Probably the
most famous is at Scarborough, nestled behind the townhouses which overlook the
beach of North Bay. Last week I wrote that this fixture against Yorkshire was
Somerset’s best chance of “nicking that elusive victory”. Lo and behold, they
actually did it! Poor weather meant the game only really got going on the final
few days. Seamers Liam Plunkett and Craig Overton starred in the first innings
before James Hildreth seized the initiative, making three figures before the
declaration. Unlike other occasions this summer, this week Somerset made the
advantage count as Overton again, with spinner Jack Leach ripping through the
makeshift Yorkshire line-up.
Fellow
relegation-zoners Warwickshire came within a whisker of opening their
Championship account, too. At Edgbaston, both the home side and Middlesex made
334 in their first innings, although the Londoners relied heavily on Steve
Eskinazi’s 179. The second efforts were similarly well-matched but, despite a typical doughty all-round performance from Rikki Clarke, Middlesex
somehow managed to hang on to win by a single wicket.
There was no
Sangakkara to boost Surrey’s middle-order at The Oval but he wasn’t missed too
much. On the first few days, Hampshire racked up 648-7 declared, including
centuries by Adams, Vince and Bailey. Surrey opener Rory Burns responded with a
double-hundred but even this was insufficient to prevent the follow-on. He then
contributed another 68 on the final afternoon to see his side through to a draw
which sees them in sixth place but 30 points ahead of Somerset.
Division Two
was all about the festival grounds. The Beckenham groundsman clearly hadn’t
taken any chances, and it was an absolute gift to the batsmen. Kent took full
advantage and the records tumbled! In a first innings total of 701 (their
second best ever), Sean Dickson struck the highest score by a Kent batsman on
home soil. His 318 in nearly nine hours beat anything compiled by the Woollers,
Faggs, Cowdreys and Luckhursts of days gone by, and in the town of his mum’s
birth. Along the way his second wicket partnership with Joe Denly was a county
best for any wicket. The Northants reply included three centuries, led
by 19 year-old Max Holden’s 153, and so a tame draw resulted.
By way of
contrast, the Cheltenham pitch offered little help to the batters. Credit to
Gloucestershire and Glamorgan for extending the match to the sixth session! Liam
Norwell’s 6-38 was the best bowling performance but, in the end, Bancroft and
Dent showed it was after all possible to bat, and their 137-run opening stand
saw Gloucester home and dry with two days to spare.
Up at
Chesterfield, Durham enjoyed a six-wicket victory over Derbyshire. Alex Hughes
kept Rushworth et al at bay with a courageous 108 but Jake Burnham and Ryan
Pringle led Durham to the target on day four. At picturesque Arundel, Sussex found
their feet in the second innings, taking the Leicestershire attack for 443-6
before declaring. Stiaan van Zyl top-scored with 166 not out, then Jofra Archer
(4-30) and colleagues finished the job.
Apart from
Gloucestershire’s contest with Worcestershire, the next month is all about the
Nat West T20 Blast. The opening encounters were notable for some fine
performances by Adam Lyth, Jos Buttler and Shahid Afridi. It was also encouraging
to note Championship strugglers Derbyshire and Warwickshire being the only
teams winning two out of two. Will they still be at the top of the North group
come August? I wonder.
Team of the
Week: Burns (Sur), Dickson (Ken), Denly (Ken), van Zyl (Sus), Hildreth (Som),
Rossington (Nor +), Clarke (War), C Overton (Som), Archer (Sus), Holland (Ham),
Norwell Glo)
