In
the week that the ICC World Cup launched at The Oval, the County Championship
featured some fine performances not so much by batsmen but three reliable
spinners. In particular, Edgbaston witnessed two eight-fors – both on the same climactic
day. Surrey’s veteran Gareth Batty’s was completed by a hat-trick, then Jeetan
Patel reeled off 31 consecutive overs, 18 of them maidens, to ensure Warwickshire
registered their first Championship victory of the summer. Remarkably, champions
Surrey are still waiting for theirs.
With
Somerset having a week off, Yorkshire and Hampshire met at Headingley to decide
which of them would take over at the top of Division One. In a rain-affected game,
neither could manufacture a win, but Hampshire’s nine points took them seven
clear. Gary Ballance’s 100 and Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s 69 set up a declaration but
Weatherley and Rossouw batted Hants to safety. Given another couple of hours it
could have been a nail-biter, but it wasn’t to be.
At
Chelmsford, the Thames estuary derby resulted in a 113-run triumph for Essex.
Alastair Cook found his form at last and was denied his chance of a first ever
two-century match when dismissed for 90 in the second innings. Kent were set a
challenging 338 on day four and, despite Bell-Drummond’s solid 81, were always
looking to survive rather than win. Simon Harmer’s 8-98 proved decisive, and
the result elevates Essex into the top four.
In
Division Two, Worcestershire’s challenge hit a hurdle in the form of Middlesex
who hitherto had been struggling. In a mostly low-scoring match, dominated by
bowlers, a double-century second innings partnership by Gubbins (91) and Malan (124)
was outstanding in more ways than one, swinging the fixture their way before
Tim Murtagh’s 6-51 finished the job.
Lancashire
could only draw with Gloucestershire at Cheltenham where the fickle weather was
the only winner. There was time, however, for Matt Taylor to collect a five-for
as the game petered out. Derbyshire advanced to second place by out-bowling
Leicestershire over four rain-affected days. Wayne Madsen was the only man to
reach 50 (just!) but you couldn’t accuse Leicestershire’s Hassan Azad of not
trying. He spent a total of 400 minutes at the crease, grinding out a miserly
90 runs in the process! Tony Palladino’s 5-29 was the highlight. Now 35, the
Londoner has seamed away out of the spotlight for years, garnering well over
400 first-class wickets at under 30 apiece, and it would be fitting if his
wickets took Derby into the top flight.
There
were rather more runs at Hove where Sussex entertained Glamorgan. Welshman Phil
Salt, South African Marnus Labuschagne and local boy Ben Brown all reached
three figures. However, perhaps the best performance came from the visiting
opener Nick Selman. First he carried his bat for 76, then he contributed 99 to
a second-wicket stand of 291 with Labuschagne.
Next
up for Sussex is a trip to Lord’s, while Lancashire and Derbyshire face relatively
simple tasks against Durham and Leicestershire, respectively. In theory, that
is. In Division One, Surrey and Somerset met again, this time at Guildford,
while Yorkshire and Essex clash at Leeds. Nottinghamshire travel to Birmingham
hoping for the victory which would see them climb out of the basement.
Team of the
Week: Selman (Gla), Cook (Ess), Labuschagne (Gla), Ballance (Yor), Malan (Mid),
Brown (Sus +), Harmer (Ess), Patel (War), Batty (Sur), Palladino (Der), Murtagh
(Mid)
