This week’s One-Day Cup was one of mixed fortunes for all, and rain also throwing a spanner in the works. Group 2 leaders Essex are the only county to have won more than three games. They thrashed Kent by nine wickets, with Alastair Cook and Tom Westley in charge, but at Bristol left it to the last ball to edge past Gloucestershire by two wickets. Aussie medium-pacer Shane Snater took his wicket tally to thirteen, comfortably ahead of anyone else so far. It was a tough week for Gloucestershire, especially as Jack Taylor struck three half-centuries, Ben Charlesworth aggregated 160 runs (including a 99 not out) and Graeme Van Buuren took six wickets.
Durham are hard on their heels after Sean Dickson’s 76-ball 103 and a fine all-round performance by teenager Luke Doneathy helped stall Lancashire’s charge. Batsman Rob Jones and seamer Tom Bailey did their best for the Red Roses but another defeat, to Midlesex, could cost them dearly.
In Group 1, Somerset are the only unbeaten county in the competition and could have ended the week with a 100% record had they not had two fixtures curtailed by the weather. They sit level on points with Glamorgan, who slaughtered Surrey, featuring a typically miserly ten-over spell by Michael Hogan (1-18). Nigel Selman’s 140 against Leicestershire was the top score around the country but sadly it proved in vain as their opponents were prevented from completing their reply by rain.
They probably wouldn’t have reached the target, having been put to the sword at Welbeck by Nottinghamshire who triumphed with thirty overs remaining. Neighbours Derbyshire achieved their first victory in the tournament, also against Notts. Tom Wood’s 109 off only 59 balls was the outstanding innings, and wasn’t the product of hit-and-hope slogs; there were only three sixes but 14 fours. All-rounder Finn Hudson-Prentice continued his good form and yet they are languishing near the bottom of Group 1.
Next week sees the final league fixtures and it really is all to play for. Almost anyone can sneak into the top four placings in each group. Essex meet their closest rivals Durham and Lancashire so I’d expect at least two of these three to qualify for the quarter-finals. I expect Gloucestershire to be in the mix, too.
Somerset probably need two wins from last three matches, but it could go down to their trip to Warwickshire next Thursday. Glamorgan close with two home ties, but Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire are tough opponents who also fancy their chances of progression.
Team of the
Week: Charlesworth (Glo), Eskinazi (Mid), Selman (Gla), Westley (Ess), Burgess
(Not +), T Wood (Der), Taylor (Glo), Hudson-Prentice (Der), Van Buuren (Glo),
Bailey (Lan), Snater (Ess)
