Leicestershire clinch the Cup, Northants lose again

The 50-over One-Day Cup Final is criminally under-reported these days, but Leicestershire and Hampshire served up a thriller worthy of a big back-page headline. Lewis Hill won the toss and elected to bat, but at 18-4 and 89-6, it looked like Leicestershire’s 38-year wait for another List A trophy would continue. However, local academy products Harry Swindells (117 not out) and Sam Evans (60) rescued the innings, setting Hants a testing target of 268. In reply, Hampshire played it steady, while Mulder, Wright and Scriven bowled tightly. When in Josh Hull’s concluding over, Liam Dawson misjudged a ramp shot to fine leg, it was down to Keith Barker to strike a boundary off the last ball to win. He failed, and Hill’s unfancied side were champions at last. 

A few days earlier, the county’s Championship line-up – without Swindells – narrowly failed to prevent Sussex from moving closer to Worcestershire in the second promotion place. All looked lost for them at Hove, too. Jaydev Unadkat and Aristides Karvelas ripped them apart in the first innings and they faced an Everest-esque target of 499 in almost two days to avoid defeat. That they came within 15 runs is a credit to the batsmen’s professionalism and skill. Not for the first time, Colin Ackermann led the way with 135 but Unadkat mopped up the tail and all that effort proved in vain. 

Also in Division Two, Gloucestershire remain winless, thwarted by the weather and Derbyshire’s spirited performance, notably Anuj Dal’s first-innings 6-69. At Cardiff, Shan Masood plundered 192 for Yorkshire and Glamorgan were forced to follow on after Ben Coad and Matthew Revis claimed eight cheap wickets. Fortunately for the home crowd, Eddie Byrom and Sam Northeast each scored centuries to see out the match. One win from thirteen surely hastened Matthew Maynard’s decision to resign as coach. 

The Division One fixtures focussed mainly on relegation issues. In the wake of lengthy rain delays, cordial declarations created a meaningful climax at Edgbaston. Olive Hannon-Dalby’s 7-46 put Warwickshire in charge against Northamptonshire, but on day four, Ben Sanderson gave his relegation-threatened side real hope, reducing the home county to 24-5. However, Michael Burgess’s unbeaten 78 saw Warwickshire home by two wickets. 

At Canterbury, Zak Crawley got Kent off to a promising start with 158 but, with Joe Clarke in rare good form for Nottinghamshire, it was Kent who ended up relieved to avoid defeat, educed to 86-6 at stumps. The Manchester weather wasn’t kind to cricket last week and Lancashire, for whom Dane Vilas struck 124, were unable to press home their first-innings advantage against Middlesex. 

This week, if Surrey beat Northants at The Oval and Hampshire restrict Essex at Chelmsford, the County Championship belongs once again to Surrey and the South Midlanders are relegated. Kent visit Somerset and Middlesex host Warwickshire hoping to maximise their points return in the battle to avoid joining them. 

Team of the Week:- Crawley (Ken), Masood (Yor), Northeast (Gla), Clarke (Not), Ackermann (Lei), Swindells (Lei), Burgess (War +), Anuj Dal (Der), Unadkat (Sus), Hogan (Ken), Hannon-Dalby (War)

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)