Worcestershire Up…. Then Down

It all started so well for Worcestershire. Last weekend, a combination of Ben Cox’s new-found finishing skills, Pat Brown’s mega-mean spin and Moeen Ali’s allroundership propelled the Royals to their first T20 Blast title. However, they knew that their stay in the Championship’s top flight was tenuous at best. Needing to beat Essex at Chelmsford, it all went pear-shaped straightaway as Jamie Porter ripped through them before lunch. Ravi Bopara then starred as Essex established a 380-run first-innings lead. There was no coming back from that. When asked a direct question, Daryl Mitchell had professed a preference for the Finals Day success even if his side were relegated so at least he and his mates will have to live off the Edgbaston euphoria.

Champions-elect Surrey were thwarted in their effort to make it ten consecutive wins by the impact of Storm Bronagh. Gales and torrential rain combined to render the Taunton pitch unplayable on day four, with Somerset struggling to avoid an innings defeat. Surrey’s top four had piled on well over 300 runs before the home team were bowled out for a mediocre 146. His hopes of a Championship already dashed poor Marcus Trescothick bagged a pathetic ‘pair’. I hope his Taunton career doesn’t end in such a manner.

The weather messed things up at Headingley where Adam Lyth had reached three figures in the Championship for the first time in over a year. Tim Bresnan also rolled back the years, taking 5-28 but a final day washout gave Hampshire the draw they needed to preserve Division One status. The White Roses are almost certainly safe and need just five points from their final fixture against Worcestershire to be 100% sure. Lancashire must win at Southampton to stand a chance of relegating Nottinghamshire who host Somerset.

The Division Two promotion places were confirmed when Kent annihilated Glamorgan with five sessions to spare. They notched their tenth victory and the Welsh side their tenth defeat, which says it all. Matt Henry and Darren Stevens took nine second-innings wickets while 20 year-old Zak Crawley completed a maiden century. With Warwickshire and Sussex playing out a high-scoring draw – a rarity this month – Sussex saw their fading hopes evaporate completely.

If Glamorgan thought they had it bad, Durham suffered the ignominy of being bowled out twice by Leicestershire for under 70 inside 52 second day overs. Mohammad Abbas achieved a couple of five-fors, including five clean-bowleds en route for a fifth win of the summer.

Middlesex beat Derbyshire despite a Matt Critchley century and, in a last day rearguard action, Billy Godleman carrying his bat for 105. The Gloucestershire-Northants action was severely curtailed by the weather. There’s not a lot to play for next week so expect a few first-class debuts around the country and maybe the launch of future stellar careers.

Team of the Week:

Robson (Mid), Crawley (Ken), Godleman (Der), Trott (War), Hain (War), Cox (Wor +), Critchley (Der), Stevens (Ken), Henry (Ken), Mohammad Abbas (Lei), Porter (Ess)