Run Sprees All Around the Counties

As last week, it wasn’t much fun being a bowler in the County Championship. With Monday’s rain causing early abandonments and batters helping themselves to huge scores, every single fixture ended as a draw, although there was one exciting finish to warm the cockles on a cold afternoon. 

At the Oval, Surrey led at the halfway stage, with Dom Sibley equalling Tom Lammonby’s score of exactly 100. On the final day, Somerset’s captain Lewis Gregory, Kasey Aldridge and Craig Overton dug deep to extend their lead and reduce Surrey’s chance of a victory charge. However, that is what they did face. Despite needing 209 in only 19 overs, the champions decided to go for it, T20 style. Jamie Smith and Dan Lawrence made the perfect start but once Smith swiped to the hands of Renshaw at long on, wickets tumbled and the run chase was aborted. 

Essex looked likely to notch a second successive victory at Chelmsford, only for the weather to close in with just three Kent wickets remaining. The visitors, along with many older cricket fans (like me), must have been mourning the death of the incomparable Kent and England spinner, Derek Underwood. However, even ‘Deadly Derek’ would have struggled for wickets this week. Dean Elgar (120) and Matt Critchley (151 not out) helped Essex reach 530-7 declared, after which they were always in the driving seat, despite centuries by Compton and Bell-Drummond. A whizz-bang unbeaten 116 by ex-Kent player Jordan Cox left Kent with a mountain to climb. Finally, 18 year-old Jayden Denly and his Uncle Joe rescued the situation before the clouds intervened. 

Edgbaston saw a crazy day and a half, in which the Warwickshire top three made hay. At one stage, they were 590-1 and who knows what records could fall? They were scoring on excess of five an over, too, with Alex Davies (256) trumping colleagues Rob Yates and Will Rhodes who each passed 170, too. Durham’s reply was none too shabby yet they still had to follow on, and the strange nature of the game was demonstrated by nightwatchman Matthew Potts top-scoring in the second innings with an unbeaten 149! 

There was only one centurion at Trent Bridge, namely Joe Clarke, who later fell second ball as Worcestershire briefly threatened, especially when Kiwi quick Nathan Smith had ball in hand. However, a draw ensued, as it did at the Rose Bowl, where the fourth day was washed out. Lancashire’s Keaton Jennings (172) starred, but poor George Bell was run out on 99. Ouch! 

The runs also flowed fast in Division Two, with three double-centuries and a few near-misses. At Grace Road, Sussex plundered a record 698-9 declared before gales and showers killed off any chance of them bowling out Leicestershire twice. The Kookaburra ball was in part blamed by Leicester coach Alfonso Thomas for the Sussex total, which showed a wee bit of disrespect towards John Simpson (205 not out) and Danny Lamb (a rapid 134), who each achieved lifetime bests. 

Pity the bowlers, too, at Northampton, where 1105 runs were scored for just eight wickets in three days. Emilio Gay racked up 261 for the home county, before Max Holden (211 not out) and Leus du Plooy (196 not out) tool their third wicket partnership to 350 before umpires were forced to call a halt. It was also a shame that Gloucestershire’s encounter with Yorkshire was abandoned with the result very much in the balance. England duo Joe Root and Harry Brook each passed fifty, but Shan Masood and Adam Lyth reached three figures apiece, setting Gloucester an unlikely target of 498. It was to their credit that they reached 405-6, with Charlesworth and van Buuren well in. They never got the chance to complete the task, although Coad and co may well have taken those remaining four wickets. 

Cardiff saw play in all four days, although Glamorgan and Derbyshire traded blows with little chance of a positive result. In the second innings, Luis Reece and Brooke Guest ensured there would be no Welsh success but they had spinner Alex Thomson to thank for keeping them in the game. He claimed twelve wickets, including a career-best 7-65 on the first day. 

Leicestershire will be his opposition next week, while Middlesex v Yorkshire looks tasty, especially as the weather looks set to improve. In Division One, Essex will aim to press home their good opening form against Lancashire, Surrey visit Kent, and Warwickshire face more batting practice against Hampshire. 

Team of the Week:-  Yates (War), A Davies (War), Gay (Nor), Holden (Mid), Du Plooy (Mid), Simpson (Sus), Bracey (Glo +), Critchley (Ess), C Steel (Sur), Aldridge (Som), Thomson (Der)

Somerset's Record-breaking Blast

I wouldn’t normally go overboard on Twenty20 but after Somerset converted a Finals Day appearance into the Blast trophy for the first time since 2007, I am willing to set aside my contempt for the format and celebrate my county’s success. The other three counties at Edgbaston last weekend had all proved troublesome in recent years, not only in the Blast but also in the all-important Championship, so it was especially cheering to clinch the title by defeating both Surrey and Essex. Indeed, they did so by bowling both of them out. 

James Vince may have topped the runs table but nobody took more wickets than seamers Matt Henry and Ben Green and Craig Overton’s twenty catches in the outfield set a new record. Somerset also surpassed the tournament record of victories, losing just two out of sixteen matches. While the bowlers clearly did their job, the strategy of frontloading the batting order with white-ball specialists Banton and Smeed, plus new recruit, Tom Kohler-Cadmore. 

Unfortunately, the elusive Championship pennant is already out of reach in 2023. That familiar trio of Surrey Essex and Hampshire all won their four-day fixtures this week to occupy the leading places in Division One, with only Warwickshire preventing Somerset joining the top four as in the Blast semis. With rain forecast for the fourth day, a good deal of accelerated scoring was required to secure the sixteen points for winning.

 At Chelmsford, Essex needed only thirty to beat Kent, but needed to embark on a three-over thrash to beat the weather, too. Three wickets tumbled, and Matt Critchley followed his first-innings century with a first-ball duck but Paul Walter was there to reach the target. Surrey also had an easy ride against neighbours Middlesex. Sean Abbott and Jamie Smith starred with seven wickets and a century, respectively. 

Somerset’s fine week was completed by a straightforward nine-wicket triumph at Northampton. Their first-choice seam attack of Henry, Overton, Aldridge and Gregory were utterly dominant against the bottom side. At Trent Bridge, fifteen wickets crumbled on the first day, before Ian Holland, Liam Dawson and James Fuller set the scene for a likely third-day denouement. Tom Moores’ 81 merely delayed the inevitable as Fuller’s 4-59 and Mohammad Abbas’ 3-48 wrapped up victory by 116 runs. The Birmingham rain prevented a positive result, although Lancashire’s George Balderson struck his maiden ton. 

In Division Two, three of the four fixtures were draw, including runaway leaders Durham’s run-fest against Derbyshire. The home team’s wicketkeeper, Brooke Guest, enjoyed a career-best 197 but the in-form Alex Lees and David Bedingfield more than compensated with hundreds of their own. Lees’ old opening partner at Yorkshire, Adam Lyth also reached three figures at Headingley against Sussex. White Rose paceman Ben Coad was as economical as ever. For someone with a career average under 20, it is remarkable that he hasn’t really entered the England conversation. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t have the all-out pace of a Tongue or Potts. The Cheltenham crowd were frustrated by a lack of action, as Gloucestershire and Glamorgan played out what was essentially a single-innings draw. 

The only win came at Oakham where Worcestershire had the better of a low-scoring encounter with Leicestershire. Forty wickets fell in just over two days, with Josh Tongue and Dillon Pennington making the difference between the counties. 

In the last round of matches before the One-Day Cup and Horrible Hundred take over for the school holidays, Division One sees those four southern stars paired off again. The Blast semi-finals are replicated with the red ball – Hampshire v Essex and Somerset v Surrey – which will have a major bearing of where the pennant is heading in September. 

Team of the Week:- Holland (Ham), Lees (Dur), J Smith (Sur), Bedingham (Dur), Guest (Der +), Critchley (Ess), Balderson (Lan), S Abbott (Sur), C Overton (Som), Henry (Som), Pennington (Wor)

Surrey March On

While Australia were warming up for the Ashes with a comprehensive defeat of India to clinch the World Test Championship, Surrey were sweeping all before them in both the Blast and County Championship. Hot sun blazed upon most pitches last week and the champions’ batsmen responded with some fiery strokeplay. In T20, they racked up 258-6 against Sussex and 236-2 in Glamorgan, with Laurie Evans scoring a total of 211. He doesn’t play the four-day stuff much these days but Surrey nonetheless boast a formidable line-up. At Canterbury, an upset looked on the cards as Kent set them 501 to win. Such is Surrey’s form, it was never really in doubt. Dom Sibley (140 not out) anchored, Jamie Smith (114 in 77 balls) smashed and Ben Foakes steered their serene course to victory and a 31-point lead in Division One. 

It was a mixed week for Somerset. Hampshire handed them a first defeat in the Blast after throwing away a winning position in the final overs before taking it out on Gloucestershire. Sadly, in red-ball cricket it was the same old story. Essex dominated at Chelmsford, where Alastair Cook and all-rounder Matt Critchley provided the runs, Porter and Harmer most of the wickets. 

At Trent Bridge, Warwickshire enforced the follow-on, emboldened by a 416-run lead, only for Nottinghamshire’s Joe Clarke to remember how to build an innings. His first Championship century was a double. At Southport, Lancashire also established a solid first-innings advantage over Hampshire, despite Felix Organ’s 6-67. A Gubbins-Vince rally made the home team bat again, only for Dane Vilas to guide them to the sixteen points. 

In the second tier, Yorkshire finally opened their account by defeating Derbyshire by three wickets at Chesterfield. On the first morning, the home county were mauled by Fisher and Coad, slipping to 15-4 and only just reaching three figures by the end of the innings. Second time around, a slaughter looked certain as they plunged to 17-4. This time, the rest of the side didn’t go down s easily. Captain Leus du Plooy and Haider Ali shared a stand of 277 and Yorkshire’s victory charge looked decidedly ropey. In the end it was Yorkshire’s own captain Shan Masood who grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck with an unbeaten 95. 

Leicestershire came away from Gloucestershire with a valuable 5-wicket triumph. Colin Ackermann and Rehan Ahmed had to step on the gas to reach the 215 target before time ran out. There were runs galore at Chester-le-Street where Durham and Glamorgan traded centuries en route for a draw. Kiran Carlson stroked 162 for the Welsh, then Bedingham (151) and Robinson (102) helped Durham to a mighty 630, leaving Chris Cooke (134 not out) and Van Gugten (55 not out) to see the side to stumps. 

The most exciting conclusion was witnessed at Hove, where Sussex and Worcestershire slugged it out to the bitter end. Worcester opener Jake Libby was in imperious form, hitting 198 and 97, but Sussex’s Carson, Haines and Alsop set their opponents a formidable target of 386 in 79 overs. At 317-3, it looked gettable and, even after Azhar Ali fell for a well-paced ton, Worcester required only eight off Nathan McAndrew’s final over. Remarkably, he conceded just three, Leach swinging and missing for the six needed off the final delivery. The draw meant it was Sussex who sit in second place behind Durham. 

Back to the Blast for the next few weeks…. 

Team of the Week:- Libby (Wor), Evans (Sur), Clarke (Not), Bedingham (Dur), Carlson (Glam), Du Plooy (Der), Foakes (Sur +), Critchley (Ess), Fisher (Yor), Porter (Ess), Cook (Ess)

County Cricket: Bears Blast Off

While England’s Test squad signed off from their counties, including virtually any seam bowler able to run unaided, we experienced the first week of Twenty20 in 2022. With most sides completing three fixtures, Birmingham Bears, Middlesex and – after I confidently ruled them out of any success – Somerset so far boast a 100% record. 

In the North division, the Birmingham Bears lead the way. Their 125-run demolition of Northants contrasted with a tight three-run margin against Derbyshire. In the former game, Irish opener Paul Stirling slammed 119 off 51 balls, including five consecutive sixes from James Sales. Surprisingly it was only his second T20 century in his long career. 

Yorkshire’s Harry Brook, having earned an international call-up after a stellar start to the Championship, proved he can score runs with the white ball, too. His 48-ball 72 at Old Trafford looked to have steered the White Roses to a last-gasp victory over the Reds only for Richard Gleeson to trap him LBW with the very last ball for an unlikely tie. In a fruitful week, Gleeson also took 5-33 against Worcestershire, while globe-trotting all-rounder Liam Livingstone contributed in all three Lancashire matches. 

The highest team score of the week was Northamptonshire’s 223-4 against Durham. Australian Chris Lynn marked his Steelbacks Blast debut with a 46-ball 83, sharing a rapid opening stand of 149 with Ben Curran. Durham’s Ben Raine suffered the ignominy of being forced out of the attack as punishment for bowling three deliveries over shoulder height. Harsh but fair…. 

In the South, Somerset established a super start, including two crushing defeats of Hampshire and Kent. The latter, champions in 2021, lost all three contests this week, despite the efforts of skipper Sam Billings. Somerset’s most successful performers were batter Riley Roussouw and pace bowler Josh Davey. Middlesex also have an unblemished record, with Max Holden and Toby Roland-Jones in consistently fine form. 

Essex haven’t enjoyed the best of weeks, but special credit should go to Matt Critchley. Transferred from Derbyshire in the close season, the 25 year-old leg-spinner demonstrated again why he is such a dangerous all-rounder in this form of cricket. Michael Hogan is much, much older and not normally associated with the Blast, but the Glamorgan seamer turned in the best bowling analysis of the past seven days. A shame that his 5-18 wasn’t quite enough to deny Surrey victory. The two players now meet on Thursday. 

Team of the Week: Stirling (War/Bears), M Rizwan (Sus +), Holden (Mid), Rossouw (Som), Brook (Yor), Livingstone (Lan), Critchley (Ess), Roland-Jones (Mid), Gleeson (Lan), Hogan (Gla), Davey (Som)

County Cricket Stars of 2021

First of all, I have to say it was great to see a full cricket season again, even if the ongoing pandemic entailed crowd restrictions early on. It was probably too full, thanks to the ECB’s insistence in launching their pointless, ego-boosting city franchise format The Hundred to create a chaotic summer of four domestic competitions, plus England’s various international commitments. 

The Hundred was considered a huge success – by those financially or politically involved in it, probably because the BBC was allowed to broadcast some matches live, automatically boosting TV ratings which would have languished in the mere tens of thousands on the usual Sky channels surrounded by Extreme Tiddlywinks and World Husky Racing. Who won The Hundred? I don’t care. I believe the Pom Bears won the Men’s version and KP Nuts the women. My only regret about ignoring the new summer holiday tourney is that I neglected the women’s cricket at a time when it enjoyed the rare privilege of taking equal billing, and money, which is huge progress. 

So what else happened? There was Devon Conway’s 200 on debut for New Zealand, Joe Root’s prolific scoring against India, for whom they sported a rare world-class seam attack, and then that dreadfully disappointing cancellation/postponement of the Test series decider in case it interfered with IPL commitments – sorry, I meant to write ‘because of a few positive Covid cases in the visitors’ squad’. 

On the domestic scene, Somerset were utterly dominant in the first phase of the County Championship, then completely useless for the September climax. Warwickshire nicked it on the very last day. Kent won the T20 Blast, leaving Somerset with a customary runner-up badge, while Glamorgan somehow fielded a balanced side capable of capturing the One-Day Cup. It was missing many established stars raking in the Hundred cash but did introduce me to a raft of new names, including Tim David (Surrey), Feroze Khushi (Essex), Joe Cooke (Glamorgan’s top wicket-taker) and Lancashire’s Jack Morley, who could well break into the big time next season. 

So who makes my end-of-season County Team of the Year? As ever it spans all three county formats so probably wouldn’t be a world-beater in any one of them. Apart from one or two shoo-ins, I found it harder than usual. However, based on the stats and appearances in my weekly XIs, here are my selections. 

Openers:

Sussex’s Tom Haines was the top scorer with the red ball, while Warwickshire’s Rob Yates finished the season strongly. Mark Stoneman struggled with Surrey but, after crossing the Thames to Middlesex and making a ‘pair’ on his debut, he rediscovered some first-class form. Alex Lees and Graham Clark were prolific together in the Royal London Cup and Haseeb Hameed showed enough in a couple of Nottinghamshire games to earn an unexpected England recall. However, I’ve plumped for Worcestershire’s Jake Libby, also my choice in 2020, who aggregated more runs (1,629) than anybody, and Northamptonshire’s Ricardo Vasconselos who showed commendable consistency with red and white balls and can also keep wicket if required. 

Middle-order:

Like Stoneman, Hashim Amla suffered a few ducks but when he reached three figures he tended to go big. Another Surrey player, Ollie Pope also seemed to relish batting at The Oval, striking two double-hundreds. His 274 against Glamorgan in the season finale was the highest Championship innings of 2021 but even I might have hung around (for 0) on that batsman’s paradise! Ben Brown of Sussex batted well without the responsibility of keeping wicket, while Lancashire’s Josh Bohannon averaged over 50 and both Essex skipper Tom Westley and the ever-dependable Sam Hain also came into the equation. David Bedingham was a new name to me but the 27 year-old South African made a huge impact for Durham. As well as passing 1000 Championship runs at more than 60, his 50-over strike rate was a massive 140. Lewis Hill had what must have been his best season yet for Leicestershire and young Cardiffian Kiran Carlson showed his more senior colleagues how to make runs on sometimes difficult wickets. 

All-Rounders:

Aged 25, Worcestershire’s Ed Barnard has already taken more than 200 first-class wickets but in 2021 he seemed to transform into a batting, not bowling all-rounder, averaging 50 and 42, respectively. It wouldn’t be an annual review without mentioning Darren Stevens. Even at 45, he snared 39 Championship wickets at only 18.58 while two explosive innings for Kent made the headlines. His semi-final blitz was instrumental in the Spitfires going on to win the T20 Blast and in May he smashed 15 sixes and 15 fours out of 190 in a rain-hit game against Glamorgan. This was very nearly more than anyone else managed in the same match – combined! Nevertheless I have plumped for Derbyshire’s Matt Critchley. As a leg-spinner he ought to be a valuable T20 performer but 2021 was his breakthrough season with a bat. He passed fifty nine times and was one of only five players to reach the 1,000-run milestone in the Championship. 

Wicket-keeper:

Lots of candidates for this one, and it was too close to call. Ollie Robinson, Harry Swindells, James Bracey (now an improbable England international), John Simpson, the very inconsistent Glamorgan batsman and skipper Chris Cooke and Notts gloveman Tom Moores all pushed hard but Michael Burgess  of champions Warwickshire edged it for his ability in all three formats. 

Bowlers:- 

Before England came a-calling, Craig Overton and Ollie Robinson were in fine fettle. Redoubtable fellow seamers Chris Rushworth and 40 year-olds Tim Murtagh and Michael Hogan continued to serve their counties with distinction. Even in the RL Cup, the latter conceded fewer than three an over, strangling the opposition on Glamorgan’s march towards success. Tom Bailey carried much of the Lancashire attack while South African Dane Paterson also claimed more than 50 first-class wickets at under 20 apiece. Sam Cook finished very strongly for Essex, his 10-41 aggregate against Northants leaving his season average below 15. Jimmy Anderson took 7-19 in a rare outing for Lancashire and Liam Norwell took his opportunities well as Warwickshire closed in on the title but it was Nottinghamshire’s giant Luke Fletcher who easily topped the Championship wicket table with 66. He was on fire in May.

The Parkinson spin twins enjoyed solid summers, Leicestershire’s Callum beating Matt in the wicket department, but yet again it was Essex’s Simon Harmer who was the domestic game’s outstanding versatile bowler. He was amongst the most prolific in all three competitions, totalling 90. His career tally is now pushing 900 and who would bet against him passing the 1000 mark by the close of 2022? 

To summarise, my County Eleven of 2021 is as follows:- 

Libby (Wor), Vasconselos (Nor), Bedingham (Dur), Hill (Lei), Carlson (Gla), Critchley (Der), Burgess (War), Harmer (Ess), Fletcher (Not), S Cook (Ess), Rushworth. 12^th man: Stevens (Ken)

Lucky 13 for Robinson and Pope blessed at The Oval

 The sun shone all week and, unless you actually stood on a cricket field in the chill morning air, you could be forgiven for believing it was August. The Surrey batsmen certainly made hay in the sunshine. Ollie Pope led the way with a stirring 245 but even a first innings total of 672-8 declared was insufficient to win the match. On day 4, Leicestershire opener Hassan Azad withstood everything the home side could throw at him, ending the day unbeaten on 144 to secure the draw. 

Meanwhile, Hampshire and Gloucestershire maintained their 100% records in this year’s Championship Group 2. Over three innings, Hampshire and Middlesex were even-stevens but it’s a game of four, and on the second day the visitors were skittled for a mere 79, Mohammad Abbas taking 6-11. Ian Holland and Sam Northeast racked up the runs, too. Gloucestershire sit just two points behind having beaten Somerset at Taunton for the first time this millennium. Wicketkeeper James Bracey followed his day two 118 with an assured 83 not out to see his side home by eight wickets. 

In Group 1, champions Essex were unusually under the cosh at home to Durham, for whom Brydon Carse claimed eight wickets. However, perennial winner Simon Harmer achieved his second five-for to edge the contest by 44 runs. Warwickshire returned from Trent Bridge with a three-wicket victory despite losing Dom Sibley to injury early on. Instead it was a rearguard effort by veteran Tim Bresnan which won them the extra sixteen points. 

Derbyshire’s all-rounder Matt Critchley produced another superb performance, comprising 193 runs and eight wickets and Harvey Hosein aggregated 138 runs without being dismissed, but Ben Cox’s 60 not out was critical in Worcestershire avoiding defeat on the final afternoon. 

In Group 3, I feel sorry for Glamorgan’s Kiran Carlsen. He struck a century in each innings at Cardiff yet managed to finish on the losing side. All Sussex batsmen chipped in, Van Zyl top-scoring with 113, but Ollie Robinson plugged away for 9-78 to accompany his first day 4-50 and even a half-century to boost his bid for an England place this summer. Meanwhile the national captain Joe Root scored a rare Championship century at Canterbury, Adam Lyth maintained excellent April form and David Willey took 5-61 to see off Kent. 

Next week, the leading pairs in Groups 1 and 2 face each other. Warwickshire entertain Essex while Gloucestershire travel to Southampton where Hampshire are looking particularly strong right now. The leading Group 3 encounter could be Sussex at home to Yorkshire but at this stage there’s plenty for all to play for. 

Team of the Week: Lyth (Yor), Hassan Azad (Lei), Holland (Ham), Pope (Sur), Carlsen (Gla), Bracey (Glo, +), Critchley (Der), Harmer (Ess), Carse (Dur), Mohammad Abbas (Ham), Robinson (Sus)

Moeen rockets Rapids to Finals Day

After the exciting climax to the Third Ashes Test match, it is perhaps a little ironic that the format designed to serve up thrilling games inside three hours should produce mostly one-sided quarter-finals in the Blast.

North group winners Lancashire were denied their home advantage by the primacy of the Ashes. Instead of Old Trafford or the floodlight-less Liverpool, they were forced to play Essex the other side of the Pennines at Chester-le-Street. Mind you, I think that T20 is such a lottery that it removes much advantage of batting on a familiar track, and two of the other three fixtures were won by the visiting county.

Lancashire’s innings was anchored by Alex Davies, who was still there at the end of their innings on 80. Essex’s target of 160 was far from straightforward and it required Ten Doeschate and Bopara to raise their strike rate considerably in the last five overs. The experienced duo succeeded, as Vilas  switched his seven bowlers in desperation. The ex-England man rounded off an excellent all-round performance with 2-28 and an 18-ball 39.

On Wednesday evening, another rapid fifty by Eoin Morgan proved in vain. The Trent Bridge faithful were treated to a fine display of hitting as Middlesex failed to capture a single wicket, dropping three catches along the way. Chris Nash made his first Blast outing of the season, showing Joe Clarke how ‘tis done, striking twos and fours with pleasing regularity. At the other end Alex Hales heaved seven balls into the crowd, the last of them bringing up the ten-wicket victory in the seventeenth over.

The third quarter-final was hosted by Hove but, facing Worcestershire, South table-toppers Sussex were undone first by the crucial bowling of Ed Barnard then the brilliant batting of Moeen Ali. He thumped an awe-inspiring career-best 121 not out to follow a mean 1-21 bowling spell.

In contrast, runs were in short supply at Bristol where Derbyshire restricted Gloucestershire to only 135-7. Four bowlers conceded fewer than seven an over with off-spinner Matt Critchley perhaps the pick of the pack. The county duly booked their first Finals Day trip thanks largely to Wayne Madsen keeping the scoreboard ticking merrily for 47 until he became Tye’s second victim. Too little, too late, and captain Godleman and coach Dominic Cork could celebrate the achievement. They may not have the dosh or the big names of their opponents but underestimate Derbyshire in T20 at your peril.

Last weekend, the women had their own Finals Day in Sussex. The last KSL action before it’s ditched for the horrible Hundred saw the Southern Vipers overpower Loughborough Lightning with an over to spare in the semi. Western Storm have bossed the group stages with nine wins out of ten, and they duly made it a double-figure tally in a six-wicket triumph. Competition top scorer Dani Wyatt had given the Vipers an excellent start but England skipper Heather Knight (78 not out) and Deepti Sharma (39 off 22 deliveries) saw the hot favourites home. After the England women suffered such a drubbing in their own Ashes, Knight could final lift a trophy. We’ll know shortly whether Joe Root could do the same.

Team of the Week: Davies (Lan), Moeen Ali (Wor), Hales (Not), Wyatt (Vip), Knight (WS), Bopara (Ess), Cox (Wor +), Barnard (Wor), Critchley (Der), Hudson-Prentice (Der), Carter (Not)

Pietersen 355 not out - but Out!

No doubt about the English performance of the week… Andrew Strauss explaining the breakdown of trust with a certain Kevin Pietersen. On the pitch, KP’s perfect timing was again evident as he conjured up an amazing 355 not out for Surrey, including fifteen sixes. If he wanted to be considered for England Test selection, he was told to score runs. After two so-so matches, he plundered the Leicestershire bowlers, surviving six dropped catches en route for the Championship’s highest score since Brian Lara’s world record 21 years ago.

However, the incoming director of cricket, and KP’s former England captain, was in no mood to forgive the man who did his best to disrupt the national team then slag off all and sundry in his bitter book. The huge innings was in vain and Pietersen’s reaction was typical of the petty childish egotism we have come to expect: he abandoned Surrey before the match was over and buggered off to the IPL. And good riddance. I do see the point of Vaughan and others who would happily ignore every other player and pick KP regardless. He is indeed a ‘character’ and exciting batsman, and maybe there could be space for him in the T20 squad to generate fan excitement. But to forgive such behaviour would be too much. It’s just the way it ended that will add grist to the mill of the KP nuts.

At least his innings set up his county’s first Championship victory of the summer. However, his now ex-teammates had plenty to do on the last day. Ned Eckersley’s hundred and spirited resistance from the Leicester XI meant that Surrey needed a T20-style slogathon to take maximum points. With Jason Roy and Steven Davies opening, that’s exactly what they got, Their 145 partnership in 67 balls took them towards a surprise seven-wicket success, an heartbreak for poor Leicester.
Meanwhile, in Division One, Middlesex held on to the lead by defeating early front-runners Sussex by 79 runs. In a low-scoring contest, Mike Yardy scored the only half-century, and even that was eclipsed by the 62 extras conceded by the Sussex bowlers on day one!

Durham also won inside three days, overcoming Nottinghamshire by six wickets and advancing to second place in the table. Recent ODI debutant Mark Wood claimed seven victims and struck 66, but the losers’ Riki Wessels provided the game’s only century. Yorkshire could at last field their England fringe squad members for the visit of Hampshire to Headingley. Bairstow and Adil Rashid performed well and, with Pujara purring to a second innings 131 not out, Root and Ballance weren’t missed. Hampshire capitulated second time around but at least the match went into a fourth day.

In Division Two, Lancashire remain in pole position despite losing to unfancied Gloucestershire by 91 runs. Paul Horton’s first-innings 168 had kept the match evenly poised but bowlers Norwell, Payne and Miles held sway when it mattered.

The other two fixtures were drawn but provided some fabulously exciting finishes in which the sides batting last held on with just one wicket remaining. Aged 18, Matt Critchley made the headlines early on by striking his maiden first-class century in only his second game. However, Rob Keogh admirably guided Northants through an absorbing final day, He finished unbeaten on 163, not only saving the match but taking his side within only 37 runs of victory.

It was similarly tense at Canterbury where Glamorgan’s final pairing of David Lloyd and Michael Hogan held on for eight overs to deprive Kent of a first win of the season. This was the Welsh side’s fourth consecutive draw and the result leaves Kent stuck at the bottom.

Team of the Week (assuming the other ten are prepared to play with KP):
Horton (Lan), Davies (Sur), Eckersley (Lei), Pietersen (Sur), Keogh (Nth), Wood (Dur), Bairstow (Yor +), Critchley (Dur), Siddle (Lan), Brooks (Yor), Hogan (Gla)