After a slow first day, the runs flowed across the country. No fewer than six of the nine Championship fixtures were won by an innings, helped by nine individual scores of 150 or more.
Somerset looked set
to turn things around when Tom Abell’s career-best 150 earned the county their
first batting bonus points of the year and Peter Siddle’s 6-51 gave the country
a slender first-innings lead at The Oval. However, a Ryan Patel century laid
the foundations for a three-wicket victory, as neither the Aussie veteran nor
Craig Overton could crack Ben Foakes. At least Somerset weren’t amongst those
crushed by a huge margin.
That list included Kent, who, despite a Bell-Drummond ton, were victims of Hampshire. The trusty duo of Abbott and Barker helped themselves to wickets while captain James Vince, Liam Dawson and new recruit Ben Brown each reached three figures en route to a first innings of 652-6 declared. I don’t know why Sussex let wicketkeeper Brown move along the coast but he brings extra solidity to the batting as well as being excellent behind the stumps. He took eight catches in this match.
Lancashire made it two wins out of two at Old Trafford, making short work of Gloucestershire. Bolton’s Josh Bohannon advanced his England credentials with an excellent 231 and, whilst James Anderson had a solid return with the ball, it was his Pakistani team-mate Hasan Ali whose aggregate of 9-96 prevented the visitors posing any challenge.
Essex did at least
force Warwickshire to bat twice, but Davies and Sibley strolled past the 107
target in 37 overs. Keeper-batsman Michael Burgess starred for the victors,
combining a blistering 170 with eight victims behind the stumps. The week’s
only draw came at Northampton, although Yorkshire were well on top for the
first three days. George Hill, Dawid Malan and Harry Brook filled their boots
with runs but Northants did well to bat through the final four sessions to
avoid defeat.
Nottinghamshire
predictably won at Chester-le-Street. Ben Slater’s unbeaten 225 and academy
graduate Lyndon James’ maiden hundred proved too much for Durham, and the sound-a-like
trio of Pattinson, Paterson and Patterson-White captured sixteen wickets
between them. Neighbours Derbyshire easily overcame Leicestershire, too.
Pakistani opener Shan Masood became the first man for his county to post
successive double-centuries while all-rounder Mattie McKiernan, promoted from 2nd
XI cricket, enjoyed a knock of 101.
Worcestershire dealt Sussex a pasting inside three days at New Road. New skipper Brett D’Oliveira cracked an unbeaten 169 and his predecessor Joe Leach took six wickets, while only Pujara’s first-innings 109 and a devil-may-care 67 not out from Grant Stewart demonstrated any consistent response.
Glamorgan’s success against Nottinghamshire last week counted for nothing as their batting collapsed twice at home to Middlesex. Former England all-rounder Toby Roland-Jones merited the plaudits with a valuable 65 and ripping through the Welsh second-innings line-up, taking 5-40.
Next week, Glamorgan
will have to keep Shan Masood at bay if they are going to beat Derbyshire,
while Notts and Worcester meet for a chance to top the table. In Division One,
Surrey travel to Bristol, favourites to remain ahead of the rest. However, should
they slip up, Hampshire and Lancashire are waiting to pounce. They meet at
Southampton.
Team of the Week: Slater (Not), Shan Masood (Der), Bohannon (Lan), Abell (Som), Brown (Ham), D’Oliveira (Wor), Burgess (War, +), Roland-Jones (Mid), Barker (Ham), Patterson-White (Not), Hasan Ali (Lan)
