin Guptill’s team-mates collapsed like a pack of cards.
Michael Lumb maintained his impressive run of form, notching another ton, this time against Durham but the highest partnership of the week came courtesy of the Gloucestershire openers Chris Dent (142) and Michael Klinger (166) against Hampshire.
Somerset endured a mixed week of abandonments, a win, defeat and a thrilling tie against Essex. The defeat was pretty conclusive, as Kent’s Joe Denly and Sam Billings thumped centuries before their bowlers finished the job. Ever-reliable colleague Matt Coles also had a very busy week of four matches, including a 52-ball 91 and a total of six wickets.
Sussex pair Chris Jordan and part-timer Tymal Mills showed why England has come a-calling. Jordan’s contribution included a 50-over five-for and half-century, followed by 3-18 against Kent in the Blast. Mills’ 3-15 was the best T20 bowling statistic of the county week.
Coming up, while I am swanning around on the shores of Lake Garda, the counties try their hands at the four-day format once more. The Roses battle at the top of Division One is resumed. Leaders Lancashire host Warwickshire while Yorkshire take the short trip north to Durham. In Division Two, Essex will hope to restore their winning ways at home to Leicestershire, who must be a bit ring-rusty after this week. Annoyingly, the Blast calendar and Sky TV schedule mean that the games are no longer starting simultaneously, but as long as we get some entertaining cricket I’ll let it pass!
Team of the Week: Lyth (Yor), Klinger (Glo), Duckett (Nor), Denly (Ken), Billings (Ken +), Ingram (Gla), Jordan (Sus), Coles (Ken), Gregory (Som), Tredwell (Ken), Gurney (Lan)
