It is not often that Surrey get beaten, let alone dismantled by an innings. However, they returned from Leeds with tails between their legs and only two points to their total. Yorkshire had both Joe Root and Harry Brook in their ranks but it was former internationals Adam Lyth (141) and Jonny Bairstow (120) who underpinned the total of 468. In contrast, bowler Sean Abbott was the only batter who reached fifty in either of Surrey’s two innings, and England ‘keeper Jamie Smith contributed a solitary boundary and no catches. At least Brook took his wicket!
Southern England suffered some unkind weather last weekend, and Southampton was no exception. Consequently, Hampshire and Nottinghamshire played out a damp low-scoring draw. After five half-centuries in six innings, Jake Lehmann finally reached three figures in the second innings but it was the seamers who shone brightest. Notts’ Fergus O’Neill claimed match figures of 8-86 and for Hampshire, England newbie Sonny Baker took 5-45, his best Championship return so far.
Glamorgan’s fine form continued at Edgbaston, where they had the better of the stalemate with second-placed Warwickshire. After both openers fell with no runs on the board, Ben Kellaway (139) and Kiran Carlson put on 194 and, despite Oliver Hannon-Dalby’s 5-53, Glammy posted a useful 360. Last week’s hat-trick hero debutant Tom Norton took 4-48 to help his side to a healthy first-innings lead. Second time around, it was Colin Ingram with three figures and Ethan Bamber’s five-for, then rain called a halt with Warwickshire way short of their 368-run target and only two men down.
Monday’s weather was even unkinder to Somerset at Taunton. Tom Abell (119) and Craig Overton (111) were again in the runs, propelling the home side to 526-8. Sussex opener Daniel Hughes’ 107 was the only score of note and, following on, the visitors were again listing badly at 113-7 when the covers came on and remained there.
At Chelmsford, Essex and Leicestershire were evenly matched until Sam Cook and Shane Snater ripped Ben Cox’s team apart for just sixty runs on Sunday morning. Allison and Critchley saw Essex home by seven wickets with a day to spare.
Division Two has been a right topsy-turvy affair so far. After six fixtures, all eight sides have won at least one, but only leaders Durham remain unbeaten. Only six points separate third and seventh but Durham were in trouble against struggling Kent at Beckenham for whom teenager Ben Dawkins easily eclipsed his opening partner Zak Crawley. An innings of 180 wasn’t bad for a maiden hundred! Crawley was Ben Stokes’s sole wicket, while Matthew Potts finished with a creditable 6-92. At 288-9 in reply, Durham were facing a likely follow-on, only for Ben Raine and Callum Parkinson to rescue the situation with a stand of 158, ended by Callum’s brother Matt when he bowled Raine for 106.
Northamptonshire sit second after squeaking home against Gloucestershire by two wickets. Ben Sanderson (Northants) and Matt Taylor (Kent) shone with the ball, until Louis Kimber’s brisk 66 carried Northants towards a hard-won victory, and Gloucester to a fifth defeat. The latter have only three weeks before seeking revenge. With a Saturday washout, there was little to shout about for Lancashire’s clash with Worcestershire at Southport. The highlight seemed to be the break when Jimmy Anderson joined others in searching for the ball in the greenery through a boundary fence. Takes me back to my schooldays!
At Lord’s, Derbyshire made it two wins in a row, with Ben Aitchison taking centre-stage. He followed a bowling return of 5-47 with a maiden century and a 208-run sixth-wicket stand alongside Wayne Madsen, who also reeled off first-class ton number 44. Leus du Plooy led a Middlesex fightback on Sunday, but Derby had plenty of time to knock off the required 122 to win, captain Madsen unbeaten on 31.
The County Championship now endures a fortnight’s hiatus for a brief Blast of T20, which should bring some sun-kissed Bank Holiday weekend punters in.
Team of the Week:- Dawkins
(Ken), Lyth (Yor), Northeast (Ken), Kellaway (Gla), Bairstow (Yor +),
Aitchinson (Der), C Overton (Som), Snater (Ess), O’Neill (Not), M Taylor (Glo),
Sanderson (Nor)
