After last week’s One-Day Cup exploits, Hampshire and Leicestershire were again on form in the County Championship, although titles look set to elude them, given the similar winning ways of their closest rivals.
The sensational September heatwave seemed to benefit bowlers rather than batters, so all eight fixtures produced a result. At The Oval, Surrey marched on towards a second successive crown by defeating Warwickshire by an innings and 97 inside three days. Ed Barnard’s excellent 50-over all-round performance continued into the first day here, taking 5-66, but it was all downhill for his county from there. Ben Foakes struck a solid century, before Dan Worrall and Jordan Clark finished things off on the third morning.
Essex are still pressing in second place, waiting to pounce should Surrey falter. They, too, wrapped up a decisive home victory with a day to spare, taking Middlesex apart by 297 runs. Michael Atherton’s off-spinning son Joshua de Caires claimed an excellent 8-106 for the losing side, but it was Jamie Porter (first-innings 6-34), Simon Harmer (second-innings 5-43) and debutant Umesh Yadav whose figures ultimately impacted the outcome.
Hampshire were always on top against Somerset, with Liam Dawson striking a century and taking seven wickets. Nick Gubbins’ second-innings 139 not out took the game out of sight on day three. Meanwhile, Lancashire advanced to fourth with a straightforward demolition of bottom side Northamptonshire. Josh Bohannon’s 175 was the top score of the week, then Luke Wells’ part-time leg-spin generated a career-best 5-25. The Red Roses could also leapfrog Hampshire with a win this week but the Pennant won’t be flying above Old Trafford in 2024.
In Division Two, Durham require just five points from their final two fixtures to confirm promotion. In this week’s encounter with Sussex, opener Alex Lees maintained his run of form with 103, and he was joined in the hundred club by colleagues Graham Clark and Dutch international Bas de Leede. As in the Cup, Leicestershire made short work of Gloucestershire, Wiaan Mulder and Tom Scriven leading the attack.
Glamorgan’s promotion chances were dealt a severe blow by Worcestershire at New Road. In a low-scoring match, Logan Van Beek starred with the ball, but the Welsh late-developer Jamie McIlroy took 8-75 in total, and the result may have been reversed had Billy Root not run out of partners in the final chase. The sun shine at last on Scarborough, and Yorkshire responded with a resounding rout of Derbyshire. Wayne Madsen was dismissed twice on 93 but Yorkshire’s young Matthew Revis was the only centurion, adding five wickets to cap a fine all-round performance in only the second County Championship success of the season.
Team of the Week:- Lees (Dur), Gubbins (Ham), Bohannon (Lan), Madsen
(Der), Foakes (Sur +), Dawson (Ham), Revis (Yor), Van Beek (Wor), De Caires
(Mid), Worrall (Sur), McIlroy (Gla)
