Surrey romped
to a ten-wicket victory over Essex at Chelmsford, that man Rikki Clarke
combining a half-century with eight cheap wickets. He’s the Darren Stevens of
2018! Their only feasible challengers for the title, Somerset, were involved in
a low-scoring spin-fest against Lancashire at Taunton. Jack Leach had captured twelve
wickets to leave the home side needing only 78 to win. However, on the second
afternoon, fellow left-arm slowie Keshav Maharaj carried on where Leach left
off, and the wickets tumbled. Somerset scrambled their way to 77, needing one
to win with two wickets remaining. Dom Bess went for glory and was duly
stumped. Jamie Overton and Leach played it cool for ten whole deliveries but
then Leach was caught by Bailey and it was all over, scores level: a tie!
Hampshire
defeated bottom club Worcestershire by 114 runs, who at least took the match
into a third day. As at Taunton, neither side managed an innings of 200. Worcester
all-rounder Ed Barnard took 6-50 on the first day but bagged a pair as Kyle
Abbott and Dale Steyn ripped through the home county’s batting in under 42
overs.
Three of the
four hundreds scored this week came at Trent Bridge, the only place where
bowlers struggled. While other teams were being bowled out inside a couple of
sessions, Nottinghamshire openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Ben Slater were putting
on 182 for the first wicket alone. In reply, Ballance and Kohler-Cadmore ground
out centuries as the pitch and weather ensured a draw.
Surrey now
sit 43 points clear and facing the less-than-arduous trip to Worcester, while
Somerset travel to Hampshire. The Roses match at Headingley is but a sideshow in
comparison.
The Division
Two promotion battle remains an exciting three-horse race. Warwickshire’s lead
was sliced to a mere seven points having been held to a draw by Durham. Olly
Stone starred with the ball but on the final afternoon, Poynter and Salisbury
held on for the last six overs, defying the bowlers and claustrophobia,
surrounded by close fielders, and avoided defeat.
Kent are still
in second place, the returning Matt Henry back in the wickets (11-114 for the
match) as they dealt with Northamptonshire quite easily. Meanwhile at Hove,
Sussex rediscovered their mojo. After their reverse against Middlesex, Chris Jordan
(68 and 54) and Ollie Robinson (5-24 and 5-43) starred in a 274-run thrashing
of Leicestershire. Credit, though, to the opposing Ben Mike. The 20 year-old
debutant aggregated 9-94 with his medium pace, deserving a better result for
his efforts.
It was nice
to see a Hammond making three figures for Gloucestershire again, almost a
century after namesake Wally first played at Bristol. This time it was former
under-19 international Miles who struck an unbeaten 123 in the second innings.
Nevertheless, the game with Middlesex ended in a draw. As for Glamorgan, their
disastrous batting record continued, Derbyshire the lucky beneficiaries,
especially Tony Palladino who finished with 10-81.
Next week,
Warwickshire, Sussex and Kent are all on the road, while Gloucestershire will
lick their lips at a drive across the Severn Bridge to Cardiff. Can Glamorgan
garner any batting points, let alone a victory? Don’t bet on it. They’ve
acquired only nine batting bonuses all summer.
Team of the
Week:
Slater (Not),
Hammond (Glo), Denly (Ken), Ballance (Yor), Billings (Ken +), Clarke (Sur),
Jordan (Sus), Henry (Ken), Stone (War), Robinson (Sus), Leach (Som)
