At the other
end of the tables, Worcestershire and Somerset held on to their respective top
spots. Moeen Ali struck the only century of the week, 115 in 56 balls against
his Birmingham neighbours, while Somerset’s Corey Anderson plundered a 30-ball
72 off Glamorgan, including six sixes. Glamorgan’s recent surge hit a brick
wall and they suffered a disastrous final week. Their last-day showdown at home
to Surrey might have been a crucial qualification clash but by the time the
rain had cleared from Cardiff and Aaron Finch smashed boundaries in the five
overs allotted, the result was purely academic.
Sussex
finished strongly, thanks largely to Salt’s two sixties and Rashid Khan’s
typical economy. Gloucestershire just about hung on in fourth place despite a
winless week, while Kent cemented second place, and a home quarter-final by
completing a thrilling victory against leaders Somerset on Thursday. Billings
and Bell-Drummond led the charge to 231-5 at Canterbury. Needing 70 to
win from the last 21 deliveries, Luke Gregory crashed Haggett and Claydon to
all corners of the ground but ended the innings an agonising five runs short.
Next week,
Somerset will face champions Nottinghamshire, who defeated both Worcestershire
and close rivals Yorkshire yesterday en route to the top four position they craved.
Alex Hales anchored their run chase and Tom Moores provided the fireworks as
the Outlaws clinched it by eight wickets with an over to spare.
Last weekend,
Lancashire bowled out Durham for a paltry 78, with all six bowlers employed
chipping in. That meant they could afford to get hammered by the Bears at
Edgbaston and still finished third and bag a trip to Kent in the last eight.
Sussex will travel to Durham and Worcestershire host Gloucestershire. I fancy
the Sharks, Lightning, Rapids and Outlaws to participate in Finals Day.
In the meantime,
there’s a full round of Championship fixtures to keep us occupied. Somerset
require a victory over Essex to keep Surrey within range but a Lancashire
victory at the Oval might keep things interesting in Division One. In the
second flight, the Vitality Blast wooden-spooners Middlesex and Northants meet
at Wantage Road, but in red ball cricket I’d expect the Londoners to have the upper
hand. They need some success to keep their season alive, poor dears.
Team of the
Week:
Bell-Drummond (Ken), Salt (Sus), Ali (Wor, Willey (Yor), Billings (Ken +), Howell (Glo),
Anderson (Som), Gregory (Som), Brown (Wor), Rashid Khan (Sus), Waller (Som)
