In the race for the title, the top three each won again to pull away from the field. At The Oval, no centuries were scored but two fifties from Olly Pope and a smooth unbeaten 80 by Hashim Amla eased Surrey to a six-wicket victory over Warwickshire. Hampshire’s trip to the Scarborough seaside netted them 20 points and an eighth success of the summer. Kyle Abbott took his season’s tally to 49 wickets, more than anyone else, although colleagues Abbas and Barker are also in the top six in Division One. The seam trio are really fuelling the South Coasters’ bid for a first crown in decades.
At Old Trafford, it was
definitely a game of two halves. Matt Henry ably led the Kent attack into a
commanding lead over Lancashire, but the home side didn’t roll over to have
their tummy tickled for a second time. Josh Bohannon (134) was part of two
century partnerships as they declared on 439-9 by lunch on the fourth day. There
was no chance of a Kent run chase but only Daniel-Bell Drummond survived the
experience against Williams, Sundar and Tom Bailey, who ended the match with
career-best figures of 11-110. More importantly, the 184-run triumph keeps Lancashire
just about within range of Surrey should the leaders slip up.
There weas plenty of
entertainment at Cheltenham where Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire not only
served up plenty of runs but also an exciting finish, a difficult combination
in a first-class contest. Ryan Rickelton led the visitors to a handsome
first-innings lead, only for Gloucester skipper Graeme Van Buuren’s 127 not out
to help set up a thrilling final afternoon. Needing 202 off a minimum 37 overs,
Northants got off to a cracking start with Will Young and Rickelton again before
losing a steady flow of wickets to Zafar Gohar’s spin. In the end, it was
tail-ender Simon Kerrigan who hit Higgins for the winning boundary.
At Chelmsford, there was no
chance whatsoever of a nail-biting conclusion; it was all about accumulation of
runs as only sixteen wickets fell in total. Essex batted first, Nick Browne ending
unbeaten on 234 before Somerset continued in the same vein. They delayed their
first-innings declaration until late on the fourth afternoon, allowing teenage ‘keeper
James Rew and Tom Banton to strike their maiden first-class centuries. Somerset
really needed more, and now their next two fixtures, against fellow strugglers
Gloucester and Warwickshire are ‘must-wins’. But they will have to wait until after
the summer holidays, when the Hundred and One-Day Cup take over.
In Division Two, Nottinghamshire
extended their lead to thirty points thanks to a straightforward defeat of Sussex
inside three days. Overseas stars James Pattinson and Dane Paterson shared most
of the wickets to fall. Further north, Middlesex lost ground by only drawing a
rain-hit encounter against Durham. Opener Michael Jones racked up 206 for the
home team, before a ton from John Simpson ensured maximum batting bonus points
for Middlesex. They now go into the summer hiatus, Glamorgan breathing down
their neck with a game in hand. Anuj Dal’s superb all-round performance for
Derbyshire made the difference against Worcestershire and very much keeps them in
the promotion hunt.
Team
of the Week: Browne (Ess), Jones (Dur), Bohannon (Lan), Rickelton (Nor), Van
Buuren (Glo), Simpson (Mid +), Anuj Dal (Der), Pattinson (Not), Abbott (Ham), Bailey
(Lan), Paterson (Not)
