One-Day Cup: Dawson Drives Hampshire into Final

 In the final group fixtures of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, Leicestershire and Warwickshire held their ground at the top of their respective groups, thus by-passing the quarter-finals. Those four places were taken by Hampshire, Lancashire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, each of whom won their last three matches. 

Warwickshire were involved in a couple of nervy finales, both decided by a single run or wicket. They held off Sussex but succumbed to Durham in a game featuring two enormous innings, David Bedingham’s 152 and Ed Barnard’s 161. The latter also reached three figures in the Sussex encounter, although it was Danny Briggs whose boundary got Warwickshire over the line with an over to spare. 

Somerset’s miserable competition was brightened by Andrew Umeed’s brilliant batting. The Glaswegian capped an excellent month with an unbeaten 172, a third century in five outings, ensuring no Group B wooden spoon. At the other end of the table, Gloucestershire’s Oliver Price was almost as prolific as Umeed and Barnard. In Group A, Aneurin Donald smashed two rapid tons for Hampshire – one to propel them into the knockouts and the next to dominate Worcester’s attack in their Southampton quarter-final. Ian Holland’s eleven wickets the previous week were even more important to the county’s progress. 

The other quarter-final saw Gloucestershire maintaining their momentum by seeing off Lancashire by eight wickets. On this occasion, Price played a supporting role to Marcus Hammond, who plundered six sixes in an undefeated 109 to reach a modest target with half their overs unused. 

The semis were just as truncated, as Hampshire demolished Warwickshire by nine wickets. Liam Dawson hasn’t played much in this year’s tournament but nobody has bettered his 7-15 at Edgbaston. Keith Barker accounted for the top three batsmen, including Barnard, then it was Dawson’s spin all the way. Opener Fletcha Middleton reached 54 not out as the way side ticked off the 94 required with the sole loss of Nick Gubbins. 

That same Tuesday afternoon at Leicester, it was Gloucestershire’s turn to be routed. Hammond was first out for a seven-ball duck, then Wiaan Mulder and Tom Scriven each picked up three wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 125. Mulder rounded off a match-winning all-round performance, stroking nine fours in tandem with Peter Handscomb in a six-wicket victory. We now have a fortnight to wait for the trophy to be decided at Trent Bridge and now it’s back to the red ball…. 

Team of the Week:- Umeed (Som), Barnard (War), Bedingham (Dur), O Price (Glo), Donald (Ham), Handscomb (Lei +), Mulder (Lei), Holland (Ham), Dawson (Ham), Williams (Lan), Baker (Wor)

Essex and Somerset fixed in a two-horse race

The World Cup may be throwing up a few surprises but the County Championship is turning into more of a two-horse race each week. Yorkshire began the latest round of fixtures in third place but Essex made quick work of the Tyke visitors, thanks largely to the redoubtable Aussie Peter Siddle and Simon Harmer.

After two days in Taunton, Somerset’s position was less assured. Spin was king, and both Ravi Ashwin and 20 year-old debutant Liam Patterson-White were running rings around the home team, with the crucial exceptions of Azhar Ali and Jamie Overton. Totals had been dropping with each innings completed but still Nottinghamshire had well over a day to reach a target of 255. No chance.  The situation seemed tailor-made for Jack Leach and Dom Bess but it was the pace of Jamie Overton which hastened the demise of the bottom county and restored Somerset’s fifteen-point advantage. Next week it’s our turn to face Yorkshire while Essex welcome Warwickshire to the County Ground which, on paper, looks the easier task.

Surrey’s 2019 nightmare continued, losing to Kent by five wickets at The Oval. Dean Elgar struck a couple of sixties but a five-for by Darren Stevens, resembling more than ever a veteran umpire rather than a deadly seamer, and six catches and a half-century by Ollie Robinson ended any chances of a Morkel-inspired fightback.

Meanwhile at the Rose Bowl, Hampshire appeared determined to repeat ther May hammering of Warwickshire. A maiden hundred from opener Ian Holland and Aneurin Donald’s 173 set up a first innings lead of 232. However, Sam Hain’s poor run of scores ended with two centuries, and an unbeaten ninth wicket stand of 112 by Patel and Brookes staved off defeat on the fourth day.

In the second flight, Lancashire failed to capitalise on Glamorgan’s rest week, only managing a draw at Northampton. This left them only seven points clear at the top. Northants were far from outplayed and the Red Roses should be thankful for Alex Davies’ first ton of the campaign and final afternoon resistance by captain Vilas and Bohannon.

Derbyshire edged above Sussex into third by means of an 82-run defeat of Worcestershire at Kidderminster. 21 wickets had fallen on the first day but centuries by young Tom Lace and old Callum Ferguson took things into a fourth day when Derby bowlers Palladino and Rampaul ended the home side’s chances of victory and, very possibly, promotion.

Leicestershire must have fancied their chances at home to Durham but instead ended up bottom of the Championship. Skipper Cameron Bancroft led from the front while Ben Raine and Chris Rushworth claimed sixteen wickets between them in a 119-run triumph which catapulted them into fifth place. After such a terrible start they could yet be in the First Division next year.

Middlesex also leapt three positions by outscoring Gloucestershire at their regular Northwood outpost. The visitors’ Ryan Higgins bowled well, as did Tim Murtagh (when does he ever bowl badly?) but the match really belonged to Toby Roland-Jones. His first innings 7-52 followed by 51 not out extended Gloucester’s target to a tricky 216. Murtagh’s 5-44 led the way but Roland-Jones took his match tally to ten wickets and the 19 points were theirs.

Team of the Week: Holland (Ham), A Davies (Lan), Hain (War), Ferguson (Wor), Donald (Ham), Robinson (Ken +), Roland-Jones (Mid), Raine (Dur), Higgins (Glo), Bess (Som), Harmer (Ess)

Durham back in the Hunt, and Trescothick back in Form

Most of Division One’s nine counties have been in the frame for the Championship pennant this summer, and now it’s Durham’s turn to post a genuine challenge. They enjoyed a brief burst of hot sunshine by sneaking a two-wicket win over former leaders Lancashire at Southport. Adam Hickey and Chris Rushworth saw them to the finish line despite a five-wicket haul from Tom Smith. Ben Stokes and Jimmy Anderson each bowled tidily in opposition to each other, although the latter was excused duties on the last two days.

Lancashire now sit in fourth, only a few points ahead of Somerset who enjoyed a ten-wicket trouncing of Nottinghamshire, many people’s tip for the title. The Cidermen’s tail is longer than a gibbon’s these days but it didn’t matter when Marcus Trescothick is in this form. Now 40 and sporting spectacles, the opener struck a splendid 218 in the first innings and helped Johann Myburgh knock off the hundred-odd runs on the final afternoon when the weather was on the verge of breaking.

Accompanying that Somerset performance, Surrey dumped Notts into the bottom two and made Hampshire’s task of avoiding the drop even tougher, beating the latter by an innings. No fewer than three men made three figures, including skipper Gareth Batty, whose maiden hundred formed half of a record-breaking double-century eighth wicket stand with Ben Foakes. Batty then took 6-51 to round things off nicely.

It’s getting even closer in Division Two. Leicestershire prevented Gloucestershire going top by winning at Cheltenham and did their promotion chances no end of good, too. Just eleven points separate the top four. Ben Raine enjoyed a good all-round game although Paul Horton’s final day 73 proved to be the highest individual score.

At the other end of the table, Glamorgan finally secured a victory in an exciting encounter at Colwyn Bay. Teenager Aneurin Donald not only achieved his maiden hundred but also converted it into the joint fastest ‘double’ in first-class cricket history! No matter that he went for a duck second time around. His 234 included fifteen sixes! 341 adrift, Derbyshire did make a game of it in the second innings, as Chesney Hughes and Billy Godleman also made tons, but Rudolph and Meschede steadied a rocky ship to claim a four-wicket victory.

In the Tunbridge Wells derby, Kent’s Sam Northeast’s 190 bested Ross Taylor’s 142 not out in a drawn encounter. Sussex were made to follow on but they comfortably avoided defeat on the final day.

After the week’s Twenty20 fixtures, Nottinghamshire and Gloucestershire sit atop their respective leagues, while Glamorgan’s easy win over struggling Somerset ensured a quarter-final place. Middlesex won London bragging rights after edging Surrey in front of a record English county T20 attendance at Lord’s. Elsewhere, Ian Bell biffed fifties in each of Warwickshire’s three matches, although they won only two of them.

The knockout qualifiers will be decided next Friday evening while the Championship takes a fortnight’s break.

Team of the Week: Trescothick (Som), Bell (War), Hughes (Der), Northeast (Ken), Taylor (Sus), Donald (Gla), Foakes (Sur +), Raine (Lei), Batty (Sur), Higgins (Mid), Payne (Glo)