County Cricket: Duckett Double, Hadley Heroics

The two leading title contenders met at Trent Bridge but the batters dominated to produce a stalemate. Nottinghamshire stay top after Joe Clarke’s prolific form continued, and Ben Duckett notched his first century of the county season, and it was an unbeaten 203, although Surrey bowling Burns, Sibley and Patel at the end probably helped a wee bit. 

Warwickshire leapfrog Surrey into second spot following a 377-run trouncing of Yorkshire. It is a weird scorecard. Three sub-200 totals scattered around the decisive Warwicks second innings of 553-6 declared, in which Sam Hain’s 164 not out headed a succession of solid scores. Oliver Hannon-Dalby was back in the Warwickshire fold after his Worcestershire loan, and claimed match figures of 7-71 against his home county. Harry Brook chipped in with sixty-six runs but couldn’t save his side. 

One-time leaders Somerset continued their miserable May, leading Glamorgan before crumbling in their second innings despite two more Tom Abell half-centuries. Inexperienced Aussie Ryan Hadley took 3-28 but it was his batting which sparked the last-day headlines. Glamorgan still faced an awkward target of 283, and Hadley entered the fray as nightwatchman with four wickets down. Incredibly, he was still there at the death, having persevered for almost five hours, facing more deliveries than in the whole of his first-class career, finally driving to the boundary to bring up his maiden fifty and winning the match by two wickets. His fifty-over 114 partnership with Sean Dickson (76) defied all that the Somerset seamers could throw at them and now the Welsh are above them in the table. 

Sussex achieved victory number three, with Leicestershire their latest victims at Hove. Centuries from Daniel Hughes (the only one by any opener this week) and John Simpson put them out of sight, then three wickets apiece by Robinson and Hudson-Prentice left the batsmen with a simple chase which they won at a gallop. Meanwhile, at Chelmsford, Hampshire’s batting woes continued, their hosts Essex winning by six wickets inside three days. The visitors’ James Fuller took 5-43 in the first outing but Matt Critchley compensated for early jitters against Kyle Abbott (4-36) by thumping fifteen fours in his unbeaten match-winning ninety. Hampshire now have the unenviable task of defeating leaders Notts later this week. 

In Division Two, Durham remain at the helm, comfortably beating Worcestershire by nine wickets at New Road. Despite Ben Raine’s 5-63 and 2-54 by the rarely-spotted Ben Stokes, Worcester claimed a slender led at halfway. However, Callum Parkinson (5-13) induced a collapse which left Gay and McKinney to add to their run tallies and steer their side to victory. 

Middlesex returned from Old Trafford with a win bonus and healthy bowling figures, especially by Ryan Higgins. On the third and final day, Ben Geddes steadied the ship and piloted his side home by six wickets, dropping Lancashire to fourth. Last week, Northants crushed Worcestershire by an innings but this time they were on the end of a similar pasting. Derbyshire recovered from a loss to Kent to compile a formidable 604-7 declared, crowned by a double-hundred stand between Martin Andersson and Brooke Guest. Northants tried to drop anchor, but with Shoaib Bashir sending down more than sixty overs and Guest catching six nicks off the seamers, Derby were patient and took the win. 

Having collected their first triumph for a year last week, Kent made it two on the bounce at Bristol. Gloucestershire pushed them all the way to the closing session, with Bell and Williams taking fourteen of the eighteen wickets to fall. Nonetheless, James Taylor enjoyed his first ten-wicket haul and Tawanda Muyeye (90 and 108) top-scored for Kent in the two-wicket success. 

In the last round before a Championship break, Kent entertain leaders Durham at Beckenham and Middlesex welcome Derbyshire to Lord’s. Northants visit Gloucestershire, and it’s off to the Southport seaside for Lancs and Worcestershire. 

Team of the Week:- Hughes (Sus), Duckett (Not), Clarke (Not), Hain (War), Muyeye (Ken), Guest (Der +), Higgins (Mid), Hadley (Gla), C Parkinson (Dur), Hannon-Dalby (War), J Taylor (Ken)

County Cricket: Notts and Leicester extend their leads

Unlike last week, runs were harder to come by, and wicketkeepers struggled with the bat. Somerset and Glamorgan each notched their third wins in succession, while Division One is looking very tight. 

Following their reverse against Durham, Nottinghamshire bounced back with a 163-run triumph against Yorkshire, their first at Headingley for fourteen years. They didn’t have it all their own way. New Lions recruit George Hill took 5-40 for the home side, before Mohammad Abbas swung things back with a commanding 6-45. Joe Clarke’s second half-century of the match helped Notts set a difficult target of 464 which they rarely looked like approaching. Five wickets from Dillon Pennington and six catches by ‘keeper Kyle Verryenne ended the resistance to deliver nineteen points to the leaders. 

Surrey remain in second place despite failing to beat Essex at The Oval. In fact, rain on the final day may well have saved them from defeat. Centuries by Paul Walter and Charlie Allison had left Surrey chasing over 400 to win on the last day. Michael Pepper stumped both openers off Harmer’s spin, then Jamie Porter claimed five more wickets, including that of Sam Curran, whose return from the IPL yielded two 70+ scores. Another England white-ball specialist, Jason Roy, bagged a sorry pair but the match ended with three Surrey wickets intact. 

Sussex are third, defeating Hampshire by nine wickets inside three days. The only batting partnership of note was the 173 shared by Sussex skipper John Simpson (106 not out) and Fynn Hudson-Prentice, while the off-spinner Jack Carson inflicted much of the damage to Hampshire’s second innings, ending on 5-26. Bowlers were also on top at Durham, where Somerset’s third win on the bounce came against the odds. Mitchell Killeen’s 5-38 on debut placed Durham on the driving seat then, although the visiting seamers restored some balance, Somerset still faced a tricky chase of 265. Thanks to Tom Lammonby and Tom Abell, they succeeded, making runs look almost easy. 

Despite this winning streak, Somerset are only fifth, one point adrift of Warwickshire, whose bid to go second was wrecked by the Worcester rain. Sam Hain found some form at last, twice passing eighty, but it was a welcome return, too, for Chris Woakes and Chris Rushworth. The latter claimed 4-37 and 3-30 as Warwickshire pushed to bowl out their neighbours. However, Waite, Brooks and Taylor proved stubborn, and the weather ended proceedings with Worcestershire on 181-8. 

Leicestershire maintained their unexpected grip on Division Two, thumping Lancashire by an innings and reaching the halfway stage fifty-one points clear at the summit. Test spinner Rehan Ahmed is still only twenty and is now making his mark in the county game as an all-rounder. Batting at three, he compiled an assured 136, putting on 256 with Lewis Hill, then dismissed the Lancs tail-enders to polish off the second innings. Keaton Jennings’ 112 was his side’s only score above 40 and not even Marcus Harris could lift them. 

They are not the basement county, though. Kent’s appalling run has dropped them to an ignominious eighth after a crushing loss to Derbyshire. At least Ben Compton could hold his head high, adding 205 runs to his season’s tally, but Derbyshire’s total of 587-5 declared proved insurmountable. 41-year-old Wayne Madsen notched another ton, but star of the show was opener, Caleb Jewell. The Tasmanian left-hander struck a career-best 232 spanning almost nine hours. 

Like Somerset, Glamorgan made it three in a row, advancing to third in the table by taking Middlesex to the Cardiff cleaners. Sam Northeast and Kiran Carlson each achieved three figures before their attack took twenty wickets, something they rarely managed last year. No Kellaway this week, but left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann popped up from Australia to win the match with 6-53. 

At Northampton, another classy Aussie, Cameron Green, struck his third hundred in five matches for Gloucestershire in a more old-fashioned contest between bat and ball at Wantage Road. Northamptonshire, for whom Saif Zaib accumulated 215 runs, tended to dominate and were putting severe pressure on their visitors until rain took control on the fourth afternoon. With Bracey, Green and Hammond back in the pavilion, Gloucestershire would have been the most relieved. 

So that is it for the County Championship for four weeks. It hands over the spotlight to the Vitality Blast, in which anything can happen. No doubt some big overseas names will dip in and out with mixed results, while homegrown stars will shake things up. Champions Gloucestershire begin their defence at home to Kent while runners-up (grrr) Somerset face former nemesis county Surrey. 

Team of the Week:- Compton (Ken), Jewell (Der), Rehan Ahmed (Lei), Lammonby (Som), Hain (War), Saif Zaib (Nor), Verreynne (Not +), Carson (Sus), Mohammad Abbas (Not), Kuhnemann (Gla), Rushworth (War)  

County Cricket; Burns Sparks another Surrey Victory

After being shunted into a summer holiday siding for six weeks, the County Championship returned and it was like it had never been away. For example, after a storming One Day Cup, Glamorgan were back to losing ways and Surrey’s dreadful white-ball run was forgotten as the champions registered victory number seven, surely en route to another red-ball title. 

Even without Ollie Pope and Jamie Smith on England duty, Surrey made short work of Lancashire. Jprdan Clark, Dan Worrall and Conor McKerr shared almost all the wickets, and skipper Rory Burns compiled a career-best 227. Somerset’s draw with Warwickshire helped widen their lead at the top to thirty-five points with only four matches remaining. At Edgbaston, Craig Overton’s side were always playing catch-up and, had rain not intervened, may well have lost. Abell and Rew were well set but 163 short of the target, four wickets down. 

Below them, Essex and Hampshire played out a draw although the wet weather was the ultimate winner. Four batsmen did salvage something by reaching three figures apiece. On the final day, Hampshire’s Toby Albert (124) and Tom Prest (156) looked solid before each were dismissed by Matt Critchley, following the efforts of Dean Elgar and Jordan Cox. The latter marked his international T20 call-up by thumping 141 from only 124 balls. 

Durham consolidated fifth place by crushing Nottinghamshire by an innings and seventeen. Alex Lees and England Under-19 captain Ben McKinney opened the innings with centuries, then Aussie Ashton Turner also joined the fun with an unbeaten 114. The visitors were subsequently banished by a teenage debutant Daniel Hogg, whose remarkable second-innings 7-66 included the wickets of Hameed and Clarke. With England’s current penchant for selecting complete unknowns, can Hogg be far from an Ashes appearance?! 

Up to now, England-qualified, Zimbabwe-born Tawanda Muyeye probably hasn’t given selectors much to ponder. However, his 211 for Kent showed some fight in the face of considerable adversity, albeit in vain as the bottom county succumbed to Worcestershire by eight wickets. Joe Leach doesn’t do much with the bat these days but his 6-52 put Worcester in the driving seat from the off, and the 23 points will do their relegation battle a much-needed boost. 

In Division Two, leaders Sussex suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of Yorkshire who are now very much in the promotion hunt. Jonny Bairstow made a rare appearance in front of the Scarborough fans, making 57 and 0, plus four catches behind the stumps, but it was Ben Coad’s 5-69 on Saturday which hastened Sussex’s demise. Second placed Middlesex also won, overhauling Northamptonshire at a soggy Northwood by eight wickets. Ben Sanderson did his best but Toby Roland-Jones stole the show, claiming match figures of 11-113. Injury may have snuffed out his England career very early but how many seamers ca boast a career Test bowling average of under 20? 

A ten-wicket triumph over Glamorgan is always worth celebrating but Derbyshire were even more over-joyed because it was their first victory at the county ground for five years! Zak Chappell’s 6-47 was also his best return in first-class cricket and the result lifted them off the foot of the table, albeit by a single point. If you wanted runs, Bristol was the best place to be. Leicestershire opener Ian Holland top-scored for the guests but Gloucestershire’s 544-4 declared featured not one but two double-hundreds. Ben Charlesworth (210) and James Bracey (207 not out) also shared a fourth-wicket stand of 290. Young Leicester fast bowler Josh Hull demonstrated why he is in the England squad next week by taking 1-133, taking his career bowling average to 62.75. Pardon? 

Pick of next weekend’s contests must be Yorkshire v Middlesex at Headingley and, in the first tier, Somerset against Durham. On this week’s form, Nottinghamshire should give Surrey few problems but Essex may have their hands full should the Worcestershire batsmen show what they are capable of. 

Team of the Week:- Muyeye (Ken), Burns (Sur), Charlesworth (Glo), Bracey (Glo +), Cox (Ess), Prest (Ham),  Roland-Jones (Mid), Carson (Sus), Hogg (Dur), Sanderson (Nor), Chappell (Der) 

Barnard Boosts Warwickshire in One Day Cup

The return of fifty-over county cricket saw Warwickshire continuing the success of their Twenty20 counterparts, the Birmingham Bears. In the first week, they were involved in two contrasting contests. The Chelmsford crowd witnessed a 652-run cracker, as Essex hustled to 324-7 only for all-rounder Ed Barnard to crack an unbeaten 173 and Michael Burgess a rapid 59 to sew up the match with fourteen balls to spare. They despatched the One Day Cup holder Leicestershire with greater ease. This time it was Barnard the bowler, taking 4-21 as the home side were swept aside for just 88. 

Leicester did at least win a rain-affected tie against Nottinghamshire but in Group A, it was Worcestershire who achieved the highest score of the week, 371-3, against Middlesex. Garth Roderick (115) and Ed Pollock (180 not out) put on 259 for the first wicket, well above what all Middlesex could rack up between them. An unfamiliar Worcester attack, featuring debutants Harry Darley and Tommy Sturgess, contributed to a stonking 183-run win. 

Derbyshire triumphed twice in Group A. An unlikely all-round performance by Zak Chappell for their two-wicket victory against Northants. He took 4-39, then, batting at nine, thumped 94 not out, including a century-stand with Ross Whitely (65). Three days later, it was their opening batsmen who shone. Harry Came’s maiden List A century particularly caught the eye. 

Elsewhere, there were tons for the experienced Hampshire ‘keeper Ben Brown and Notts opener Ben Slater, but kudos, too, for the young seam bowler, Eddie Jack. The 18-year-old England international took 4-29 for Hampshire against Northamptonshire, wrapping it up by 71 runs. 

Team of the Week:- Pollock (Wor), Barnard (War), Came (Der), Umeed (Som), Bohannon (Lan), Brown (Ham +), De Leede (Dur), Chappell (Lei), Douthwaite (Gla), J White (Nor), Jack (Ham)

Surrey Scare but Almost There

Autumn rains may have arrived a tad early, but there was still some drama in the penultimate round of County Championship fixtures. Surrey’s smooth march to the title was surprisingly disrupted at The Oval by basement side Northamptonshire, for whom Karun Nair – who boasts a Test ‘triple’ for India - struck 150 and Jack White took 4-45 to make the home side follow on. Come the last day, openers Burns and Sibley stopped the rot by batting out the final four hours or so without trouble. 

Essex have only a mathematical chance of overhauling Surrey after an all-or-nothing final-day declaration against Hampshire failed to pay off. Adam Rossington and Tom Prest swapped centuries and Essex’s Matt Critchley was caught off Dawson’s spin for 99 before the stakes – and scoring rates – were raised on Friday. Hampshire were set a target of 267 in about 60 overs and at 32-4 looked set to capitulate. However, the experienced duo of James Vince and Liam Dawson turned disaster into triumph, putting on 184. Critchley nabbed them both but Ben Brown took them over the line with time running out. 

At the other end of the table, 42-year-old Tim Murtagh followed his retirement announcement with eight wickets for Middlesex at Lord’s. However, it was all in vain because Warwickshire have the in-form Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who claimed eight of his own. The lanky Yorkshireman is no spring chicken himself but has led the line admirably all season. Danny Briggs became the second spinner this week to be dismissed on 99 and Will Rhodes made 102 as the Londoners struggled to gain a foothold in the match. In the second innings, Sam Robson carried his bat for 107 but Warwickshire wrapped up the victory by eight wickets, leaving Middlesex in the relegation zone. 

They can still overtake Kent, who were second-best to Somerset, for whom Lammonby and Goldsworthy reached three figures, until the Taunton weather saved their bacon. At Old Trafford, only 84 overs were possible but the draw made little difference to the mid-table. Next week, Surrey should clinch the five points required at Southampton, although Hampshire have the incentive of snatching second place from Essex. Northants are down, but Kent (against Lancashire) just need to match Middlesex (at Nottinghamshire) to remain in Division One in 2024. 

Joining them will be Durham and, almost certainly, Worcestershire. IN between rain delays, the two played out a single-innings draw this week, Scott Borthwick top-scoring with 134 not out. A resurgent Leicestershire have a theoretical chance of promotion but there was no real opportunity to narrow the gap by defeating Yorkshire at Grace Road. Derbyshire failed to break their season’s duck at home to Sussex but Brooke Guest did equal Derby’s record of seven catches in the first innings. Gloucestershire are also winless, and Sussex are in their way next week, just as Glamorgan are Derby’s barrier. Most of the season’s honours have been decided but don’t rule out some late-September excitement. 

Team of the Week:- Lammonby (Som), Robson (Mid), Borthwick (Dur), Vince (Ham), Nair (Nor), Guest (Der +), Critchley (Ess), Briggs (War), Conners (Der), Murtagh (Mid), Hannon-Dalby (War)

Surrey’s Revenge

In the final round of fixtures before the Championship breaks for the summer, and the counties split between the One-Day Cup and Hundred, Surrey kept their title defence in firs-class order, wreaking revenge on their T20 conquerors Somerset. 

As has been the order of things on 2023, July ended in a wet weekend, motivating teams to wrap up victories before the covers came on. Three of the Division One matches ended a day early, as bowlers took charge. At Taunton, there were no centurions, but both Tom Latham and Will Jacks were dismissed on 99 as Surrey reached 398 all out. Although Matt Henry took 6-88, it proved a tight contest between the opposing Overton twins. Craig biffed five sixes to prevent an innings defeat but Jamie took the bowling honours in a ten-wicket triumph. 

At Southampton, Essex consolidated their second place behind Surrey by beating close rivals Hampshire by six wickets. Nick Gubbins’ 45 was the highest score of the match as Essex pacer Jamie Porter claimed a couple of five-fors and the home side’s Kyle Abbott ended with match stats of 6-60. Up at Edgbaston, runs were also hard to come by, not only for Middlesex bit a;so Warwickshire, who were bowled out by Ethan Bamber (5-20) et al for a mediocre 60. MIddlesex scrambled a six-wicket win but one statistical quirk stood out for me. In the first Middlesex innings, all four Warwickshire bowlers conceded exactly 49 runs, and three had identical figures of 3-49. I wonder how often that has happened?! 

Trent Bridge enjoyed more action, although Kent probably didn’t have as much fun as Nottinghamshire, who stormed to a 321-run winning margin. Opener Ben Slater scored 100 and 85 in a game which was close for a couple of days, then Brett Hutton (4-44) and Dane Paterson (5-41) swept Kent aside on the fourth afternoon. In the other game, Lancashire looked likely to inflict a seventh defeat on Northamptonshire. Wells, Bohannon and Salt each made tons in a Bazball-esque total of 544-7 declared but the visitors showed some welcome backbone in adversity. Following his 207 partnership with Emilio Gay in the first innings, captain Luke Procter dug in for a 130-minute 27 not out as his side played out a hundred overs, losing only five wickets in the process. 

In Division Two, Yorkshire suffered the double-blow of a 48-point deduction as punishment for their institutional racism and a two-day washout at Scarborough. Adam Lyth had time to score another century but Durham’s in-form Alex Lees was left high and (metaphorically) dry on 66. 

Worcestershire moved within forty points of Durham courtesy of a 110-run success over Gloucestershire on a bat-friendly Cheltenham wicket. Gloucester’s two sets of brothers were heavily involved, notably Oliver Price’s 115 and a determined second-innings stand of 95 shared by Jack (98) and Matt (49 not out) Taylor. However, facing a daunting final day target of 422, they fell between two stools and were all out for 311. 

At Derby, Glamorgan again showed they can amass a decent total. The veteran Colin Ingram led the way with 136 out of 521-8 declared. Derbyshire’s openers made a fine response, Harry Came and Luis Reece putting on 165, before the wheels came off and Glamorgan enforced the follow-on. Second time around, there was to be no middle-order collapse, because the middle-order never got the chance to bat. Came and Reece glided serenely past 100, 200, 300, and captain Du Plooy called time only after Reece had achieved his maiden double-century. Their 360 shattered the previous Derbyshire first-wicket record and also dented Glamorgan’s promotion hopes. They will have to show patience before meeting second-place Worcestershire in their next Championship fixture in September. 

Team of the Week:- Gay (Nor), Reece (Der), Slater (Not), Salt (Sur +), Ingram (Gla), Procter (Nor), Higgins (Mid), Abbott (Ham), Hutton (Not), Bamber (Mid), Porter (Ess)

Essex Gain Ground but Rew Rules for Somerset

It wasn’t a great week for Lancashire. First, they bowed out of the Blast, eased out by Surrey, then came a gallant but ultimately unsuccessful Championship chase against Essex at Blackpool. The visiting captain Tom Westley put Essex in a good position only for Tom Bailey (6-59) to rip out the tail. However, Sam Cook and Paul Walter bowled Essex back into a commanding position, which was extended by Dan Lawrence’s 135 and a late pre-declaration slog by Doug Bracewell. Set 430 to win on the final day, Lancashire were in the hunt well into the last session but Rob Jones was running out of partners. Last man Will Williams dug in but Bracewell ended Jones’ innings to give Essex the victory by 46 runs and advance them into second place. 

Nottinghamshire also lost in the T20, throwing away a promising advantage against Somerset, but with the red ball they held their own admirably against Division One leaders Surrey to secure a draw. Lyndon James and Brett Hutton claimed five-fors while Will Young (Notts) and Jordan Clark traded centuries. Warwickshire defeated Kent at a three-day canter in Canterbury. Opener Rob Yates finished unbeaten on 228 and tournament debutant Glenn Maxwell thrashed 81 to give the home county little chance of even making Warwickshire bat again. Oliver Hannon-Dalby took four wickets in each innings. 

Another great ton by teenager James Rew, this time a double, put Somerset on a similar victory charge at home to Hampshire. However, Dawson and Nick Gubbins, who spent four hours over his unbeaten 50, frustrated their old rivals’ bid for a deserved success, aided by a second-string bowling line-up. It was an extraordinary climax at the remaining top-tier game. Bottom sides Middlesex and Northamptonshire met at Merchant Taylor’s School and the result went down to the very last ball. Sam Whiteman’s 114 helped the away team to a 322-run lead but, despite Eskenazi’s early retirement through injury, Sam Robson, John Simpson and Toby Roland-Jones took Middlesex to the brink of victory. When Robson reached three figures, he became – remarkably – the county’s first centurion of the summer but, needing three from the final delivery, he and De Caires could only scramble two. The scores were level and a draw resulted. 

In Division Two, Durham are making it look easy. They crushed Gloucestershire by nine wickets. Alex Lees’ 195 outscored the whole of Gloucester’s second innings. Leicestershire remain second after a rain-affected draw at Cardiff. With a positive outcome impossible, Glamorgan’s Michael Neser thumped 176 not out, then Leicester’s Rishi Patel went three better, sealing a contract extension. 

There were runs galore in a very tight encounter at Hove. Set a target of 380 by Sussex on the fourth afternoon, Derbyshire could have been forgiven for resorting to innocuous batting practice. To their credit, they were far more positive. Leus du Plooy led by example but once he was sixth out for 128, Sussex sensed a chance to win. They captured two more wickets and stumps were drawn with Derbyshire nineteen runs short of success. 

At New Road, Yorkshire’s openers Lyth and Bean put on 177 but the county had to struggle for a fourth batting bonus point. Ben Coad claimed 5-33 as Worcestershire slipped to 242 all out. Rain severely disrupted their second innings, robbing the White Roses’ chance of an innings victory.

 After the Blast’s Finals Day, the four-dayers return next week. Amongst others, Durham face Derbyshire while in Division One Surrey must fancy their hop across the Thames to Middlesex, Essex host Kent and Warwickshire welcome Lancashire to Edgbaston. Personally, I hope Somerset press on against Northants – preferably with a T20 title under their belt. Ha-ha! 

Team of the Week:- Yates (War), Lees (Dur), Coles (Sus), Lawrence (Ess), Du Plooy (Der), Rew (Som +), Neser (Gla), Walter (Ess), Bailey (Lan), Hannon-Dalby (War), Coad (Yor)

County Cricket: Surrey Crippled, Bell-Drummond Tripled

This week’s County Championships fixtures produced a satisfying mixture of shocks, record performances and heart-pounding finishes. Before this week, both Surrey and Lancashire were unbeaten and, at The Oval, you’d expect the former to retain that sequence against the latter. Thanks to a last-wicket stand of 130 between Sean Abbott and Dan Worrall, a first-innings lead was duly established. On day three, the Surrey seamers picked up regular wickets, leaving their batters a comfortable target of 208. However, Tom Bailey ran through the formidable top-order, including Tom Latham first ball, and Will Williams finished the job. 

With the counties behind them also lacking consistency, Surrey are still looking good to retain their title. Essex advanced to second at the expense of Warwickshire at Chelmsford. Tom Westley and Dan Lawrence put on 227 for the third wicket before bowlers Porter and Harmer left the opponents facing the follow-on. Late flurries from Bess and Lintott forced the Essex openers to bat again but victory was achieved inside sixteen overs. 

Hampshire made short work of Middlesex at Southampton, where Liam Dawson became the first Hampshire all-rounder to score a century and take ten wickets in the same match. The Londoners have only one batting bonus point on the board all season, a disturbing state of affairs. Kent also won by an innings, at the expense of bottom side Northamptonshire. Last week, Daniel Bell-Drummond was by far the leading T20 run scorer and this time he repeated the feat in red-ball cricket. He joined the select few Kent batsmen to strike a triple-century, moments before his tail-end partner was last man out. 

At Taunton, Somerset made a dreadful start to their fixture against Nottinghamshire, for whom Brett Hutton took 5-34. However, Matt Henry began the turnaround with 6-59, his work continued by George Bartlett and teen sensation James Rew whose tons took the second innings total beyond 500. Notts had well over a day to compile 492 to win but they failed to survive even a few hours. Somerset’s pace attack was ruthless, Josh Davey’s 4-17 the most eye-catching figures. The enormous winning margin of 399 runs was Somerset’s second largest runs victory in their Championship history.

 

In Division Two, leaders Durham were frustrated in their push for a fifth triumph of the season. Their contest at Leicestershire yielded six centuries, two of them from the Durham opener Alex Lees but the most crucial turned out to come from Leicester’s Aussie Peter Handscomb. While all around him floundered, he avoided the temptation to dig in, instead peppering the boundary twenty-one times on the way to an unbeaten 136 and dominating a match-saving ninth wicket partnership lasting twenty overs.

Leicester’s superior batting bonus points helped them leapfrog Sussex, who also required a desperate rearguard action to avoid defeat at the hands of Glamorgan. With nine wickets down, Oli Carter and Henry Shipley somehow managed to last more than twenty-one overs, the latter making only two scoring shots (both boundaries) from the 56 deliveries faced. 

Bowlers struggled, too, at Headingley. The first-innings totals surpassed a thousand runs, including centuries by Bean, Hill and Revis (Yorkshire) and Oliver Price (Gloucestershire) and a draw was inevitable. It was the same outcome at Worcester, where winless Derbyshire looked likely to break their duck after skipper Luis Du Plooy shared partnerships of over 250 with each of Wayne Madsen and Anuj Dal. However, their bowlers were less successful, as Garth Roderick (123) and Ed Pollock (56 in almost four hours) anchored a dogged last-day dig-in to attain a draw. 

Back to T20 mode now, where Worcestershire have much more chance of silverware… 

Team of the Week:- Muyeye (Ken), Lees (Dur), Bell-Drummond (Ken), Du Plooy (Der), Robinson (Dur +), Handscomb (Lei), Dawson (Ham), Abbott (Sur), McAndrew (Sus), Williams (Lan), Henry (Som)

Kent pair smash partnership record

Kent claimed their first win of the season, but it was the second-wicket pair of 19 year-old Jordan Cox and Jack Leaning who stole the headlines. Their unbeaten stand of 423 was the county’s highest ever, and they might still be batting had they not declared at the 120-over mark. It proved to be the correct decision because 44 year-old Darren Stevens polished off Sussex with 5-50 to win by an innings. Cox promptly let the side down by posing with fans, breaking the Covid rules and consequently missing the next fixture in self-isolation, the idiot. 

Across the Thames estuary, Essex raced to the top of the South division, dealing Surrey a 169-run defeat. Simon Harmer reminded South Africa of his credentials by taking 14 wickets in the match. It was a tighter affair at Radlett where Hampshire took the winners’ bonus. Bowling honours were shared but opener Joe Weatherly needed to defy Tim Murtagh et al and anchor the line-up for 64 to set up a narrow win against Middlesex. 

Somerset made it two wins from two inside two days at Northampton where seamers made hay. The home side’s Ben Sanderson took 9-89 and still lost, because the Overton twins dominated once more. Not only did they take cheap wickets but also top-score with half-centuries. 

Gloucestershire beat Warwickshire at Bristol, despite the sterling efforts of the visitors’ stand-in opening bowler, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who captured six wickets in each innings. All-rounder Ryan Higgins’ bowling was the difference, his 7-42 ensuring a 78-run winning margin. Worcestershire held the upper hand at home to Glamorgan, beginning with a 318-run partnership involving Jake Libby and Brett D’Oliveira. The Welsh attack again looked fragile but Billy Root struck a century and Chris Cooke staved off defeat in the second innings with 74. More impressive were his wicketkeeping stats: 7 catches and two stumpings. 

In the North group, Derbyshire outplayed neighbours Leicestershire by nine wickets and Lancashire came away from Durham with an innings victory. At Trent Bridge , Nottinghamshire enjoyed a first-innings lead over Yorkshire, with the help of Tom Moores’ 106 and the slip catches of skipper Mullaney. However, they blew their chances of a first triumph since 2018 by being skittled for 97. 

It has been confirmed that the final of the Bob Willis Trophy won’t take place until 23^rd September, but the revised T20 Blast is heading for an October finish in the hope that fans may be allowed into the grounds. Given the current increases in infections, that may prove wishful thinking. 

Team of the Week: Libby (Wor), Cox (Ken), Leaning (Ken), D’Oliveira (Wor), Thompson (Yor), Cooke (Gla +), Higgins (Glo), J Overton (Som), Harmer (Ess), Hannon-Dalby (War), Sanderson (Nor)

2020 County Cricket off to a late but flying start

At last we have some meaningful domestic cricket in this most dismal and distressing of summers. The appearance of four-day scorecards on websites almost took me by surprise. Like many sports – and indeed the UK Government – county cricket seems to be making it up as they go along. However, unlike the self-inflicted chaos of the Boris regime, it doesn’t really matter. Given the current circumstances, it is right that spectators are not allowed in to watch but for all those who play of just follow the game, the launch this week of the truncated season is extremely welcome. 

It’s not the County Championship as we know it – and I seriously wonder whether the Bob Willis Trophy will become the default format even when Covid-19 has been despatched over cow corner – but the first set of regional fixtures provided excitement a-plenty.

Results made a mockery of the 2019 league tables, including Leicestershire’s seven-wicket victory over Lancashire, achieved thanks to a late fourth day run chase led by Colin Ackermann. Lancashire’s bowling attack featured three debutants and they were powerless to stop Ackermann and, in the first innings, Ben Slater, whose 172 was the second highest score of the week. 

At Trent Bridge, Derbyshire nicked a three-wicket win against local rivals Nottinghamshire. Having been set an unlikely 365 to win, an unbeaten 91 by Fynn Hudson-Prentice saw Derby home in the final over, continuing Notts’ miserable run from last year. Durham’s ex-Yorkshire opener Alex Lees struck 106 but his old county came out on top with fine bowling by Coad and Fisher in particular. 

Worcestershire sit atop the Central group after triumphing at Bristol. Solid first innings batting down the order, followed by a four-wicket Joe Leach spell set eared the 22 points. Last season’s nearly-boys Somerset were in trouble on day one at home to second-tier Glamorgan before Jack Brooks blasted 72 batting at eleven. Cue the Overton brothers. It was announced this week that Surrey have bought Jamie’s services but his allegiance to the West Country was in no doubt as he and Craig each ended up with seven wickets. Tom Abell’s 119 rubbed in the fact that the Welsh batting was hopelessly outclassed, missing a top-class overseas player or two. Warwickshire’s new signing Tim Bresnan was in good all-round form, taking four wickets and striking a first-day century but they were held to a draw by Northants. 

In the South, Middlesex won bragging rights in the London derby. Nick Gubbins produced the best batting performance of the week, contributing 252 runs in the match and that man Tim Murtagh, while his Irish compatriots were beating England in their ODI, snaffled another five-fer in a 190-run victory. It was a tighter affair at Chelmsford where Essex overturned a substantial first-innings deficit to beat Kent by two wickets. Sussex had briefly led the group after beating Hampshire inside three days. Opener Phil Salt struck two half-centuries while Ollie Robinson again proved his worth as one of the country’s finest young pace bowlers, should Anderson and Broad ever decide to quit. 

I don’t know who will win the whole affair or even how it will be eventually decided. It’s just great to get things up and running. 

Team of the Week: Dent (Glo), Slater (Lei), Gubbins (Mid), Kuhn (Ken), Ackermann (Lei), Smith (Sur +), Bresnan (War), C Overton (Som), J Overton (Som), Robinson (Sus), Murtagh (Mid)

Stevens breaks records, Abbott breaks Somerset

Because of an impending holiday in Portugal, I am taking the unusual step of writing this week’s county blog before the full set of fixtures are over. However, with most of the results already confirmed, it’s not completely crazy.

Somerset’s hopes of that elusive Championship title rest entirely on beating Essex at Taunton next week after being flattened by Hampshire at the Rose Bowl inside three days. They have become accustomed to bowling sides out twice, thanks to the Overtons, Gregory, Leach or Davey but this week they came up against Kyle Abbott, who claimed the best bowling figures ever for the county and the best by anybody since Jim Laker since the Fifties.

First up he took 9-40 then, once Somerset’s openers had established a solid 86, he produced another devastating spell of 8-46. And yet Somerset may have triumphed had Hampshire not had to rely on centuries by Liam Dawson in the first innings and James Vince in the second.

Meanwhile, Essex did all that could be asked of them by routing Surrey at Chelmsford. Porter and Cook each claimed five-fors in the first innings then the spin of Simon Harmer polished off the calamitous ex-champions on Thursday afternoon. Dan Lawrence and the reliable Ryan Ten Doeschate each struck tons. As a result, a draw will be enough in the final fixture at Taunton. I think all us Somerset fans know exactly how it will play out….

Kent look set to beat Yorkshire and that man Darren Stevens has done it again. After a mediocre summer, Kent decided not to renew his contract but they may be reconsidering because he thumped a career-best 237 as part of a Kent record sixth-wicket partnership of 347. At 43, he is also the oldest double-centurion for the county for seventy years. And he’s not finished in this match because at stumps on day three he has 4-12 with the ball. What a legend! It’s rare for a man making three figures twice to be outshone, but that’s what has happened to his skipper Sam Billings.

Nottinghamshire have a chance of a first victory of the season, thanks largely to Steve Mullaney and Joe Clarke, who is seeking to emulate Billings by heading towards a second hundred of the match. Dom Sibley’s unbeaten 215 for Warwickshire may have done enough to ensure a draw.

In Division Two, Gloucestershire defeated Worcestershire despite Ed Barnard’s 6-42, and must surely be home and dry for a promotion they can’t honestly have predicted. Northamptonshire are set to join them and Lancashire in the top tier next season, barring a late-order miracle comeback by Durham. ‘Keeper Adam Rossington’s batting counter-attack and Ben Sanderson’s wickets look to have done the trick.

Sussex’s slender hopes were skittled by Derbyshire, for whom Luis Reece crafted a second innings 184 and took 5-63. White ball specialist Reece Topley enjoyed a reasonable but long-delayed first-class debut for Sussex, albeit in a losing cause. Leicestershire will definitely finish bottom of Division Two as Glamorgan are on the verge of victory against them in Cardiff. Kraigg Brathwaite earned his crust by grinding out 103.

Unless we decide to stay on the Algarve for another six years to retain EU residency, I’ll be back to report on the conclusion of proceedings next week.

Team of the Week: Mullaney (Not), Sibley (War), Clarke (Not), Billings (Ken), Dawson (Ham), Rossington (Nor +), Stevens (Ken), Simpson (Mid), Abbott (Ham), Harmer (Ess), Sanderson (Nor)

Moeen rockets Rapids to Finals Day

After the exciting climax to the Third Ashes Test match, it is perhaps a little ironic that the format designed to serve up thrilling games inside three hours should produce mostly one-sided quarter-finals in the Blast.

North group winners Lancashire were denied their home advantage by the primacy of the Ashes. Instead of Old Trafford or the floodlight-less Liverpool, they were forced to play Essex the other side of the Pennines at Chester-le-Street. Mind you, I think that T20 is such a lottery that it removes much advantage of batting on a familiar track, and two of the other three fixtures were won by the visiting county.

Lancashire’s innings was anchored by Alex Davies, who was still there at the end of their innings on 80. Essex’s target of 160 was far from straightforward and it required Ten Doeschate and Bopara to raise their strike rate considerably in the last five overs. The experienced duo succeeded, as Vilas  switched his seven bowlers in desperation. The ex-England man rounded off an excellent all-round performance with 2-28 and an 18-ball 39.

On Wednesday evening, another rapid fifty by Eoin Morgan proved in vain. The Trent Bridge faithful were treated to a fine display of hitting as Middlesex failed to capture a single wicket, dropping three catches along the way. Chris Nash made his first Blast outing of the season, showing Joe Clarke how ‘tis done, striking twos and fours with pleasing regularity. At the other end Alex Hales heaved seven balls into the crowd, the last of them bringing up the ten-wicket victory in the seventeenth over.

The third quarter-final was hosted by Hove but, facing Worcestershire, South table-toppers Sussex were undone first by the crucial bowling of Ed Barnard then the brilliant batting of Moeen Ali. He thumped an awe-inspiring career-best 121 not out to follow a mean 1-21 bowling spell.

In contrast, runs were in short supply at Bristol where Derbyshire restricted Gloucestershire to only 135-7. Four bowlers conceded fewer than seven an over with off-spinner Matt Critchley perhaps the pick of the pack. The county duly booked their first Finals Day trip thanks largely to Wayne Madsen keeping the scoreboard ticking merrily for 47 until he became Tye’s second victim. Too little, too late, and captain Godleman and coach Dominic Cork could celebrate the achievement. They may not have the dosh or the big names of their opponents but underestimate Derbyshire in T20 at your peril.

Last weekend, the women had their own Finals Day in Sussex. The last KSL action before it’s ditched for the horrible Hundred saw the Southern Vipers overpower Loughborough Lightning with an over to spare in the semi. Western Storm have bossed the group stages with nine wins out of ten, and they duly made it a double-figure tally in a six-wicket triumph. Competition top scorer Dani Wyatt had given the Vipers an excellent start but England skipper Heather Knight (78 not out) and Deepti Sharma (39 off 22 deliveries) saw the hot favourites home. After the England women suffered such a drubbing in their own Ashes, Knight could final lift a trophy. We’ll know shortly whether Joe Root could do the same.

Team of the Week: Davies (Lan), Moeen Ali (Wor), Hales (Not), Wyatt (Vip), Knight (WS), Bopara (Ess), Cox (Wor +), Barnard (Wor), Critchley (Der), Hudson-Prentice (Der), Carter (Not)

Essex, Derbyshire and Eoin Morgan storm into the last eight

The Vitality Blast group stage provided an exciting climax, especially in the South Group where the quarter-finalists weren’t decided ‘til the last evening. Sussex and Gloucestershire had done enough to qualify by the Thursday night. Michael Klinger may be in his 40^th year but the 8^th T20 century of his career, together with Ryan Higgins’ three wickets, ensured a five-run defeat of Kent at Canterbury. The top two met on the final day and a Van Buuren six from the last delivery meant Gloucestershire could book their Bristol home for the knockouts.

Come Friday evening, former leaders Kent were still in the hunt for one of the other places, along with Somerset, Hampshire, Middlesex and Essex. The Eagles looked down and out last week but pulled off a fabulous week which consisted of a tie with Hampshire and two close wins against Surrey and Sussex, before ending Kent’s hopes with a ten-run victory at Chelmsford. Ravi Bopara capped a fine individual week by striking 47 not out and taking 2-27. Mohammad Amir also bowled consistently well, conceding fewer than 30 runs in each of the four fixtures. They’ll need his pace and guile if they are to reach the semis.

At Taunton, it was a winner-takes-all clash between Middlesex and Somerset. Tom Abell’s improvement in white-ball batting looked complete when he reached a maiden T20 century off the last ball to set Middlesex a massive 227. That would prove impossible for most opponents but this side boasted a formidable top-order of Stirling, Malan, Hafeez, De Villiers and Morgan. They raced to 50 inside three overs and never really took the foot of the pedal. Every time I switched channels to watch, AB or Eoin Morgan seemed to be swiping sixes, and it was the England captain’s 29-ball 83 which swept the pink princes to victory with three overs still remaining.

Elsewhere, Hampshire’s chances were extinguished at Cardiff where Glamorgan finally registered a two-point result in fourteen attempts. When the sides met earlier in the month, the Welsh were dismissed for 84. This time they amassed 216-5, including thirteen sixes, which proved beyond even Vince and Northeast. 

In the North group, the top four had already broken away by Friday, and Lancashire held onto the top spot with a five-wicket defeat of Leicestershire. Aided by the return of Alex Hales, Nottinghamshire finished second despite losing to Durham, but it was Derbyshire who finished stronger than anyone in the country. They smashed Northants and Leicestershire each by nine-wicket margins, before overcoming the table-topping Lightning courtesy of Wayne Madsen’s 69 and Ravi Rampaul’s 3-19, propelling them into third.

Moeen Ali’s unintended stint with Worcestershire yielded plenty of runs this week, just about keeping the chasing pack at bay. Yorkshire were just one victory over Notts from stopping them. Their opening pair of Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Adam Lyth did everything you could hope for, not just for their runs but also Lyth’s ten wickets, but the rest of the attack let them down a bit.

And so the quarter-finals beckon later this week. Old Trafford is otherwise engaged with some Test match or other, so Lancashire’s home tie against Essex has been shifted cross-country to Chester-le-Street. I’d rate the ‘home’ side narrow favourites. Nottinghamshire v Middlesex is closer to call. Neither have shone particularly brightly but if AB can turn out for Middlesex, they will have the edge. Sussex’s array of spinners could well stifle Worcestershire at Hove next Friday, while in the concluding match, Derbyshire’s squad look particularly useful in the Blast and may well edge Gloucestershire for a place in Finals Day in three weeks’ time.

Team of the Week: Kohler-Cadmore (Yor), Lyth (Yor), Klinger (Glo), Moeen Ali (Wor), Morgan (Mid), Bopara (Ess), Carey (Sus +), Abbott (Ham), Shutt (Yor), Batty (Sur), Mohammad Amir (Ess)

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)

Somerset beat both Kent and the rain

In a week when heavy rains wept across the whole of Britain, it is probably remarkable that any first-class cricket fixtures produced a result. I’m biased, of course, but I’m delighted that Somerset were the only county to wring out a win from the soggy conditions, thus extending their lead at the top of the Championship to 26 points.

Lewis Gregory’s storming season stepped up another gear at Canterbury, taking 6-32 and 5-21. Spanning the full four days, Kent’s fate was sealed when the seamers bowled them out a second time for just 59, leaving Abell and Azhar Ali to knock off the required 30 runs in only 40 balls. As things turned out, Tom Banton’s 63 was not only the top score in the match but also the whole of Division One last week. 

Welbeck CC’s debut as a Championship venue proved less than lucrative as the last three days were washed out. Last Sunday, the pitch offered Kyle Abbott enough to reduce woeful Nottinghamshire to 162 all out, but second-placed Hampshire were left high and not-so-dry on 93-2.

Surrey’s second successive fixture at Guildford saw the home side settle into the driving seat enforcing Yorkshire’s follow-on, thanks largely to the bowling of Morkel and Clarke. However, there was neither time nor the weather to finish them off. Yorkshire and Hampshire now have the chance to narrow the gap behind Somerset by beating Warwickshire and Essex, respectively.

In Division Two, all ten counties were in action but again the elements conspired against their efforts to reap the sixteen points for a victory. At least the Swansea fans were able to witness a harvest of runs. Glamorgan’s new-found ability to build a sizeable innings was again in evidence, although it was the ninth-wicket partnership of 167 between Wagg and Carey which took them close to maximum batting bonus points. Derbyshire’s response was to pile on almost 600, featuring Billy Godleman’s career-best 227 and Tom Lace’s maiden century.

The Welsh side remain second, nine points behind Lancashire, for whom Jimmy Anderson took 4-24 at Worcester. Sussex stand third after their draw with Gloucestershire at leafy Arundel. Promoted to open, Will Beer duly struck his best ever score of 97 out of 351-8, then Gloucestershire’s Gareth Roderick and Ryan Higgins each reached three figures to play out an inevitable draw on the final day.

At Chester-le-Street, Ricardo Vasconcelos just achieved a ton of his own for Northamptonshire before the last two days were rained off. The result left Durham seven adrift of their opponents and Middlesex at the bottom of the league. At least all of the above managed more play than Leicestershire and Middlesex. Eleven overs on Wednesday was the sum total of their week’s cricket.

Let’s hope the June weather improves sufficiently to get the Championship motoring once more.

Team of the Week: Godleman (Der), Vasconcelos (Nor, Lace (Der), Roderick (Glo +), Higgins (Glo), Wiese (Sus), Wagg (Gla), Gregory (Som), C Overton (Som), Abbott (Ham), Anderson (Lan)

Spinners in Gr-Eight Form

In the week that the ICC World Cup launched at The Oval, the County Championship featured some fine performances not so much by batsmen but three reliable spinners. In particular, Edgbaston witnessed two eight-fors – both on the same climactic day. Surrey’s veteran Gareth Batty’s was completed by a hat-trick, then Jeetan Patel reeled off 31 consecutive overs, 18 of them maidens, to ensure Warwickshire registered their first Championship victory of the summer. Remarkably, champions Surrey are still waiting for theirs.

With Somerset having a week off, Yorkshire and Hampshire met at Headingley to decide which of them would take over at the top of Division One. In a rain-affected game, neither could manufacture a win, but Hampshire’s nine points took them seven clear. Gary Ballance’s 100 and Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s 69 set up a declaration but Weatherley and Rossouw batted Hants to safety. Given another couple of hours it could have been a nail-biter, but it wasn’t to be.

At Chelmsford, the Thames estuary derby resulted in a 113-run triumph for Essex. Alastair Cook found his form at last and was denied his chance of a first ever two-century match when dismissed for 90 in the second innings. Kent were set a challenging 338 on day four and, despite Bell-Drummond’s solid 81, were always looking to survive rather than win. Simon Harmer’s 8-98 proved decisive, and the result elevates Essex into the top four.

In Division Two, Worcestershire’s challenge hit a hurdle in the form of Middlesex who hitherto had been struggling. In a mostly low-scoring match, dominated by bowlers, a double-century second innings partnership by Gubbins (91) and Malan (124) was outstanding in more ways than one, swinging the fixture their way before Tim Murtagh’s 6-51 finished the job.

Lancashire could only draw with Gloucestershire at Cheltenham where the fickle weather was the only winner. There was time, however, for Matt Taylor to collect a five-for as the game petered out. Derbyshire advanced to second place by out-bowling Leicestershire over four rain-affected days. Wayne Madsen was the only man to reach 50 (just!) but you couldn’t accuse Leicestershire’s Hassan Azad of not trying. He spent a total of 400 minutes at the crease, grinding out a miserly 90 runs in the process! Tony Palladino’s 5-29 was the highlight. Now 35, the Londoner has seamed away out of the spotlight for years, garnering well over 400 first-class wickets at under 30 apiece, and it would be fitting if his wickets took Derby into the top flight.

There were rather more runs at Hove where Sussex entertained Glamorgan. Welshman Phil Salt, South African Marnus Labuschagne and local boy Ben Brown all reached three figures. However, perhaps the best performance came from the visiting opener Nick Selman. First he carried his bat for 76, then he contributed 99 to a second-wicket stand of 291 with Labuschagne.

Next up for Sussex is a trip to Lord’s, while Lancashire and Derbyshire face relatively simple tasks against Durham and Leicestershire, respectively. In theory, that is. In Division One, Surrey and Somerset met again, this time at Guildford, while Yorkshire and Essex clash at Leeds. Nottinghamshire travel to Birmingham hoping for the victory which would see them climb out of the basement.

Team of the Week: Selman (Gla), Cook (Ess), Labuschagne (Gla), Ballance (Yor), Malan (Mid), Brown (Sus +), Harmer (Ess), Patel (War), Batty (Sur), Palladino (Der), Murtagh (Mid)

Hampshire off to a Flying Start

In the first round of County Championship fixtures, Hampshire made April fools of Essex at Southampton. They taught my picks for title contenders an early-season lesson with victory by an innings and 87 runs, collecting maximum points en route. Sam Northeast’s 169 led the run charge before bowlers Kyle Abbott and 37 year-old Fidel Edwards carried on where they left off in 2018. Ravi Bopara (107) showed some second innings resistance but there was too much to do.

Somerset sit second (just for a change!) after clawing their way back to beat Kent on the final afternoon. Somerset’s George Bartlett struck the game’s only half-century, then Lewis Gregory nabbed Dickson first ball and the visitors crumbled to 131 all out.

The other first division match saw Joe Root face Stuart Broad and receive an ego-denting whack on the helmet for his troubles. Nottinghamshire’s new-look batting line-up took control, especially Joe Clarke, who came within three runs of securing two centuries on his county debut. I wouldn’t be surprised if he isn’t playing alongside his Yorkshire opposite number for England in the not-too-distant future. Root and Gary Ballance each reached three figures as Yorkshire easily avoided defeat.

Two of the Division 2 promotion favourites slipped at the first hurdle. Sussex were well beaten by Leicestershire at Hove. Ollie Robinson took six wickets but the victors’ Tom Taylor starred with the ball, his first innings 6-47 doing the most serious damage. Middlesex were also playing catch-up at Northampton despite Tim Murtagh’s splendid efforts. Nathan Buck captured 5-54 to force the follow-on but Dawid Malan’s rearguard century rescued the situation.

Elsewhere, Derbyshire survived the shock of losing two wickets in the first three balls of the season to defeat Durham by 125 runs. ‘Keeper Harvey Hosein top-scored in each innings then Alex Lees’ side were eventually ground down by Rampaul, Critchley et al on a tough final day.

Next week Middlesex get another opportunity at home to rivals Lancashire, while Leicestershire can make it two wins from two against Worcestershire. In the top flight, Hampshire will probably in pole position throughout the month-long Championship break should they beat Yorkshire. Somerset face a tricky trip to Trent Bridge while champions Surrey launch their defence at The Oval against Essex, surely eager to make amends for their thumping at the hands of Hants at the weekend.

First 2019 Team of the Week: Lyth (Yor), Duckett (Not), Clarke (Not), Root (Yor), Malan (Mid), Bopara (Ess), Hosein (Der, +), Gregory (Som), Edwards (Ham), T. Taylor (Lei), Claydon (Ken)

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)

Derbyshire and Glamorgan Hold Firm

Championship strugglers Derbyshire and Warwickshire continued to rule the roost in the T20 North division, each recording their fifth victories of the season. Luis Reece’s best T20 score of his short career, 97 not out against Lancashire, was instrumental in their win over Lancashire, while New Zealand paceman Matt Henry’s six wickets also proved vital in their progress this week.

Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire also picked up two more victories, thwarted by the weather from making it a 100% record for the week. Alex Hales was arguably the county player of the past seven days, improving his scores steadily, culminating in his 101 against Yorkshire. Their mighty top four batsmen make it easier for the relatively weak attack, although Samit Patel, Steven Mullaney and Jake Ball chipped in.

At the other end of the table, Durham finally achieved their first T20 success of the season. Their fixture at Leicester may have ended up as a seven-over thrash but a six-wicket win is still a win. The two Pauls Coughlin and Collingwood each scored rapid 30s to clinch the two points. A couple of days later, when the latter raced to his first T20 century at the age of 41, a second victory looked on the cards. However, Worcestershire’s Joe Clarke, 20 years Collingwood’s junior, trumped him with a dazzling 124 not out from just 53 balls, and his team reached their huge 200+ target with eleven balls to spare.

Despite, or because of, their four no-results, Glamorgan advanced to the summit of the South group. Coincidentally their winning margin against both Gloucestershire and Kent was 25 runs. In each game, Jacques Rudolph hit a half-century and new arrival David Miller produced a rapid cameo, whilst the bowlers all contributed, too.

Somerset climbed to third behind the Welsh and Surrey, thanks to triumphs over South Coast neighbours Sussex and Hampshire. All the squad played their parts but Stephen Davies was the most consistent cameo batsman. The ever-reliable Gloucestershire opener Michael Klinger scored 52 and 101 but was deprived of continuing the sequence at Chelmsford when rain intervened.

Next week includes a host of potentially money-spinning local derbies on Friday evening. Warwickshire host Worcestershire, Sussex nip along to Kent, Somerset travel a few junctions on the M5 to Bristol, Durham and Yorkshire battle for the North East spoils, but the Derbyshire-Nottinghamshire duel could be the most interesting in relation to the North group qualification places.

Team of the Week: Hales (Not), Klinger (Glo), Clarke (Wor), Davies (Som +), Denly (Ken), Northeast (Ken), Collingwood (Dur), Mullaney (Not), Rashid (Yor), Henry (Der), Parkinson (Lei)

Lumb and Wessels on Fire!

As the County Championship took its first week off this summer, the 50-over One-Day Cup kicked off alongside the continuing T20 Blast. Gloucestershire have made a terrible start to their title defence, losing all three fixtures so far. Mind you, they should have beaten Somerset in their first match, but Jamie Overton and Tim Groenewald produced a tenth wicket stand of 65 to clinch an unlikely win with three balls to spare.

Somerset top the South Group with Essex and Glamorgan but all eyes this week have been on Nottinghamshire and their opening partnership of Michael Lumb and Riki Wessels. All three of their stands reached three figures, including an astonishing 342 against Northants. It broke the old Dravid/Ganguly List A record in England, while the county total of 445-8 is the second highest anywhere in the world. Even more remarkable was that Northants fell only 20 runs short, and the aggregate of 870 was a mere two behind the world record. Lumb made 184, Wessels 146 but perhaps both were outdone by the opponents’ Rory Kleinveldt. Having to bat with a runner, he had to go for boundaries. Thumping ten 4s and nine 6s, he amassed 128 from 63 balls before falling five overs from home.

Lumb made 133 in the Warwickshire game, and both he and Wessels made fifties in their twenty-over match for good measure. For all the runs racked up by Notts, their net run rate is inferior to Derbyshire’s. Ben Slater (against Durham) and Hamish Rutherford (vs Worcestershire) scored centuries while Shiv Thakor, deprived of batting opportunites, has again been amongst the wickets.

Elsewhere, Hain, Bell and Trott were in the runs for Warwickshire, and Johann Myburgh (Somerset), Kevin O’Brien (Leicestershire) and Jesse Ryder (Essex) were also consistently high in their scoring. It certainly wasn’t a week for bowlers, but then modern one-day cricket is fundamentally designed for batsmen: all fielding restrictions, big blades and short boundaries.

Twenty20 is even worse, but at least there were opportunities for experienced Aussie seamers Clint McKay and Michael Hogan to work their magic. Northants currently boast the only 100% record in this year’s Blast while Yorkshire are in the unenviable position of losing all three games played to date. While the big signings like Gayle, Bravo, McCullum, Afridi, Jayawardene et al undoubtedly shift tickets, the top performers on the pitch thus far are home-growners like Daniel Bell-Drummond of Kent, Joe Leach from Worcestershire and Leicestershire’s Ben Raine. Time will tell whether the picture changes as the competition progresses.


Team of the Week: Lumb (Not), Wessels (Not), K O’Brien (Lei), Westley (Ess), Hain (War), Buttler (Lan +), Thakor (Der), Dawson (Ham), Howell (Glo), McKay (Lei), Hogan (Gla)