There were only five Championship matches this week. There were few outstanding individual displays. No 14-year-old prodigies, as in the IPL. Indeed, despite four of the fixtures producing results, there was, amazingly, just one century scored. Stand up, Derbyshire’s Martin Andersson, who made 107 against his old county, Middlesex. At 28, he is twice the age of Rajastani Royal Vaibhav Suryavanshi!
In Division One, Nottinghamshire easily beat their nearest rivals at the top, Sussex, by nine wickets. Josh Tongue’s first-innings 5-44 signalled his readiness for an England recall, while Haseeb Hameed accumulated a total of 147 runs.
Surrey finally notched their first win of the campaign against – it pains me to say it – their old rivals Somerset. It wasn’t even close, done and dusted inside three days. The losing skipper Lewis Gregory did his best but his opposite number, Rory Burns kept his head with the bat and Jordan Clark was the pick of his talented attack, taking eight wickets.
Ironically, two bowlers released by Somerset enjoyed excellent weeks. Jake Ball took 5-47 and 2-27 on his Durham debut as his side swept Worcestershire aside by six wickets with two days to spare. Ben Raine and Codi Yusuf also made hay on a seam-friendly wicket by the Severn. Poor Worcester have yet to register a single batting bonus point.
Leicestershire continued their bright start to 2025, but Gloucestershire pushed them very close at Bristol. Their ‘keeper James Bracey was the only man to exceed 60 (93 not out) and it was a battle of the bowlers to determine the outcome. The home side’s Dominic Goodman claimed match figures of 9-87 but Ian Holland and Somerset loanee Ben Green were integral to Leicestershire’s two-wicket triumph. With time and wickets running out, it was also Green who struck the winning boundary.
Derbyshire moved to second despite drawing at home to Middlesex. The aforementioned Andersson, Lloyd, Reece and Came all passed fifty and Zak Chappell weighed in with 4-55 before enforcing the follow-on. Batting again, Middlesex lost Fernandes first ball but Eskinazi (61)and Holden (94) put on 169 for the second wicket and Derbyshire were unable to bowl out their visitors a second time.
Next up for Derbyshire are bottom side Glamorgan, while Leicestershire welcome Northamptonshire to Grace Road. In Division One, the Bank Holiday weekend fixtures include another tricky one for Somerset, who face Essex at Taunton. The leaders have a blank week, so Durham and Warwickshire can close the gap considerably by defeating Hampshire and Warwickshire, respectively.
Team of the Week:- Hameed
(Not), Burns (Sur), Holden (Mid), Holland (Lei), Bracey (Glo +), Andersson
(Der), Gregory (Som), J Clark (Sur), Goodman (Glo), B Green (Lei), Ball (Dur)
