For the week ending 12th September, it's tempting to select the entire Yorkshire Eleven which clinched the County Championship in such style, albeit perhaps without naughty captain Andrew Gale! However, I must stick to my guns and pick players on their performances around the grounds.
That doesn't meanm I can't name the White Rose opener Adam Lyth, back to his best in 2014 and hammering on the door of England's Test team while Sam Robson desperately tries to lock it from the other side. His 122 laid the foundation for the hefty first innings total at Trent Bridge, with which Nottinghamshire simply could not compete. Bangladesh bowlers couldn't contain West Indian number one Kraigg Brathwaite either; he plundered 212 in their easy Test match victory.
Some big middle order scorers must leave the week disappointed. Apologies to Northeast, Trott, Roy and Borthwick but you just missed out. Ed Joyce seems to be ending the summer the way he started it. The Sussex veteran struck 137 and 79 to beat Lancashire and leave them facing relegation square in the face. My four and five together produced a record partnership for Gloucestershire against poor Leicestershire. Skipper Alex Gidman led the way with 264 in 274 balls, aided and abetted by South African 'keeper Gareth Roderick's 171. He is fine form with the bat in first-class cricket and, with a British passport, he could yet represent England. He takes the gloves in my fantasy XI despite taking no catches at all in the match. He just edges out Niall O'Brien, who claimed six victims and a century for Leicestershire in the same game.
Teenager Sam Hain hit his maiden double-hundred for Warwickshire, alongside the man he might have expected to replace in the county line-up, Jonathan Trott. Ben Stokes found his batting form, too, plundering 164 in 113 deliveries and taking 1-50 in Durham's Royal London Cup semi-final victory over Notts, who had a pretty shoddy week all round.
Nevertheless, the star all-rounder was Jack Shantry of Worcestershire. Their promotion campaign train seemed heading for a fatal derailment until his 89-ball century and last-day 4-44, giving him ten wickets for the match and a chance to play again in the top flight next year.
Sulieman Benn has been largely eclipsed by Narine lately in West Indian spin circles but he returned 5-39 and 2-44 in that 499th Test. Keith Barker's eight dismissals played a big part in Warwickshire's trouncing of Northants but the last place goes to another Yorkshireman. Old curlylocks himself, Ryan Sidebottom, has spearheaded the Yorkshire attack with Jack Brooks brilliantly all season, and his 6-30 in the second innings was the best bowling analysis of the week.
Celebratory (white) roses go to: Lyth (Yor), Brathwaite (WI), Joyce (Sus), Roderick (Glo +), Gidman (Glo *), Hain (War), Stokes (Dur), Shantry (Wor), Benn (WI), Barker (War), Sidebottom(Yor).
Showing posts with label Jack Shantry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jack Shantry. Show all posts
Saturday, 13 September 2014
Friday, 12 September 2014
Yorkshire County Champions!
In the two big matches of the week, 'twere Yorkshire and Worcestershire who prevailed, and so two of the big prizes have been decided with a few weeks still to go.
Congratulations first to the White Roses, who gave closest rivals Nottinghamshire a fearful thumping at Trent Bridge to clinch the Championship pennant. Even without Joe Root and Gary Ballance for much of the summer, their blend of largely homegrown talent, young and old, has proved irresistible despite a dodgy start to the season. The job was done with a typical mix of contributors, from Adam Lyth's sixth Championship century to Ryan Sidebottom's second innings 6-30, a 99 from Ballance, 95 from Tim Bresnan and six more wickets snapped by Mr Headband Jack Brooks. Joe Root made only 11 but he captained the side in place of Andrew Gale to round off a mostly pleasing season for the 23 year-old Sheffielder.
Warwickshire also won by an innings - against Northants - to be favourites for the runners-up position. Their fourth wicket partnership of 370 was the cornerstone. Jonathan Trott may have lost his England central contract but he has delivered some useful end-of-season runs for his county. Nevertheless his 164 was eclipsed by Sam Hain's maiden double-century. The teenager is in fine four-day form at the moment and must surely get to represent England and put his Aussie past behind him! Another 19 year-old Ben Duckett was the bright spot in Northamptonshire's eleventh defeat of a miserable campaign. He scored 126 runs to go with last week's century.
Sussex advanced to fourth after beating Lancashire in a game that at lunchtime looked certain to be drawn. Chris Jordan and Stuart Magoffin claimed some quick wickets, then Ed Joyce and Craig Cachopa led the dash to reach the 251 target in the 47th over. Lancashire now look to be heading into Division Two. They must win their final match and hope Middlesex lose their last two. They were helped by Durham overcoming their rivals at Lord's. This in turn makes the middle table very congested. Scott Borthwick's first day 176 proved decisive while all the bowlers chipped in with wickets. Pity Tim Murtagh, though; he grabbed a ten-for yet still ended up on the losing side.
Northamptonshire have long been doomed but now we know they will be replaced by Worcestershire. Their momentum had been temporarily disrupted but today they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Needing just 217 to win and seemingly cruising at 131-2, Surrey threw away the match, and their chances of promotion, by collapsing to 189 all out. As in the first innings, it was Jack Shantry who did much of the damage, taking 4-44. With a crazy maiden hundred the previous day and ten wickets in total, he was the toast of New Road. Whatever the angle of his elbow, Saeed Ajmal's 63 wickets earlier in the season cannot be forgotten either.
Essex retain a mathematical chance of overtaking Hampshire for the remaining promotion spot after beating Kent by nine wickets in three days. On day one, Sam Northeast scored 117 out of his side's 198, but James Foster's 108 and excellent bowling by David Masters and Graham Napier left Kent reeling. Glamorgan lifted themselves two places after a low-scoring triumph at Cardiff. Seamers Allenby, Hogan and Wagg produced the goods as only Wes Durston showed any fight for Derbyshire on the third day. Big signing Cheteshwar Pujara scored just 7 and 0 on his county debut.
Only one match ended drawn, and only because batsmen were utterly dominant. Gloucestershire racked up a massive 646 in only four sessions, including a career-best 264 in only 274 balls by skipper Alex Gidman. Along with South African wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick, he compiled a stand of 393, beating by far the club record set back in the halcyon pre-war days of Wally Hammond! To their credit, bottom-placed Leicestershire also accumulated 565. Don't know when they last boasted three centurions in the same innings but Ned Eckersley, Niall O'Brien and Greg Smith each reached three figures. The draw was made certain by 104 not out from the other Gidman, Will.
Next week's games are unlikely to decide very much, although a win for Hampshire at home to Kent will give them a massive advantage over Essex going into the concluding round of fixtures, when late-September weather may have a say in who wins or loses. Nobody wants that.
Congratulations first to the White Roses, who gave closest rivals Nottinghamshire a fearful thumping at Trent Bridge to clinch the Championship pennant. Even without Joe Root and Gary Ballance for much of the summer, their blend of largely homegrown talent, young and old, has proved irresistible despite a dodgy start to the season. The job was done with a typical mix of contributors, from Adam Lyth's sixth Championship century to Ryan Sidebottom's second innings 6-30, a 99 from Ballance, 95 from Tim Bresnan and six more wickets snapped by Mr Headband Jack Brooks. Joe Root made only 11 but he captained the side in place of Andrew Gale to round off a mostly pleasing season for the 23 year-old Sheffielder.
Warwickshire also won by an innings - against Northants - to be favourites for the runners-up position. Their fourth wicket partnership of 370 was the cornerstone. Jonathan Trott may have lost his England central contract but he has delivered some useful end-of-season runs for his county. Nevertheless his 164 was eclipsed by Sam Hain's maiden double-century. The teenager is in fine four-day form at the moment and must surely get to represent England and put his Aussie past behind him! Another 19 year-old Ben Duckett was the bright spot in Northamptonshire's eleventh defeat of a miserable campaign. He scored 126 runs to go with last week's century.
Sussex advanced to fourth after beating Lancashire in a game that at lunchtime looked certain to be drawn. Chris Jordan and Stuart Magoffin claimed some quick wickets, then Ed Joyce and Craig Cachopa led the dash to reach the 251 target in the 47th over. Lancashire now look to be heading into Division Two. They must win their final match and hope Middlesex lose their last two. They were helped by Durham overcoming their rivals at Lord's. This in turn makes the middle table very congested. Scott Borthwick's first day 176 proved decisive while all the bowlers chipped in with wickets. Pity Tim Murtagh, though; he grabbed a ten-for yet still ended up on the losing side.
Northamptonshire have long been doomed but now we know they will be replaced by Worcestershire. Their momentum had been temporarily disrupted but today they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Needing just 217 to win and seemingly cruising at 131-2, Surrey threw away the match, and their chances of promotion, by collapsing to 189 all out. As in the first innings, it was Jack Shantry who did much of the damage, taking 4-44. With a crazy maiden hundred the previous day and ten wickets in total, he was the toast of New Road. Whatever the angle of his elbow, Saeed Ajmal's 63 wickets earlier in the season cannot be forgotten either.
Essex retain a mathematical chance of overtaking Hampshire for the remaining promotion spot after beating Kent by nine wickets in three days. On day one, Sam Northeast scored 117 out of his side's 198, but James Foster's 108 and excellent bowling by David Masters and Graham Napier left Kent reeling. Glamorgan lifted themselves two places after a low-scoring triumph at Cardiff. Seamers Allenby, Hogan and Wagg produced the goods as only Wes Durston showed any fight for Derbyshire on the third day. Big signing Cheteshwar Pujara scored just 7 and 0 on his county debut.
Only one match ended drawn, and only because batsmen were utterly dominant. Gloucestershire racked up a massive 646 in only four sessions, including a career-best 264 in only 274 balls by skipper Alex Gidman. Along with South African wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick, he compiled a stand of 393, beating by far the club record set back in the halcyon pre-war days of Wally Hammond! To their credit, bottom-placed Leicestershire also accumulated 565. Don't know when they last boasted three centurions in the same innings but Ned Eckersley, Niall O'Brien and Greg Smith each reached three figures. The draw was made certain by 104 not out from the other Gidman, Will.
Next week's games are unlikely to decide very much, although a win for Hampshire at home to Kent will give them a massive advantage over Essex going into the concluding round of fixtures, when late-September weather may have a say in who wins or loses. Nobody wants that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)