Top-order runs were the order of the week, which ended with dismal weather scuppering hopes for sixteen-point win bonuses. Essex and Middlesex were the exceptions, each opening their respective 2025 accounts.
Essex and Worcestershire fought a tight contest at Chelmsford, overcoming a first-innings deficit to eke out a 28-run triumph. Paul Walter’s 104 began the turn-around then Jamie Porter completed the job. While Ethan Brookes was at the crease, clumping seven sixes, Worcester were still in the hunt but Jamie Porter’s caught-and bowled ended his resistance, finishing with 6-52.
Nottinghamshire and Sussex top the table only two points ahead of Essex. Notts were heading for an innings defeat of Warwickshire when the rain clouds rolled over Birmingham. On day one, Brett Hutton and Fergus O’Neill each claimed five-fors, then Haseeb Hameed carried his bat for 138 to leave the home county in serious trouble. Ed Barnard, Kai Smith and Oliver Hannon-Dalby dug deep to defend the draw, and the weather completed the task.
Hove witnessed more of a run-fest. Sussex opener Tom Haines scored 174 and 69 not out, while two of Surrey’s England internationals Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence responded with centuries of their own. A draw was inevitable,
Partnership of the week was the 279 shared by Durham’s Alex Lees and Emilio Gay. The latter must have been particularly pleased with his personal 152, following three ducks in the first few matches. Visiting captain Jonny Bairstow’s unbeaten 86 ensured Yorkshire’s path to safety. At Southampton, Hampshire had the better of the draw with Somerset, despite a solid all-round performance by Migael Pretorius.
The next round of Championship fixtures includes the meetings of last year’s bitter rivals Surrey and Somerset, and this season’s leading pair.
The only positive result in Division Two saw Middlesex cruise to a nine-wicket success at home to Glamorgan. Max Holden top-scored, whilst the wickets were largely shared between the seamers. At Derby, Northamptonshire raced to 500-8 declared, assisted by tons from Luke Procter and Saif Zaib but captain Wayne Madsen’s second half-century of the game and Caleb Jewell’s fifth 50 of the campaign steered Derbyshire to stumps.
Leicestershire were in the box seat against Lancashire, thanks to Tom Scriven’s 5-46 and centuries stroked by Rehan Ahmed and Peter Handscomb, 13 years his colleague’s senior. When Lancashire slumped to 16-3 in their second innings with a day to spare and more than 200 runs adrift, a slaughter looked likely, only for Manchester gloom to descend and save Leicester.
Three hundreds entertained the Canterbury spectators. Ben Compton’s 178 was the biggest, but James Bracey (151 not out) and Cameron Green (112) advanced Gloucestershire to 472 all out. It could have been much higher but for Nathan Gilchrist’s 7-100. As things turned out, the second-innings declaration came too late to bowl Kent out again a second time. Gloucestershire host leaders Leicestershire in next week’s reduced bunch of games.
Team of the Week:- Compton
(Ken), Haines (Sus), Procter (Nor), Gay (Dur), Madsen (Der), Handsworth (Lei),
Bracey (Glo +), Waite (Wor), O’Neill (Not), Gilchrist (Ken), Porter (Ess)
