Pope Piles on the Runs for Surrey

For the first three days at The Oval, Surrey and Hampshire were neck-and-neck. Mohammad Abbas took 6-64, then Dan Worrall’s riposte was a 5-40. Ben Brown and Ollie Pope swapped scores in the 90s. Then the England batsman suddenly decided to go all Twenty20, clubbed an unbeaten 122 and the champions were home and dry by nine wickets. What was all the fuss about? 

However, Warwickshire hold a three-point advantage in Division One having beaten Kent by an innings and fourteen runs at Edgbaston. Rob Yates and Sam Hain plundered hundreds, then the home seam attack, including new recruit Chris Rushworth and, on a rare outing for his county, Chris Woakes made hay with the ball, despite a brave 99 by Joey Evison. 

At Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire outclassed Somerset by 165 runs. Stuart Broad was in action, but all bar three wickets went to Brett Hutton and Dane Paterson. Without Lewis Gregory’s eleven wickets, the visitors would have been in a right state. Middlesex suffered their second successive defeat, this time at the hands of Northamptonshire. Runs were in very short supply, but Northants’ seamers Sanderson and Tremain were in charge.

 Such were the temperatures at Chelmsford, James Anderson could be forgiven for wearing six sweaters and a Parka, but he still bowled 35 tidy overs for Lancashire. His side accelerated their second innings scoring to set Essex an unlikely target in the final few sessions. 20 year-old Mancunian wicketkeeper George Bell struck two half-centuries and is apparently a useful prospect, although he couldn’t deliver a victory. 

Division Two was a more sparse terrain. The Bristol pitch was so waterlogged that Gloucestershire’s match against Yorkshire was abandoned halfway through without a ball bowled. Durham took full advantage, winning their home fixture against Worcestershire. The latter’s Jack Haynes contributed 174 runs but David Bedingham (118 and 86) and Aussie spinner Matt Kuhnemann (5-53) finished the job with just five overs remaining. Leicestershire head the table but the weather wiped out days two and three, scuppering any chance of a decisive result. Skipper Lewis Hill and Colin Ackermann each made tons, Chris Wright took 4-38 but a draw was inevitable. 

Next week, Worcestershire host Gloucestershire and Durham travel to Glamorgan while in the top division, the leaders sit it out before meeting in a fortnight. 

Team of the Week:-  Yates (War), Sibley (Sur), Bedingham (Dur), Pope (Sur), Haynes (Wor), Bell (Lan +), Gregory (Som), Hutton (Not), Paterson (Not), Worrall (Sur), Kuhnemann (Dur)

Warwickshire County Champions in last-day drama

So, after a Hundred-hampered, two-phase season, the destination of the County Championship fluctuated several times during the final four days before settling on Warwickshire in dramatic style. It was like a typical thriller. Red herrings, plot twists and in the climactic episode it was a peripheral character who dunit.

At the start of the week, Hampshire were in pole position to win the title for the first time since, incredibly, 1973. Beat Lancashire at Liverpool and they’d succeed. However, when they were bowled out for 143 and still ended up with a first-innings lead, it looked like being a lottery. Second time around Tom Bailey (7-37) was in devastating form and only an 80-run stand from James Vince and Liam Dawson prevented an embarrassment. Nonetheless, Lancashire’s target was, in the context of the game, a challenging one. They made a solid start and, with captain Dane Vilas at the crease, were cruising to victory. Suddenly Mason Crane grabbed wickets only for the cool-headed skipper, with one partner left, to strike the winning boundary. Hampshire’s chance had gone. 

Long-time leaders Nottinghamshire were hosting Yorkshire and had been in with a shout themselves. Joe Clarke’s 109 and Joey Evison’s 4-13 gave them hope on day two and, despite Adam Lyth’s robust 153, Ben Slater’s unbeaten 79 ensured Notts won by five wickets. However, Lancashire’s win left them an agonising half a point behind. 

Over to Edgbaston where bowlers were finding life more difficult. Warwickshire were piling on the runs until the returning Craig Overton, unplayable earlier in the summer, put on the brakes with five wickets. Given Somerset’s abysmal record this September, it was therefore amazing that they somehow notched a marginal first-innings lead and on the final morning a draw looked the most likely outcome. The home side promptly went for broke, led by Rob Yates and Will Rhodes, declaring 272 ahead. Could Somerset avoid yet another defeat? Nah. Chris Woakes claimed another three victims, as did Craig Miles so, on the very final afternoon, the Championship belonged to Warwickshire! 

In Division Two, wickets tumbled like the Government’s Brexit restrictions on foreign HGV drivers. Twenty-four fell on day one at Chelmsford and Essex had beaten Northamptonshire by an innings early the next morning. At barely 96 overs in total, it was the shortest ‘four-day’ match in Championship history! Sam Cook’s 10-41 were the most significant stats but I wonder if a points deduction will be imposed, just as it was against Somerset in their decider versus Essex last year. 

Gloucestershire also defeated Durham inside two days. Spinner Zafar Gohar took eleven wickets while all-rounder Graeme van Buuren rounded off a fine season. Nobody won more first-class matches in 2021 than Gloucester but  Essex still finished above them. What a contrast with proceedings at The Oval. Only ten wickets fell in the entire match! Chris Cooke’s 205 not out helped Glamorgan to a mighty 672-6 declared but Surrey’s top order also enjoyed two days of batting practice. Jamie Smith and Hashim Amla helped themselves to hundreds but Ollie Pope went even further. He improved his Oval record by reaching 274 before part-time spinner Hamish Rutherford ripped out his middle stump. At one stage, ‘keeper Cooke swapped places with seamer Michael Hogan to amuse themselves but it couldn’t have been much fun for spectators. In his very last innings, Rikki Clarke was given a guard of honour by the opposition and ended unbeaten on twelve. What a servant to county cricket he has been. 

Talking of brilliant veterans, Darren Stevens took 4-21 and 1-18 in Kent’s two-wicket victory over Middlesex. Very much a game of two halves, the batsmen took charge on the last two days. Mark Stoneman struck 109 for the visitors, then Ollie Robinson (109) and young Zimbabwean refugee Tuwanda Muyeye (89) seemed to be steering the match in Kent’s favour until Murtagh and Roland-Jones intervened. On the fourth morning, with just three men left, Matt Milnes and Grant Stewart saw them home for a fourth successive win. 

Worcestershire advanced to third place with a ten-wicket demolition of Leicestershire. Jake Libby top-scored with 77 and Joe Leach claimed six wickets to triumph with a day to spare. After the remaining fixture at Hove involving the bottom clubs, the wooden spoon was the unwanted property of Sussex who handed Derbyshire their first win of the season. Wayne Madsen struck 111 in the first innings but Ben Brown achieved a valiant 157. On its own this isn’t especially momentous, but no fewer than six team-mates were dismissed for ducks! Matt Critchley mopped up the tail, forcing Sussex to follow on. This time it was Brown who failed to score, but only Rawlins passed 30. An innings defeat was averted but a ten-wicket margin was still pretty decisive. 

The Championship is over for another year but top two counties Lancashire and Warwickshire will meet to decide the Bob Willis Trophy next week. Forecast showers could affect the result but if the pitch is as bowler-friendly as Liverpool or Chelmsford, it could be done and dusted by Wednesday….. 

Team of the Week: Lyth (Yor), Stoneman (Mid), Yates (War), Pope (Sur), Cooke (Gla), Robinson (Ken +), Van Buuren (Glo), Stevens (Ken), Bailey (Lan), Zafar Gohar (Glo), S Cook (Ess)

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)

England's youth selection pays off

It’s a touch over four years since Ben Stokes struck his record-breaking 258 at Newlands. 

Incredibly England almost contrived to lose that Test match, with AB De Villiers and another double-centurion Hashim Amla in fine form. But four years is a long time in international cricket. Stokes has hit the lows and highs and has transformed himself into a national treasure, while both Amla and AB have quit the Test arena.

England are one-day world champions and South Africa are a team in transition. Both are blooding youth, but it’s the tourists who have enjoyed crunching victories in the past few weeks, romping home by an innings at Port Elizabeth. Quinton de Kock and Vernon Phliander were instrumental in guiding the Proteas to an opening triumph straight after Christmas but the tide has turned dramatically.

At Cape Town the older brigade, led by Jimmy Anderson (7-63), Stokes and Denly who performed strongly, although Dom Sibley’s maiden century was crucial. This week, it was Ollie Pope who cemented his place in the side with his own inaugural hundred and the Player of the Match award. Yet none of England’s five under-25s have disgraced themselves. Sam Curran bowled well at times, Zak Crawley played himself in as Burns’ replacement and Dom Bess registered his first five-fer in international cricket. 

It’s kinda strange to think that Pope is only Surrey’s second-best wicketkeeper-batsman (behind Foakes) and last summer Bess struggled to hold down a first XI place at Somerset. Sometimes opportunities creep up on you and are there to be grasped and taking a 2-1 lead in South Africa is a mighty good line on a young player’s CV. With Wood and Stokes steaming in at 90mph, Jofra Archer and Anderson weren’t badly missed and a rare overseas Test series success looks highly probable.

No, the problems stand mainly with SA batting. Six innings completed, no scores of 300. So far the first-innings 284 at Centurion is their peak and De Kock’s 95 that day is the highest individual score. Maharaj’s world record-equalling 28 off Joe Root may have been a thrash in desperation but it speaks volumes that it has been arguably the most compelling piece of batsmanship South Africa have managed in the past month. With Faf du Plessis talking of stepping down, they need to improve. And fast.

What a Wonderful World for Sam Cook and Essex

Thanks to a ridiculous quirk of the domestic season, the counties had to re-adjust to the rigours of four-day cricket amidst a welter of Twenty20 fixtures. Some coped better than others. Kent’s Sam Billings moaned about the “completely brainless” fixture list after his side was bowled out by Essex for a paltry 40 on a third day which saw no fewer than 26 wickets fall at Canterbury. By all accounts it was largely the result of brainless batting on both sides, and it was the 22 year-old Chelmsfordian quick, Sam Cook who benefitted most, taking 12-65 in the match. In what may be his final first-class match, Mohammad Amir chipped in with a further six wickets.

The three-wicket victory kept Essex clear at the top, piling the pressure onto Somerset who faced a tricky 258 target against Warwickshire at Edgbaston. The home side won the early skirmishes, helped by 19 year-old Robert Yates’ maiden century. He also top-scored in the second innings but Abell and Jamie Overton bowled Somerset back into contention. On the final day, Banton and Bartlett each passed 50 to earn Somerset an eighth Championship win which leaves them just two points behind Essex.

At Scarborough, Nottinghamshire lost yet again while Yorkshire’s 143-run success keeps them in the title hunt, albeit needing the top two to falter. Tyke ‘keeper Tattersall’s 92 was the top score, while Surrey’s deputy gloveman Ollie Pope trumped almost everybody this week. His unbeaten 221, allied to a first-innings 7-74 by Rikki Clarke looked likely to overcome Hampshire. However, Liam Dawson’s batting steadied the ship on day four to ensure a draw, redeeming himself after 0-180 bowling figures.

It was also a full programme in Division Two where Lancashire skipped along the North Wales coast to deliver a drubbing to Glamorgan. With their best batsman Labuschagne on duty with Australia, they struggled badly for runs. The visitors’ captain and wicketkeeper Dane Vilas outscored Glamorgan’s first innings total on his own, plundering 266 from only 240 deliveries, including six sixes. Tom Bailey ably led the largely seam attack which took twenty wickets, all of them bowled, LBW or caught behind.

The result saw Glamorgan slipping back into the pack, while another surprise package, Gloucestershire, advanced to second after an eight-wicket victory at Derby. Opener Chris Dent scored heavily, while Ryan Higgins added a century and five-for to his summer’s impressive statistics. Down at Wantage Road, Moeen Ali’s return to the real world netted him 82 runs and three expensive wickets but another Worcestershire defeat, this time by ten wickets to Northamptonshire. Wakeley and Pretorius each stuck centuries and Ben Hutton starred with the ball.

Sussex beat Middlesex handsomely by seven wickets at Hove, their first Championship win since the reverse fixture at the beginning of June. The away team’s batting looked extremely frail, although tailender Tim Murtagh added useful runs to his five cheap wickets. Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson took 8-34 and 6-101, taking his tally past fifty for the season. The remaining fixture saw Durham declare on 544-9 and force Leicestershire to follow-on.at Chester-le-Street. Alex Lees struck 181 and Ben Carse claimed 6-63 before Mark Cosgrove anchored a fightback with 107 not out to avoid defeat.

We now face another three-week burst of Blast before proper cricket action is resumed.

Team of the Week: Lees (Dur), Dent (Glo), Yates (War), Pope (Sur), Vilas (Lan +), Higgins (Glo), Patterson-White (Yor), Bailey (Lan), Cook (Ess), Robinson (Sus), Murtagh (Mid)

Surrey champs but finally beaten

And so the 2018 county season came to an end, heading for a damp squib finale but then rescued by a thrilling conclusion to Surrey’s championship-winning campaign. Like so many matches in this overwhelmingly warm and dry summer, most fixtures failed to reach a fourth day but this week’s exception was a cracker.

At The Oval, I was incredulous as Surrey’s formidable batting line-up was demolished in 27 overs for a mere 67. To top it off, Essex proceeded to rack up an impressive 477-8, thanks largely to centuries by Tom Westley and Simon Harmer. No county had ever overturned a 410 first-innings deficit to win and I naturally assumed the home side were just experiencing the effects of some over-enthusiastic title celebrations. Not a bit of it. Surrey totally dominated day three, Jason Roy and Ollie Pope each reaching three figures as they cruised to 541 all out, the third highest total in Division One all year. Chasing a target of only 132, and with neither Curran brother in action, an Essex victory seemed a formality. However, Morne Morkel and Jade Dernbach had other ideas; Surrey would not surrender their unbeaten status without a battle. Wickets tumbled regularly, but skipper Ryan Ten Doeschate was defiant and, with just one wicket remaining, it was apt that he struck the winning runs off Dernbach.

It made no difference to the Division One standings; Surrey had already clinched the title with ease, much as Essex had done a year ago, but it showed there is also plenty of fight in the four-day format The ECB may have spent a fortune in developing The Hundred but the venerable Championship still has the potential to excite.

Somerset nailed down another runners-up spot, a glorious surprise to me. James Hildreth became only the second man in the top tier to pass 1,000 runs and both Tom Abell and Craig Overton achieved hat-tricks as they flattened Nottinghamshire by an innings.

The only unresolved issue in the competition was who would join Worcestershire through the trapdoor. Nottinghamshire were well beaten with just three bowling bonus points to their name but Lancashire’s latest failure to bag more than two batting points in their eight-wicket victory over Hampshire meant they finished on the same points total, 133. Despite the win, they finished second-bottom because Notts won a game more. This was particularly tough on Tom Bailey, who claimed another eight victims in a highly productive summer. In fact no other Division One team picked up more bowling bonuses, but they just couldn’t press home many advantages earned during the summer. Meanwhile Worcestershire lost for the tenth time, Yorkshire’s Gary Ballance scoring 194 and 60 and the departing Jack Brooks 82 to accompany his seven wickets.

In Division Two, the promoted counties met to decide who finished on top. Kent had been on a charge but it was Warwickshire who triumphed remarkably easily.  He may not have made many runs but Jonathan Trott could retire on a high as Dominic Sibley’s 119, his third century in four Championship innings, laid the foundations for success. Trott’s former England colleague Paul Collingwood also signed off, but his Durham side threw away a sizeable lead against Middlesex. At 37 Tim Murtagh is also knocking on a bit but his seven wickets were crucial in the visitors’ victory.

They finished fourth, pipped by Sussex despite the South Coast side losing to Northamptonshire in two days. Bens Curran and Cotton starred with bat and ball, respectively. Derbyshire opener Luis Reece provided the best bowling figures of the week with his first innings 7-20 but ended on the losing side against Gloucestershire. Craig Miles took 5-50 and 3-46 in his last match for the winners.

In the remaining game, Glamorgan finally remembered how to play first-class cricket, beating Leicestershire at Cardiff. Both sides relied heavily on their tails for runs – a familiar story for the Welsh – but Michael Hogan’s 2-18 and 4-30 were the outstanding bowling stats and Chris Cooke chipped in with 72 runs and five catches. Now all they need to do is fix their top order problems and avoid another wooden spoon.

As for my Championship predictions, I deserve a C+, a great improvement on my usual efforts. Surrey or Essex to win. Yes. Worcestershire and Somerset for relegation: 50%. Kent and Middlesex for promotion: the same. I’ll reveal my County Team of the Year shortly but in the mean-time, here is my final Team of the Week of 2018.

Team of the Week: 

Mitchell (Wor), Reece (Der), Westley (Ess), Ballance (Yor), Pope (Sur), Hildreth (Som), Cooke (Gla +), C Overton (Som), Bailey (Lan), Miles (Glo), Hogan (Gla)

Patel propels Surrey to take their turn at the top

The County Championship leadership seems to be a revolving door this summer. Somerset took over from Nottinghamshire last week but it didn’t last long; they were demolished by an innings at Guildford and Surrey now sit at the summit 13 points clear.

Somerset elected to bowl first and the home side duly made hay. With Ben Foakes away with the Lions, Ollie Pope took the gloves and scored another century. His career is still in its youth but a first-class average above 60 is nevertheless a stat to admire. The total of 459 was large but in theory not unattainable. The practice was different. At 169-4, Somerset were nibbling away despite Rikki Clarke dismissing the top order. Enter Ryan Patel. Half an hour later, Somerset were back in the pavilion and the local lad boasted extraordinary figures of 3.5-2-5-6. He took no wickets in the second innings but the fast men Morkel and Dernbach each claimed four as all but James Hildreth surrendered meekly.

Nottinghamshire rose to second after thumping Essex by 301 runs at Chelmsford. Ross Taylor’s 146 dominated the first day then bowlers Luke Fletcher and Matt Carter put their county even more firmly in control. Notts didn’t enforce the follow-on and set a target which proved way beyond the champions’ capabilities.

At the other end of the table, Worcestershire broke their 2018 duck by outscoring Lancashire. At New Road, after fifteen wickets fell on the first day, it was a story of two openers. Keaton Jennings scored 55 and 177 but he was eclipsed by Daryl Mitchell who delivered a century in each innings. With the ball, Ed Barnard followed his first innings 5-34 with four more wickets as Lancashire chased an improbable 602 to win.

The day-night at the Rose Bowl was not the spectacle it was supposed to be. The batting track gave neither attack any assistance and a draw was the inevitable outcome. Only Dale Steyn raised the flag for the Hampshire bowlers with a first innings five-for but Yorkshire’s Gary Ballance and the home team’s Jimmy Adams each made three figures.

The big promotion clash in Division Two at Tunbridge Wells was very much a game of two halves. Twenty wickets tumbled on day one. Then Kent, led by Joe Denly and Sean Dickson, racked up more than 400, setting Warwickshire a target of 519 which would have been a championship record. With Sibley and Bell apparently cruising at 304-1 on the final morning, that record looked vulnerable. However, once they and Jonathan Trott were dismissed, Warwickshire’s chances ebbed away.  Denly himself mopped up the tail and Kent advanced to within eight points of their table-topping opponents.

Sussex used their annual visit to bucolic Arundel to gain ground, too, defeating Durham with consummate ease. Philip Salt and Tom Haines each achieved their maiden centuries while David Wiese and Danny Briggs starred with the ball.

At Northampton, the home side emulated Worcestershire by snapping up their first Div 2 success of the summer. Ben Sanderson’s first innings 5-16 and Brett Hutton’s 8-57 tell the tale of Gloucestershire’s batting woes. Ben Duckett raced to 32 off 15 balls to clinch a ten-wicket victory on the final morning. Their next opponents Glamorgan are also struggling but came within two wickets of beating Derbyshire. Tailenders Palladino and Olivier had to dig in for the last fifteen overs to survive. Glamorgan’s chances were enhanced by a 289-run partnership involving Usman Khawaja and young Kiran Carlsen but unfortunately for them, the excellent Michael Hogan and debutant Prem Sisodiya were frustrated at the end.

It was an even more exciting finish at Leicester. Colin Ackermann’s mighty 196 not out and a solid team bowling performance put Leicestershire in the driving seat. However, Tim Murtagh and James Harris shared six wickets to restrict the home side to 186 all out. Chasing 381 to win, Middlesex looked set to lose on 197-6. However, Hilton Cartwright’s 80 anchored the tail, and right at the death Harris (58 not out) struck the winning boundary with just one wicket remaining.

Should Middlesex defeat Kent at Beckenham this week, they’ll be right back in the race to return to the top tier, but Warwickshire will be optimistic about beating Durham to hold on to the top spot. In Division One, Somerset visit Essex minus their high-scoring Aussie Matt Renshaw whose broken finger has ended his stint down at Taunton. We’re not having much luck with our overseas signings. Surrey travel to sunny Scarborough and Nottinghamshire host Worcestershire who must hope to channel their confidence to secure a second consecutive win. Can’t see it happening, though. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Notts who emerge from the revolving door and slip into T20 mode in front.

Team of the Week:

Mitchell (Wor), Jennings (Lan), Denly (Ken), Bell (War), Ackermann (Lei), Pope (Sur +), Clarke (Sur), Barker (War), Patel (Sur), Hutton (Nor), Murtagh (Mid)

Lancashire Upset the Leaders and Leicestershire finally win

In the final round of Championship matches before the first summer break, Lancashire and Surrey blew the race for the pennant wide open. The former went to Trent Bridge and came away with an innings victory over the leaders inside seven sessions. With Keaton Jennings scoring the runs and Jimmy Anderson and Graeme Onions taking the lion’s share of Nottinghamshire wickets, it was a surprisingly easy victory. Stuart Broad took a commendable 4-41 for the home team but Test hopeful Jake Ball blotted his copybook with 2-101 at more than five an over.

At the Oval, Surrey enjoyed a similarly decisive success over Yorkshire. First of all, back-up ‘keeper Ollie Pope maintained his excellent form with the bat, striking 27 boundaries in an innings of 158, ably supported by Dean Elgar and Rikki Clarke. Sam Curran then snapped up ten wickets in two days, taking his first-class tally into three figures while still a teenager. Yorkshire’s Gary Ballance was missing and it has now been revealed he is taking a break “for personal reasons”. A shame, because his county needs him, especially when Jonny Bairstow return to England duty.

Essex were also winners, but were made to work hard by Worcestershire in a low-scoring game at New Road. Joe Clarke’s second successive century and nine wickets for Josh Tongue deserved more but, needing only 215 to win, Worcester were bowled out for 182, thanks to five-fors from both Peter Siddle and Simon Harmer. The Aussie seamer leaves Essex with a lot of wickets and even more goodwill, but the return of Neil Wagner should keep the county’s seam attack in fine fettle.

In the other Division One fixture, the batsmen were very much in control at Taunton. Somerset established a huge first innings lead thanks to James Hildreth’s 184 and late-order runs from internationals past and future, Craig Overton and Dom Bess. However, Hampshire made sure they didn’t fail again, as Hashim Amla (107) and James Vince (201 not out) saved the game. Vince’s double-hundred has also probably saved his Test career.

In Division Two, Leicestershire’s latest head coach, Paul Nixon was celebrating a first Championship win for two years. It was a nail-biting finish, though. Hunting 251 on the third day, Glamorgan subsided to 139-8 and all looked lost. Marchant de Lange decided that he may as well go out in a blaze of glory and instead took his side to the brink of an unlikely triumph. He had plundered eight sixes in a 45-ball 90 when he hoisted a full-toss high for the winning hit only to be caught on the boundary. The result leaves the Welsh side second from bottom, above only Northamptonshire, who were trounced by leaders Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Olly Stone was the pick of the bowlers but it was Will Rhodes’ first career century which anchored the second innings chase.

Kent overtook neighbours Sussex by beating them in a short and sweet encounter at Canterbury. Matt Henry was again the star of the show, ending any Sussex resistance with 6-53, taking his Championship tally to 37 in only four matches.  I’m not sure what Kent will do without him.

Derbyshire’s clash with Durham easily went the distance but finished as a tame draw. Stuart Poynter (170) and Michael Richardson (115) put on 275 for Durham’s sixth wicket, then Mark Wood’s fine 6-46 hurt Derby’s batting on the final day but it was all too late to secure a result after the home team’s 427 on the first few days. They meet again when the Championship resumes in four weeks.

Middlesex’s bid to bounce back into the top tier was dealt another blow when their bowlers couldn’t hammer home the follow-on advantage over Gloucestershire. Even Eoin Morgan scored 76 red-ball runs alongside Dawid Malan in the first innings but 21 year-old Bristolian James Bracey led the fourth day resistance with an unbeaten 125.

So now it’s off to the Royal London Cup. While some players are off to play against Pakistan and others head across the world after serving their short-term contracts, the 50-over competition offers a stage for those remaining and for whom four-day cricket is too onerous or simply cramps their style. Over to you, Messrs Rashid, Hales et al….

Team of the Week:

Jennings (Lan), Bracey (Glo), Vince (Ham), Hildreth (Som), Pope (Sur), Poynter (Dur +), Henry (Ken), S Curran (Sur), De Lange (Gla), Tongue (Wor), Onions (Lan)

Essex back on the title trail

All the counties were in action this week and mercifully all were able to play, catching the end of an unseasonal hot spell across much of Britain. After their week one washout, both Essex and Yorkshire took their second opportunities in style. At Headingley, seamer Ben Coad was the home side’s star man, tang ten wickets as Nottinghamshire succumbed by 164 runs.

Down in Chelmsford, it was 2017 all over again when Jamie Porter and Steve Harmer dismissed Lancashire for only 144 first innings runs to keep them in the hunt. It was Porter again who snuffed out the visitors’ chase on day three, consigning Liam Livingstone’s side to a second defeat.

I am delighted to report a Somerset victory in their opening fixture, a rarity these days. It was a tough few days for batsmen in Taunton, and Worcestershire all-rounder Ed Barnard took eleven wickets. However, first Matt Renshaw, then James Hildreth reached three figures while colleagues struggled, and Luke Gregory was the pick of the bowlers who ensured the Worcester tail didn’t rescue their top-order failings.

Surrey also wrapped up a home win, defeating Hampshire by 139 runs. The main damage was done by their two wicketkeeper-batsmen, Ben Foakes and Ollie Pope in the second innings. They shared a century partnership, with 20 year-old Pope making 145 and taking his first-class average to almost 50. In reply, Sam Northeast compiled a hundred for Hampshire but nobody else could reach even 40 as teen spinner Amar Virdi took four wickets.

Warwickshire sit atop Division Two after thumping Northamptonshire by an innings. Tim Ambrose top-scored as they passed 400 but the Wantage Road side had no answer to Ryan Sidebottom: not the recently-retired ex-England man, but the injury-hit Aussie right-armer. His 6-35 and 4-61 proved decisive, while England under-19 medium-pacer Henry Brookes picked off the final pair.

The Derby faithful probably fainted when, after a 23-match barren spell, Derbyshire finally secured a home victory. It was particularly surprising given that their opponents were Middlesex. Duanne Olivier boasts a world-class bowling average of under 22 and the South African claimed eight wickets. In the second innings, openers Ben Slater and Luis Reece shared a 210-run partnership, taking took Derbyshire towards the rarified heights of 333-3, whereupon skipper Godleman declared to set a challenging target of 442. Once the Middlesex top-half had been despatched for below 100, that was always out of sight despite late hitting by James Harris and Tom Helm.

Stripped of their top players, Durham look like being the new Derbyshire in 2018. They were knocked over twice within two days by Kent, for whom Matt Henry harvested twelve more wickets. James Weighell weighed in with a defiant 84 before he became Henry’s sixth victim of the second innings. Kent’s Bell-Drummond and Kuhn finished the job a few hours later.

Glamorgan enjoyed their short trip over the Severn Bridge to Bristol, where they plundered a six-wicket victory over Gloucestershire. Marchant de Lange followed his five-wicket haul with an unbeaten 50 but it was the centuries from Shaun Marsh and David Lloyd which did most to take the Welsh beyond 500 and a lead of 290. 20 year-old James Bracey led the charge with 120 not out and, assisted by spirited tailenders, forced Glamorgan to bat again. However, Donald and Lloyd smashed seventeen from Worrell’s seventh over and the job was done.

There were plenty of runs at Leicester, too and, unlike every other match this week, not enough wickets to produce a result. Colin Ackermann compiled an excellent 186 but the Sussex opener Luke Wells played out for a draw with 102 not out. 

Leicestershire host a buoyant Derbyshire in an East Midlands derby next weekend, while Middlesex will want to get their season back on track at home to Glamorgan. In Division One, the Hampshire v Essex encounter looks the pick of the fixture list but could Somerset make it two from two at Taunton? I can but dream.

Team of the Week: 

Wells (Sus), Reece (Der), Ackermann (Lei), Bracey (Glo), Hildreth (Som),  Foakes (Sur, +), Pope (Sur), Barnard (Wor), Henry (Ken), Sidebottom (War), Porter (Ess)