Strange Results but it’s Surrey’s Title

I was on the holiday island of Ibiza last week, enjoying the unfamiliar surroundings of sun, sea, pine-clad hills, golden cliffs and super-yachts. But nothing was as bizarre as some of the cricket results leaping out at me from the internet, especially on Tuesday when the penultimate round of fixtures kicked off. 

Twenty-six wickets fell at Chelmsford and twenty-three at Southampton. I’d have anticipated title-chasing Hampshire to tear into Kent but it was the home side who were skittled for just 57 inside 17 overs, Matt Quinn taking 6-23. Kent skipper Jack Leaning tipped the scales back towards the batsmen with a century but, despite the efforts of Vince and Fuller the 378 target was always going to be beyond Hampshire. 

This defeat left Surrey clear to claim another Championship pennant at The Oval. They did so in style by thrashing Yorkshire who now face the possible ignominy of relegation. Ollie Pope’s 136 anchored Surrey’s first innings while the key bowlers were Aussie Dan Worrall and local teenager Tom Lawes. Rory Burns struck the winning boundaries and the crown was theirs to celebrate. 

Lancashire have an outside chance of finishing as runners-up after emerging victorious from the wild wicked bonanza in Essex. Simon Harmer, Tom Bailey and Shane Snater all improved their season’s averages but it was Lancashire’s George Balderson’s 5-14 and Will Williams’ 4-24 which proved decisive as Essex plunged to 59 all out, just 38 runs short. Alastair Cook’s 40 was the highest individual score, and surely the pitch inspectors will be publishing a critical report in the coming days. 

At the other end, Somerset produced a surprisingly emphatic 352-run victory at home to Northamptonshire, completing a welcome recovery from their dreadful start to the summer. Their fantastic run of top-tier cricket will continue in 2023, thanks largely to Tom Abell’s twin tons and Craig Overton’s seven wickets. What would we do without him? 

Warwickshire now find themselves in the bottom two, victims of already-relegated Gloucestershire’s first success of 2022. Dom Sibley gave the Midlanders a promising start but Jack Taylor and Zafar Gohar evened things out. Young medium-pacer Tom Price produced an outstanding 8-27 but Gloucester still faced a tricky target of 148. At 30-4 on a turning pitch, a ninth loss looked probable, only for a 97 partnership between Dent and Van Buuren to steady the listing ship. They may be heading straight back to Division Two but at least they have this result to console them, having already seen Ryan Higgins been loaned out to Middlesex. 

His new club have yet to ensure promotion, despite a hard-fought victory over poor Leicestershire who matched them all the way until the final morning. Toby Roland-Jones left them struggling at 13-4 but once Colin Ackermann was trapped LBW for 80, another defeat was inevitable. Middlesex could yet go up as champions should they beat Worcestershire, who dealt Nottinghamshire a sobering blow by an innings. Gareth Roderick top-scored with 102 and took seven catches behind the stumps.

Glamorgan are also in the frame after defeating Derbyshire. Captain David Lloyd became their second triple-centurion of the season as the Cardiff faithful witnessed them rack up a mighty 550-5 declared. Ajaz Patel and Timm van der Gugten shine with the ball but the loudest applause came for 41-year-old Michael Hogan as he left the Sophia Gardens field for the last time. His metronomic pace has been a feature of Glamorgan’s game for so long that he will be almost impossible to replace. 

There was another innings-victory at Chester-le-Street, with Durham comfortably beating Sussex. Four of their batsmen reached 80 without making three figures but none of the opposition managed even 40 in two attempts. Ben Raine was the stand-out bowler. If they repeat this performance at Trent Bridge they could deny Nottinghamshire the promotion that has looked nailed-on all summer. 

The Division One battle to avoid the drop goes to the wire. Kent host Somerset, Warwickshire face Hampshire and Yorkshire welcome Gloucestershire but it’s Warwickshire who have the trickiest task. They have to win and do what Kent did last week. Surely lightning won’t strike twice?

Middlesex win a Thriller

Middlesex have extended their lead at the top of the County Championship, but they were pushed to the penultimate ball of the four days by Somerset at Taunton. On day two, Middlesex were struggling to match their hosts’ mediocre total of 236, but then James Harris and James Fuller posted a mighty ninth wicket stand of 162, putting them in the driving seat. Centuries from Marcus Trescothick (his 48th first class effort for the West Countrymen) and Peter Trego turned things around, leaving the league leaders 46 overs to score 302. Acting skipper James Franklin accepted the challenge and it needed some superb knocks by Nick Gubbins and ‘keeper John Simpson to conquer it in the very final over. Simpson also took nine catches in the match. Indeed, Middlesex were very much Somerset’s nemeses this week, also winning their T20 fixture, dammit!

Warwickshire’s attempt to match the Londoners foundered in the Edgbaston rain. Hampshire racked up more than 500 thanks to Liam Dawson’s 116 and an unbeaten 204 from Adam Wheater. However, having lost the third day to the weather, Sam Hain and Tim Ambrose achieved three-figure scores of their own to play out a draw. Even less cricket was possible at The Oval where Yorkshire had the better of their contest with Surrey. Adam Lyth starred with a double-hundred.

Division Two is really hotting up, too. Gloucestershire are definitely in the promotion race after defeating leaders Essex by 61 runs at Cheltenham. Apart from centuries from David Lawrence and Gloucestershire skipper Gareth Roderick, it was a game for the seamers. Essex’s Kiwi, Matthew Quinn captured 11 wickets yet still finished on the losing side, while the home team’s trio of Payne, Norwell and Miles ripped through Essex on the final day. Gloucestershire have also leapfrogged Glamorgan in the Blast’s South Division so happy times at Bristol again

Worcestershire now sit only seven points behind Essex after thumping Northamptonshire by 311 runs at Wantage Road. They twice bowled out their opponents for under 150, the bulk of the wickets falling to Matt Henry and Joe Leach.

There’s more festival cricket this week as the county circuit says a summer hello to Southport, Colwyn Bay, Tunbridge Wells and, again, Cheltenham. Lancashire look to revive their title bid against Durham while Hampshire and Surrey meet in a relegation clash. Notts and Somerset both need a win to keep out of trouble. Gloucestershire can go top if they overcome Northants and Kent are back in the mix if they beat Sussex in the local derby.

Team of the Week: Lyth (Yor), Petersen (Lan), Roderick (Glo *), Dawson (Ham), Wheater (Ham), Simpson (Mid +), Trego (Som), Leach (Wor), Fuller (Mid), Quinn (Ess), Henry (Wor)