County Cricket: Roach and Smith make it three in a row for Surrey

Both Surrey and Warwickshire could have supplanted Essex at the top with a win, but it was the champions who brushed aside their potential rivals by nine wickets at The Oval. Surrey-born Jamie Smith lashed 155 to establish a handsome first-innings lead. It could have been greater were it not for Craig Miles, whose 5-43 gave little sign of the carnage being inflicted around him. Ed Barnard had reached three figures for the visitors first time out but Surrey paceman Kemar Roach ensured there would be no late-order recovery on Sunday afternoon, taking 6-46. Burns, Sibley and Pope finished the job the next morning. 

At Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire beat Lancashire by the same margin. It could have been an innings defeat had it not been for 20-year-old wicketkeeper Matt Hurst’s maiden hundred and century partnership with Tom Hartley. However, the game’s outstanding performer was Notts opener and skipper Haseeb Hameed. It feels like forever since, as a promising Lancashire teenager, he was thrown into the England side where he struggled in ten Tests. This summer, too, he failed to make fifty in his first four fixtures, which makes his unbeaten 247 so extraordinary. His score became the highest ever by a Notts player to carry his bat in a completed innings. Hameed was also not out at the conclusion of the match, every minute of which he was on the field. 

Bad light deprived Worcestershire of a likely victory against Kent at Canterbury in a game overshadowed by the sad death last week of young Josh Baker. The Pears occupied the opening five sessions amassing 618-7, including three centurions. Gareth Roderick set the ball rolling with 117 but the daunting total was ultimately extended by the eighth-wicket pair of Jason Holder and Matthew Waite. Mixing patience with pyrotechnics, each reached three figures, the declaration following Waite’s single to take him to 100. Jack Leaning responded with a magnificent 179 which at least ensured Kent survived to earn a draw. 

It was the same outcome at Southampton, where fourth-day rain ensured neither Hampshire nor Durham claimed the sixteen points. Had there been more sparking sunshine, I doubt the result would have been any different because batsmen were in charge. Orr and Prest helped Hampshire to 503, then Bedingham’s 144 shone for Durham, whilst spinners Dawson and Organ wheeled away for a combined 109 overs. 

On Friday, Hampshire travel to Trent Bridge in search of that elusive first victory, whilst Surrey hope to make it a fourth consecutive success at home to Worcestershire. Essex host Warwickshire, both keen to prevent Surrey running away with the Championship. 

Division Two leaders Sussex suffered a surprise loss against Glamorgan. With heavy rain forecast (correctly, it transpired) in Cardiff for Monday, it was imperative to round things off early, but it was the Welsh side who dominated. It’s not often that Glamorgan take twenty wickets but Mir Hamza and Andy Gorvin claimed thirteen between them. The home side’s batting success rested on the shoulders of Kiran Carlsen and Coin Ingram, whose fifth-wicket stand of 315 broke the county record. 

In the only other fixture, Gloucestershire also celebrate a sizeable winning margin, 256 runs. Miles Hammond’s 112 and Marchant de Lange’s 5-42 had already floored Northamptonshire, only for them to rub their hosts’ noses in the dirt by extending the lead to an imposing 557, thanks in part to Cameron Bancroft’s 130 not out. Gay, Procter and Nazir did their best but could not last until close of play. 

Only Derbyshire sit below Northants on the table and next they meet each other at Derby. Glamorgan host Middlesex, Leicestershire welcome Gloucestershire while Sussex look to get their promotion ambitions back on track at home to winless Yorkshire. 

Team of the Week:- Hameed (Not), Roderick (Wor +), Smith (Sur), Leaning (Ken), Carlson (Gla), Ingram (Gla), Roach (Sur), Waite (Wor), de Lange (Glo), Gorvin (Gla), Miles (War)

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?

Essex Bounce Back and Rushworth breaks Record

My comments last week about Gloucestershire benefitting from sitting out a potentially wet week proved prescient. Only 68 overs were possible at Taunton, time only for Surrey opener Rory Burns to score another fifty and Lewis Gregory to register his 300^th first-class wicket. So Gloucester remain top of Group 2 but Hampshire made up lost ground by beating Middlesex at Lord’s by 7 wickets. Although he came in for a pounding from Keith Barker in the second innings, Tim Murtagh was on good form but it was Hampshire’s Kyle Abbott who starred, taking eleven cheap wickets. 

In a very tight Group 1, Essex leapfrogged from fifth to first by trouncing Derbyshire by an innings and 15. An inexperienced attack was taken apart by the champions’ top four, including a 221-run stand by Tom Westley and Dan Lawrence, who clubbed an unbeaten 152, including a century in boundaries alone. Lawrence then had Godleman caught by Ten Doeschate which proved significant given that Simon Harmer proceeded to take all the other first-innings wickets. Derby made a better fist of their second attempt but the seamers chipped in to beat both their opponents and the weather on the final day. 

Durham advance to third after dealing Worcestershire their first defeat of the season, and a comprehensive performance it was, too. Will Young and Jack Burnham made hundreds but it was Chris Rushworth who deserved the headlines. His 9-108 match analysis was impressive enough but he was really emotional after removing Haynes to become his county’s record first-class wicket-taker surpassing Graeme Onions’ career tally of 527. 

Yorkshire edged in front in Group 3 with a draw against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens. Following the near-nationwide washout on day one, a result was never a realistic proposition. Joe Root was bowled by Douthwaite just one short of his ton as the White Roses established a first-innings lead despite Michael Neser’s 5-39. There was a similar situation at Hove, where Kent were easily dismissed on day one, losing two wickets to England international Jofra Archer before he succumbed to injury again. The Sussex attack was more toothless later on as Crawley, Robinson and centurion Jack Leaning ensured there was no chance of losing. 

The next round of fixtures includes a couple of eye-catchers from Group 2. There’s the ever-intriguing London derby, although neither Surrey nor Middlesex seem especially keen on winning the Championship this year. Meanwhile the West Country clash between Gloucestershire and Somerset should decide who leads after week seven, although Hampshire could prove a fly in the ointment with a 24-point victory over Leicestershire. Essex seek to consolidate their Group 1 lead at home to Warwickshire, and Lancashire should return to the pinnacle of Group 3 provided they avoid heavy defeat at Northampton. 

Team of the Week: Lees (Dur), Young (Dur), Leaning (Ken), Westley (Ess), Lawrence (Ess), Robinson (Ken +), Abbott (Ham), Harmer (Ess), Neser (Gla), S Patterson (Yor), Rushworth (Dur)

Kent pair smash partnership record

Kent claimed their first win of the season, but it was the second-wicket pair of 19 year-old Jordan Cox and Jack Leaning who stole the headlines. Their unbeaten stand of 423 was the county’s highest ever, and they might still be batting had they not declared at the 120-over mark. It proved to be the correct decision because 44 year-old Darren Stevens polished off Sussex with 5-50 to win by an innings. Cox promptly let the side down by posing with fans, breaking the Covid rules and consequently missing the next fixture in self-isolation, the idiot. 

Across the Thames estuary, Essex raced to the top of the South division, dealing Surrey a 169-run defeat. Simon Harmer reminded South Africa of his credentials by taking 14 wickets in the match. It was a tighter affair at Radlett where Hampshire took the winners’ bonus. Bowling honours were shared but opener Joe Weatherly needed to defy Tim Murtagh et al and anchor the line-up for 64 to set up a narrow win against Middlesex. 

Somerset made it two wins from two inside two days at Northampton where seamers made hay. The home side’s Ben Sanderson took 9-89 and still lost, because the Overton twins dominated once more. Not only did they take cheap wickets but also top-score with half-centuries. 

Gloucestershire beat Warwickshire at Bristol, despite the sterling efforts of the visitors’ stand-in opening bowler, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, who captured six wickets in each innings. All-rounder Ryan Higgins’ bowling was the difference, his 7-42 ensuring a 78-run winning margin. Worcestershire held the upper hand at home to Glamorgan, beginning with a 318-run partnership involving Jake Libby and Brett D’Oliveira. The Welsh attack again looked fragile but Billy Root struck a century and Chris Cooke staved off defeat in the second innings with 74. More impressive were his wicketkeeping stats: 7 catches and two stumpings. 

In the North group, Derbyshire outplayed neighbours Leicestershire by nine wickets and Lancashire came away from Durham with an innings victory. At Trent Bridge , Nottinghamshire enjoyed a first-innings lead over Yorkshire, with the help of Tom Moores’ 106 and the slip catches of skipper Mullaney. However, they blew their chances of a first triumph since 2018 by being skittled for 97. 

It has been confirmed that the final of the Bob Willis Trophy won’t take place until 23^rd September, but the revised T20 Blast is heading for an October finish in the hope that fans may be allowed into the grounds. Given the current increases in infections, that may prove wishful thinking. 

Team of the Week: Libby (Wor), Cox (Ken), Leaning (Ken), D’Oliveira (Wor), Thompson (Yor), Cooke (Gla +), Higgins (Glo), J Overton (Som), Harmer (Ess), Hannon-Dalby (War), Sanderson (Nor)

Yorkshire surge a-Head

While England were giving Pakistan a hiding in Test cricket, the remaining county players were involved in a week of the white ball stuff. Most sides played a couple of Royal London Cup group fixtures before a Friday night of T20 Blast.

Yorkshire are top of the North group in the 50-over competition and heading for the Blast quarter-finals, too. Travis Head and Jack Leaning shared a county record stand of 274 against Leicestershire the young Aussie left-hander making 175 in 139 balls. Leaning also thrashed a 29-ball 64 against Northants later in the week. If the specialists didn’t make the runs, then the likes of Tim Bresnan stepped up to the mark.

Jesse Ryder starred with the bat for Essex, who lead the South division with Somerset. The latter won both their games, gaining revenge for recent defeats at the hands of Middlesex. Peter Trego doesn’t bowl much these days but against the Londoners, he followed a century with a useful 2-27. A shame Somerset are struggling so badly in the Blast. With no chance of qualifying for the knockouts, they fielded a very unfamiliar team against Hampshire and received a sound beating. Liam Dawson took 5-17.

Northants had a mixed week. Lying second in the Blast North division, they welcomed back Ben Duckett after his prolific one-day performances for the England Lions. He didn’t score any more centuries but contributed quite a few runs to the cause. Instead, Richard Keogh struck 134 in 110 balls in the win over Durham.

There were other ton-makers, too. Sam Hain also hit 107 for Warwickshire (against Durham again), while Tom Kohler-Cadmore (Worcs), Paul Stirling and, in a rare outing, Eoin Morgan for Middlesex, Riki Wessels (Notts) and Joe Denly (Kent) also got in the act. Surrey’s opener Jason Roy hit the highest T20 score of the week – a 62-ball 120 against Kent – but special plaudits go Colin Ingram’s way. He reached three figures in each format for Glamorgan, although sadly his 101 off the Essex attack was in vain. The Welsh side endured two no-results, although they were already guaranteed a place in the quarters.

Bowlers pitched in, too. In addition to Dawson, there were five-fors from Gareth Batty, Rikki Clarke and the Northants pair Azharullah and Gleeson. Kent’s Matt Coles was recalled and nabbed six Hampshire wickets, albeit for 56 runs.

So what next in the Blast? For all Roy’s heroics this week, and Surrey’s encouragingly large crowds this summer, the county narrowly failed to qualify, edged out by Essex whose last game was abandoned thanks to rain. In a few weeks’ time, Essex now face a trip to Trent Bridge, where the Notts batsmen have been in fine form this year. Northants will host Middlesex, Gloucestershire play Durham, while Glamorgan will welcome Yorkshire to Sophia Gardens. That could be a real cracker, especially if Ingram and Head come – er - head to head.

Team of the Week: Roy (Sur), Hain (War), Head (Yor), Leaning (Yor), Ingram (Gla), Trego (Som), Ambrose (War +), McLaren (Ham), Bresnan (Yor), Coles (Ken), Gleeson (Nor)

Yorkshire’s Veterans maintain the Pressure

While Durham rested, Yorkshire claimed maximum points at Headingley, moving to within nine points of the leaders with a game in hand. Next week’s meeting of the top two is looking rather tasty! Skipper Andrew Gale and Jack Leaning each scored centuries, while Brooks, Bresnan and Sidebottom led the all-30-something attack to hand Nottinghamshire an innings defeat. The sorry losers featured a rare Championship appearance by Stuart Broad – only his 16th in eight seasons – but his 7-84 and 84 runs showed what they have been missing.

Hampshire are keeping Notts company at the bottom after suffering a nine-wicket home drubbing by Somerset, who also beat Notts last week. Suddenly, the Cidermen are in mid-table safety, just a good win adrift of third place. With sixteen points for a win and only five for a draw, the table can change so swiftly in county cricket. Anyway, not for the first time this season, Craig Overton shone with the ball (8-81 for the match) and young opener Tom Abell made another half-century. While Hants’ all-rounder Gareth Berg did his best to prolong proceedings, as at Notts, the top five batsmen are woefully out of form.

The other Division One fixture was a tame draw between Worcestershire and Middlesex, but at least they scored some runs. Tom Fell made a welcome hundred but James Franklin was the week’s star batsman, contributing 135 and 91 not out for Middlesex as the game petered out on day four.

In the lower tier, Surrey and Glamorgan both won to remind top dogs Lancashire that promotion isn’t yet a done deal. Gareth Batty’s side made short work of Derbyshire inside three days. There were few stand-out performances, with James Burke top-scoring with just 73 and the skipper’s 4-32 finishing off the Derby tail in the second innings.

Neither side reached 300, nor were there any individual three-figure scores at Cardiff, either, but Glamorgan’s bowlers all chipped in with wickets as Leicestershire succumbed on the last afternoon. Graeme Wagg followed his astonishing 200 last week with another 126 runs and three wickets while for the opponents, Ben Raine achieved a decent five-for while Jacques Rudolph dug in for over five hours to make 74 and hold his side’s second innings together and set a sufficiently tough target.

Essex continued their revival by beating Gloucestershire at Bristol. Napier and Porter bowled well enough to make the home team follow on then, despite another century from Michael Klinger, Essex managed to knock off the 114 needed for victory. At 26-4 they wobbled but Tom Westley steadied the ship with an unbeaten 65.

Meanwhile, at Northampton, rain washed out the first day but by the third, Northants had already demolished bottom-placed Kent! Azharullah, Rory Kleinveldt and Olly Stone each clamed five-fors as Kent slumped to 140 and 151 all out. Playing the Australian tourists must seem like light relief and at least they are top of the NatWest Blast South group!

Team of the Week: Abell (Som), Ali (Wor), Gale (Yor, *), Leaning (Yor), Franklin (Mid), Bairstow (Yor/Eng, +), Berg (Ham), Broad (Not), Napier (Ess), C Overton (Som), Kleinveldt (Nor)