For once, the April sun shone on the County Championship’s opening day of the season, and five of the six fixtures offered positive results inside three days. The venerable competition has been emasculated this year, with Division One slimmed to eight counties and only 14 matches, so we need to make the most of what first-class cricket is played this season. There were certainly some impressive performances in the first week.
Mark Stoneman made a perfect start to his Surrey career, contributing 162 to his side’s total en route to an innings defeat of Warwickshire. The Midlanders were skittled by Mark Footitt in their first innings but at least Jonathan Trott’s second innings 151 kept the game interesting into day three.
One of the title favourites, Yorkshire were up against it thanks to a bowling injury crisis. Despite skipper Gary Ballance’s best efforts with the bat, Hampshire duly took advantage. South African Kyle Abbott nabbed 7-41 before runs through the order sealed a four wicket victory.
Lancashire looked set to beat promoted Essex at Chelmsford after young wicketkeeper Alex Davies struck an unbeaten 140 then took five catches. Kolpaker Dane Vilas made 166 in his first two innings for the Red Roses, too. However, Dan Lawrence, still a teenager, battled on for 141 match-saving runs on the final day.
Two of the leading contenders for promotion were off and running with substantial wins. Nottinghamshire weren’t supposed to go down in 2016 but they should have enough firepower to bounce back into the top tier. Stuart Broad and Luke Fletcher were amongst the Leicestershire wickets but it was James Pattinson’s 89 not out and 8-84 match stats which really caught the eye. That said, the home side’s Ben Raine also enjoyed a fine all-round week. Unfortunately, Leicestershire are still in the red thanks to Charlie Shreck’s multiple pre-season discretions warranting a points deduction.
Kent were justified in crying foul after being robbed of promotion last autumn. Their 334-run mauling of Gloucestershire at Canterbry signified their intention to challenge again. Darren Stevens is beyond evergreen; he’s practically immortal. Kent must hope he is because his second-innings 6-12 was the pick of the bowling figures this week. He was ably supported by former Middlesex paceman James Harris who, if he stays free of injury, could well be the crucial addition to the squad.
Northamptonshire led the table after two days having trounced Glamorgan by an innings. Rory Kleinveldt thumped a typically rumbustious 86 and claimed six wickets, Ben Sanderson adding seven more and the Welsh were down and out. They will do well to avoid the wooden spoon come September.
Team of the Week:
Davies (Lan +), Stoneman (Sur), Trott (War), Ballance (Yor), Lawrence (Ess), Vilas (Lan), Stevens (Ken), Kleinveldt (Nor), J Pattinson (Not), Raine (Lei), Abbott (Ham).
