In the clash
involving to the top two, the weather wasn’t conducive to a clear result.
However, following Kumar Sangakkara’s splendid first-innings 200 (after
Surrey’s early collapse to 31-5), the final day was all about whether the Sri
Lankan star would become the first player to score six consecutive County
Championship centuries. He was cruising into the 60s when play was suspended. Surely
Sanga wouldn’t be robbed of the record so cruelly? Fortunately, he was soon
back in the middle but Jamie Porter was dismissing his partners at a rate of
knots. Then on 84, he fell to a caught-and-bowled by Westley, and that was
that. So near yet so far. With both sides claiming eleven points, the draw left
Essex a point clear in the race for the Championship pennant.
The only
other Division One fixture saw Somerset lose again inside three days. Spinners
Jack Leach and Dom Bess nabbed seventeen wickets for the Taunton hosts but,
David Elgar apart, the Westcountrymen struggled with the bat against the slow
bowling of Liam Dawson and Matt Crane, who took 5-40 to clinch a 90-run victory
for Hampshire which keeps them in third place.
Hampshire
will now meet Warwickshire while Somerset travel to Lord’s in what will be a
tough challenge against the champions. We also have another Roses encounter,
this time in Yorkshire, and both counties need a victory to kickstart their
red-ball seasons.
There was a
full round of fixtures in Division Two, yielding three substantial margins of
victory. At Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire flattened Gloucestershire by an
innings and 50 runs and now sit atop the table. Cheteshwar Pujara and Michael
Lumb each reached three figures while it was all-rounder Steven Mullaney’s 5-32
which wrapped things up on the third day.
Kent remain
hard on their heels after taking the honours in the South East derby at
Tunbridge Wells. Having dropped him from my Fantasy team, Joe Denly duly struck
119 and 71 not out. Typical! The doughty Darren Stevens then took 5-40 to
restrict Sussex to 164 all out and, after a rapid declaration second innings,
the visitors were offered the challenge of scoring 504 in the best part of two
days. The first three batsmen fell for just eight runs but the rest did at
least make a fist of reaching the formidable target before Coles and Harris
ended the run chase 147 runs short.
At
Northampton, Worcestershire maintained their 100% record in the Championship.
Opener Daryl Mitchell continued his recent fine form, contributing 237 to the
cause, including a first-innings 161 and a run-a-ball 78 to save the game going
to a fourth day.
It was a
closer encounter at Swansea where Glamorgan achieved their first win of the
campaign. Michael Hogan may not be deemed quick enough to open the bowling, nor
Paul Collingwood fit for international duty, but both were in fine fettle for
their respective counties. Nevertheless, it was young Nick Selman’s fine 116
not out which proved decisive on an exciting final day down by the seaside.
Leicestershire
and Derbyshire are still winless after their clash at Derby, but the runs
flowed freely like the River Derwent. It’s not often that Leicester reach 600+
but centuries from Colin Ackermann, Mark Cosgrove and Ned Eckersley (a
career-best 158) did propel the side to such heights. Godleman and Thakor also
made pleasing hundreds as part of a 532-run response. Spare a thought for Sri
Lankan spinner Jeevan Mendis who had to wheel away for 74 overs for a
six-wicket return across the match. I think it’s fair to say that neither will
make the promotion placings, and to rub it in Derbyshire now meet leaders Notts.
Team of the
Week: Mitchell (Wor), Mullaney (Not), Denly (Ken), Sangakkara (Sur), Cosgrove
(Lei), Collingwood (Dur), Cooke (Gla +), Porter (Ess), Crane (Ham), Bess (Som),
Hogan (Gla)
