The final round of Bob Willis Trophy fixtures offered a myriad of possible outcomes regarding qualification for the Final. What we did not anticipate was the abandonment of the Gloucestershire-Northants clash at lunch on day one, thanks to a positive Covid test result. Obviously a concern but neither side were in contention.
The main focus in the Central group was New Road, where Worcestershire and Somerset squared up, with the winners likely to harvest sufficient points to be in the top two overall. A draw would suit neither, and it went to the final afternoon. Yet again Somerset enjoyed a first innings lead, although they conceded the first batting point of the entire season when Worcester limped to 200. Ed Barnard proceeded to rock Somerset but Tom Lammonby carried his bat for 107 to set the home team a gettable 245. However, the opposing seam attack has been dominant all summer. Jamie Overton may have jumped ship to Surrey but Josh Davey took 3-16 to thwart a useful batting line-up and carry Somerset into a second successive Lord’s final.
They will meet Essex on the 23rd to decide the destination of the red-ball title, just as they did a year ago. The county champions wrapped up victory over Middlesex at Chelmsford inside three days. Simon Harmer was again a key contributor but it was seamers Sam Cook and Aaron Beard who shone brightest, snaffling seven cheap wickets between them in the second innings.
Kent also proved triumphant, but ultimately in vain. England’s new Test star Zak Crawley notched a second innings ton but much of the damage inflicted upon Hampshire was really done by seamers Harry Podmore and that man Darren Stevens, who could celebrate match stats of 9-72. Even at 44, he could still fulfil Kent’s workhorse role. Roll on 2021!
Surrey finally clinched a consolation success at home to Sussex. Tom Haines launched the visitors to a 400+ score and not even a first red-ball century this year from Rory Burns and Will Jacks’ unbeaten 84 could help Surrey match that. New signing Jamie Overton (dammit!) weighed in with 55 but went wicketless as the spinners Moriarty and Virdi blitzed Sussex second time around, leaving Burns et al to win by six wickets.
Up North, Derbyshire’s hopes of a place at Lord’s were extinguished by Lancashire’s second-innings runfest at Aysgarth. I’d never heard of George Balderson and Danny Lamb but the duo shared a century stand and ten wickets in the 178-run victory. Jack Morley is even younger and, making his debut at 19, he took 5-71. Yorkshire also made short work of their opponents, Leicestershire. Jordan Thompson enjoyed his maiden five-for although old man Ben Coad (he’s 26) more than equalled that return. Amazingly his career first-class average has now dipped below 20.
Nobody has scooped more batting bonus points than Nottinghamshire but their bowlers have been unable to capitalise. Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke each reached three figures once more, despite the efforts of Chris Rushworth whose seven victims included his 500th for Durham who batted long enough on day four to thwart Notts yet again. The four-day winless run now extends into a third season.
Finally, a special mention for Ian Bell. In his ultimate first-class game, the Warwickshire veteran signed off with 50 and 90, and still his critics moaned about a century-making opportunity spurned. That encapsulates for me the lame attitude towards one of the finest English batsmen of the century. That his runs this week did not earn a win owes much to Glamorgan’s rearguard action on the last afternoon, led by Nick Selman’s resolute 73 and the tenth wicket pair getting through to stumps unbroken.
It’s been great to have some genuine county cricket in this Corona-summer and, although fans have been kept away from most of the action – and won’t be allowed in for the Final either – it hasn’t been a wasted year, offering opportunities to many young cricketers and introducing a host of new names to me. Let’s hope many can kick on to greater things.
Team of the Week: Burns (Sur), Lammonby
(Som), Duckett (Not), Clarke (Not), Bell (War), Wheater (Ess +), D Lamb (Mid),
D Stevens (Ken), Davey (Som), S Cook (Ess), Coad (Yor)
