First of all I have to proffer my grudging congratulations to Kent for winning the T20 Blast, consigning Somerset to their customary runners-up spot. Their Finals Day victories while batting first (also against Sussex) demonstrated their all-round abilities, from the batting of Bell-Drummond and Cox to the bowling of Milnes and Klaasen. However, it was that man Darren Stevens whose unbeaten 47 from 28 balls was instrumental in reaching the final. Kent don’t win many trophies these days so it was nice to see the 45 year-old get to hold aloft some silverware before retirement, whenever that might be, if ever.
He was rested for the preceding Championship fixture against Derbyshire which they also won. Daneil Bell-Drummond supplied another two half-centuries while the majority of wickets went the way of Grant Stewart and Nathan Gilchrist. The home county’s batters never looked likely to surmount the declaration target of 341 and were duly dismissed for 210. That’s three out of three so far for Kent, a feat matched by Middlesex who beat Worcestershire at Lord’s by 101 runs. Charlie Morris’ 6-52 looked set to spoil the party only for Ethan Bamber (4-28) and Martin Andersson (3-22) to wrap things up on the fourth day.
In the other Group 3 match, Sussex capitulated in their second innings to hand Leicestershire a comprehensive victory at Grace Road. Hassan Azad (152) and Lewis Hill (145) notched career-best scores then four-wicket hauls by Ben Mike and spinner Callum Parkinson applied the final blows.
In Group 1, Hampshire moved into pole position by removing nine Nottinghamshire batsmen in the final session at Southampton. The losers were inevitably critical of the pitch as spinners Liam Dawson and Felix Organ wreaked havoc. The weather looked likely to ruin everything before play resumed at 1pm but the meagre crowd were rewarded for their patience. Warwickshire advanced to second, returning from Headingley with the spoils. Here, too, the bowlers were in charge, notably the visiting seamers Woakes, Norwell and Miles but special mention should go to Tim Bresnan. Playing against his old county of Yorkshire, he snaffled no fewer than six slip catches in the second innings, one short of the Championship record, besides taking 4-36 in the first innings.
Meanwhile Somerset limbered up for their T20 day in the sun by suffering another trouncing, this time at the hands of Lancashire. That they avoided a third successive innings defeat owed much to a battling 100 by Tom Lammonby but there was little to cheer the Taunton faithful in the competition that really counts. Luke Wells and Tom Bailey shone for the Red Roses but there were six wickets for the previously unheralded Jack Blatherwick. His name suggests a background of club cricket in the Irwell valley but the 23 year-old was born in Nottingham.
In Group 2, Essex remain top despite being held to a draw by Surrey. Reports of a problematic drinking culture affecting performances this summer may or may not be true but the veteran knight Alastair Cook delivered the highest score of the week, with 165. Gloucestershire are on their heels after taking 22 points from Cardiff. Glamorgan surrendered meekly to the orthodox spin of Zafar Gohar His sole Test outing for Pakistan left him with stats of 0-159 but the figures which mattered this week were 6-43.
Things were more exciting at Northampton where there were some topsy-turvy scorecards. Durham achieved maximum batting points and a handsome first innings lead thanks to a ninth-wicket stand of 159 between Liam Trevaskis and Matty Potts. Having lost the third day to rain they had plenty of work to do with the ball as Northants battled to survive until stumps. In the event, they managed to do by the skin of their teeth. James Sales struck a maiden fifty and Simon Kerrigan stuck around for nearly three hours for his 28 not out and Durham couldn’t prise out him or last man White.
And so to the Championship climax. The way Somerset have been playing, Warwickshire should take maximum points at Edgbaston but Nottinghamshire can still produce an extraordinary turnaround in fortunes by beating Yorkshire. However, the pennant will fly over the Ageas Bowl for the first time in 48 years should Hampshire overcome Lancashire at Liverpool and I wouldn’t bet against them, provided the fickle North West weather plays ball.
Team
of the Week: Bell-Drummond (Ken), A. Cook (Ess), Hassan Azad (Lei), Hill (Lei),
Brown (Sus), Swindells (Lei +), Bresnan (War), Barker (Ham), Bamber (Mid),
Potts (Dur), Norwell (War)
