Glut of Hundreds greet new County Season

It’s not yet mid-April and we’ve had the first results of the 2021 County Championship. How did that happen?! At least we didn’t have to wait until August as we did last year. Of course the Covid pandemic hasn’t gone away and spectators aren’t yet dribbling into the cricket grounds. Today they were probably all greeting the easing of restrictions by queuing for Primark, but over the preceding four days they would have missed some real run fests. I could have included a dozen batsmen deserving of a place in my Team of the Week. Three scores of 150+ simply weren’t good enough. Must try harder, lads! 

By summer I’ll probably begin to work out what formats the 2021 season will embrace, but for now I’ll just take the County Championship as it comes, week by week. It’s a three-group first phase which seemed quite popular in last year’s severely truncated competition and, despite the cold air – and even a little snow at Headngley – the pitches definitely favoured batting. 

In Group 1, champions Essex were held at home by Worcestershire. Tom Westley’s first double-century in six years seemed to have set up another victory, only for Jake Libby and Ed Barnard to frustrate the home side. Libby’s unbeaten 180 was, at 681 minutes, the second longest county innings on record. At Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire’s Liam Norwell claimed the best bowling of the week, a first-innings 5-32, but in their second outing, Durham’s South African David Bedingham (180) and Ned Eckersley (113 not out) turned 22-3 into a match-saving and potentially even match-winning 332-4 declared. However, a draw was agreed on the final afternoon. 

In contrast each of the three Group 2 fixtures produced results. Hampshire looked the most impressive in thrashing Leicestershire by an innings. The home team’s bowling was rather ragged as James Vince’s 231 and Liam Dawson’s rapid 152 not out helped Hampshire to a formidable 612-5 declared. 2020 absentee Kyle Abbott was the pick of the bowlers. Somerset began with an eight-point deduction for preparing a poor pitch in the 2019 finale so desperately needed a victory over Middlesex at Lord’s. Sam Robson’s 165 and fine bowling by Murtagh and Bamber on the first few days showed that was looking unlikely. However, Somerset’s useful attack dismissed Middlesex for just 143 and Tom Abell, George Bartlett and Lewis Gregory did the rest. Phew! 

At The Oval, Surrey’s Ben Foakes’ 133 appeared to have made amends for a first-innings deficit only for Chris Dent and a rampant Graeme van Buuren to nick an eight-wicket triumph for Gloucestershire. 

Group 3 yielded three draws, with little to choose between them. Glamorgan’s trip to Yorkshire pitched the Root brothers against each other, and young Billy resoundingly came out on top, starring with 153 runs to Joe’s aggregate of just 29. Billy shared a stand of 212 with captain Chris Cooke to declare and leave Yorkshire to take a cautious approach on the final day. They were never going to achieve 377 to win so Adam Lyth settled for a patient 115 not out and a draw. 

At Old Trafford, Lancashire skipper Dane Vilas and young Sussex opener Tom Haines exchanged big hundreds but the Manchester weather prevented much action at the weekend. The contest at Northampton also petered out after two innings of 400+. Northants batsmen Vasconcelos and Keogh struck tons in response to 116 by that man Darren Stevens. Now in his 25^th county season, he became the oldest centurion in the Championship for 34 years. It is becoming increasingly likely that Dazza will go on for ever. 

This week he’ll have another go against Lancashire and the pick of the round two ties could be the West Country derby between early winners Somerset and Gloucestershire. 

Team of the Week: Haines (Sus), Libby (Wor), Westley (Ess), Vince (Ham), Bedingham (Dur), Vilas (Sus), Foakes (Sur +), Critchley (Der), Gregory (Som), Abbott (Ham), Norwell (War)

Trescothick gives Somerset hope and it’s a Blast for Notts

Lancashire were unable to close the gap on leaders Essex after rain wrecked their encounter at Old Trafford. At least there was time for Jamie Porter to claim another five-for. 36 points ahead with three to play; it’s looking good!

It’s not looking good for Warwickshire, though. The bottom two also played each other but this time there was a decisive result, in favour of Somerset.

The home team capped a miserable week, losing both the T20 Blast Final and then this crucial relegation battle in the Championship. For all Somerset’s enduring batting problems, it was encouraging to see struggling Tom Abell register two half-centuries in the same match, although it was Marcus Trescothick, almost twice his age, who scored the decisive 119 not out en route for a declaration. Jack Leach and Tim Groenewald each took five wickets in an innings, and Craig Overton’s 4-33 continued his excellent season. Warwickshire now look in serious danger of relegation while Somerset have risen to within a win of Middlesex a place above them. I can’t imagine what the authorities would make of the champions and Lord’s custodians slipping into Division Two.

Middlesex and Yorkshire played out a rain-affected draw and there wasn’t a great deal more to watch at Southampton. However, wicketkeeper Ben Foakes did his England credentials no harm with another 130 runs and his teenage deputy Ollie Pope was allowed to achieve his maiden hundred before the captains shook hands on the final afternoon.

The second tier featured two major promotion clashes. Nottinghamshire might have expected to carry their Finals Day confidence into the Championship but came a cropper at home to Worcestershire. Another fine all-round performance by Ed Barnard and Daryl Mitchell’s sixth century of the campaign were instrumental in Worcester’s eight-wicket triumph against the leaders.

Behind them, Northamptonshire advanced to level with Sussex after beating them by six wickets. Ben Duckett’s 193 was by far the highest individual score of the week, and Richard Kleinveldt notched his best match figures of the season, 8-98. For once, Jofra Archer wasn’t in form with the ball, but did share a century partnership with Wiese to delay their defeat by a few hours.

At Grace Road, Gloucestershire seamer Liam Norwell practically beat winless Leicestershire on his own. His second innings figures of 8-43 were the best of the summer in the division to date, and he now has 56 victims to his name. I feel sorry for Leicester captain Mark Cosgrove. He has been a consistent run-maker throughout the year yet never in a winning cause. His 92 and 68 this week put him close to 1,000 for 2017, beaten only by Mitchell and Paul Collingwood.

The latter’s Durham rued not declaring earlier in their game against Kent. Graeme Onions became the county’s highest ever first-class wicket-taker, adding eight to his tally but, with nine wickets down, Sam Billings and ex-Durham number eleven Mitch Claydon held out for a draw. At Derby, only 72 overs were possible. Glamorgan must be used to sitting in the pavilion watching the rain this summer but they can at least look back to a rare appearance at last weekend’s Finals Day.

They welcome Northants to Sophia Gardens next week but if Worcestershire beat Leicestershire – as they certainly should – Duckett et al must surely be staying in Division Two in 2018.  In Division One, it’s top plays bottom at Edgbaston. If Essex win, they will surely have one hand on the title and Warwickshire could be doomed. Somerset face Lancashire while Middlesex will hope to treat the Uxbridge crowd against Hampshire. Surrey sit fourth despite winning just one match. Could Yorkshire frustrate them again at The Oval?

Team of the Week: Mitchell (Wor), Duckett (Nor), Northeast (Ken), Cosgrove (Lei), Abell (Som), Foakes (Sur +), Barnard (Wor), Kleinveldt (Nor), Gurney (Not), Onions (Dur), Norwell (Glo)

Kent Serve up a Festival Feast

Ah, the first week of July! Not only does it bring Wimbledon tennis and my own birthday but also the arrival of that dying tradition of festival cricket when the counties decamp to the leafy backwaters.

Probably the most famous is at Scarborough, nestled behind the townhouses which overlook the beach of North Bay. Last week I wrote that this fixture against Yorkshire was Somerset’s best chance of “nicking that elusive victory”. Lo and behold, they actually did it! Poor weather meant the game only really got going on the final few days. Seamers Liam Plunkett and Craig Overton starred in the first innings before James Hildreth seized the initiative, making three figures before the declaration. Unlike other occasions this summer, this week Somerset made the advantage count as Overton again, with spinner Jack Leach ripping through the makeshift Yorkshire line-up.

Fellow relegation-zoners Warwickshire came within a whisker of opening their Championship account, too. At Edgbaston, both the home side and Middlesex made 334 in their first innings, although the Londoners relied heavily on Steve Eskinazi’s 179. The second efforts were similarly well-matched but, despite a typical doughty all-round performance from Rikki Clarke, Middlesex somehow managed to hang on to win by a single wicket.

There was no Sangakkara to boost Surrey’s middle-order at The Oval but he wasn’t missed too much. On the first few days, Hampshire racked up 648-7 declared, including centuries by Adams, Vince and Bailey. Surrey opener Rory Burns responded with a double-hundred but even this was insufficient to prevent the follow-on. He then contributed another 68 on the final afternoon to see his side through to a draw which sees them in sixth place but 30 points ahead of Somerset.

Division Two was all about the festival grounds. The Beckenham groundsman clearly hadn’t taken any chances, and it was an absolute gift to the batsmen. Kent took full advantage and the records tumbled! In a first innings total of 701 (their second best ever), Sean Dickson struck the highest score by a Kent batsman on home soil. His 318 in nearly nine hours beat anything compiled by the Woollers, Faggs, Cowdreys and Luckhursts of days gone by, and in the town of his mum’s birth. Along the way his second wicket partnership with Joe Denly was a county best for any wicket. The Northants reply included three centuries, led by 19 year-old Max Holden’s 153, and so a tame draw resulted.

By way of contrast, the Cheltenham pitch offered little help to the batters. Credit to Gloucestershire and Glamorgan for extending the match to the sixth session! Liam Norwell’s 6-38 was the best bowling performance but, in the end, Bancroft and Dent showed it was after all possible to bat, and their 137-run opening stand saw Gloucester home and dry with two days to spare.

Up at Chesterfield, Durham enjoyed a six-wicket victory over Derbyshire. Alex Hughes kept Rushworth et al at bay with a courageous 108 but Jake Burnham and Ryan Pringle led Durham to the target on day four. At picturesque Arundel, Sussex found their feet in the second innings, taking the Leicestershire attack for 443-6 before declaring. Stiaan van Zyl top-scored with 166 not out, then Jofra Archer (4-30) and colleagues finished the job.

Apart from Gloucestershire’s contest with Worcestershire, the next month is all about the Nat West T20 Blast. The opening encounters were notable for some fine performances by Adam Lyth, Jos Buttler and Shahid Afridi. It was also encouraging to note Championship strugglers Derbyshire and Warwickshire being the only teams winning two out of two. Will they still be at the top of the North group come August? I wonder.

Team of the Week: Burns (Sur), Dickson (Ken), Denly (Ken), van Zyl (Sus), Hildreth (Som), Rossington (Nor +), Clarke (War), C Overton (Som), Archer (Sus), Holland (Ham), Norwell Glo)

Warwickshire Woes, Derbyshire in Despair

Yorkshire advanced to third, having fought back after their first-week defeat to cruise to victory over Warwickshire. Their success in recent seasons has been in spite of various stars being absent on international duty. This week, their strength in depth was demonstrated still further when the inexperienced seamer Ben Coad garnered another ten wickets. That’s eighteen already for the Harrogate man, at under 14 apiece.

Edgbaston director of sport Ashley Giles is already talking nervously of “no quick fixes” and “transition period” after Warwickshire suffered their second successive innings reverse. The batsmen were woeful again, especially under floodlights when the cloud cover was particularly heavy. In the second innings, Coad and Willey had them at 7-5, and only Patel’s 49 not out prevented an even greater humiliation. Their bowling has been the county’s strength for quite a while but with Chris Woakes now an established England player, even the attack looks a bit creaky. Most of the side are aged thirty or more and, while experience counts for a lot, some new blood looks essential to achieve a better balance.

At The Oval, 42 year-old Shivnarine Chanderpaul compiled his 74th first-class century, 182, for Lancashire. However, on the fourth day the Surrey pair of Borthwick and Sangakkara put on 256 for the second wicket to save the game. It was also interesting to see Lancashire’s limited-overs spin specialists Parry and Kerrigan working well in harness in the Championship. Surrey now stand top, three points ahead of Hampshire, who had the edge in a draw against champions Middlesex. There were no hundreds, but Roussouw (99) and Carberry (98) came close!

Somerset’s traditional weak start to the season was maintained, beaten by newly-promoted Essex by eight wickets. Wickets fell regularly on the first two days, with Somerset on top after the first innings. However, Neil Wagner’s bowling and Alastair Cook’s decisive 110 combined to wrap up an eight-wicket triumph.

Essex now meet neighbours Middlesex at Lord’s, Somerset travel to Old Trafford, Hampshire host Yorkshire and Warwickshire must turn things around against high-flying Surrey.

In Division Two, it’s very tight at the top. Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Kent each made it two wins out of two, making hay while the sun shone across the land. At Derby, there was a genuine nailbiting finish. After Lancs reject Luis Reece and Billy Godleman struck a Deryshire record 333 for the first wicket, Northants set about the target of 326 in 65 overs. When Richard Levi was thumping boundaries at will, success seemed assured but when he was caught behind on 99 still 50 short, the result was in doubt. In the end, it took a Rory Kleinveldt six to clinch victory off the penultimate ball. After last year’s terrible season, this narrow loss must have been particularly galling. Hopefully they can concentrate on the positives, as they say.

Nottinghamshire rubbed Durham’s noses in the doo-doo at Chester-le-Street. Keaton Jennings (102 not out) ran out of partners in the second outing, leaving Greg Smith and Jake Libby to steer the visitors towards the inevitable win.

Kent were also good travellers, outscoring Sussex at Hove. Sam Northeast returned from injury to thump 173 not out while that man Darren Stevens scored another two 50s and a five-for. Like Chanderpaul, he proves that 40 is not the age barrier it is often made out to be.

Supporting players Worcestershire and Gloucestershire also recorded 16-point win bonuses. John Hastings and Tom Kohler-Cadmore shone in the former county’s eight-wicket defeat of Glamorgan, who looked completely out of their depth for a second consecutive week. At Bristol, Liam Norwell took ten wickets for 99 runs in the innings drubbing of Leicestershire.

Leicester’s fixture against Glamorgan next weekend is already looking like a battle of the wooden spoon contenders. Meanwhile, the Worcestershire-Northants encounter is the pick of the matches.


Team of the Week:
Reece, Godleman (both Der), Sangakkara (Sur), Northeast (Ken), Chanderpaul (Lan), Eckersley (Lei +), Stevens (Ken), Fletcher (Not) Wagner (Ess), Norwell (Glo), Coad (Yor)

Harris Hurries Middlesex to the Top

Middlesex flew past Durham to take a three-point lead at the top of the County Championship. England reject, Sam Robson, kicked things off nicely with 178, then England never-quite-selected, James Harris, wrapped up the win by plundering nine second innings wickets in a single spell. They didn’t have it all their own way after Chris Rushworth and John Hastings each claimed cheap five-fors, but the Middlesex attack were just too much overall. The leaders now travel to Hove for a top-of-the-table clash with Sussex while Durham host Nottinghamshire.

At the other end of the division, things are already looking grim for Somerset. The arrival of Matthew Maynard was supposed to galvanise a side in transition, but not even skipper Marcus Trescothick could recall a three-match losing streak like this one. Worcestershire should have been easy opponents yet a 178 seventh wicket stand by Ben Cox and Joe Leach followed by a third day skittling for 90 led to a humilating innings defeat at New Road. Tres talked about some ‘soul-searching’ and that’s putting it mildly!

In Division Two, a rare win for Gloucestershire elevated them to the dizzy heights of fourth after defeating Essex inside three days. Medium pacer Liam Norwell took ten wickets as the home side’s unfamiliar Eleven succumbed rather tamely. Lancashire extended their lead at the summit with their draw against closest rivals Northamptonshire. As in other parts of the country, rain affected the result, so all Northants could do on the final day was dig in and improve their batting averages. Ashwell Prince’s 153 was in vain, but it was the home team’s number eight, Steven Crook who top-scored in the whole match, adding an unbeaten 102 to his earlier 91.

Leicestershire must have enjoyed their first innings lead over Kent at Canterbury, but nerves must have been shredded as Rob Key’s men homed in on the 315 target. Daniel Bell-Drummond reached three figures but far too slowly, and with the dangerous Darren Stevens dismissed for 34, Kent finished 42 runs short. Only 155 overs were possible at Cardiff. The game was notable only for Scott Elstone’s maiden first-class century for Derbyshire.

All in all, it was a week for seam bowlers rather than spin or the bat. For my team of the week, the batsmen almost picked themselves but some good performers like Worcestershire’s young duo Joe Leach and Charlie Morris narrowly missed out. Here’s my XI:-
Robson (Mid), Peters (Nor), Cosgrove (Lei, *), Elstone (Der), Prince (Lan), Cox (Wor, +), Crook (Nor), McKay (Lei), Harris (Mid), Hastings (Dur), Norwell (Glo)