One-Day Cup: Mulder and Ollie prove the talent is out there

While the big names ply their trade in the Hundred, the One-Day Cup allows many other county stalwarts and youngsters to make their mark. It also gives cricket a chance to reach outposts like York and Newport, Isle of Wight, which rarely or never host Championship or white-ball county cricket.

The first week has been particularly fruitful for Hampshire, following their Blast title with three consecutive wins in the fifty-over tournament. 19 year-old Tom Prest has been a revelation, smacking Kent for 181 out of a team total of 396-5, a Hampshire record. The winning margin was 163 runs, but this afternoon’s game on the Isle of Wight against Northamptonshire was one they really should have lost. Prest top-scored again but White and Keogh cut them down to 199 all out. Northants were cruising in mid-innings just 24 from victory when their batting imploded dramatically. Young Jack Campbell, born just across the Solent in Portsmouth, grabbed three quick wickets and 177-5 became 188 all out. Northants did hold their nerve somewhat better against Essex, pipping them by two wickets with just two balls remaining.

Kent ‘keeper Ollie Robinson struck the week’s only double-century, tonking the Worcestershire attack for an unbeaten 206, including 27 fours and six sixes. Chasing 352 for victory, Robinson’s efforts delivered the goods five overs early. Other batting highlights were Colin Ingram’s 155 for Glamorgan and Will Fraine’s rapid 143 for Yorkshire.

In Group A, Nottinghamshire won both their opening fixtures, including a ten-wicket trouncing of 2019 champions Somerset, who also lost to local rivals Gloucestershire. Middlesex opener Stevie Eskinazi was on excellent form, and Leicestershire’s South African Wiaan Mulder carried his red-ball record into the 50-over stuff. Gloucestershire’s Jack Taylor was probably the all-rounder of the week.

Next week, Hampshire look to continue their run against Derbyshire and Lancashire. Nottinghamshire are borrowing Grantham in Leicestershire for their ‘home’ clashes with Durham and Middlesex, while the latter host the London derby against Surrey at Radlett. With the widespread drought set to continue, let’s hope there are a few green patches on the outfields.

Team of the Week: Eskinazi (Mid), Fraine (Yor), Robinson (Ken +), Prest (Ham), Mulder (Lei), Ingram (Gla), J Taylor (Glo), Kimber (Sur), Hutton (Not), Williams (Lan), Campbell (Ham)

Snater and Westley send Essex clear

This week’s One-Day Cup was one of mixed fortunes for all, and rain also throwing a spanner in the works. Group 2 leaders Essex are the only county to have won more than three games. They thrashed Kent by nine wickets, with Alastair Cook and Tom Westley in charge, but at Bristol left it to the last ball to edge past Gloucestershire by two wickets. Aussie medium-pacer Shane Snater took his wicket tally to thirteen, comfortably ahead of anyone else so far. It was a tough week for Gloucestershire, especially as Jack Taylor struck three half-centuries, Ben Charlesworth aggregated 160 runs (including a 99 not out) and Graeme Van Buuren took six wickets. 

Durham are hard on their heels after Sean Dickson’s 76-ball 103 and a fine all-round performance by teenager Luke Doneathy helped stall Lancashire’s charge. Batsman Rob Jones and seamer Tom Bailey did their best for the Red Roses but another defeat, to Midlesex, could cost them dearly. 

In Group 1, Somerset are the only unbeaten county in the competition and could have ended the week with a 100% record had they not had two fixtures curtailed by the weather. They sit level on points with Glamorgan, who slaughtered Surrey, featuring a typically miserly ten-over spell by Michael Hogan (1-18). Nigel Selman’s 140 against Leicestershire was the top score around the country but sadly it proved in vain as their opponents were prevented from completing their reply by rain. 

They probably wouldn’t have reached the target, having been put to the sword at Welbeck by Nottinghamshire who triumphed with thirty overs remaining. Neighbours Derbyshire achieved their first victory in the tournament, also against Notts. Tom Wood’s 109 off only 59 balls was the outstanding innings, and wasn’t the product of hit-and-hope slogs; there were only three sixes but 14 fours. All-rounder Finn Hudson-Prentice continued his good form and yet they are languishing near the bottom of Group 1. 

Next week sees the final league fixtures and it really is all to play for. Almost anyone can sneak into the top four placings in each group. Essex meet their closest rivals Durham and Lancashire so I’d expect at least two of these three to qualify for the quarter-finals. I expect Gloucestershire to be in the mix, too. 

Somerset probably need two wins from last three matches, but it could go down to their trip to Warwickshire next Thursday. Glamorgan close with two home ties, but Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire are tough opponents who also fancy their chances of progression. 

Team of the Week: Charlesworth (Glo), Eskinazi (Mid), Selman (Gla), Westley (Ess), Burgess (Not +), T Wood (Der), Taylor (Glo), Hudson-Prentice (Der), Van Buuren (Glo), Bailey (Lan), Snater (Ess)