My comments last week about Gloucestershire benefitting from sitting out a potentially wet week proved prescient. Only 68 overs were possible at Taunton, time only for Surrey opener Rory Burns to score another fifty and Lewis Gregory to register his 300th first-class wicket. So Gloucester remain top of Group 2 but Hampshire made up lost ground by beating Middlesex at Lord’s by 7 wickets. Although he came in for a pounding from Keith Barker in the second innings, Tim Murtagh was on good form but it was Hampshire’s Kyle Abbott who starred, taking eleven cheap wickets.
In a very tight Group 1, Essex leapfrogged from fifth to first by trouncing Derbyshire by an innings and 15. An inexperienced attack was taken apart by the champions’ top four, including a 221-run stand by Tom Westley and Dan Lawrence, who clubbed an unbeaten 152, including a century in boundaries alone. Lawrence then had Godleman caught by Ten Doeschate which proved significant given that Simon Harmer proceeded to take all the other first-innings wickets. Derby made a better fist of their second attempt but the seamers chipped in to beat both their opponents and the weather on the final day.
Durham advance to third after dealing Worcestershire their first defeat of the season, and a comprehensive performance it was, too. Will Young and Jack Burnham made hundreds but it was Chris Rushworth who deserved the headlines. His 9-108 match analysis was impressive enough but he was really emotional after removing Haynes to become his county’s record first-class wicket-taker surpassing Graeme Onions’ career tally of 527.
Yorkshire edged in front in Group 3 with a draw against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens. Following the near-nationwide washout on day one, a result was never a realistic proposition. Joe Root was bowled by Douthwaite just one short of his ton as the White Roses established a first-innings lead despite Michael Neser’s 5-39. There was a similar situation at Hove, where Kent were easily dismissed on day one, losing two wickets to England international Jofra Archer before he succumbed to injury again. The Sussex attack was more toothless later on as Crawley, Robinson and centurion Jack Leaning ensured there was no chance of losing.
The next round of fixtures includes a couple of eye-catchers from Group 2. There’s the ever-intriguing London derby, although neither Surrey nor Middlesex seem especially keen on winning the Championship this year. Meanwhile the West Country clash between Gloucestershire and Somerset should decide who leads after week seven, although Hampshire could prove a fly in the ointment with a 24-point victory over Leicestershire. Essex seek to consolidate their Group 1 lead at home to Warwickshire, and Lancashire should return to the pinnacle of Group 3 provided they avoid heavy defeat at Northampton.
Team of the Week: Lees (Dur), Young (Dur), Leaning
(Ken), Westley (Ess), Lawrence (Ess), Robinson (Ken +), Abbott (Ham), Harmer
(Ess), Neser (Gla), S Patterson (Yor), Rushworth (Dur)
