County Cricket: Somerset and Middlesex fight back to win

Since the Tom Banton show a month ago, Somerset’s batting has deteriorated steadily and, after three days against Essex at Taunton, another defeat looked probable. It wasn’t a slaughter. Jack Leach’s mean spin and Migael Pretorius took advantage of Jordan Cox’s injury having scored 103, to induce an Essex second-innings collapse. However, at 78-5, Somerset were still 243 adrift. Luckily for them, Gregory and Overton each passed fifty and James Rew (116) became the youngest batsman to reach ten first-class hundreds since Denis Compton! More importantly, Somerset notched their first victory of the campaign and beating recent close rivals Essex made it even sweeter. 

Warwickshire advanced to second place behind Notts by defeating Yorkshire by five wickets at Headingley. It was a close encounter but, despite the home side boasting a middle-order line-up reading Root, Brook and Bairstow, it was Warwickshire’s new recruit Ethan Bamber and Ed Barnard who stole the show with the ball. 

In the other Division One fixture, superior batting and final day rain ensured Hampshire and Durham finished with honours even. Graham Clark’s 160 for the latter was countered by Hamp[shire skipper Ben Brown’s 162, while only Matthew Potts of the bowlers emerged with half-decent figures (4-84). 

The Championship’s lower rung is headed by perennial strugglers Leicestershire and Derbyshire, which is promising for an interesting four-day cricketing summer. At Leicester, Rishi Patel’s opening 105 was by far the highest individual score, then the bowlers scrapped for supremacy. For Northamptonshire, Ben Sanderson and Harry Conway garnered seventeen wickets between them, but Leicester’s attack was more democratic, although Ben Green was again on song with an overall 5-46 and 71 valuable runs. 

The tightest finish of the week was fought at Lord’s. Toby Roland-Jones (5-29) reduced Kent to 129 all out, then Middlesex opened up a 109-run lead. Kent responded magnificently, captain Daniel Bell-Drummond leading from the front by plundering 223, giving Middlesex a formidable target of 365. That they succeeded was largely due to Luke Hollman’s maiden century and some solid tail-end defiance, resulting in an exciting win by just two wickets. 

The other double-century of the week flowed from the bat of Gloucestershire’s Oliver Price at Old Trafford. Lancashire had started well, compiling 450, featuring 167 from Marcus Harris and a 212-run stand with Matty Hurst. However, Gloucestershire dashed any hopes of a home victory thanks primarily to Price’s unbeaten 253, eventually declaring on 589-8. Second time out, Lancashire wickets fell steadily, the ball usually ending in the hands of Bancroft and ‘keeper Bracey, but the draw was inevitable. 

Amongst the Aussies descending upon the county circuit for practice before the World Test Championship Final, Marcus Labuschagne will be welcomed with open arms by Glamorgan, who remain bottom of the pile. Nonetheless, the county did exceed 400 in their first innings at Cardiff, Colin Ingram top-scoring with 81. Derbyshire were not far behind but only just managed to avoid losing, as a Ben Kellaway five-for swing things back Glamorgan’s way. The injured Luis Reece was forced to don his pads to help number eleven Blair Tickner cling on for the last few overs and save a game they had that morning looked like winning. 

Derbyshire travel next to Manchester, while leaders Leicestershire head south to meet Middlesex. In Division One, the top four play each other. Warwickshire host Surrey and Nottinghamshire welcome Hampshire. Worcestershire will be hoping to make rare runs at Hove if they have any hope of attaining a first triumph of 2025.

Team of the Week:-  Patel (Lei), Bell-Drummond (Ken), M Harris (Lan), Hollman (Mid), O Price (Glo), Rew (Som +), Barnard (War), Green (Lei), Bamber (War), Sanderson (Nor), Conway (Nor)

One-Day Cup: Dawson Drives Hampshire into Final

 In the final group fixtures of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, Leicestershire and Warwickshire held their ground at the top of their respective groups, thus by-passing the quarter-finals. Those four places were taken by Hampshire, Lancashire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, each of whom won their last three matches. 

Warwickshire were involved in a couple of nervy finales, both decided by a single run or wicket. They held off Sussex but succumbed to Durham in a game featuring two enormous innings, David Bedingham’s 152 and Ed Barnard’s 161. The latter also reached three figures in the Sussex encounter, although it was Danny Briggs whose boundary got Warwickshire over the line with an over to spare. 

Somerset’s miserable competition was brightened by Andrew Umeed’s brilliant batting. The Glaswegian capped an excellent month with an unbeaten 172, a third century in five outings, ensuring no Group B wooden spoon. At the other end of the table, Gloucestershire’s Oliver Price was almost as prolific as Umeed and Barnard. In Group A, Aneurin Donald smashed two rapid tons for Hampshire – one to propel them into the knockouts and the next to dominate Worcester’s attack in their Southampton quarter-final. Ian Holland’s eleven wickets the previous week were even more important to the county’s progress. 

The other quarter-final saw Gloucestershire maintaining their momentum by seeing off Lancashire by eight wickets. On this occasion, Price played a supporting role to Marcus Hammond, who plundered six sixes in an undefeated 109 to reach a modest target with half their overs unused. 

The semis were just as truncated, as Hampshire demolished Warwickshire by nine wickets. Liam Dawson hasn’t played much in this year’s tournament but nobody has bettered his 7-15 at Edgbaston. Keith Barker accounted for the top three batsmen, including Barnard, then it was Dawson’s spin all the way. Opener Fletcha Middleton reached 54 not out as the way side ticked off the 94 required with the sole loss of Nick Gubbins. 

That same Tuesday afternoon at Leicester, it was Gloucestershire’s turn to be routed. Hammond was first out for a seven-ball duck, then Wiaan Mulder and Tom Scriven each picked up three wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 125. Mulder rounded off a match-winning all-round performance, stroking nine fours in tandem with Peter Handscomb in a six-wicket victory. We now have a fortnight to wait for the trophy to be decided at Trent Bridge and now it’s back to the red ball…. 

Team of the Week:- Umeed (Som), Barnard (War), Bedingham (Dur), O Price (Glo), Donald (Ham), Handscomb (Lei +), Mulder (Lei), Holland (Ham), Dawson (Ham), Williams (Lan), Baker (Wor)