The
World Cup may be throwing up a few surprises but the County Championship is
turning into more of a two-horse race each week. Yorkshire began the latest round
of fixtures in third place but Essex made quick work of the Tyke visitors, thanks
largely to the redoubtable Aussie Peter Siddle and Simon Harmer.
After
two days in Taunton, Somerset’s position was less assured. Spin was king, and both
Ravi Ashwin and 20 year-old debutant Liam Patterson-White were running rings
around the home team, with the crucial exceptions of Azhar Ali and Jamie
Overton. Totals had been dropping with each innings completed but still
Nottinghamshire had well over a day to reach a target of 255. No chance. The situation seemed tailor-made for Jack
Leach and Dom Bess but it was the pace of Jamie Overton which hastened the
demise of the bottom county and restored Somerset’s fifteen-point advantage.
Next week it’s our turn to face Yorkshire while Essex welcome Warwickshire to
the County Ground which, on paper, looks the easier task.
Surrey’s
2019 nightmare continued, losing to Kent by five wickets at The Oval. Dean
Elgar struck a couple of sixties but a five-for by Darren Stevens, resembling
more than ever a veteran umpire rather than a deadly seamer, and six catches
and a half-century by Ollie Robinson ended any chances of a Morkel-inspired
fightback.
Meanwhile
at the Rose Bowl, Hampshire appeared determined to repeat ther May hammering of
Warwickshire. A maiden hundred from opener Ian Holland and Aneurin Donald’s 173
set up a first innings lead of 232. However, Sam Hain’s poor run of scores
ended with two centuries, and an unbeaten ninth wicket stand of 112 by Patel
and Brookes staved off defeat on the fourth day.
In
the second flight, Lancashire failed to capitalise on Glamorgan’s rest week,
only managing a draw at Northampton. This left them only seven points clear at
the top. Northants were far from outplayed and the Red Roses should be thankful
for Alex Davies’ first ton of the campaign and final afternoon resistance by
captain Vilas and Bohannon.
Derbyshire
edged above Sussex into third by means of an 82-run defeat of Worcestershire at
Kidderminster. 21 wickets had fallen on the first day but centuries by young
Tom Lace and old Callum Ferguson took things into a fourth day when Derby bowlers
Palladino and Rampaul ended the home side’s chances of victory and, very
possibly, promotion.
Leicestershire
must have fancied their chances at home to Durham but instead ended up bottom
of the Championship. Skipper Cameron Bancroft led from the front while Ben
Raine and Chris Rushworth claimed sixteen wickets between them in a 119-run
triumph which catapulted them into fifth place. After such a terrible start they
could yet be in the First Division next year.
Middlesex
also leapt three positions by outscoring Gloucestershire at their regular Northwood
outpost. The visitors’ Ryan Higgins bowled well, as did Tim Murtagh (when does
he ever bowl badly?) but the match really belonged to Toby Roland-Jones. His
first innings 7-52 followed by 51 not out extended Gloucester’s target to a
tricky 216. Murtagh’s 5-44 led the way but Roland-Jones took his match tally to
ten wickets and the 19 points were theirs.
Team of the
Week: Holland (Ham), A Davies (Lan), Hain (War), Ferguson (Wor), Donald (Ham),
Robinson (Ken +), Roland-Jones (Mid), Raine (Dur), Higgins (Glo), Bess (Som), Harmer
(Ess)
