County Cricket: Somerset are Abell but Surrey seem the more willing

Just over ten years ago my blog celebrated the 501-run partnership involving Alviro Petersen and Ashwell Prince in Lancashire’s Championship fixture at Colwyn Bay. There was nothing quite as massive this week, but one of Ian Botham’s records was eclipsed when James Rew and Tom Abell put on a new Somerset fourth-wicket record of 313 at Trent Bridge. All the more remarkable was the fact it followed a devastating opening spell by Muhammad Abbas, and the second-best stand was just 41. It counted for little, because Haseeb Hameed’s 208 anchored a superior Nottinghamshire reply which pretty much guaranteed the draw. 

The stalemate also played into Surrey’s hands. The leaders extended the gap over their nearest rivals to nine points courtesy of a five-wicket defeat of Durham at Chester-le-Street, where runs proved harder to come by. There were no centuries although Emilio Gay was dismissed one short. Ben Raine and Sai Kishore went home with five-fors, but the champs took the sixteen points for the win. 

Yorkshire stole the seaside show at Scarborough, thumping Sussex by an innings and leaping out of the relegation spots. Tons from Lyth and, for the second game in succession, Matt Revis, elevated the home side’s total to an unassailable 545-9 declared. Sussex were always struggling to save the game and, despite dogged late resistance by Hudson-Prentice and Carson, the experienced seamer Matt Milnes sealed the triumph with figures of 5-31. 

Warwickshire are only a point behind Somerset despite a run-heavy draw against Essex at Chelmsford. The hosts dominated the first few days, as Tom Westley, Charlie Allison and Michael Pepper all reached three figures. The Midlanders made a decent fist of their response, led by Ed Barnard and Ethan Bamber’s maiden hundred in his 72^nd first-class match. 

Not for the first time this season, Worcestershire were frustrated on the final afternoon when in sight of a much-needed success. Hampshire set them a challenging target of 358 on the final afternoon and, to skipper D’Oliveira’s credit, they accepted the gauntlet with no little enterprise. Jake Libby carried his bat for a round 100 in the first innings and reached 106 in the second before being bowled by Fuller. The run rate continued at more than six an over, but wickets fell regularly and, at 303-8, time was called with neither side quite doing enough. 

In Division Two, the combination of inclement weather and dominant batsmen prevented a result in three of the four fixtures. The exception occurred at Old Trafford, where Glamorgan cemented their second place by beating Lancashire by 154 runs. Chris Green (6-83) had limited the Welsh county to 261 on day one, but Mason Crane’s six-wicket blitz left Lancashire 124 adrift. Centuries by Kiran Carlson and Sam Northeast consolidated the lead and, despite Luke Wells’ 102, the Red Roses fell way short of the 473 target. 

Leicestershire are still comfortably clear of the rest following a tame draw at Canterbury. Rehan Ahmed scored another century and Tom Scriven’s unlikely 99 advanced the total to 471. However, day three was almost totally washed out, so Kent’s Ben Compton batted virtually to the end, amassing 221. Ahmed was the most successful of the ten bowlers used by ‘keeper-captain Handscomb, who kept his gloves on throughout! 

Northamptonshire had Derbyshire on the back foot for the final few days, courtesy of a 208-run seventh-wicket stand shared by Justin Broad and Rob Keogh. On the fourth day, only rain and Luis Reece’s defiance saved Derby’s bacon. The Cheltenham crowd had little to relish either, especially thse who turned up on Thursday with hope and well-used umbrellas. At least there were excellent innings from the bats of Middlesex’s Kane Williamson (153) and Gloucestershire’s 21-year-old Joe Phillips (136). 

Now comes the interminable hiatus for The Hundred and the neutered Metro One-Day Cup. As ever, I’ll be focussing on the latter, which opens the door for the less-lauded white-ballers to show what they’re made of in fifty-over competition. Glamorgan handed Somerset their traditional runners-up medals last season and must be in with a decent shout this summer, too. 

Team of the Week:- Hameed (Not), Libby (Wor), B Compton (Ken), Westley (Ess), Abell (Som), Carlson (Gla), Rew (Som +), Revis (Yor), Crane (Gla), Milnes (Yor), T Taylor (Wor)

Durham Promotion all but Certain

 After last week’s One-Day Cup exploits, Hampshire and Leicestershire were again on form in the County Championship, although titles look set to elude them, given the similar winning ways of their closest rivals. 

The sensational September heatwave seemed to benefit bowlers rather than batters, so all eight fixtures produced a result. At The Oval, Surrey marched on towards a second successive crown by defeating Warwickshire by an innings and 97 inside three days. Ed Barnard’s excellent 50-over all-round performance continued into the first day here, taking 5-66, but it was all downhill for his county from there. Ben Foakes struck a solid century, before Dan Worrall and Jordan Clark finished things off on the third morning. 

Essex are still pressing in second place, waiting to pounce should Surrey falter. They, too, wrapped up a decisive home victory with a day to spare, taking Middlesex apart by 297 runs. Michael Atherton’s off-spinning son Joshua de Caires claimed an excellent 8-106 for the losing side, but it was Jamie Porter (first-innings 6-34), Simon Harmer (second-innings 5-43) and debutant Umesh Yadav whose figures ultimately impacted the outcome. 

Hampshire were always on top against Somerset, with Liam Dawson striking a century and taking seven wickets. Nick Gubbins’ second-innings 139 not out took the game out of sight on day three. Meanwhile, Lancashire advanced to fourth with a straightforward demolition of bottom side Northamptonshire. Josh Bohannon’s 175 was the top score of the week, then Luke Wells’ part-time leg-spin generated a career-best 5-25. The Red Roses could also leapfrog Hampshire with a win this week but the Pennant won’t be flying above Old Trafford in 2024. 

In Division Two, Durham require just five points from their final two fixtures to confirm promotion. In this week’s encounter with Sussex, opener Alex Lees maintained his run of form with 103, and he was joined in the hundred club by colleagues Graham Clark and Dutch international Bas de Leede. As in the Cup, Leicestershire made short work of Gloucestershire, Wiaan Mulder and Tom Scriven leading the attack. 

Glamorgan’s promotion chances were dealt a severe blow by Worcestershire at New Road. In a low-scoring match, Logan Van Beek starred with the ball, but the Welsh late-developer Jamie McIlroy took 8-75 in total, and the result may have been reversed had Billy Root not run out of partners in the final chase. The sun shine at last on Scarborough, and Yorkshire responded with a resounding rout of Derbyshire. Wayne Madsen was dismissed twice on 93 but Yorkshire’s young Matthew Revis was the only centurion, adding five wickets to cap a fine all-round performance in only the second County Championship success of the season. 

Team of the Week:- Lees (Dur), Gubbins (Ham), Bohannon (Lan), Madsen (Der), Foakes (Sur +), Dawson (Ham), Revis (Yor), Van Beek (Wor), De Caires (Mid), Worrall (Sur), McIlroy (Gla)