It wasn’t a great week for Lancashire. First, they bowed out of the Blast, eased out by Surrey, then came a gallant but ultimately unsuccessful Championship chase against Essex at Blackpool. The visiting captain Tom Westley put Essex in a good position only for Tom Bailey (6-59) to rip out the tail. However, Sam Cook and Paul Walter bowled Essex back into a commanding position, which was extended by Dan Lawrence’s 135 and a late pre-declaration slog by Doug Bracewell. Set 430 to win on the final day, Lancashire were in the hunt well into the last session but Rob Jones was running out of partners. Last man Will Williams dug in but Bracewell ended Jones’ innings to give Essex the victory by 46 runs and advance them into second place.
Nottinghamshire also lost in the T20, throwing away a promising advantage against Somerset, but with the red ball they held their own admirably against Division One leaders Surrey to secure a draw. Lyndon James and Brett Hutton claimed five-fors while Will Young (Notts) and Jordan Clark traded centuries. Warwickshire defeated Kent at a three-day canter in Canterbury. Opener Rob Yates finished unbeaten on 228 and tournament debutant Glenn Maxwell thrashed 81 to give the home county little chance of even making Warwickshire bat again. Oliver Hannon-Dalby took four wickets in each innings.
Another great ton by teenager James Rew, this time a double, put Somerset on a similar victory charge at home to Hampshire. However, Dawson and Nick Gubbins, who spent four hours over his unbeaten 50, frustrated their old rivals’ bid for a deserved success, aided by a second-string bowling line-up. It was an extraordinary climax at the remaining top-tier game. Bottom sides Middlesex and Northamptonshire met at Merchant Taylor’s School and the result went down to the very last ball. Sam Whiteman’s 114 helped the away team to a 322-run lead but, despite Eskenazi’s early retirement through injury, Sam Robson, John Simpson and Toby Roland-Jones took Middlesex to the brink of victory. When Robson reached three figures, he became – remarkably – the county’s first centurion of the summer but, needing three from the final delivery, he and De Caires could only scramble two. The scores were level and a draw resulted.
In Division Two, Durham are making it look easy. They crushed Gloucestershire by nine wickets. Alex Lees’ 195 outscored the whole of Gloucester’s second innings. Leicestershire remain second after a rain-affected draw at Cardiff. With a positive outcome impossible, Glamorgan’s Michael Neser thumped 176 not out, then Leicester’s Rishi Patel went three better, sealing a contract extension.
There were runs galore in a very tight encounter at Hove. Set a target of 380 by Sussex on the fourth afternoon, Derbyshire could have been forgiven for resorting to innocuous batting practice. To their credit, they were far more positive. Leus du Plooy led by example but once he was sixth out for 128, Sussex sensed a chance to win. They captured two more wickets and stumps were drawn with Derbyshire nineteen runs short of success.
At New Road, Yorkshire’s openers Lyth and Bean put on 177 but the
county had to struggle for a fourth batting bonus point. Ben Coad claimed 5-33
as Worcestershire slipped to 242 all out. Rain severely disrupted their second
innings, robbing the White Roses’ chance of an innings victory.
Team of the Week:- Yates (War), Lees (Dur), Coles (Sus), Lawrence
(Ess), Du Plooy (Der), Rew (Som +), Neser (Gla), Walter (Ess), Bailey (Lan),
Hannon-Dalby (War), Coad (Yor)
