Surrey March On

While Australia were warming up for the Ashes with a comprehensive defeat of India to clinch the World Test Championship, Surrey were sweeping all before them in both the Blast and County Championship. Hot sun blazed upon most pitches last week and the champions’ batsmen responded with some fiery strokeplay. In T20, they racked up 258-6 against Sussex and 236-2 in Glamorgan, with Laurie Evans scoring a total of 211. He doesn’t play the four-day stuff much these days but Surrey nonetheless boast a formidable line-up. At Canterbury, an upset looked on the cards as Kent set them 501 to win. Such is Surrey’s form, it was never really in doubt. Dom Sibley (140 not out) anchored, Jamie Smith (114 in 77 balls) smashed and Ben Foakes steered their serene course to victory and a 31-point lead in Division One. 

It was a mixed week for Somerset. Hampshire handed them a first defeat in the Blast after throwing away a winning position in the final overs before taking it out on Gloucestershire. Sadly, in red-ball cricket it was the same old story. Essex dominated at Chelmsford, where Alastair Cook and all-rounder Matt Critchley provided the runs, Porter and Harmer most of the wickets. 

At Trent Bridge, Warwickshire enforced the follow-on, emboldened by a 416-run lead, only for Nottinghamshire’s Joe Clarke to remember how to build an innings. His first Championship century was a double. At Southport, Lancashire also established a solid first-innings advantage over Hampshire, despite Felix Organ’s 6-67. A Gubbins-Vince rally made the home team bat again, only for Dane Vilas to guide them to the sixteen points. 

In the second tier, Yorkshire finally opened their account by defeating Derbyshire by three wickets at Chesterfield. On the first morning, the home county were mauled by Fisher and Coad, slipping to 15-4 and only just reaching three figures by the end of the innings. Second time around, a slaughter looked certain as they plunged to 17-4. This time, the rest of the side didn’t go down s easily. Captain Leus du Plooy and Haider Ali shared a stand of 277 and Yorkshire’s victory charge looked decidedly ropey. In the end it was Yorkshire’s own captain Shan Masood who grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck with an unbeaten 95. 

Leicestershire came away from Gloucestershire with a valuable 5-wicket triumph. Colin Ackermann and Rehan Ahmed had to step on the gas to reach the 215 target before time ran out. There were runs galore at Chester-le-Street where Durham and Glamorgan traded centuries en route for a draw. Kiran Carlson stroked 162 for the Welsh, then Bedingham (151) and Robinson (102) helped Durham to a mighty 630, leaving Chris Cooke (134 not out) and Van Gugten (55 not out) to see the side to stumps. 

The most exciting conclusion was witnessed at Hove, where Sussex and Worcestershire slugged it out to the bitter end. Worcester opener Jake Libby was in imperious form, hitting 198 and 97, but Sussex’s Carson, Haines and Alsop set their opponents a formidable target of 386 in 79 overs. At 317-3, it looked gettable and, even after Azhar Ali fell for a well-paced ton, Worcester required only eight off Nathan McAndrew’s final over. Remarkably, he conceded just three, Leach swinging and missing for the six needed off the final delivery. The draw meant it was Sussex who sit in second place behind Durham. 

Back to the Blast for the next few weeks…. 

Team of the Week:- Libby (Wor), Evans (Sur), Clarke (Not), Bedingham (Dur), Carlson (Glam), Du Plooy (Der), Foakes (Sur +), Critchley (Ess), Fisher (Yor), Porter (Ess), Cook (Ess)

Glut of Hundreds greet new County Season

It’s not yet mid-April and we’ve had the first results of the 2021 County Championship. How did that happen?! At least we didn’t have to wait until August as we did last year. Of course the Covid pandemic hasn’t gone away and spectators aren’t yet dribbling into the cricket grounds. Today they were probably all greeting the easing of restrictions by queuing for Primark, but over the preceding four days they would have missed some real run fests. I could have included a dozen batsmen deserving of a place in my Team of the Week. Three scores of 150+ simply weren’t good enough. Must try harder, lads! 

By summer I’ll probably begin to work out what formats the 2021 season will embrace, but for now I’ll just take the County Championship as it comes, week by week. It’s a three-group first phase which seemed quite popular in last year’s severely truncated competition and, despite the cold air – and even a little snow at Headngley – the pitches definitely favoured batting. 

In Group 1, champions Essex were held at home by Worcestershire. Tom Westley’s first double-century in six years seemed to have set up another victory, only for Jake Libby and Ed Barnard to frustrate the home side. Libby’s unbeaten 180 was, at 681 minutes, the second longest county innings on record. At Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire’s Liam Norwell claimed the best bowling of the week, a first-innings 5-32, but in their second outing, Durham’s South African David Bedingham (180) and Ned Eckersley (113 not out) turned 22-3 into a match-saving and potentially even match-winning 332-4 declared. However, a draw was agreed on the final afternoon. 

In contrast each of the three Group 2 fixtures produced results. Hampshire looked the most impressive in thrashing Leicestershire by an innings. The home team’s bowling was rather ragged as James Vince’s 231 and Liam Dawson’s rapid 152 not out helped Hampshire to a formidable 612-5 declared. 2020 absentee Kyle Abbott was the pick of the bowlers. Somerset began with an eight-point deduction for preparing a poor pitch in the 2019 finale so desperately needed a victory over Middlesex at Lord’s. Sam Robson’s 165 and fine bowling by Murtagh and Bamber on the first few days showed that was looking unlikely. However, Somerset’s useful attack dismissed Middlesex for just 143 and Tom Abell, George Bartlett and Lewis Gregory did the rest. Phew! 

At The Oval, Surrey’s Ben Foakes’ 133 appeared to have made amends for a first-innings deficit only for Chris Dent and a rampant Graeme van Buuren to nick an eight-wicket triumph for Gloucestershire. 

Group 3 yielded three draws, with little to choose between them. Glamorgan’s trip to Yorkshire pitched the Root brothers against each other, and young Billy resoundingly came out on top, starring with 153 runs to Joe’s aggregate of just 29. Billy shared a stand of 212 with captain Chris Cooke to declare and leave Yorkshire to take a cautious approach on the final day. They were never going to achieve 377 to win so Adam Lyth settled for a patient 115 not out and a draw. 

At Old Trafford, Lancashire skipper Dane Vilas and young Sussex opener Tom Haines exchanged big hundreds but the Manchester weather prevented much action at the weekend. The contest at Northampton also petered out after two innings of 400+. Northants batsmen Vasconcelos and Keogh struck tons in response to 116 by that man Darren Stevens. Now in his 25^th county season, he became the oldest centurion in the Championship for 34 years. It is becoming increasingly likely that Dazza will go on for ever. 

This week he’ll have another go against Lancashire and the pick of the round two ties could be the West Country derby between early winners Somerset and Gloucestershire. 

Team of the Week: Haines (Sus), Libby (Wor), Westley (Ess), Vince (Ham), Bedingham (Dur), Vilas (Sus), Foakes (Sur +), Critchley (Der), Gregory (Som), Abbott (Ham), Norwell (War)

Somerset reign by beating the rain

Last week it was Storm Ellen, this one, Storm Francis. Both wreaked havoc across the UK, but each affected the cricket schedule in different ways. 

Essex, beneficiaries of some fourth-day sunshine a week ago, failed to even complete a single innings against Hampshire at Arundel, although Sir Alastair Cook passed 24,000 first-class career runs with a 66^th century. Kent advanced to second in the South table by dealing Surrey their fourth successive defeat, but it was a close-run thing. Ben Foakes’ first ton of the summer restricted Surrey's deficit to 64 before Rikki Clarke (5-20) and Sam Curran  (4-39) gave their batsmen a fairly easy target of 192. Enter the venerable Darren Stevens. He ripped out three top-order batsmen in his first spell and Matt Milnes wrapped things up with the home side an agonising 17 runs short. 

At Radlett, another evergreen seamer, Tim Murtagh, maintained his 2020 form taking a second-innings 5-34 to set up Middlesex’s five-wicket triumph over Sussex. 

In the Central group, Somerset seemed once more destined to fall victim to the weather with their opponents on the ropes eight wickets down and 300+ behind. Fortunately the rain abated and the outfield dried sufficiently to hand Craig Overton and Jack Brooks the opportunity to finish the job. ‘Coverton’ and Josh Davey claimed sixteen wickets between them as Gloucestershire were skittled twice for sub-100 scores. So much for their first four-dayer against their local rivals for donkeys’ years! The Cidermen have yet to concede a single batting bonus point, a remarkable achievement, and yet online viewers were also treated to Bartlett, Abell and Tom Lammonby each reaching three figures. It was the latter’s maiden century in only his fourth match. 

Worcestershire remain only six points adrift after their draw at home to neighbours Warwickshire. Daryl Mitchell has been around for ages but his 110 was remarkably his first ever red-ball ton against Warwicks, for whom Will Rhodes struck an impressive 207. A draw was inevitable and now Worcester host leaders Somerset, the winners destined for a place in the Bob Willis final. 

Debutant Callum Taylor showed his fellow Glamorgan batsman how to score runs, making 106 against Northamptonshire. However, he blended in well second time around with a duck, before tail-ender Marchant De Lange went wild, blazing a 78-ball 113, in the process surpassing the county record for the fastest hundred. However, it was too little, too late, and Charlie Thurston saw Northants home with a rapid 64 not out. 

The weather was unkind to northern England, with no positive outcomes possible. The Roses encounter at Headingley proved a sterile encounter with batsmen broadly in charge. Adam Lyth top-scored with 103 then two ex-Tyke umpires had no option but to halt proceedings on the final morning. Leaders Derbyshire were also hamstrung at Chester-le-Street, but Luis Reece had time to add 122 runs to his two wickets. 

Leicestershire entertained Nottinghamshire but it was the visitors’ ex-Somerset legend Peter Trego who rolled back the years with the ball. Ackermann and Swindells ensured Leicester didn’t suffer a final day humiliation but neither have a chance of reaching the final. After the week’s break for T20 action, Leicester can instead extinguish any hopes harboured by Yorkshire but Derbyshire have an excellent chance of qualifying at Lancashire. Essex are in pole position in the South group but, as ever, it’ll be the performance of cold fronts and shower clouds which are likely to decide the leading two points scorers. 

Team of the Week: Rhodes (War), Reece (Der), Abell (Som), Thurston (Nor), Foakes (Sur +), Taylor (Gla), Stevens (Ken), De Lange (Gla), C Overton (Som), White (Nor), Davey (Som)

England break their Sri Lankan hoodoo

Let’s be honest. If earlier this year Bayliss and co could have handpicked an overseas tour to end the long Test series draught, Sri Lanka would probably have been top of the list. For all the positive vibes around the one-day outfit, England have struggled in foreign climes, with no Test series successes for three years, six in Asia seventeen in Sri Lanka itself.

The opposition in 2001 featured a ‘who’s who?’ of island legends, from Aravinda de Silva, Jayasuriya and Muralitharan to Chaminda Vaas and the 23 year-old batsmen Jayawardene and Sangakkara. By 2012, only the latter pair remained, and it was captain Mahela’s first innings 180, supported by Rangana Herath’s twelve wickets which ensured the home team triumphed in fortress Galle and with it the two-match rubber. Fast forward another six and a half years and Sri Lanka have a rather threadbare look to the side. Angelo Mathews is always a good bet for a few steady half-centuries but even the veteran Herath decided to retire before the Kandy match leaving the attack shorn of stars.

Much has been said about Joe Root’s promise to bring pace and purpose to England’s Test cricket, an aggressive strategy .allied to the proven success in fifty-overs. I can see the point. We don’t know how to grind out a day and a half against spin so let’s just move our feet and whack a few boundaries, play to our strengths. At Galle that seemed to becoming unstuck from the start, and it was more traditional batting by debutant Ben Foakes and Sam Curran which rescued the first innings, and another centurion Keaton Jennings in the second.

This week, the scoring has been a touch quicker but the England stars have not been Ben Stokes or Jos Buttler, although the latter did contribute. Instead it has been Joe Root’s rapid 124, Rory Burns’ consistency at the top and Surrey colleague Foakes who did the damage in the middle.

But let’s face facts. The real England success story has been the spinners. So far, only four of eighty wickets have fallen to the seamers. At Kandy, it was entirely down to Moeen Ali, Jack Leach and Adil Rashid – with a little help from Root’s occasional twirlers and a run-out. Incredibly, this match was the first in Test history when 38 wickets were claimed by spinners.

I don’t suppose Colombo will witness anything different but at last England have the series in the bag, taking two consecutive victories abroad for the first time in yonks. Moeen has been poor with the bat.  It’s a shame if his bowling has affected his batting because this was once a thing of beauty, but for a once part-time slow bowler to become England’s third most successful off-break exponent of all time is no small achievement. 

For now let’s just savour England’s new-found fame as spin kings. Jimmy who?! Of course it’ll all change back in Blighty but at last the overseas hoodoo has been exorcised, Joe Root reached three figures and this tight touring unit looks quite formidable.

Notts and Somerset beat the Rain

The last weekend of April was a miserable one across the country. Northampton saw a complete washout and many other sessions were lost to the weather, be it rain, waterlogged pitches or bad light. Runs were in such short supply that Matt Renshaw’s 112 at Taunton, amassed with indecent haste before lunch on the second day, was the only three-figure score of the entire round of fixtures.

In that game, with the ball seaming and swinging, even Tom Abell was able to take a few wickets as Yorkshire’s batting failed twice. Jack Leaning offered some resistance on the final morning but he was last out, to Craig Overton, on 68. Somerset – amazingly – have won both their opening matches, something they haven’t managed for 25 years. Before we Somerset fans become too carried away with optimism of that elusive title, it’s worth noting that we finished that season in fifth place.  Never mind, it’s a huge step towards avoiding the relegation I believed to be a near-certainty!

Interestingly, three of the four counties who finished above us in 1993 now languish in the Second Division. The other side, Worcestershire, could well be heading back in that direction after a third successive defeat. After all that effort to ensure that the flooded New Road ground was suitable for cricket, Worcester’s team twice surrendered meekly to Nottinghamshire. Ross Taylor’s 50 was the only half-century of the game while Jake Ball and Luke Fletcher each captured seven wickets, eclipsing Stuart Broad who nonetheless chipped in with a few of his own.

Fewer than two innings were completed at Southampton, where Hampshire’s Jimmy Adams top-scored with 87 and Alastair Cook re-established some early-season form for Essex with a fluent knock of 84. At Old Trafford, Lancashire outplayed Surrey, enforcing the follow-on thanks to an abundance of late-order runs and useful bowling by Tom Bailey and Graeme Onions. That the visitors survived the final two sessions owed everything to Ben Foakes and Ollie Pope who are really earning their Surrey spurs so far this season.

Division Two suffered even more at the hands of the weather gods; no positive results were possible. The fourth day at Hove did at least offer a prospect of a close finish. Gloucestershire needed only 59 runs and Sussex four wickets, but bad light meant the players stayed in the pavilion and a draw was inevitable. The game did at least deliver some good bowling performances by Ryan Higgins (5-21 and 3-63) and Sussex’s David Wiese (a first-innings 5-48).

The Leicestershire-Derbyshire derby was reduced to a bonus-point maximisation exercise after the first seven sessions were lost. At Lord’s, Middlesex and Glamorgan didn’t even approach such a promising situation; only 58 overs were sent down in total. The home team’s Stevie Eskinazi struck 94 quick runs, while Michael Hogan (5-49) and Tim Murtagh (4-12) did their already healthy career averages no harm at all, but that’s about all the positives anyone can take from the four days.

The weather forecast for next weekend is slightly better. Warwickshire and Derbyshire steal a march on their second tier opponents by playing on Thursday, and each can open up a healthy lead by winning at Edgbaston. Meanwhile, in the upper echelons, Somerset will be really up against it against Lancashire, Nottinghamshire will also face a strong challenge from Hampshire, and Worcestershire need to find runs from somewhere if they aren’t to gift Surrey a second success of the summer. May the sun shine on them all!

Team of the Week:

Renshaw (Som), Adams (Ham), Eskinazi (Mid), Ackermann (Lei), Abell (Som), Foakes (Sur +), Clark (Lan), Bailey (Lan), Higgins (Glo), Brooks (Yor), Fletcher (Not)

Essex back on the title trail

All the counties were in action this week and mercifully all were able to play, catching the end of an unseasonal hot spell across much of Britain. After their week one washout, both Essex and Yorkshire took their second opportunities in style. At Headingley, seamer Ben Coad was the home side’s star man, tang ten wickets as Nottinghamshire succumbed by 164 runs.

Down in Chelmsford, it was 2017 all over again when Jamie Porter and Steve Harmer dismissed Lancashire for only 144 first innings runs to keep them in the hunt. It was Porter again who snuffed out the visitors’ chase on day three, consigning Liam Livingstone’s side to a second defeat.

I am delighted to report a Somerset victory in their opening fixture, a rarity these days. It was a tough few days for batsmen in Taunton, and Worcestershire all-rounder Ed Barnard took eleven wickets. However, first Matt Renshaw, then James Hildreth reached three figures while colleagues struggled, and Luke Gregory was the pick of the bowlers who ensured the Worcester tail didn’t rescue their top-order failings.

Surrey also wrapped up a home win, defeating Hampshire by 139 runs. The main damage was done by their two wicketkeeper-batsmen, Ben Foakes and Ollie Pope in the second innings. They shared a century partnership, with 20 year-old Pope making 145 and taking his first-class average to almost 50. In reply, Sam Northeast compiled a hundred for Hampshire but nobody else could reach even 40 as teen spinner Amar Virdi took four wickets.

Warwickshire sit atop Division Two after thumping Northamptonshire by an innings. Tim Ambrose top-scored as they passed 400 but the Wantage Road side had no answer to Ryan Sidebottom: not the recently-retired ex-England man, but the injury-hit Aussie right-armer. His 6-35 and 4-61 proved decisive, while England under-19 medium-pacer Henry Brookes picked off the final pair.

The Derby faithful probably fainted when, after a 23-match barren spell, Derbyshire finally secured a home victory. It was particularly surprising given that their opponents were Middlesex. Duanne Olivier boasts a world-class bowling average of under 22 and the South African claimed eight wickets. In the second innings, openers Ben Slater and Luis Reece shared a 210-run partnership, taking took Derbyshire towards the rarified heights of 333-3, whereupon skipper Godleman declared to set a challenging target of 442. Once the Middlesex top-half had been despatched for below 100, that was always out of sight despite late hitting by James Harris and Tom Helm.

Stripped of their top players, Durham look like being the new Derbyshire in 2018. They were knocked over twice within two days by Kent, for whom Matt Henry harvested twelve more wickets. James Weighell weighed in with a defiant 84 before he became Henry’s sixth victim of the second innings. Kent’s Bell-Drummond and Kuhn finished the job a few hours later.

Glamorgan enjoyed their short trip over the Severn Bridge to Bristol, where they plundered a six-wicket victory over Gloucestershire. Marchant de Lange followed his five-wicket haul with an unbeaten 50 but it was the centuries from Shaun Marsh and David Lloyd which did most to take the Welsh beyond 500 and a lead of 290. 20 year-old James Bracey led the charge with 120 not out and, assisted by spirited tailenders, forced Glamorgan to bat again. However, Donald and Lloyd smashed seventeen from Worrell’s seventh over and the job was done.

There were plenty of runs at Leicester, too and, unlike every other match this week, not enough wickets to produce a result. Colin Ackermann compiled an excellent 186 but the Sussex opener Luke Wells played out for a draw with 102 not out. 

Leicestershire host a buoyant Derbyshire in an East Midlands derby next weekend, while Middlesex will want to get their season back on track at home to Glamorgan. In Division One, the Hampshire v Essex encounter looks the pick of the fixture list but could Somerset make it two from two at Taunton? I can but dream.

Team of the Week: 

Wells (Sus), Reece (Der), Ackermann (Lei), Bracey (Glo), Hildreth (Som),  Foakes (Sur, +), Pope (Sur), Barnard (Wor), Henry (Ken), Sidebottom (War), Porter (Ess)

Trescothick gives Somerset hope and it’s a Blast for Notts

Lancashire were unable to close the gap on leaders Essex after rain wrecked their encounter at Old Trafford. At least there was time for Jamie Porter to claim another five-for. 36 points ahead with three to play; it’s looking good!

It’s not looking good for Warwickshire, though. The bottom two also played each other but this time there was a decisive result, in favour of Somerset.

The home team capped a miserable week, losing both the T20 Blast Final and then this crucial relegation battle in the Championship. For all Somerset’s enduring batting problems, it was encouraging to see struggling Tom Abell register two half-centuries in the same match, although it was Marcus Trescothick, almost twice his age, who scored the decisive 119 not out en route for a declaration. Jack Leach and Tim Groenewald each took five wickets in an innings, and Craig Overton’s 4-33 continued his excellent season. Warwickshire now look in serious danger of relegation while Somerset have risen to within a win of Middlesex a place above them. I can’t imagine what the authorities would make of the champions and Lord’s custodians slipping into Division Two.

Middlesex and Yorkshire played out a rain-affected draw and there wasn’t a great deal more to watch at Southampton. However, wicketkeeper Ben Foakes did his England credentials no harm with another 130 runs and his teenage deputy Ollie Pope was allowed to achieve his maiden hundred before the captains shook hands on the final afternoon.

The second tier featured two major promotion clashes. Nottinghamshire might have expected to carry their Finals Day confidence into the Championship but came a cropper at home to Worcestershire. Another fine all-round performance by Ed Barnard and Daryl Mitchell’s sixth century of the campaign were instrumental in Worcester’s eight-wicket triumph against the leaders.

Behind them, Northamptonshire advanced to level with Sussex after beating them by six wickets. Ben Duckett’s 193 was by far the highest individual score of the week, and Richard Kleinveldt notched his best match figures of the season, 8-98. For once, Jofra Archer wasn’t in form with the ball, but did share a century partnership with Wiese to delay their defeat by a few hours.

At Grace Road, Gloucestershire seamer Liam Norwell practically beat winless Leicestershire on his own. His second innings figures of 8-43 were the best of the summer in the division to date, and he now has 56 victims to his name. I feel sorry for Leicester captain Mark Cosgrove. He has been a consistent run-maker throughout the year yet never in a winning cause. His 92 and 68 this week put him close to 1,000 for 2017, beaten only by Mitchell and Paul Collingwood.

The latter’s Durham rued not declaring earlier in their game against Kent. Graeme Onions became the county’s highest ever first-class wicket-taker, adding eight to his tally but, with nine wickets down, Sam Billings and ex-Durham number eleven Mitch Claydon held out for a draw. At Derby, only 72 overs were possible. Glamorgan must be used to sitting in the pavilion watching the rain this summer but they can at least look back to a rare appearance at last weekend’s Finals Day.

They welcome Northants to Sophia Gardens next week but if Worcestershire beat Leicestershire – as they certainly should – Duckett et al must surely be staying in Division Two in 2018.  In Division One, it’s top plays bottom at Edgbaston. If Essex win, they will surely have one hand on the title and Warwickshire could be doomed. Somerset face Lancashire while Middlesex will hope to treat the Uxbridge crowd against Hampshire. Surrey sit fourth despite winning just one match. Could Yorkshire frustrate them again at The Oval?

Team of the Week: Mitchell (Wor), Duckett (Nor), Northeast (Ken), Cosgrove (Lei), Abell (Som), Foakes (Sur +), Barnard (Wor), Kleinveldt (Nor), Gurney (Not), Onions (Dur), Norwell (Glo)

Notts and Surrey Fire towards the Final

While the cream of the world’s one-day batsmen were struggling to accumulate scores of 300+ in the Champion Trophy, elsewhere in England those left behind were making hay while the sun shone on the knockout stages of the Royal London Cup.

The group stage runners-up and third placers met in the sort-of-quarter-finals at Taunton and Headingley. Somerset scored an impressive 405 but unfortunately for them, it w in pursuit of a stunning 429-9 racked up by Nottinghamshire, who had passed 400 twice in last year’s competition. Even without Hales, their batting in limited overs has enormous potential, and most delivered last week.

Brendon Taylor thrashed 154 in 97 balls, followed by a rapid 62 in the semi-final a few days later. Riki Wessels and Samit Patel knocked half-centuries but only Somerset’s reliable Dean Elgar managed a decent innings (91) in response. The late-order did their best with cameo hitting but were bowled out 24 runs and two overs short.

Surrey also claimed an away win by the same margin. That man Kumar Sangakkara passed three figures yet again in that beautifully fluent style that is his hallmark.

When it came to the semis, Surrey were even more emphatic. England discard Jason Roy rediscovered some form with 92 and wicketkeeper struck a second successive score of 86, ahead of the Sri Lankan legend’s 72-ball 73. In a week where county attack were being taken apart, all credit – albeit grudgingly! – to Gareth Batty, who took 5-40 as Worcestershire crumbled.

At Chelmsford, Alastair Cook achieved a third century in the competition this summer for Essex, and at more than a run a ball. His face may not fit the current template for power and aggression but often it’s mastery of the basic which can be so effective in the 50-over game, and Cook is undoubtedly a master batsman. His skipper Ryan Ten Doeschate also produced another of his 102 not outs  And yet it wasn’t enough. A brilliant partnership of 185 between Samit Patel, sweating in the sunshine, and the ebullient Steve Mullaney, took them to the brink of the huge 374 target before Mullaney was caught behind off Wagner on 111. Patel took his side over the finishing line six deliveries later.

It all sets up an enthralling final next month.

Team of the Week: Cook (Ess), Wessels (Not), Sangakkara (Sur), Patel (Not), B Taylor (Not), Mullaney (Not), Foakes (Sur +), Gregory (Som), Batty (Sur), Azeem Rafiq (Yor), Porter (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)