After all August’s white ball shenanigans and Joe Root’s heroics for England, it was good to see the County Championship back up and running. For the first time we have a second phase league system so only the six members of Division One have a chance of winning the 2021 title.
Somerset’s initial advantage was immediately wiped out by Nottinghamshire, who left Taunton with maximum points and Somerset with a whole chicken coop-ful of egg on their faces. The home team badly missed Craig Overton, on international duty at Headingley, as Steven Mullaney’s side racked up 448. All-rounder Liam Patterson-White top-scored with 101 before the seam trio of Luke Fletcher, Brett Hutton and Dane Paterson ensured a massive first-innings lead. It was slightly harder on day three but Somerset were again bowled out for under 200 and the humiliation was complete.
At Southampton, Yorkshire were all over Hampshire for most of the match. Gary Ballance’s ton and Jordan Thompson’s seven wickets were instrumental in the Rose Bowl county needing to bat out the entire fourth day merely to avoid defeat. That they succeeded ultimately depended on an incredible rearguard action by the final pair. Kyle Abbott and Brad Wheal defended the last 46 balls without scoring but, more importantly, without losing a wicket.
It was also quite slow scoring at Old Trafford but at least runs were put on the board. Warwickshire’s Chris Benjamin and Sam Hain shared a stand of 237, then Lancashire batsman Josh Bohannon (170) kept a rampant Liam Norwell (6-57) at bay. Day four was a rather dull round of batting practice en route for a draw.
In Division Two, Essex were off to a flier, beating Glamorgan by a innings. Welsh bowler Lukas Carey was the only Glammie batsman to reach double figures twice, making Nick Browne’s century look even more remarkable. Shane Snater and Sam Cook starred for Essex with the ball. A positive Covid test in the Surrey camp caused their clash with Durham to be postponed but Gloucestershire enjoyed a six-wicket home triumph over Northants. At halfway, they were in deep trouble but a Ryan Higgins five-fer and half-centuries by Hammnd, Lace and van Buuren turned things around.
Meanwhile, ex-England opener Mark Stoneman made his debut for his third county of the summer. Maybe he was confused but, lining up for Middlesex, his two efforts lasted a combined four balls for zero runs. Oh dear. Luckily for him, his colleagues made up for his deficiencies. Robert White reached three figures while Bamber, Murtagh and Toby Roland-Jones, back after a lengthy injury lay-off, snared seventeen Derbyshire wickets between them to claim a 112-run victory. The redoubtable Darren Stevens slogged a 70-ball unbeaten 107 to keep Kent in the game against Leicestershire but it was Matt Milnes (6-53) which ensured a healthy winning margin. Worcestershire also enjoyed a triumphant start, with Jake Libby’s second-innings hundred leading the way.
Team of the
Week: Browne (Ess), Libby (Wor), Bohannon (Lan), Benjamin (War), Ballance (Yor),
Moores (Not +), D Stevens (Ken), Snater (Ess), Thompson (Yor), Fletcher (Not),
Milnes (Ken)
