Bears Blast to the Top

Everybody knows that Twenty20 is such an unpr4dictable form of cricket. Matches can turn upon a few wickets or a couple of sixes. Tjis has a knock-on effect on the league tables, too. It can also produce genuine nail-biters. 

In this week’s Blast, there were two tied matches: Northants v Leicestershire and Gloucestershire v Surrey. Durham fans, in particular, enjoyed a few cliffhangers, edging Lancashire by two runs and Yorkshire by three. The Roses derby itself at Headingley ended in a tight seven-run margin in favour of the home team, for whom spinner Dom Bess was consistently economical. 

In the North division, the Birmingham Bears stormed to the top on the back of a four-match streak The main impetus came from the spinning all-rounders. Danny Briggs conceded no more than 26 in any of his four games and young Dan Mousley again showed why he is one of the most promising T20 performers in the country. His 20-year-old colleague Jacob Bethell let fly with the most dramatic half-century of the week, a blistering 16-ball unbeaten 56 against Northants, including seven sixes. 

One Rishi may be tottering towards the end of an undistinguished innings at Westminster but another, Rishi Patel, produced the only ton of the past eight days. The Essex-born Leicestershire opener devastated the Northants attack with 104 in 45 balls, and has now not been dismissed for under thirty for seven matches. A special mention, too, for South African Matthew Breetzke, who accumulate more than 200 runs for Northants this week. 

In the South, Surrey reman top, but the key result was their 54-run triumph over second-placed Sussex at Hove. The latest fixtures included two five-fors, amazingly both in the same game. Luke Hollman’s 5-16 was Middlesex’s only bright spot in Surrey’s innings at Lord’s, then the visiting seamer Sean Abbott took 5-18! Middlesex now have a solitary win out of eight. 

Other impressive bowling feats were Roloef van der Merwe’s two wickets with his only two balls in Somerset’s 108-run rout of Glamorgan and Timm van Gugten’s 2-8 in four overs against Gloucestershire. Not quite Lockie Ferguson’s clutch of World Cup maidens but pretty nifty, nonetheless. 

Gloucestershire dragged themselves back into knockout contention with three successes against Somerset, Glamorgan and Kent. Batsman Miles Hammond and paceman Matt Taylor were the star individuals. Essex sit in third, bolstered by runs from Dean Elgar and local boy Michael Pepper. 

Now it’s the return of proper cricket for a few weeks before the T20 group stage concludes in July. 

Team of the Week:- R Patel (Lei), Hammond (Glo), Breetzke (Nor), J Smith (Sur +), Pepper (Ess), Mousley (War), Bethell (War), S Abbott (Sur), M Taylor (Glo), Briggs (War), Bess (Yor)

Anderson’s 1000, Amla’s epic 37

In a week of one T20 Blast round and the return of the County Championship, it was another personal milestone for Jimmy Anderson which stole the headlines. In Lancashire’s rain-hit draw against Kent, his best-ever 7-19 included first-class wicket number 1000, when a trademark outswinger induced an edge from Heino Kuhn to ‘keeper Vilas. It’s 14 years since Robert Croft reached the same mark and 16 since Andy Caddick became the previous seamer to do it. The bulk have come in England whites and, with Tim Murtagh still 150-odd behind at the age of 39 and, given the current supremacy of limited overs cricket, it may never happen again. 

Lancashire sit in second place behind Group 3 leaders Yorkshire, who beat Northamptonshire. Harry Brook followed his 50-ball 91 not out in the Blast with a second-innings 113 while Dom Bess’ nine wickets eclipsed opponent Simon Kerrigan’s seven. Sussex failed to beat Glamorgan and so remain at the bottom but the two Roses counties are certain of reaching the top league in the decisive phase. 

In Group 2, late-order rescue acts were the order of the day at Taunton. Somerset’s 8^th and 9^th wickets contributed 222 before Leicestershire’s eighth wicket partnership record was shattered by Harry Swindells (171 not out) and Ed Barnes (83 not out). A draw was inevitable, which leaves Somerset needing at least a draw to progress. Gloucestershire advanced to second by completing a 164-run victory over Middlesex. Matt Taylor and Dan Worrall each took five wickets to finish things off. 

Gloucester meet Hampshire next week, the winner guaranteed to reach the final six. Should they draw, both might do so if Somerset lose to Surrey. Hampshire should have beaten them yesterday having established a phenomenal first-innings lead of 416. Colin de Grandhomme compensated for his T20 duck by striking the week’s highest score of 174 not out. However, Hashim Amla, that legend of ODI strokeplay, batted all day to accumulate a mere 37.  Luckily his younger Surrey team-mates proved just as diligent and patient to frustrate Barker, Abbott et al. There were maidens galore but the final few wickets stubbornly refused to fall. 

Nottinghamshire currently sit pretty in both competitions after thumping Derbyshire by an innings. Not for the first time this season, Luke Fletcher was the pick of their attack, with match stats of 8-64. Warwickshire are 14 points adrift after losing two days to rain at Edgbaston against Durham. At least there was time for Rob Yates to make a ton. 

Matters are coming to a head next week in preparation for the delayed arrival of The Hundred. Whoopy-doo! 

Team of the Week: Yates (War), Hammond (Glo), Bracey (Glo +), Brook (Yor), De Grandhomme (Ham), Swindells (Lei), Bess (Yor), M Taylor (Glo), Fletcher (Not), Kerrigan (Nor), Anderson (Lan)

England's youth selection pays off

It’s a touch over four years since Ben Stokes struck his record-breaking 258 at Newlands. 

Incredibly England almost contrived to lose that Test match, with AB De Villiers and another double-centurion Hashim Amla in fine form. But four years is a long time in international cricket. Stokes has hit the lows and highs and has transformed himself into a national treasure, while both Amla and AB have quit the Test arena.

England are one-day world champions and South Africa are a team in transition. Both are blooding youth, but it’s the tourists who have enjoyed crunching victories in the past few weeks, romping home by an innings at Port Elizabeth. Quinton de Kock and Vernon Phliander were instrumental in guiding the Proteas to an opening triumph straight after Christmas but the tide has turned dramatically.

At Cape Town the older brigade, led by Jimmy Anderson (7-63), Stokes and Denly who performed strongly, although Dom Sibley’s maiden century was crucial. This week, it was Ollie Pope who cemented his place in the side with his own inaugural hundred and the Player of the Match award. Yet none of England’s five under-25s have disgraced themselves. Sam Curran bowled well at times, Zak Crawley played himself in as Burns’ replacement and Dom Bess registered his first five-fer in international cricket. 

It’s kinda strange to think that Pope is only Surrey’s second-best wicketkeeper-batsman (behind Foakes) and last summer Bess struggled to hold down a first XI place at Somerset. Sometimes opportunities creep up on you and are there to be grasped and taking a 2-1 lead in South Africa is a mighty good line on a young player’s CV. With Wood and Stokes steaming in at 90mph, Jofra Archer and Anderson weren’t badly missed and a rare overseas Test series success looks highly probable.

No, the problems stand mainly with SA batting. Six innings completed, no scores of 300. So far the first-innings 284 at Centurion is their peak and De Kock’s 95 that day is the highest individual score. Maharaj’s world record-equalling 28 off Joe Root may have been a thrash in desperation but it speaks volumes that it has been arguably the most compelling piece of batsmanship South Africa have managed in the past month. With Faf du Plessis talking of stepping down, they need to improve. And fast.

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)

Pakistan deal England another blow

Pakistan don’t get many opportunities to play Test cricket these days. However, they must wish they played England twice a year every year because they seem to have our measure, to put it mildly. Two years ago, Misbah’s team drew 2-2 but could be said to have won on points after the ten-wicket massacre in the Oval finale. Now at Lord’s they have dealt England a First Test defeat for the first time since a West Indies team boasting Walsh, Ambrose, Lara et al won by the same margin, again on the fourth day. 

On the plus side, England fought back to draw that particular six-match series and it is not unfeasible they can salvage something from this truncated rubber in 2018. However, this week the gulf was somewhat embarrassing. Even Joe Root had to confess his side had been second best in all three disciplines: with the bat, ball and in the field. If England could blame unfamiliar conditions prepared by Johnny Foreigner for their winter travails, they can hardly use the same excuse for the pitch at HQ in May, ideal for Anderson and Broad to exploit, and Root’s top six to show the visitors how to bat on a Bank Holiday weekend. Oops!

It went wrong right from the first session on Thursday. Stoneman, Root and Malan were back in the pavilion inside sixteen overs. All that criticism of Alastair Cook – too old, too slow, too out of form, should be at three – and yet the ex-captain was he only man to show any stickability, easily the top scorer in the first innings, with 70. I’m sure Jos Buttler wasn’t selected as a specialist batsman at seven to come in and shore up the lower order midway through the second session, and of course he failed.

Mohammad Abbas and Hasan Ali aren’t usually touted as frightening pacemen but they skilfully showed up England’s deficiencies and bowled them out for 184. In reply, no fewer than four Pakistani batsman passed 50, and who knows how many Babar Azam might have scored had he not had his forearm broken by a rising ball from Ben Stokes when well placed on 68. Nobody bowled particularly badly; they just weren’t effective enough and Pakistan established a healthy lead of 179.

The obvious team talk would have been to exhort all batsmen to knuckle down, play each ball on its merits, blah-blah-blah. However, when Cook was LBW to an Abbas beauty in the second over to stunned silence in St John’s Wood, the warnings were there one more. Poor Mark Stoneman failed again while Joe Root did at least produce another useful 60-odd. When he was sixth out at 110, a three-day rout looked probable. But from such barren ground, the recalled Buttler and debutant Dom Bess – in his first ever first-class match at Lord’s – bore fruit, developing a 125 partnership which lasted to stumps.

Could the pair – Somerset past and present – maintain the stand and help set Pakistan a challenging target? Whaddya think?! Jos had added just a single before Abbas trapped him leg-before. Seventeen balls later, England had collapsed to 242 all out. Pakistan can be jittery when faced with an apparently straightforward chase but, despite Azhar Ali succumbing to an Anderson gem for 4, there were no major alarms and the job was done with some glorious strokes, including a clubbed six by Haris Sohail off a Bess full-toss.

There’s less than a week to regroup, reconsider and revive England’s fortunes. As for changes, Stoneman’s axe was inevitable and his former Durham team-mate Keaton Jennings has been in sufficiently fine early season for Lancashire to warrant a recall as Cook’s partner. Dom Bess took no wickets but, with his West Country colleague Jack Leach still out of action, should be in the frame again, if only because of his useful batting. At just 20, we Somerset faithful were hoping he would get a few good seasons to learn his craft so I hope the experience doesn’t dent his confidence. Fortunately, it is hardly a Kerrigan-esque situation.

In a way I can see why Ed Smith and co opted to bring back the IPL sloggers to try something more exciting but to me it smacks of desperation. I cannot understand why some suggest Bairstow hands the gloves to Buttler and swap roles. It would mean no change in personnel and arguably weakening the ‘keeping. Crazy! Maybe it’s time for the new chief selector Smith to venture outside Middlesex for a change and see who else is out there in county cricket other than Malan, Morgan and Finn, languishing in the second division. He may be in for a pleasant surprise. Meanwhile, Pakistan will be licking their lips, a well-drilled outfit of excellent young bowlers, able batsmen and enthusiastic fielders hoping to seal a series victory at Headingley next week. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility.