County Cricket: Durham Shine amidst the Rain

The week’s rain may have benefitted the parched pitches, but did nothing for cricket as a spectator sport. The players must have been bored to tears, too, with whole days washed out entirely. Only six centuries were made, and each of those who scored them went straight in to my Team of the Week. No-brainers, the lot of ‘em! 

Only one result was possible, and inevitably it was Durham who took advantage of slightly better weather at Chester-le-Street to notch win number seven against bottom county Gloucestershire. In his final game of the season, David Bedingham struck 122 and, as part of a star-studded English seam attack, it was the unsung Kasey Aldridge who again stole the show with match stats of 9-63. If Durham beat Northamptonshire next weekend, promotion will be secured with three games in hand. 

This week, Northants and Kent shared the spoils with Kent, and stand on equal points behind Durham. Zak Crawley and Ben Compton put on 162 for the first Kent wicket, then in reply, Ricardo Vasconcelos and Nathan McSweeney each maintained their consistent summer form by reaching three figures. At Worcester, the home side’s Beyers Swanepoel combined a swift 63 not out and 4-37 against Lancashire, while at Derby, only 87 overs were possible across all four days. 

In Division One, five draws made little impact on the table. Nottinghamshire extended their lead to four points over Somerset thanks to Joe Clarke’s 150 and Olly Stone’s 5-49 against third-placed Warwickshire. Somerset struggled against Sussex on the first few days, but a strong second innings ensured there could be no defeat, even had the sun shone on day four. 

At Chelmsford, Essex had the upper hand over Surrey. Having announced his imminent retirement, Dean Elgar demonstrated his trademark grit to register his 56^th first-class hundred, and the visitors were staring down the barrel at 92-6. Luckily, Ben Foakes improved on his first-innings three-ball duck and clung on for almost five hours in eking out an unbeaten 120. There was another stalemate at Cardiff, where Hampshire seamers Abbott and Baker held sway over the Glamorgan openers, and the Bank Holiday seasiders at Scarborough saw very little action for Leicestershire’s trip to meet Yorkshire. 

In the next round of fixtures, Notts and Warwicks have on paper the easiest opposition (Leicestershire and Hampshire, respectively) but Somerset require a home victory against Glamorgan to remain in the hunt for that elusive maiden title. The winners of the Essex-Sussex clash will also be in the running, but a draw won’t help either of them. Let’s hope the showers stay away. 

Team of the Week: Elgar (Ess), Vasconcelos (Nor), McSweeney (Nor), Bedingham (Dur), Clarke (Not), Foakes (Sur +), T Clark (Sur), Swanepoel (Wor), Aldridge (Dur), Rahul Chahar (Sur), Stone (War)

County Cricket: No Thain, No Gain

After week 1 of the One Day Cup, Middlesex were looking the strongest outfit in Group B, but a trip to Worcester upset their 100% start. Josh de Caires achieved another career-best, this time a maiden century of 130, but the experienced Jake Libby led the successful run chase with an unbeaten 109. A few days later, he repeated the score against Essex but this time in vain.

It was a strange week for Essex. In their three fixtures, they racked up more than a thousand runs, passing three hundred on each occasion, yet emerged with only four points. Young Noah Thain was in sparkling form, striking successive tons against Sussex and Hampshire, and team-mates Tom Westley and Matt Critchley also filled their boots, each reaching three figures in the week’s highest total of 376-5. 

Middlesex, Yorkshire and Durham all have four wins to their names, and they had to play each other. Halifax-born Benjamin Cliff’s medium pace scuppered Durham’s innings at York before Wharton and Whiteman saw the home side home by seven wickets. However, Yorkshire’s bid to top the table was undone by Middlesex at Lord’s. Cliff, again, took 4-39 but, despite a modest target of 247, their batting wilted against Zafar Gohar’s spin and Noah Cornwell’s pace and they succumbed to a 35-run defeat. 

Durham had earlier beaten Glamorgan in a high-scoring thriller thanks to Will Rhodes’ 148 not out and two wickets and finished the week with a resounding walloping of Hampshire by nine wickets. Emilio Gay (remember him?) rediscovered that early-season form by notching an unbeaten 104. 

Leicestershire Foxes lead Group A. Recovering from last Tuesday’s poor showing against Nottinghamshire, they proceeded to humble Northants by eight wickets and Somerset by a hefty 164 runs. The Outlaws remain second although they suffered losses to Lancashire and Kent. The latter clash went to the final over but Chris Benjamin’s rapid half-century proved decisive. Daniel Bell-Drummond must be one of the finest batsmen in recent years not to have been capped by England but he accumulated two hundred runs this week to keep Kent in the hunt. 

Other notable performances include Ed Barnard’s dominant 140 in Warwickshire’s victory over Surrey and Jack Morley’s 5-28 for Derbyshire in the 188-run demolition of Sussex. 

The next week’s games include Leicestershire v Kent at Beckenham and Derbyshire’s opportunity to disrupt both Group B leaders, Yorkshire and Middlesex. Durham also host Middlesex at Gosforth. 

Team of the Week: Thain (Ess), Bell-Drummond (Ken), De Caires (Mid), Barnard (War), Libby (Wor), Verreynne (Not +), Rhodes (Dur), Critchley (Ess), Potts (Der), Morley (Der), Cliff (Yor)

County Cricket: Nottinghamshire Cut it Fine in Blast

Northamptonshire’s 100% record in the Vitality Blast was finally ended, and it was bottom-placed Somerset who inflicted this damage on Northampton’s own ground. It wasn’t even close. Thomas Rew made another brisk fifty before Daniel Sams smashed an unbeaten 48 in only sixteen balls to set the home county 224 to win. They were never in the race, and young spinner Joshua Thomas ended his three-over stint with amazing figures of 4-6. 

Somerset enjoyed another successful awayday against Derbyshire, with Will Smeed’s 89 anchoring another 200+ total and Sams taking 3-29. Meanwhile, Northants climbed back on the bike to re-establish their twelve-point margin at the top of the Central/West group. They defeated Glamorgan at Cardiff, with Chris Lynn’s 117 and Calvin Harrison’s 3-20 the standout performances. 

With a good record in cross-group fixtures, the Central/West group is proving to be the strongest of the three, so whoever comes third will almost certainly qualify for the knockouts. Indeed, the fourth-placed county could well outpoint third in the other two regions, but that won’t help them! Worcestershire and Gloucestershire had a rollercoaster week, opening the door for Somerset to sneak back into second place. However, they will have to overcome Worcestershire and do the double over Northants to do so, whilst hoping Glamorgan get the better of Gloucestershire. Warwickshire look out of it, despite a thirty-run victory over Gloucester at Edgbaston. 

Their Pakistani off-spinner Usman Tariq had a great week, as did his compatriots Usama Mir (Worcestershire), Sufyan Maqim (Derbyshire) and Hasan Ali. However, it was veteran South African offie Simon Harmer who was the all-round star. Besides two typically mean bowling displays, he demonstrated to the Essex faithful his new role as destructive finisher. A 17-ball unbeaten 47 helped flatten Sussex, then his 56 not out was the sole ray of sunshine in the defeat to Middlesex. In the Sussex match, Sam Cook waved the flag for seamers with an excellent 4-7. Hampshire head the South group despite losing to Middlesex. Beating Essex at Chelmsford tonight should see them into the last eight. 

Up North, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire are in the box seats. Lancashire’s dramatic tie with Derbyshire did neither side any favours, and Durham’s penultimate ball loss to the White Roses cost them dearly. Nottinghamshire remain on top but they needed a couple of nailbiters. Lancashire needed four from Olly Stone’s final two deliveries but scrambled only two. Then, on Sunday, it was Mohammad Ali who held his nerve at the death to deny Durham, securing victory by the relatively comfortable margin of two runs. Adam Lyth’s 131 not out against Leicestershire is the highest individual score of the season so far.

It’s the Roses match-up at Old Trafford tonight, then on Sunday Yorkshire welcome the leaders to Leeds for the concluding league fixture. Three days later, it’s the quarter-finals and this year, the Finals Day is wrapped up the following weekend before the horrors of the Hundred are unleashed on us all. 

Team of the Week; Lyth (Yor), Lynn (Nor), Roy (Sur), Lees (Dur), Smeed (Som), T Rew (Som +), Harmer (Ess), Tye (Yor), Cook (Ess), J Thomas (Som), Usman Tariq (War)

County Cricket: Cox Leads Essex Charge to the Top

It was a great return to first-class cricket for some of England’s finest wicketkeeper-batsmen, some of whom had a major influence on the positions at the congested summit of the County Championship. 

Jordan Cox prepared for his Test debut by pinging a double-century for Essex against Leicestershire, which propelled his county from fourth to first in Division One, although Paul Walter’s second-innings 110 laid the foundation for Essex’s last-day run chase. 

They benefited from a rare home defeat for Nottinghamshire at the hands of a resurgent Somerset. Another England debutant, James Rew notched another fifty, but it was his younger bother Thomas who struck his own maiden ton to follow a 68. 24-year-old South African opener Jordan Hermann also weighed in with his first Somerset century, while it was Craig Overton’s 5-29 which polished off the champions’ miserable match, losing by 306 runs. 

Yorkshire skipper Jonny Bairstow added another two half-centuries to his tally, while opening bat Will Luxton, thirteen years his junior, helped himself to 236 runs in the draw with Warwickshire, including a fine 167, his inaugural three-figure score in first-class cricket. His opponents were nowhere near reaching their fourth-day target, and were eight wickets down at the close. Sam Hain occupied the crease for well over four hours for his 69, which ultimately thwarted the Roses’ attack. 

At Hove, Sussex registered their fourth victory, finishing just a point behind Essex and two ahead of Somerset. They hammered Glamorgan by an innings, inspired by James Coles, who combined a career-best 224 not out with a decisive 3-34 in Glamorgan’s second innings which started well but ended with a whimper. 

Sussex now entertain neighbours Hampshire, while Somerset welcome Warwickshire to Taunton and reigning champs Nottinghamshire travel south to face the pretenders at Chelmsford. 

Durham remain clear in Division Two after thumping Derbyshire inside three days. Their total of 377 wasn’t massive but first Kasey Aldridge (5-19), then Matt Potts (8-66) broke any Derby hopes of rescuing a draw. Harry Came could at least hold his head high in defeat, carrying his bat for 105 over 95 overs and six hours. 

Northamptonshire kept in touch by handing Gloucestershire their sixth loss in the season so far. How they would welcome the return of Kane Williamson, whom I recall being interviewed on the regional news programme in Bristol fifteen years or so ago as a raw teenager learning his trade in a foreign land. Like everyone, I was shocked to read of his sudden international retirement in the middle of New Zealand’s Test series in England. Definitely one of the modern greats. Anyway, another of the week’s former England glovemen, James Bracey returned to form, his second-innings 148 not out ensuring Northants had to bat again.  Saif Zaib and Nathan McSweeney had made tons on day one but it was Calvin Harrison’s rapid unbeaten 92 on day four which clinched the winning bonus. 

Kent sit third after eclipsing Lancashire at Blackpool by 140 runs. Twenty-two wickets fell on the first day and Liam Livingstone, on his first Championship outing for five years, claimed five of them. However, in the final analysis, it was the Kent seamers who stole the show. Keith Dudgeon took 6-21 as Lancashire slumped to 87 all out. The home batsmen fared better next time out but Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud claimed 6-69 to seal the win by 140 runs. 

Middlesex’s margin of victory over Worcestershire was one better at New Road. Luis Du Plooy compiled the only three-figure score of the game, and Pakistan’s one-Test wonder Zafar Gohar enjoyed the best bowling figures with 6-31. Middlesex and Kent meet at Canterbury tomorrow, while the top two fight it out at Chester-le-Street. If he can stay out of the pub long enough, Ben Stokes is expected to get some batting practice for Durham. 

Team of the Week:-  Hermann (Som), Luxton (Yor), Cox (Ess), Coles (Sus), Du Plooy (Mid), T Rew (Som), Bracey (Glo +), C Overton (Som), Zafar Gohar (Mid), Potts (Dur), Hasan Mahmud (Ken)

County Cricket: Surrey Thrashed, Somerset Thwarted

It is not often that Surrey get beaten, let alone dismantled by an innings. However, they returned from Leeds with tails between their legs and only two points to their total. Yorkshire had both Joe Root and Harry Brook in their ranks but it was former internationals Adam Lyth (141) and Jonny Bairstow (120) who underpinned the total of 468. In contrast, bowler Sean Abbott was the only batter who reached fifty in either of Surrey’s two innings, and England ‘keeper Jamie Smith contributed a solitary boundary and no catches. At least Brook took his wicket! 

Southern England suffered some unkind weather last weekend, and Southampton was no exception. Consequently, Hampshire and Nottinghamshire played out a damp low-scoring draw. After five half-centuries in six innings, Jake Lehmann finally reached three figures in the second innings but it was the seamers who shone brightest. Notts’ Fergus O’Neill claimed match figures of 8-86 and for Hampshire, England newbie Sonny Baker took 5-45, his best Championship return so far. 

Glamorgan’s fine form continued at Edgbaston, where they had the better of the stalemate with second-placed Warwickshire. After both openers fell with no runs on the board, Ben Kellaway (139) and Kiran Carlson put on 194 and, despite Oliver Hannon-Dalby’s 5-53, Glammy posted a useful 360. Last week’s hat-trick hero debutant Tom Norton took 4-48 to help his side to a healthy first-innings lead. Second time around, it was Colin Ingram with three figures and Ethan Bamber’s five-for, then rain called a halt with Warwickshire way short of their 368-run target and only two men down. 

Monday’s weather was even unkinder to Somerset at Taunton. Tom Abell (119) and Craig Overton (111) were again in the runs, propelling the home side to 526-8. Sussex opener Daniel Hughes’ 107 was the only score of note and, following on, the visitors were again listing badly at 113-7 when the covers came on and remained there. 

At Chelmsford, Essex and Leicestershire were evenly matched until Sam Cook and Shane Snater ripped Ben Cox’s team apart for just sixty runs on Sunday morning. Allison and Critchley saw Essex home by seven wickets with a day to spare. 

Division Two has been a right topsy-turvy affair so far. After six fixtures, all eight sides have won at least one, but only leaders Durham remain unbeaten. Only six points separate third and seventh but Durham were in trouble against struggling Kent at Beckenham for whom teenager Ben Dawkins easily eclipsed his opening partner Zak Crawley. An innings of 180 wasn’t bad for a maiden hundred! Crawley was Ben Stokes’s sole wicket, while Matthew Potts finished with a creditable 6-92. At 288-9 in reply, Durham were facing a likely follow-on, only for Ben Raine and Callum Parkinson to rescue the situation with a stand of 158, ended by Callum’s brother Matt when he bowled Raine for 106. 

Northamptonshire sit second after squeaking home against Gloucestershire by two wickets. Ben Sanderson (Northants) and Matt Taylor (Kent) shone with the ball, until Louis Kimber’s brisk 66 carried Northants towards a hard-won victory, and Gloucester to a fifth defeat. The latter have only three weeks before seeking revenge. With a Saturday washout, there was little to shout about for Lancashire’s clash with Worcestershire at Southport. The highlight seemed to be the break when Jimmy Anderson joined others in searching for the ball in the greenery through a boundary fence. Takes me back to my schooldays! 

At Lord’s, Derbyshire made it two wins in a row, with Ben Aitchison taking centre-stage. He followed a bowling return of 5-47 with a maiden century and a 208-run sixth-wicket stand alongside Wayne Madsen, who also reeled off first-class ton number 44. Leus du Plooy led a Middlesex fightback on Sunday, but Derby had plenty of time to knock off the required 122 to win, captain Madsen unbeaten on 31. 

The County Championship now endures a fortnight’s hiatus for a brief Blast of T20, which should bring some sun-kissed Bank Holiday weekend punters in.  

Team of the Week:-  Dawkins (Ken), Lyth (Yor), Northeast (Ken), Kellaway (Gla), Bairstow (Yor +), Aitchinson (Der), C Overton (Som), Snater (Ess), O’Neill (Not), M Taylor (Glo), Sanderson (Nor)

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: Critchley and Rew off to Another Flier

Luckily for the cricketing fraternity, Storm Dave subsided just in time for the new County Championship season, even if Chester-le-Street required some residual tidy-up, causing a delay in Durham’s opener against Kent. 

This time last year, I confidently predicted success for Surrey and Lancashire and naturally I was wrong. I’ll stick with them for topping their respective divisions in 2026. Mind you, Surrey’s bowling is currently nowhere near as star-studded as their batting. They struggled early on against Warwickshire, for whom Dan Mousley top-scored with 144. Only Ben Foakes’ 128 kept Surrey in the game on day one, but Jamie Smith and Dan Lawrence held their nerves to lodge tons of their own and see out the draw. 

Champions Nottinghamshire didn’t have it all their way, either, ceding the initiative to their hosts, Somerset. Toms Abell and Kohler-Cadmore, plus James Rew were in fine form with the bat and the latter, at barely 22, already boasts twelve first-class hundreds. He opened the 2025 campaign in similar fashion. Captain Craig Overton delayed the fourth-day declaration for far too long to stand any chance of winning. 

Essex all-rounder Matt Critchley was another who, as last year, was quick out of the blocks. He tonked Hampshire’s attack for 173 before destroying their second innings efforts with a return of 5-9. Leicestershire’s surprise return to Division One resulted in a heavy defeat at home to Sussex. Tom Clark was the game’s only centurion, but the star performer was the county’s academy graduate Henry Crocombe, whose pace netted him a match aggregate of 9-69. After a twelve-point deduction, Sussex will be relieved to have a positive number on the board. 

The other promoted side, in the top tier for the first time since 2005, more than held their own. Glamorgan brought Division One cricket back to Cardiff and it was 40-year-old Colin Ingram who showed the way in each innings against Yorkshire, for whom Dom Bess took seven wickets. The home side’s Mason Crane went one better, including a five-fer. Jonny Bairstow was one of the first players to be replaced under the competition’s experimental substitution rule after he injured a finger early on. 

In Division Two, Middlesex trounced Gloucestershire by an innings. Skipper Leus du Plooy racked up 182 before unleashing his bowlers. Veteran Toby Roland-Jones took 5-37 then, with Gloucester following on, it was Ryan Higgins and teenager Sebastian Morgan who inflicted the damage. 

It was an excellent week for anyone called Anderson or Andersson. At 43, James rolled back the years for Lancashire, claiming eight Northants victims. The Red Roses were heading for a surefire victory, but on the final day, George Bartlett marshalled the tail brilliantly to avoid defeat, even if it left him high and dry on 95 not out. Credit, too, to team-mates McManus and Sanderson for digging in so effectively in the closing stages. Emilio Gay was 2026’s first ton-maker in Durham’s draw against Kent, while Derbyshire’s Martin Andersson notched the opening double-hundred. He put on 273 for the fifth wicket with Luis Reece as the county declared on 625-8. Kent passed 300 on both occasions but needed the solid batting of Brookes, Waite and Taylor to secure the draw. 

Team of the Week:-  L. Wells (Lan), Lategan (Wor), Du Plooy (Mid), Mousley (War), J Rew (Som +), Ingram (Gla), Critchley (Ess), Andersson (Der), Roland-Jones (Mid), Crocombe (Sus), Anderson (Lan)

County Cricket: Nottinghamshire End the Summer in Style

At the start of the domestic cricket season, I feared another summer of Surrey dominance and Somerset near-misses. Well, with regard to the latter, we did finish third in the Championship and were beaten semi-finalists in the One-Day Cup but proved triumphant in the T20 Blast. Not a bad 2025 at all. 

As for Surrey, they looked all set to retain the four-day crown only for Nottinghamshire to blow the whole thing wide open with that memorable twenty-run victory at The Oval. In the final round of fixtures, all they effectively needed to do was outperform Surrey in first innings bonus points and the pennant would be on the way from London to the East Midlands. 

It may have been late September but all nine matches produced results; not a single draw. Notts welcomed Warwickshire to Trent Bridge while Surrey popped down the M3 to meet Hampshire, desperately fighting for top tier survival. Mohammad Abbas and Brett Hutton did their bit with the ball but at the Rose Bowl, Sibley, Burns et all came unstuck in the face of wily Kyle Abbott, James Fuller and new recruit Washington Sundar. Zero batting points, game over.  Another Haseeb Hameed century set up his side’s seventh win of the campaign to take the crown in style. By the time, Raful Chahar ripped through the second Hampshire innings with 8-51, it was too late for Surrey. 

At one stage, Somerset had an outside chance of nicking the runners-up position. Against relegation-threatened Essex, Lewis Goldsworthy’s even ton helped them to 438 all out, only for a 277-run opening stand by Elgar and Walter to scupper any hopes of victory. A draw looked certain until Jamie Porter (4-18) and co skittled the visitors for 99, leaving Allison to conclude matters with a six off Jake Ball on the final morning. 

Worcestershire were already down and out, and Sussex merely rubbed their noses in it. Centuries from James Coles and John Simpson, plus eleven wickets for Ollie Robinson set up win number four, although seamer Tom Taylor, a rare bright light in Worcester’s dismal Championship season, almost sparked a sensational comeback. Never mind, at least they have the 50-over trophy in their New Road cabinet. 

Going into the final afternoon, the other relegation slot was still uncertain. Hampshire looked doomed, but it all rested on the outcome of Durham’s clash with Yorkshire at Headingley. Both sides had begun the week in deep trouble but the home team had a six-point advantage. With Hampshire beaten, a draw would suit both counties. Ben Raine clubbed 101 for Durham, then took 5-76, although Mayank Agarwal’s 175 anchored Yorkshire’s superior total of 475. On the South Coast, tears must have been shed and cats kicked, only for Dom Bess and George Hill to orchestrate a horrendous batting humiliation on day four. Durham lost, and were relegated by a single point. Across the season, their bonus point tally was extremely respectable but they had failed to cash in, losing six games to Hampshire’s three, and that cost them dearly. 

Leicestershire and Glamorgan were already assured of replacing them in Division One. I am so glad that these less-prosperous and relatively unfancied counties had beaten the big boys of Middlesex and Lancashire to promotion. Leicestershire maintained their impressive form, defeating Northants by 167 runs. Rehan Ahmed was absent but on-loan Steve Eskinazi weighed in with 155. Liam Trevaskis closed his campaign with 6-85. 

Glamorgan didn’t sign off with a win, but they didn’t need to. Instead, they handed Lancashire a consolation prize at Cardiff, Tom Bailey and George Balderson sharing thirteen wickets. Middlesex captain Leus du Plooy struck the highest score of the week, a hefty 263 not out, en route for an innings win over Gloucestershire but Derbyshire clinched third place with their own crushing victory over bottom side Kent. Experienced batsmen Luis Reece (211) and Wayne Madsen (198) put on 358 for the third wicket, out of 698-6 declared, and Reece’s 5-63 made him only the 51^st player ever in world first-class cricket to strike a double-hundred and claim a five-for. That’s some achievement! 

Watch out for my season review and 2025 all-format Team of the Year. 

Team of the Week:- Reece (Der), Walter (Ess), Agarwal (Yor), Du Plooy (Mid), Madsen (Der), Eskinazi (Lei), Simpson (Sus +), Hill (Yor), Robinson (|Sus), Hutton (Not), Raful Chahar (Sur)

County Cricket: Bracey Drives Gloucestershire Safely into Semis

The penultimate week of the One-Day Cup left six counties still in the hunt for qualification for the knockout stage. Only Gloucestershire and Worcestershire can breathe more easily, having ensured more 50-over action this season. James Bracey’s blistering 186 did for Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, making it six in a row, although Essex spoiled the unbeaten run at Chelmsford, in which Tom Westley, Matt Critchley and Simon Harmer excelled as all-rounders. In this competition, the latter has added the role as late-order six-hitter to his traditional off-spin skills, having a few days earlier blasted a 22-ball 42 and taken 5-47 to demolish Glamorgan by 190 runs. In the same game, Westley and Charlie Allison shared a third-wicket stand of 231, easily beating the entire Glamorgan line-up, who were bowled out with almost 18 overs remaining. 

Essex lost their opening three Group A fixtures but have dragged themselves into fourth place and with an excellent net run rate. Hampshire are four points ahead, after routing Surrey and edging an epic encounter against Derbyshire. Hampshire opener Nick Gubbins has certainly been leading from the front, hoisting his aggregate tally of runs in the competition towards 600, jncluding an unbeaten 144 in the loss to Nottinghamshire. Victory at Bristol would take Hampshire into the two-stage semi-finals. Any slip-up could let Essex leapfrog them. 

After being at the wrong end of a fair few Cup thrashings, Surrey appeared to have turned the corner at Derby, and they have some up-and-coming talent to thank. With Foakes injured, 20-year-old Ollie Sykes stepped up as captain and, alongside the even younger Adam Thomas, made their maiden centuries (115 and 162, respectively) and broke Surrey’s List A third-wicket partnership record. Oliver Hunt and Ralphie Albert each launched their senior careers in the same match then, against Notts, Albert scored 96 and took 2-56. The county’s short-term pain may result in long-term gain. 

Yorkshire still lead Group A with 24 points but in their wake, three teams have twenty, and one must ultimately miss out. The White Roses defeated Susses and swatted Durham aside at Scarborough by 212 runs thanks largely to Finaly Bean’s 102 runners – sorry, runs – in 57 balls and tight bowling by Coad and White. I feel sympathy for Durham, for whom Alex Lees this week delivered another big hundred and Ben Raine captured nine wickets. 

Somerset maintained their challenge with wins against Sussex and Kent. Tom Lammonby contributed another ton and a decisive 5-20, including three Sussex top-order batsmen in a single over. Sussex also fell prey to another outstanding bowling performance on Sunday, when Yorkshire’s Matt Milnes took 7-38, the best of this year’s competition so far. Warwickshire clung on to third position, triumphing over Lancashire and Durham. In the latter match, Ed Barnard managed the chase beautifully, still there at the end on 141, although it took some mighty hitting by Michael Booth to get them over the line with two overs to spare. 

Middlesex are hot on their heels, boosting their weak net run rate with a cruise against Northamptonshire. Ben Geddes led the side effectively and, on Tuesday at Radlett, achieved his maiden century in the defeat of Kent. 

In the final round of fixtures, none of the top four play each other. Therefore, it is conceivable that, should Yorkshire succumb to Kent and Somerset, Warwickshire and Middlesex see off their respective opposition, all will be on equal points tallies and net run rate will decide who progresses. Yorkshire will have to endure an unlikely pounding to miss out and, with rain in the forecast, there could be some tricky decisions to be made regarding on-pitch strategy. I just hope Somerset don’t blow it against bottom-side Northants! 

Team of the Week:- Lees (Dur), Bracey (Glo; +), Gubbins (Ham), Westley (Ess), Lammonby (Som), Sykes (Sur), Geddes (Mid), Harmer (Ess), Fuller (Ham), Raine (Dur), Milnes (Yor)

County Cricket: All-Rounders Dominate the Red Ball

As the County Championship popped back on the scene, little changed in the league tables but some individual all-round performances really caught the eye. At Edgbaston, bottom-placed Worcestershire dominated the first three days of their derby clash with Warwickshire, thanks to Solihull-born Ethan Brookes’ runs and Khurram Shahzad’s 6-42 but the home side turned things around with aplomb. Beau Webster already had four wickets to his name then, joining Zen Malik, he and his partner struck centuries in the effort to reach the target of 393. Malik skied a catch to long-on for 142 before Kai Smith and Webster took Warwicks over the line for a pulsating five-wicket victory and a rise to fourth in the table. 

Somerset went third thanks to a madcap five-session match on a Taunton green-top against Durham. Twenty-two wickets toppled on day one, although 400 runs were also scored, boosting the groundsman’s claim that the carnage was caused by great bowling, not a terrible pitch. Craig Overton bowled brilliantly for 6-23 and Tom Lammonby’s 82 was by far the highest score. In the second innings, it was the spinners Leach and Vaughan who wreaked the havoc bit Somerset still had a nervy tome hunting only 86 to win. In the end, Tom Banton pulled out some strong boundaries to make sure of the sixteen points. 

Surrey and Nottinghamshire remain clear, but with just a single point separating them following away draws with Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire, respectively. At Scarborough, both counties racked up 500+ totals as Dom Sibley’s 52 took him past 1000 runs for the season, and young Matthew Revis contributed an unbeaten 110. Notts compiled a massive 578-8 declared, including a stupendous 203 not out by Lyndon James, batting at seven. For Hampshire, Varma and Organ responded with rather more patient hundreds, leaving no time for a positive result. 

Essex did enjoy a rare success, clawing themselves out of the relegation mire down at Hove. James Coles maintained his excellent form with the bat for Sussex but Matt Critchley stole the show for Essex, combining a ton with a useful 4-41 to wrap up an innings victory, denting the South Coasters’ hopes of challenging for the title. 

In Division Two, it was Rehan Ahmed’s turn to shine for runaway leaders Leicestershire, who made it six wins so far. Their first innings scorecard was a curious one. Four players were dismissed for ducks, including both openers, and the total of 398 featured three centuries. Hill, Handscomb and Ahmed reached three figures before the latter turned the screw further, capturing thirteen wickets in all. Opponents Derbyshire never got to grips with his spin, and yet it was the medium pace of Luis Reece which upset Leicester. Even in defeat, his match figure of 11-120 were worthy of more a mere footnote. 

Derby’s loss allowed Glamorgan to leapfrog them into second. They triumphed over Kent at Cardiff by five wickets. Poor weather extended play into a fourth day, as Kiran Carlson’s 89 not out steered his side beyond the target on day four. Middlesex also advanced thanks to an innings defeat of Northamptonshire. Holden, Williamson and du Plooy each cracked hundreds in an unassailable 625-8, then six bowlers helped themselves to wickets, seven of them falling to Ryan Higgins. 

There were plenty of runs too, at Cheltenham, but Lancashire returned home with a comfortable nine-wicket success. Gloucestershire opener Ben Charlesworth plundered 160 and 71, albeit in a losing cause, while Lancashire owed plenty to all-rounders Chris Green and Tom Hartley.They shared a ninth-wicket stand of 212, crashing fourteen sixes between them. Hartley’s 130 was his maiden ton, and he capped a memorable match with eleven wickets, often forming a left-right spin partnership with Green. They are also back in the mix for promotion, and next week’s tie with Glamorgan could be vital. 

In the top flight, second meet third when Somerset head north to Nottingham, but Surrey must hope to maintain the upper hand by defeating Durham. The Scarborough Festival continues, and Yorkshire desperately need some bracing sea air to refresh their chances of avoiding the drop against Sussex. 

Team of the Week:- Holden (Mid), Charlesworth (Glo), Rehan Ahmed (Lei), Webster (War), Brookes (Wor), Smith (War +), Critchley (Ess), James (Not), Reece (Der), C Overton (Som), Hartley (Lan)

County Cricket: Somerset Sweep into Blast Quarter-Finals

As Twenty20 returned to the county scene, Somerset maintained their domination of the South division. They beat Kent, Hampshire and Essex to establish a fourteen-point lead and ensure a home quarter-final in September. However, they didn’t end the week with a 100% record. Glamorgan edged a tight encounter at Taunton by just two runs. Ingram and Douthwaite knocked half-centuries but the visitors owed then most to former Somerset and Millfield School product, Ned Leonard. The 22-year-old seamer took 5-25 and the Somerset tail found sixteen runs off the final over too much. 

Despite fielding an international XI, Surrey came up short against bottom side Essex in a rain-affected affair at The Oval. Chasing 142 in twelve overs, Pepper and Walter galloped away for four overs before Adam Zampa broke the partnership and checked the run rate. However, Matt Critchley clinched the game with a last-ball boundary. Surrey remain second having seen off Gloucestershire and close rivals Glamorgan. 

Essex, Middlesex and Gloucester may have little or no chance of reaching the knockout stage but they each have players in my Team of the Week. Mohammad Amir’s four fixtures this week yielded eleven wickets for a mere (forgive the phrase!) 107 runs. Stephen Eskinazi’s highlight was a 48-ball 94 for Middlesex against Hampshire, albeit in a losing cause, while D’Arcy Short was Mr. Consistent for Gloucestershire. He struck three half-centuries, the best being 83 against Middlesex. 

Two players cracked incredible centuries. After Glamorgan set Surrey a formidable target of 223, Surrey were cut down to 16-3. In came Dan Lawrence and, supported by Tom Curran, he blasted an unbeaten 120 in 54 balls in the successful chase. Yorkshire were also in the runs, reaching at least 200 in all three matches. 236 came in Friday’s Roses clash at Old Trafford. Young William Luxton heaved seven sixes in his 90 not out, but that was eclipsed by his experienced team-mate Jonny Bairstow. Despite at one stage almost knocking himself out with an attempted over-the-shoulder upper-cut, he raced to 116, 92 of them in boundaries. Even with Salt and Buttler in their line-up, Lancashire were never in the hunt. 

They are, nonetheless, one of four counties leading the North group on 28 points. Durham and Northants are with them, but the Bears (aka Warwickshire) look notably strong. Mousley and Hain are the reliable rhythm section while Hasan Ali provides the electric solos with the ball. He accumulated twelve wickets this week, including a mean 4-22 in the comfortable victory over Leicestershire. Single-match bowling performance of tre past eight days must go to Sussex’s Danny Lamb, who ripped through the Kent batting for an impressive 5-15. 

In the concluding week of group fixtures, there are so many crucial contests. The Somerset-Surrey match-up is there for quarter-final bragging rights but Lancashire will have extra incentive to reverse their loss to Yorkshire. They also ace ‘eight-pointers’ against Durham and Notts, who are also very much in the mix. Durham’s last game against Northants could decide qualification for both teams. 

Team of the Week:- Bairstow (Yor +), Eskinazi (Mid), Short (Glo), Madsen (Der), Luxton (Yor), Lawrence (Sur), Ingram (Gla), Dwarshuis (Wor), Hasan Ali (Bea), Leonard (Gla), Amir (Ess)

County Cricket: Surrey surge but Somerset Still Top

Most of this week’s Vitality Blast action focussed on the South group where Somerset had been unbeaten. After almost three weeks without an individual century, we witnessed two, both scored by Kent openers albeit in different fixtures. 

Indeed, it was Kent who spoiled Somerset’s 100% record. Daniel Bell-Drummond’s 49-ball hundred dominated a 158-run opening stand with Tawanda Muyeye (70) as the Spitfires racked up 228-5. The Westcountrymen aren’t fazed by a challenging chase, and Toms Banton and Kohler-Cadmore set about the task in typical fashion. Joey Evison strangled the middle-order and, although Dickson and Green tried their best, and Craig Overton launched the last ball for six, Somerset fell four runs short. 

Kent again topped 200 on Friday, this time at Chelmsford. It was Muyeye’s turn to score exactly 100 but, with only Simon Harmer’s seven sixes to cheer the home crowd, Matt Parkinson’s 5-23 hastened Essex’s seventh defeat of the campaign. Meanwhile, Somerset did bounce back with victories over Hampshire and Glamorgan. Riley Meredith was the pick of the bowlers, taking eight across the three games. 

Surrey surged into second place thanks to a trio of wins, each achieved easily after batting first. With an international top six, they could hardly fail, and it was Will Jacks who stole the show, including a 56-dellivery 97 against a miserable Middlesex. Sussex lie third, falling to Surrey but beating Glamorgan in Cardiff. Interestingly, all fifteen wickets to fall were either caught or stumped. Pakistan international spinner Imad Wasim may be Swansea-born but only this week did he make his Glamorgan T20 debut, finishing the week with five cheap wickets. 

There were three particularly exciting tight finishes. Needing ten from the final over bowled by Tom Helm, Essex could nick only eight, Noah Thain failing to find the crucial boundary. In the North Group, the Bears were involved in not one but two real nail-biters. At Edgbaston, Nottinghamshire needed seventeen off the concluding over. Daniel Sams whacked a couple of sixes, leaving the scores level with one ball remaining. Notts ‘keeper Tom Moores thought ‘what the hell’ and cleared the boundary to win by six wickets. At the same ground a few days later, neighbours Worcestershire popped over the border to contest a desperately close, low-scoring affair. Dan Mousley took 4-19 and the home team required only 135 to win. However, wickets fell regularly and it was left to Sam Hain to shepherd the tail to the finishing line. But could he do it? At 132-9 after nineteen overs, they required three while Matthew Waite scented blood. The Bears didn’t suffer another last-minute defeat as Hain struck the decisive single off the third ball.   

Northamptonshire retained their position at the top despite losing to Notts and there are now three teams queuing up behind them just four points adrift. Durham are one of them, picking up consecutive successes against Yorkshire. Last Sunday, Matthew Potts (5-17) starred at York while the Chester-le-Street encounter featured a genuine team effort, the winning margin being 63 runs. 

Still plenty to play for, but players must curb their crazy ramps and cow-corner heaves for the next few weeks. The Championship is back (hooray!), and leaders Notts welcome back red-ball specialists like Hameed, Slater and Abbas for the visit of Yorkshire. Surrey travel to lowly Worcestershire, Sussex to Durham, while Somerset and Warwickshire meet for the opportunity to go second or third. Essex hope to begin rescuing their sticky summer at home to Hampshire. 

In the second flight, surprise package Leicestershire look to extend their lead by beating Glamorgan, who themselves were in good form before the June hiatus. Basement clubs Kent and Lancashire come together at the Blackpool seaside. 

Team of the Week:- Muyeye (Ken), Bell-Drummond (Ken), Jacks (Sur), Smeed (Som), Rehan Ahmed (Lei), S Curran (Sur), Moores (Not +), Potts (Dur), Evison (Ken), Singh Dale (Glo), M Parkinson (Ken)

County cricket: Porter Carries Essex to Their First Win of 2025

Top-order runs were the order of the week, which ended with dismal weather scuppering hopes for sixteen-point win bonuses. Essex and Middlesex were the exceptions, each opening their respective 2025 accounts.

Essex and Worcestershire fought a tight contest at Chelmsford, overcoming a first-innings deficit to eke out a 28-run triumph. Paul Walter’s 104 began the turn-around then Jamie Porter completed the job. While Ethan Brookes was at the crease, clumping seven sixes, Worcester were still in the hunt but Jamie Porter’s caught-and bowled ended his resistance, finishing with 6-52. 

Nottinghamshire and Sussex top the table only two points ahead of Essex. Notts were heading for an innings defeat of Warwickshire when the rain clouds rolled over Birmingham. On day one, Brett Hutton and Fergus O’Neill each claimed five-fors, then Haseeb Hameed carried his bat for 138 to leave the home county in serious trouble. Ed Barnard, Kai Smith and Oliver Hannon-Dalby dug deep to defend the draw, and the weather completed the task. 

Hove witnessed more of a run-fest. Sussex opener Tom Haines scored 174 and 69 not out, while two of Surrey’s England internationals Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence responded with centuries of their own. A draw was inevitable, 

Partnership of the week was the 279 shared by Durham’s Alex Lees and Emilio Gay. The latter must have been particularly pleased with his personal 152, following three ducks in the first few matches. Visiting captain Jonny Bairstow’s unbeaten 86 ensured Yorkshire’s path to safety. At Southampton, Hampshire had the better of the draw with Somerset, despite a solid all-round performance by Migael Pretorius. 

The next round of Championship fixtures includes the meetings of last year’s bitter rivals Surrey and Somerset, and this season’s leading pair. 

The only positive result in Division Two saw Middlesex cruise to a nine-wicket success at home to Glamorgan. Max Holden top-scored, whilst the wickets were largely shared between the seamers. At Derby, Northamptonshire raced to 500-8 declared, assisted by tons from Luke Procter and Saif Zaib but captain Wayne Madsen’s second half-century of the game and Caleb Jewell’s fifth 50 of the campaign steered Derbyshire to stumps. 

Leicestershire were in the box seat against Lancashire, thanks to Tom Scriven’s 5-46 and centuries stroked by Rehan Ahmed and Peter Handscomb, 13 years his colleague’s senior. When Lancashire slumped to 16-3 in their second innings with a day to spare and more than 200 runs adrift, a slaughter looked likely, only for Manchester gloom to descend and save Leicester. 

Three hundreds entertained the Canterbury spectators. Ben Compton’s 178 was the biggest, but James Bracey (151 not out) and Cameron Green (112) advanced Gloucestershire to 472 all out. It could have been much higher but for Nathan Gilchrist’s 7-100. As things turned out, the second-innings declaration came too late to bowl Kent out again a second time. Gloucestershire host leaders Leicestershire in next week’s reduced bunch of games. 

Team of the Week:-  Compton (Ken), Haines (Sus), Procter (Nor), Gay (Dur), Madsen (Der), Handsworth (Lei), Bracey (Glo +), Waite (Wor), O’Neill (Not), Gilchrist (Ken), Porter (Ess)

County Cricket: Surrey Make it Three in a Row

With Alec Stewart’s outfit increasingly resembling a cricketing Manchester City in terms of squad depth and quality, it is no surprise that Surrey retained the County Championship with a game to spare. The success could so easily have been rubber-stamped the week before had it not been for Somerset’s unexpected triumph at Taunton. This time, normal service was resumed. Surrey easily defeated Durham at The Oval before being crowned champions as soon as Somerset were bowled out a second time by Lancashire at Old Trafford on the final morning. 

Ryan Patel’s 134 and eight wickets from Dan Worrall did for Durham, but Rory Burns made another decent contribution as both opening bat and skipper. Meanwhile, Somerset blew their opportunity to maintain the pressure. No fewer than 21 wickets fell on the first day, with Craig Overton, Lewis Gregory and Toms Bailey and Balderson each claiming four. On the second outing, Lancashire recovered admirably. Luke Wells struck a century, then his 4-34 proved crucial as the visitors crumbled from 107-1 to 224 all out. 

Hampshire advanced to second place, thumping Worcestershire at home by 235 runs. A stand of 220 by Nick Gubbins (201 not out) and Liam Dawson (109) laid down the gauntlet, but only Garth Roderick (94) and Ethan Brookes (132) made any headway against the strong attack. Hampshire chose to bat again, and Kyle Abbott sealed maximum points with 5-36. 

At Canterbury, Kent succumbed to their eighth Championship defeat, this time at the hands of Nottinghamshire, who surely now only need avoid losing their final fixture to remain in the top flight. Ben Slater’s 160  and 196-run opening partnership with Haseeb Hameed set the ball rolling, and Kent were helpless to stop it. 

It took Essex under two days to flatten Warwickshire at Edgbaston, but the hosts have surely done enough to be relegated. Shane Snater (5-13) in the first innings and Jamie Porter (6-36) in the second inflicted the most damage. They now welcome Surrey in the season’s last week, while Somerset and Hampshire meet at Taunton to decide the runners-up position. At the other end, Lancashire must beat Worcestershire to have any chance of staying up.

Sussex will definitely replace Kent in Division One next year after crushing Gloucestershire by an innings at Hove. Jaydev Unadkat was the pick of the bowlers but Henry Crocombe polished off the last four batsmen to complete the rout. Middlesex also won by a similar margin a day early, their victims being bottom county Derbyshire. The soon-to-depart opener Mark Stoneman delivered a crisp 115, while Toby Roland-Jones continued his recent form by amassing ten wickets in the match. 

However, for them to achieve promotion, they must beat Sussex and hope Yorkshire fall to Northamptonshire next week. The White Roses were always on top against Glamorgan, with Ben Coad scooping eight more victims. Northants sit in fourth having eclipsed Leicestershire by nine wickets. James Sales struck 135 to take control of the match and Leicestershire looked odds-on to lose by an innings, sliding to 92-7 second time out. However, Scott Currie shared a couple of century partnerships to make Northants bat again. I should also mention wicketkeeper Lewis McManus. He only made thirty runs but managed four stumpings to spinners Keogh and Chahal, a rare feat in the modern game. 

Team of the Week:- Slater (Not), Stoneman (Mid), Gubbins (Ham), Brookes (Not), L Wells (Lan), Dawson (Ham), McManus (Nor +), Snater (Ess), Worrall (Sur), Roland-Jones (Mid), Porter (Ess)

County Cricket: The Surrey and Somerset Show

 It was business as usual for Somerset, who booked a T20 Finals Day clash with Surrey before meeting their old rivals in a blockbuster Championship encounter, and what an extraordinary finale they served up. 

The sides were neck-and-neck at the halfway stage, with Somerset’s Tom Banton the stand-out batsman, striking 132. Second time out, he was virtually wheeled out after the ninth wicket fell, a twisted ankle in the warm-up rendering him almost immobile. The gamble paid off. Alongside Craig Overton, he eked out another 46, setting the runaway leaders just 221 to win. However, Surrey made no effort to win, knowing that a draw against their main challengers would probably be sufficient to seal a third successive title. Batting long and deep, chock full of strokemakers, they instead chose top block as much as possible. Dom Sibley’s 67 had taken Surrey to the T20 semis and now crawled his way to another 50. With rain never far away, Somerset’s hopes on the final afternoon were fading fast. Yet spinners Jack Leach and teenager Archie Vaughan plugged away, and once the thirty-over Sibley-Foakes partnership was broken by Leach, the rest crumbled. With just minutes left, Worrell was trapped LBW and the spin duo completed another clean sweep of wickets. More importantly, Somerset could celebrate an incredible victory, reducing the gap to just eight points. Now the two counties meet again on Saturday…. 

At Canterbury, a combination of Tom Prest’s century and Kyle Abbott’s 5-46 meant Hampshire enforcing the follow-on against Kent but the home team didn’t make the same mistake. Jack Leaning (100) and Harry Finch (79) ate up the deficit and Hampshire had only nine overs at most to whack the 143 required, but Vince’s departure in the third over signalled an agreed draw. 

Essex made short work of Nottinghamshire at Chelmsford. Tons by Tom Westley and Michael Pepper were backed by the old Porter-Harmer axis but the victors were deprived of third place by a twelve-point deduction ordered because Feroze Khushi’s bat in an April fixture was deemed too wide.

 

Kent were already pretty much doomed and Lancashire loo favourites to join them in Division Two next year after being crushed by an innings at Chester-le-Street. David Bedingham achieved Durham’s highest individual score in the county’s short history, making a brilliant 279. His 424-run partnership with Colin Ackermann (186) was another record. England’s recalled paceman Matthew Potts finished the job, taking 9-68.

 

In the rain-hit West Midlands derby, Worcestershire were in charge before Warwickshire’s Will Rhodes frustrated the opposition’s attempts to press on to a welcome win. The resulting draw makes both sides almost certainly safe from the drop. Nottinghamshire need to beat Kent and hope Lancashire lose to Somerset to breathe easily.

In Division Two, Sussex are almost assured of promotion after demolishing Glamorgan at Hove by an innings. A thin bowling attack enabled both Tom Clark and captain John Simpson to reach three figures with the Sussex bowlers sharing the glory. Simpson may be a veteran of 36 but 2024 has turned into a vintage year for his batting. 

His old club Middlesex slipped out of the top two after losing a tense game at Lord’s. Gloucestershire moved into the ascendancy thanks to young debutant Archie Bailey’s 4-30, then a solid stand between Miles Hammond and James Bracey steered them to a four-wicket triumph. Bracey also stood out by claiming no fewer than eleven catches behind the stumps. 

By thrashing Leicestershire at Grace Road, Yorkshire leapfrogged Middlesex and hold a thirteen-point advantage with two fixtures remaining. On the first morning, Coad and Fisher had their hosts squirming at 21-7. They recovered to 98 all out thanks to Ben Cox throwing his willow around but the game was always out of reach. Skipper Jonathan Tattersall reeled off an excellent 126, Fisher struck a career-best 88 then George Hill’s medium pace completed then rout. 

Northamptonshire enjoyed their first success of the summer, overcoming bottom-placed Derbyshire by 133 runs. Spinners Rob Keogh and Yuzvendra Chahal did the damage, sharing seventeen wickets between them. Next week, Derby host promotion-chasing Middlesex while Yorkshire travel to Glamorgan. Both should win but bonus points could be crucial. So far, Middlesex have struggled in the first innings so need to put plenty of runs on the board. 

Team of the Week:- Davies (War), Vaughan (Som), Rhodes (War), Bedingham (Dur), Banton (Som), Tattersall (Yor), Bracey (Glo +), Abbott (Ham), Potts (Dur), Taylor (Wor), Chahal (Nor)

County Cricket: Top Two Trounced

The three leading counties were all involved in innings defeats this week, but not necessarily in the way their positions would have suggested. The top two were surprisingly slaughtered inside three days, their first losses of the summer, which evens things up quite a bit as we head into Twenty20 territory. 

Surrey’s suffering at the hands of Hampshire was the greatest shock, especially as this, at an innings and 276, was their heaviest loss in their long Championship history. Indeed, their only larger losing margins were inflicted by sides featuring Don Bradman and WG Grace! Ben Brown, Nick Gubbins and young Toby Albert each plundered centuries as Hampshire topped 600, declaring a whopping 481 runs ahead. Not even the champions’ set of internationals could retrieve that one. Seamer Kyle Abbott’s 5-25 did the damage on day one, while the spinners Liam Dawson and Felix Organ sealed the win two days later. 

Somerset also had a miserable trip, returning from Chester-le-Street two days early with just the points in the bag. Tom Abell’s return to the side as opener was a grim one and, despite his duck with the bat, Durham part-timer Ben Stokes could take enormous satisfaction from his eight wickets with ball in hand. Colleague David Bedingham continued his prolific form, too, claiming a fourth century in consecutive innings. 

Essex moved to within two points of Surrey by thrashing basement county Kent by an innings and 96 at Canterbury. Jordan Cox led the onslaught on his former side’s batsmen, clubbing five sixes in his 207. Kent made a decent response in spite of Matt Critchley’s 5-88 but were made to follow on. This time, Snater and Harmer dominated, wearing the home team down over 57 turgid overs. 

At a soggy Old Trafford, Warwickshire made a sporting overnight declaration to try and make a game of it against Lancashire. Their opener Alex Davies carried his bat for 127, while 20-year-okd Jacob Bethell was the pick of the attack. Cricket returned to the notoriously flood-prone New Road ground at Worcester, only for rain water to leave the outfield unplayable for three days. At least Nottinghamshire skipper could add another hundred to his collection, and the evergreen giant, Luke Fletcher, took his first-class wicket tally past 450.

 

In Division Two, the top two counties met at Lord’s, but the pre-match promise fizzled out into a dreary runfest. Sussex batted the first two days, including another ton from a rejuvenated John Simpson and the doughty Cheteshwar Pujara. Middlesex occupied the crease for the next two, the highest scorers being Sam Robson (135) and Ryan Higgins (106).

 Nobody else could take advantage of this stalemate as all fixtures ended as draws. Leicestershire remain third, after their home tie against Glamorgan was spoiled by the weather.  Luckily, the excitement quotient was notably higher at Northampton. There was little to choose between Northants and Yorkshire in their first innings, as Luke Procter and Adam Lyth traded centuries. Shan Masood’s unbeaten 131 prompted a declaration and a 326-run target. Things were going smoothly at 165-2, then Lyth and Revis ushered a rush of wickets. Only opener Ricardo Vasconselos held firm, and his seventeen boundaries even offered hope of an unlikely victory. Eventually, hands were shaken on a raw with two wickets or 76 runs still needed to produce a result. 

Last week, Gloucestershire racked up more than 700 runs so their first-innings total of 530 against Derbyshire must have seemed a come-down. Matt Lamb struck a career-best 207 and ‘keeper Brooke Guest’s 95 helped Derby’s total to 526 but a rapid 277 stand between James Bracey and Graeme van Buuren anchored a reply which earned Gloucester bragging rights in the inevitable draw. 

Well, now we have a four-week break to accommodate Twenty20 cricket. While England are amongst twenty nations contesting the World Cup across the Atlantic, the domestic counties are about to Blast off. NO doubt I shall get my head around the new intake of internationals and promising young biff-bashers enjoying the limelight in June. 

Team of the Week:- Lyth (Yor), Vasconcelos (Nor), Shan Masood (Yor), Cox (Ess), Lamb (Der), Brown (Ham +), van Buuren (Glo), Stokes (Dur), Dawson (Ham), Abbott (Ham), Bethell (War)

Worrall Wins it for Surrey

Plenty of positive results and a few nail-biters in the Championship this week. The leading three in Division One all won, with Surrey’s fourth on the trot keeping them comfortably at the summit. They overwhelmed Worcestershire at The Oval with a day to spare. The reliable Jordan Clark top-scored, but it was Dan Worrall’s ten-wicket haul which caught the eye. 

It was a real game of two halves at Chelmsford, where a 209-run partnership between Ed Barnard and Michael Burgess and three wickets apiece for Yates and Simmons piled pressure on Essex late on Saturday. However, their spinners Matt Critchley and Simon Harmer turned the tables, leaving the home side an awkward target of 330. At 12-2, things looked grim but Jordan Cox made 112, then Matt Critchley was left high and dry on 99 as he and Harmer sealed the deal. 

It was another topsy-turvy affair at Taunton. Tom Banton and James Rew have struggled so far this season but each reached three figures as Somerset stormed to 554 against Kent. When Overton and Pretorius led a useful attack to dismiss Kent for 178, the visitors looked as if they’d been on the end of a lethal Usyk combination. However, they seemed to have bounced up from the canvas on Sunday when Zak Crawley’s 238 helped the visitors to 388-2. Undeterred, Somerset struck back with three late wickets, and left themselves with a potentially tricky 180 to score by the end of the match. Fortunately, Matt Renshaw and Andy Umeed struck the perfect balance of watchfulness and strokeplay to secure an eight-wicket triumph and maintain Somerset’s second place. 

At Trent Bridge, Hampshire came away with their first success of the summer, defeating Nottinghamshire by five wickets. Apart from Lyndon James (106 not out), the hosts found runs hard to come by against Abbas and Abbott in particular, and it required a sixth-wicket century stand from Middleton and Fuller to drag Hampshire from 44-5 to reach the finishing line.

 Ben Stokes’ first Championship outing for two years lured the media to Blackpool and he achieved a welcome five-for but only twenty runs for Durham. Hopefully the journos present also stayed to observe not one but two players who hit tons in each innings. Keaton Jennings performed the feat for Lancashire then David Bedingham, trying to save and possibly gain an unlikely victory on day four, repeated the achievement. He and the more belligerent Ollie Robonson placed Durham just 161 short with seven standing but, when Bedingham was caught behind off Nathan Lyon, the remaining batsmen capitulated leaving Robinson unbeaten on 171, handing Lancashire their first win of 2024.

 They stay bottom, though, and need to beat winless Warwickshire to extricate themselves from the relegation places before the four-week red-ball break. Essex hop over the Tnames to Kent and Somerset head north to face Durham in bids to keep Surrey in their sights. The champions follow the M3 to meet Hampshire who look woefully short of runs. 

In the second tier, Sussex rediscovered their winning ways at Hove, but Yorkshire pushed them all the way in a low-scoring contest. Ben Coad and George Hill bowled well for the Tykes but Ollie Robinson (the other one!), Sean Hunt and, by capturing Joe Root’s crucial wicket, Tom Haines, bowled the South Coasters to victory by only 21 runs. 

Middlesex are just seven points behind after beating Glamorgan in another nervy finale at Sophia Gardens. Mark Stoneman (129) delivered a heathy first-innings lead before Marcus Labuscagne (111) and Colin Ingram (105) steered Glamorgan back inti the game. With Mason Crane spinning five men out, it looked touch and go but the ninth-wicket partnership between Davies and Helm extended to 52 to nick it by two wickets. 

At Leicester, Gloucestershire declared on a mammoth 706-6. Openers Cameron Bancroft and Ian Charlesworth put on 313 and the pace accelerated with James Bracey and skipper Graeme van Buuren. On day four, Leicestershire made runs throughout the order to dig out a draw. The outcome was the same at Derby, where Northamptonshire generally had the better of things. A rapid 153 not out by Emilio Gay propelled them to a declaration capable of giving the bowlers something to aim at in two-and-a-bit sessions. At 141-7, that looked a great decision but Zak Chappell and Anuj Dal added 108. Two snap wickets put Northants on the verge of victory only for Dal and the last man Dupavillon to survive the final two overs. 

Next week’s Division Two highlight is set to be the top two counties battling it out at Lord’s. Should be interesting… 

Team of the Week:- Crawley (Ken), Jennings (Lan), Gay (Nor), Bedingham (Dur), Banton (Som), Robinson (Ken +), Barnard (War), Critchley (Ess), Hill (Yor), Worrall (Sur), Robinson (Sus)

Somerset Crash the Essex Party

Only five fixtures in the County Championship this week, but most actually produced a result. Oddly, it was the bowlers in charge in Division One while in Division Two, the batsmen stole the show.

With Surrey resting, this was Essex’s chance to re-establish a formidable lead at the top. However, on a seaming wicket at Taunton, they surprisingly cane off second best in a match which was done and dusted within two days. Nobody reached fifty and Somerset’s pace quintet shared the wickets, whilst Essex achieved a slight first-innings advantage when Jamie Porter (5-37) and Sam Cook (5-38) swept through the home side with ease. When Somerset batted again on Saturday afternoon, they must have feared the worst. However, openers Renshaw and Dickson made a solid start, and Craig Overton struck the winning boundary with only three wickets left. That meant Somerset leapt above Surrey, and Essex’s margin over the champions is a mere three points. 

It shouldn’t last long, given that the winner of Warwickshire’s trip to The Oval later this week will go top, and the weather is set fair/ 

At the other end of the table, Kent despatched Lancashire at Old Trafford by seven wickets. The home county’s run of dreadful starts continued, bowled out for a paltry 92. Harare-born Nathan Gilchrist produced a career-best 6-24, supported by Wes Agar’s 4-35. At least Bell and Hurst dug in to set Kent some kind of target on the last two days, but Daniel Bell-Drummond’s unbeaten 79 ensured the win bonus went Kent’s way. They now meet Worcestershire while Lancashire travel to Nottinghamshire who are also winless. 

Runs flowed more freely in the second tier, and eight players reached three figures. Sussex needed only one innings to defeat Derbyshire. Chteshwar Pujara top-scored with 113, before young West Indian Jaydon Seales sealed the victory with 5-29. At Lord’s, both the first and fourth days were washed out, ruining the contest and the chances of Middlesex and Leicestershire of keeping Sussex in check. Peter Handscomb (109), Sam Robson (162) and Leus du Plooy (139) enjoyed some decent batting practice. 

Up at Headingley, Joe Root struck his second ton in succession as Yorkshire racked up a huge first-innings lead over Glamorgan. Both he and Finlay Bean (173) set a cracking pace, too, in the hope of providing ample time to bowl the opposition out a second time. However, the visitors were no pushover. A 210-run stand involving Sam Northeast and Colin Ingram was the centrepiece of an excellent fightback. Ingram struck twenty boundaries in his 113 but it was his skipper Northeast who remained at the crease on 142 not out when a draw was agreed, thwarting Yorkshire’s bid for an opening victory of 2024. They now have a fortnight to put that right, against leaders Sussex who could be running away with the division should they beat Glamorgan in their game in hand. 

Team of the Week:- Robson (Mid), Bean (Yor), Northeast (Gla), Root (Yor), Pujara (Sus), Ingram (Gla), Hurst (Lan +), S Cook (Ess), Porter (Ess), Seales (Sus), Gilchrist (Ken)

County Cricket: Worrall and Clark Sweep Hampshire Aside

While the continuing dreadful weather forced most counties to adopt the Plan B of simply maximising their batting bonus points, Surrey proceeded to claim a second successive innings victory, this time against neighbours and rivals Hampshire. With Essex failing to prevail over Durham, after four fixtures, the Chelmsford outfit stand dead level with the champions. 

A steady century from Rory Burns and a blistering unbeaten 106 from Jordan Clark helped Surrey to a healthy lead on day two, but Dan Worrall’s five-for, spread over three days, finished the job without the need to bat again. At Chester-le-Street, Nick Browne marked his first Championship outing of the season by scoring 184, taking Essex to 488, eclipsing Durham’s Ackermann-assisted total of 358. Following a Sunday washout, Lees and Bedingham made the game safe against the spinners. 

At Edgbaston, Ben Duckett helped himself to a double-hundred for Nottinghamshire. In response, Warwickshire openers Yates and Davies suffered a rare joint failure, although they were rescued by the lower order.  A draw was inevitable, as was the case at Kidderminster. With rain forecast, Somerset declared after reaching 300, then Libby and Roderick put on 194 for Worcestershire en route to achieving a fifth batting point.  

Four weeks and still just a single result in Division Two. Leaders Leicestershire and Northamptonshire swapped scores of 450-ish, although George Bartlett was the only centurion. Poor Peter Handscomb was run out on 99. At Headingley, too, it was all about reaching 450 before the rain arrived. With England’s former opener Adam Lyth scoring 97 and current middle-order duo Joe Root and Harry Brook hitting three figures, Yorkshire made the target but, despite Wayne Madsen’s patient 105, Derbyshire fell three runs short. 

At least the good folk of Bristol had more cricket to enjoy. Gloucestershire’s Marchant de Lange struck a blow for the bowlers by taking 6-49 and restricting Middlesex to 203. Second time around, Max Holden (111) and the redoubtable Ryan Higgins (155) turned the tables, switching the pressure onto the home side. The weather closed in, but – hey! – the match did extend into a fourth innings, the only one this week to do so. 

It's a relatively quiet Bank Holiday weekend for the County Championship but, with Surrey not playing, Essex will reclaim the lead whatever happens in Somerset. Speaking of which, I note that my former local club Bridgwater have signed former West Indies captain and Ben Stokes’ T20 nemesis Carlos Brathwaite. The residents of Park Road had better install higher fences and reinforced windows….

Team of the Week:- Burns (Sur), Duckett (Not), Root (Yor), Brook (Yor), Browne (Ess), Higgins (Mid), Roderick (Wor +), J Clark (Sur),  de Lange (Glo), Worrall (Sur), Hannon-Dalby (War)