Because of an impending holiday in Portugal, I am taking the unusual step of writing this week’s county blog before the full set of fixtures are over. However, with most of the results already confirmed, it’s not completely crazy.
Somerset’s
hopes of that elusive Championship title rest entirely on beating Essex at
Taunton next week after being flattened by Hampshire at the Rose Bowl inside
three days. They have become accustomed to bowling sides out twice, thanks to
the Overtons, Gregory, Leach or Davey but this week they came up against Kyle
Abbott, who claimed the best bowling figures ever for the county and the best by anybody since Jim Laker since the Fifties.
First
up he took 9-40 then, once Somerset’s openers had established a solid 86, he
produced another devastating spell of 8-46. And yet Somerset may have triumphed
had Hampshire not had to rely on centuries by Liam Dawson in the first innings
and James Vince in the second.
Meanwhile,
Essex did all that could be asked of them by routing Surrey at Chelmsford.
Porter and Cook each claimed five-fors in the first innings then the spin of
Simon Harmer polished off the calamitous ex-champions on Thursday afternoon.
Dan Lawrence and the reliable Ryan Ten Doeschate each struck tons. As a result,
a draw will be enough in the final fixture at Taunton. I think all us Somerset
fans know exactly how it will play out….
Kent
look set to beat Yorkshire and that man Darren Stevens has done it again. After
a mediocre summer, Kent decided not to renew his contract but they may be
reconsidering because he thumped a career-best 237 as part of a Kent record
sixth-wicket partnership of 347. At 43, he is also the oldest double-centurion
for the county for seventy years. And he’s not finished in this match because
at stumps on day three he has 4-12 with the ball. What a legend! It’s rare for
a man making three figures twice to be outshone, but that’s what has happened
to his skipper Sam Billings.
Nottinghamshire
have a chance of a first victory of the season, thanks largely to Steve
Mullaney and Joe Clarke, who is seeking to emulate Billings by heading towards
a second hundred of the match. Dom Sibley’s unbeaten 215 for Warwickshire may
have done enough to ensure a draw.
In
Division Two, Gloucestershire defeated Worcestershire despite Ed Barnard’s
6-42, and must surely be home and dry for a promotion they can’t honestly have
predicted. Northamptonshire are set to join them and Lancashire in the top tier
next season, barring a late-order miracle comeback by Durham. ‘Keeper Adam
Rossington’s batting counter-attack and Ben Sanderson’s wickets look to have
done the trick.
Sussex’s
slender hopes were skittled by Derbyshire, for whom Luis Reece crafted a second
innings 184 and took 5-63. White ball specialist Reece Topley enjoyed a
reasonable but long-delayed first-class debut for Sussex, albeit in a losing
cause. Leicestershire will definitely finish bottom of Division Two as Glamorgan
are on the verge of victory against them in Cardiff. Kraigg Brathwaite earned
his crust by grinding out 103.
Unless
we decide to stay on the Algarve for another six years to retain EU residency, I’ll
be back to report on the conclusion of proceedings next week.
Team of the Week: Mullaney (Not), Sibley (War), Clarke (Not), Billings (Ken), Dawson (Ham), Rossington (Nor +), Stevens (Ken), Simpson (Mid), Abbott (Ham), Harmer (Ess), Sanderson (Nor)
