It’s not
looking good for Warwickshire, though. The bottom two also played each other
but this time there was a decisive result, in favour of Somerset.
The home team
capped a miserable week, losing both the T20 Blast Final and then this crucial relegation
battle in the Championship. For all Somerset’s enduring batting problems, it
was encouraging to see struggling Tom Abell register two half-centuries in the
same match, although it was Marcus Trescothick, almost twice his age, who
scored the decisive 119 not out en route for a declaration. Jack Leach and Tim Groenewald
each took five wickets in an innings, and Craig Overton’s 4-33 continued his excellent
season. Warwickshire now look in serious danger of relegation while Somerset
have risen to within a win of Middlesex a place above them. I can’t imagine
what the authorities would make of the champions and Lord’s custodians slipping
into Division Two.
Middlesex and
Yorkshire played out a rain-affected draw and there wasn’t a great deal more to
watch at Southampton. However, wicketkeeper Ben Foakes did his England
credentials no harm with another 130 runs and his teenage deputy Ollie Pope was
allowed to achieve his maiden hundred before the captains shook hands on the
final afternoon.
The second
tier featured two major promotion clashes. Nottinghamshire might have expected
to carry their Finals Day confidence into the Championship but came a cropper
at home to Worcestershire. Another fine all-round performance by Ed Barnard and
Daryl Mitchell’s sixth century of the campaign were instrumental in Worcester’s
eight-wicket triumph against the leaders.
Behind them,
Northamptonshire advanced to level with Sussex after beating them by six
wickets. Ben Duckett’s 193 was by far the highest individual score of the week,
and Richard Kleinveldt notched his best match figures of the season, 8-98. For
once, Jofra Archer wasn’t in form with the ball, but did share a century
partnership with Wiese to delay their defeat by a few hours.
At Grace
Road, Gloucestershire seamer Liam Norwell practically beat winless
Leicestershire on his own. His second innings figures of 8-43 were the best of
the summer in the division to date, and he now has 56 victims to his name. I
feel sorry for Leicester captain Mark Cosgrove. He has been a consistent
run-maker throughout the year yet never in a winning cause. His 92 and 68 this
week put him close to 1,000 for 2017, beaten only by Mitchell and Paul Collingwood.
The latter’s
Durham rued not declaring earlier in their game against Kent. Graeme Onions
became the county’s highest ever first-class wicket-taker, adding eight to his
tally but, with nine wickets down, Sam Billings and ex-Durham number eleven
Mitch Claydon held out for a draw. At Derby, only 72 overs were possible.
Glamorgan must be used to sitting in the pavilion watching the rain this summer
but they can at least look back to a rare appearance at last weekend’s Finals
Day.
They welcome
Northants to Sophia Gardens next week but if Worcestershire beat Leicestershire
– as they certainly should – Duckett et al must surely be staying in Division
Two in 2018. In Division One, it’s top
plays bottom at Edgbaston. If Essex win, they will surely have one hand on the
title and Warwickshire could be doomed. Somerset face Lancashire while
Middlesex will hope to treat the Uxbridge crowd against Hampshire. Surrey sit
fourth despite winning just one match. Could Yorkshire frustrate them again at
The Oval?
Team of the
Week: Mitchell (Wor), Duckett (Nor), Northeast (Ken), Cosgrove (Lei), Abell
(Som), Foakes (Sur +), Barnard (Wor), Kleinveldt (Nor), Gurney (Not), Onions
(Dur), Norwell (Glo)
