Red Roses Race ahead but Gloucestershire red-faced

Following that rotten week of rain, May decided to perk up at the end, and consequently all seven Championship fixtures produced a result. Lancashire extended their lead in Group 3 after a comprehensive drubbing of old foes Yorkshire at Old Trafford. Seamer Tom Bailey was at his meanest and Saqib Mahmood emerged with a second innings 5-47, while centuries from Keaton Jennings and Josh Bohannon helped rack up an unbeatable 509-9. Northamptonshire sit just six points behind Yorkshire thanks to a seven-wicket triumph over Sussex at Hove. Ben Sanderson’s 5-45 gave them a solid start but with Tom Haines (103) and skipper Ben Brown (95) giving their bowlers something to aim at, Sussex did at least take the game into a fourth day. 

It was topsy-turvy time in Group 2. New England Test recruit James Bracey was absent from Gloucestershire’s much improved side only for the county to suffer an innings defeat at the hands of Surrey. Hashim Amla’s brilliant 173 plus useful late-order runs from Rikki Clarke and Jamie Overton took the home team to a challenging 473, which Gloucester never looked like reaching in two attempts. Novice spinner Dan Moriarty impressed with a first-innings 6-60. 

Bottom side Leicestershire picked up a maiden victory for 2021 and in the process leapfrogged their Middlesex victims. In retrospect Peter Handscomb may regret not enforcing the follow-on because Leicestershire not only batted for the last day and a bit but somehow managed to record one of their largest ever run chases. A marvellously measured third wicket partnership of 243 between Aussie Marcus Harris (185) and captain Colin Ackermann (126 not out) was instrumental in this unlikely recovery. 

In Group 1, Worcestershire also finally got off the mark, defeating Derbyshire by an innings and 23. Two successive career-bests by 22 year-old pacer Dillon Pennington stood out, while Jack Haynes and Ed Barnard each struck scores of 90+.  Nottinghamshire’s recent good form was reversed at Edgbaston, where Warwickshire outscored them in each innings. Haseeb Hameed showed little to support his Test recall. He was outscored again by his opening partner Ben Slater but it was the home skipper Will Rhodes who looked the most accomplished run-maker. Danny Briggs’ fourth day 4-36 proved decisive at the conclusion. 

With both these counties snapping at their heels, Essex needed to take the sixteen-point win bonus at Chester-le-Street. This they achieved comfortably inside three days. Chris Rushworth and Ben Raine performed admirably for Durham but it was the Essex seamers Jamie Porter, Peter Siddle and Sam Cook, whose collective effort netted nineteen wickets, who stole the show. 

The champs meet second-place Notts this week for Group 1 bragging rights before the four-week Championship break while Somerset and Gloucestershire will consolidate their ‘top two’ status in Group 2 if they overcome Hampshire and Leicestershire, respectively. The Group 3 trio at the top, Lancs, Yorks and Northants must facy their chances against Glamorgan, Sussex and Kent but the results of the past week demonstrate that nothing can be taken for granted. 

Team of the Week: Rhodes (War), Haines (Sus), Amla (Sur), Bohannon (Lan), Harris (Lei), Ackermann(Lei), Brown (Sus +), Raine (Dur), Briggs (War), Pennington (Wor), Porter (Ess)

Raine-ing Sixes and Aaron Finch Sings for Surrey

After four games of the Vitality Blast, Worcestershire remain the only county with a 100% record. Their star performer was perhaps also a surprise: Dillon Pennington. In Friday’s North division game against Northamptonshire, reduced by rare rain to a nine-over thrash, the Shropshire teenager grabbed 4-9 in his two overs.

Nottinghamshire sit in second place thanks to victories over Leicestershire and Derbyshire. Young ‘keeper Tom Moores contributed another couple of feverish fifties while Dan Christian provided more runs and wickets to the Outlaws’ cause. However, when it comes to sixes, Ben Raine reigned supreme. At Edgbaston, the Leicester all-rounder clumped ten of them in a 100-run defeat of the Bears on his way to 113 off 46 balls.

His innings was not the highest of the week. In the South group, T20 specialist Aaron Finch followed his 58 for Surrey against Essex with a 79-ball unbeaten 131 at Brighton. Even Rashid Khan got clobbered for ten an over. However, this is Sussex’s only loss in the competition so far. Earlier in the week, they travelled to Glamorgan and Hampshire and emerged from each with eight-wicket victories. Luke Wright and Laurie Evans shared two sizeable partnerships in both games.

However, Kent top the table on net run rate. Sam Billings thrashed 95 not out from the Hampshire attack, taking a particular liking to Gareth Berg, whose four overs went for sixty. It was a close contest, though, as Dawson and Berg couldn’t quite complete the chase, falling just three runs short. Kent, too, were on the receiving end of a tight finish, losing by five runs to Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Next Friday sees some tasty encounters such as the Roses match at Old Trafford, Kent hosting Surrey and Somerset’s visit to Cardiff. If possible I may even pop along to that one myself….

Team of the Week: 

Wright (Sus), Finch (Sur), Moores (Not +), Billings (Ken), Christian (Not), Raine (Lei), Clarke (Sur), Zampa (Ess), Ferguson (Der), Pennington (Wor), Pillans (Sur)