The opening fixtures of the Royal London Cup produced some memorable batting performances, especially by South Africans, with bowlers struggling to make a mark.
In the North division, Yorkshire and Worcestershire each won both of their matches. The former enjoyed easy victories over Nottinghamshire (helped by Bresnan’s bowling and Joe Root’s unbeaten 75) and Lancashire, who were undone by a 143-run stand between Handscomb and Ballance, and the spin of Rashid and Rafiq. Worcester’s successes, against Notts and Leicestershire, owed more to the whole team.
The most exciting climax was witnessed by the Old Trafford crowd on Friday evening. A strong start from Hameed (on his List A debut) and a late flurry of boundaries by Joe Clark took Lancashire to 314-8. An over was lost to the weather, leaving Leicestershire a D/L target of 309. Mark Pettini and South African Cameron Delport shared a first-wicket century stand, but it was Zak Chappell’s cameo which clinched the three-wicket triumph with four balls to spare.
In the South group, Somerset are the only side with two wins out of two. Against old rivals Surrey, they found themselves in dire straits at 22-5. Enter Roelof van der Merwe. Supported by fellow Saffer Dean Elgar, he clumped 22 fours and a six en route to a career-best 165 not out, leading to victory in under 44 overs. A few days later, Elgar reached three figures himself at Hove. In a rain-affected match, Craig Overton’s 3-20 restricted Sussex to just 155-9 in their 20 overs. After two Championship defeats, Somerset needed this boost to their season!
Elsewhere, Durham skipper Keaton Jennings was in superb form. He followed his 79 in the Derbyshire ‘no result’ with a commanding century against Warwickshire. 23 year-old James Weighell weighed in with a decisive 5-57, too. Glamorgan opener Jacques Rudolph crunched 121 not out off the Gloucestershire attack and 57 versus Surrey. Team-mate Colin Ingram also enjoyed all-round success during the week.
Craig Norwell (5-36) and Benny Howell (86 not out and 3-40) were instrumental in Gloucestershire’s trumping of Middlesex, while Neil Wagner’s 4-41 was the most eye-catching contribution to Essex’s success in their only match played so far. I reckon the Chelmsford outfit will have plenty more this season, with the likes of Ten Doeschate, Westley and Ashar Zaidi on form, and then there’s Alastair Cook who’s no fool in the 50-over format.
In the coming week, three of the most interesting fixtures are Kent’s trip to Taunton, Surrey’s hosting of Essex and Yorkshire’s trip to Worcester. And then there’s the potentially popular London derby on 5th May. Middlesex won’t want to lose to Surrey at Lord’s!
Team of the Week: Rudolph (Gla), Jennings (Dur), Elgar (Som), Thakor (Nor), Ingram (Gla), van der Merwe (Som), Foakes (+, Sur), Howell (Glo), Norwell (Glo), C Overton (Som), Weighell (Dur).
