Hampshire Hustle to the Top

As the Champions Trophy launched at The Oval, Edgbaston and Sophia Gardens, there were only 6 County Championship fixtures played this week. Only one was sufficient to see newly-promoted Hampshire hand bottom club Warwickshire a drubbing by an innings and 94 runs at the Rose Bowl. Southampton stalwarts Jimmy Adams and Sean Ervine found rare form and made big centuries in a huge partnership of 367. Ervine proceeded to 203 before young Sukhjt Singh bowled him, one of six victims in only his third first-class match. Despite a century stand by Trott and Barker, Warwickshire had to follow on with over a day remaining. Leading wicket-taker Kyle Abbott duly claimed 4-32 and Ervine polished off the tail.

Headingley hosted the second Roses game in a few weeks but this time Yorkshire came out with the victor’s 16 points, beating Lancashire by ten wickets inside three days. In only his second first-class outing of 2017, Ryan Sidebottom was his usual miserly self and young gun Ben Coad made another major mark by taking 6-25 on the first day. Adam Lyth was the only man to pass 50 in the whole match, advancing to three figures for the first time this season. Meanwhile, his opposite number Haseeb Hameed continued to struggle, making his return to the Test Eleven look somewhat doubtful.

If Dean Elgar was British, or at least had not already represented the Proteas, he’d be a shoo-in to replace the Lancastrian. He scored another century for Somerset, as did all-rounder Luke Gregory, but the weather at Lord’s ensured there was to be no win for either side. At least another 2017 struggler, Tom Abell, enjoyed some fourth day batting practice, albeit against the likes of Compton, Gubbins and wicket-keeper Simpson! His side now face Yorkshire in a bid to register a first Division One victory of the summer, while Essex and Surrey meet for a chance to displace Hampshire at the top.

In the second rung, Nottinghamshire opened up a thirteen-point lead over Kent despite failing to beat Derbyshire at Trent Bridge. Missing Pattinson, Broad and Ball, their makeshift seam attack failed to bowl out their visitors twice. Billy Godleman top-scored with 121 for Derbyshire. Meanwhile, Worcestershire’s 100% record was destroyed by Sussex at Hove. Whilst the home team were earlier rocked by Luke Wright’s sudden resignation as captain, it didn’t prevent them marching to an innings defeat of a Worcester team unhealthily reliant on the runs of Daryl Mitchell. So much so that he has now been in my last three Teams of the Week! Luke Wells scored 158 while Wiese and Philander collected ten wickets between them.  

In the remaining fixture, Durham suffered another loss and still can’t boast a positive figure in the points column. It didn’t help that their bowling line-up had a very unfamiliar look. Extra kudos then to the inexperienced Paul Coughlin, whose ten wickets in the match made him the most successful bowler of the week, even in defeat. It was a very close-run thing, though, because Northants were running out of steam and the rain was falling steadily at Chester-le-Street before they crossed the line with a ball to spare.

Durham now face an arduous challenge in Kent, and it falls to Gloucestershire to halt Notts’ seemingly straightforward path to an instant return to the top flight.

Team of the Week: Mitchell (Wor), Elgar (Som), Steel (Dur), Wells (Sus), Ervine (Ham), Rossington (Nor +), Gregory (Som), Philander (Sus), Buck (Nor), Coad (Yor), Coughlin (Dur).

Yorkshire Lose Twice but Win the Title

A strange week for Yorkshire. Firstly, they fell victim to Gloucestershire’s Michael Klinger to lose their Royal London Cup semi-final. A few days later at Lord’s, Ryan Sidebottom took three Middlesex wickets in the first over en route to bowling out their nearest rivals for 106. They thus secured their second successive County Championship, a wonderful achievement.

They continued to rub their opponents’ noses in the brown stuff with the bat before suddenly it all went wrong. Nick Compton (147) and tail-ender Toby Roland-Jones (103 not out) helped the home side to almost 600, then Roland-Jones grabbed 5-27 in 21 overs to secure an unlikely victory. It also spoiled the champions’ unbeaten record in the competition. Still, Andrew Gale and Jason Gillespie can celebrate their overall success with two matches yet to play. Root, Lyth, Ballance, Bairstow, Rashid and Plunkett have all been on England duty yet strength in depth, especially the bowlers have seen them home.

A special mention should go to young Stevie Eskinazi. He struck 122 for Middlesex Seconds in their 2nd XI Final against Notts and was 13 not out in the second innings when he was summoned to make his first-class debut at Lord’s. The fairytale didn’t continue but not any players are whisked away mid-match like that!

It was a topsy-turvy contest at Trent Bridge, too. Durham let a 168-run first-innings lead slip as Samit Patel’s century and a second five-for by Ben Hutton gave Nottinghamshire victory by 52 runs inside three days. Notts could yet gain second-place above Middlesex with a game in hand.

Somerset enjoyed the best of a home draw with relegation rivals Hampshire. Jamie Overton took 4-37 as they restricted Hants to a single batting bonus point. Somerset not only secured maximum points but also piled on 630-9. Each of the top three batsmen Marcus Trescothick, Tom Abell (for the first time) and Tom Cooper reached three figures. Sadly for my team, Carberry, Vince, Adams et al remembered how to bat and the Taunton strip obliged to dish out a draw. Worcestershire look doomed but just eleven points separate the three sides above them.

In Division Two, Essex surged to third place, crushing Derbyshire by an innings. Thirty-somethings Ten Doeschate, Pettini, Bopara and Foster each contributed but, despite the absence on ODI duty of Reece Topley, youngsters also starred. Teenage opener Dan Lawrence returned with 88, while 20 year-old debutant Jack Winslade took 4-20.

Essex were also helped by Glamorgan’s capitulation to Kent. Rob Key continued excellent end-of-season form with 94 and 158, assisted by a typical all-round performance by 39 year-old Darren Stevens.

So, as last year, most of the big questions have been answered two weeks early, but the Division One relegation places may not be settled until the final week. Sussex v Somerset this week will be a crucial encounter, and Worcestershire simply must beat Yorkshire. The others must hope the champs don’t have a champagne hangover!

Continuing the rollercoaster theme, Team of the Week selection has been difficult. Nomally, the intense competition for places comes from middle-order batsmen and seamers. Unusually, this week, most of the runs came from openers, so Tres, Adams and Eskinazi miss out.

Team of the Week: Abell (Som), Key (Ken), Klinger (Glo), Sangakkara (Sur), Stevens (Ken), Pettini (Ess), Ronchi (Som +), Hutton (Not), Roland-Jones (Mid), Winslade (Ess), Sidebottom (Not)

Sidebottom Keeps Yorkshire Top

Last week it was Jonny Bairstow, Tim Bresnan and Jack Brooks. This time, it was largely Ryan Sidebottom who steered Yorkshire closer to a second successive County Championship.

Bairstow did score another excellent century in the win against Warwickshire but it was the 37 year-old left-am seamer who did the most damage, capturing 11 wickets. Even without Root, Balance, Lyth and Adil Rashid on England duty, Yorkshire look already look like champions-elect. Jason Gillespie deserves a knighthood! Warwickshire’s only compensation was the return to first-team duty of young batsman Sam Hain, who marked the occasion with a duck and 106.

Middlesex overtook Durham in second place after their draw with Nottinghamshire. Once Dawid Malan had struck a career-best 182 not out, the weather and Chris Read’s response ruled out any chance of a positive result.

At the other end of the table, it’s not looking promising for Hampshire. They succumbed to relegation rivals Worcestershire by an innings and now stand 26 points adrift with six games to go. Daryl Mitchell carried his bat for 205, beating the entire Hampshire side on his own, as Saeed Ajmal took 5-28. Jack Shantry’s five-for finished things off second time around.

Meanwhile at Taunton, it took two fine innings from Peter Trego to avoid defeat against Sussex. The visiting batsmen have struggled for runs this summer but, after four of them made hundreds last week, it was the turn of Matt Machan (192) and Chris Nash (142 not out) to pile on the misery for Somerset’s bowlers, sharing a 290 partnership. At 84-5 on the final morning, the home side were heading for defeat, but Trego and Luke Gregory saved the day.

Next week, Somerset visit Merchant Taylor’s in a bid to thwart Middlesex’s title ambitions while Durham can regain second place by beating Warwickshire.

In Division Two, leaders Lancashire were thwarted by a combination of Manchester rain (138 overs were lost) and Essex opener Nick Browne, whose 105 and 50 gave solidity to an otherwise brittle batting display. At Chesterfield, Glamorgan lost a day’s worth of play which could have cost them a likely triumph over Derbyshire and the chance to really close the gap on Surrey. They forced the follow-on but a Hamish Rutherford hundred kept Hogan and co at bay.

At the bottom, Gloucestershire achieved a vital victory over Northants at Cheltenham. Liam Norwell (6-41) and 20 year-old Craig Miles (5-28) were the pick of the seam attack, while Jack Taylor thumped an improbable 156 from 125 balls to establish a healthy first innings lead.

Finally, Kent consigned Leicestershire to the foot of the table by winning at Grace Road by eight wickets inside three days. Matt Coles maintained his recent fine form by claiming ten wickets.

Kent now face a tricky trip to Surrey, while Glamorgan travel to Chelmsford. Get Browne out and they should stand a chance! Cheltenham plays hosts to Leicestershire, so Gloucester must fancy their chances of a mid-table position this time next week!

It wasn’t a vintage weekend of T20 action but Warwickshire made amends for the heavy Championship defeat by topping the North group. A certain Brendon McCullum announced his arrival by clumping 158 off 64 balls in the Bears’ success against Derbyshire. They could do with him in the four-day format, too!

Team of the Week: Mitchell (Wor, *), McCullum (War), Machan (Sus), Nash (Sus), Malan (Mid), Bairstow (Yor, +), Trego (Som), Coles (Ken), Norwell (Glo), Sidebottom (Yor), Saeed Ajmal (Wor).

Team of the Week: Yorkshire's Finest

For the week ending 12th September, it's tempting to select the entire Yorkshire Eleven which clinched the County Championship in such style, albeit perhaps without naughty captain Andrew Gale! However, I must stick to my guns and pick players on their performances around the grounds.

That doesn't meanm I can't name the White Rose opener Adam Lyth, back to his best in 2014 and hammering on the door of England's Test team while Sam Robson desperately tries to lock it from the other side. His 122 laid the foundation for the hefty first innings total at Trent Bridge, with which Nottinghamshire simply could not compete. Bangladesh bowlers couldn't contain West Indian number one Kraigg Brathwaite either; he plundered 212 in their easy Test match victory.

Some big middle order scorers must leave the week disappointed. Apologies to Northeast, Trott, Roy and Borthwick but you just missed out. Ed Joyce seems to be ending the summer the way he started it. The Sussex veteran struck 137 and 79 to beat Lancashire and leave them facing relegation square in the face. My four and five together produced a record partnership for Gloucestershire against poor Leicestershire. Skipper Alex Gidman led the way with 264 in 274 balls, aided and abetted by South African 'keeper Gareth Roderick's 171. He is fine form with the bat in first-class cricket and, with a British passport, he could yet represent England. He takes the gloves in my fantasy XI despite taking no catches at all in the match. He just edges out Niall O'Brien, who claimed six victims and a century for Leicestershire in the same game.

Teenager Sam Hain hit his maiden double-hundred for Warwickshire, alongside the man he might have expected to replace in the county line-up, Jonathan Trott. Ben Stokes found his batting form, too, plundering 164 in 113 deliveries and taking 1-50 in Durham's Royal London Cup semi-final victory over Notts, who had a pretty shoddy week all round.

Nevertheless, the star all-rounder was Jack Shantry of Worcestershire. Their promotion campaign train seemed heading for a fatal derailment until his 89-ball century and last-day 4-44, giving him ten wickets for the match and a chance to play again in the top flight next year.

Sulieman Benn has been largely eclipsed by Narine lately in West Indian spin circles but he returned 5-39 and 2-44 in that 499th Test. Keith Barker's eight dismissals played a big part in Warwickshire's trouncing of Northants but the last place goes to another Yorkshireman. Old curlylocks himself, Ryan Sidebottom, has spearheaded the Yorkshire attack with Jack Brooks brilliantly all season, and his 6-30 in the second innings was the best bowling analysis of the week.

Celebratory (white) roses go to: Lyth (Yor), Brathwaite (WI), Joyce (Sus), Roderick (Glo +), Gidman (Glo *), Hain (War), Stokes (Dur), Shantry (Wor), Benn (WI), Barker (War), Sidebottom(Yor).

Yorkshire County Champions!

In the two big matches of the week, 'twere Yorkshire and Worcestershire who prevailed, and so two of the big prizes have been decided with a few weeks still to go.

Congratulations first to the White Roses, who gave closest rivals Nottinghamshire a fearful thumping at Trent Bridge to clinch the Championship pennant. Even without Joe Root and Gary Ballance for much of the summer, their blend of largely homegrown talent, young and old, has proved irresistible despite a dodgy start to the season. The job was done with a typical mix of contributors, from Adam Lyth's sixth Championship century to Ryan Sidebottom's second innings 6-30, a 99 from Ballance, 95 from Tim Bresnan and six more wickets snapped by Mr Headband Jack Brooks. Joe Root made only 11 but he captained the side in place of Andrew Gale to round off a mostly pleasing season for the 23 year-old Sheffielder.

Warwickshire also won by an innings - against Northants - to be favourites for the runners-up position. Their fourth wicket partnership of 370 was the cornerstone. Jonathan Trott may have lost his England central contract but he has delivered some useful end-of-season runs for his county. Nevertheless his 164 was eclipsed by Sam Hain's maiden double-century. The teenager is in fine four-day form at the moment and must surely get to represent England and put his Aussie past behind him! Another 19 year-old Ben Duckett was the bright spot in Northamptonshire's eleventh defeat of a miserable campaign. He scored 126 runs to go with last week's century.

Sussex advanced to fourth after beating Lancashire in a game that at lunchtime looked certain to be drawn. Chris Jordan and Stuart Magoffin claimed some quick wickets, then Ed Joyce and Craig Cachopa led the dash to reach the 251 target in the 47th over. Lancashire now look to be heading into Division Two. They must win their final match and hope Middlesex lose their last two. They were helped by Durham overcoming their rivals at Lord's. This in turn makes the middle table very congested. Scott Borthwick's first day 176 proved decisive while all the bowlers chipped in with wickets. Pity Tim Murtagh, though; he grabbed a ten-for yet still ended up on the losing side.

Northamptonshire have long been doomed but now we know they will be replaced by Worcestershire. Their momentum had been temporarily disrupted but today they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Needing just 217 to win and seemingly cruising at 131-2, Surrey threw away the match, and their chances of promotion, by collapsing to 189 all out. As in the first innings, it was Jack Shantry who did much of the damage, taking 4-44. With a crazy maiden hundred the previous day and ten wickets in total, he was the toast of New Road. Whatever the angle of his elbow, Saeed Ajmal's 63 wickets earlier in the season cannot be forgotten either.

Essex retain a mathematical chance of overtaking Hampshire for the remaining promotion spot after beating Kent by nine wickets in three days. On day one, Sam Northeast scored 117 out of his side's 198, but James Foster's 108 and excellent bowling by David Masters and Graham Napier left Kent reeling. Glamorgan lifted themselves two places after a low-scoring triumph at Cardiff. Seamers Allenby, Hogan and Wagg produced the goods as only Wes Durston showed any fight for Derbyshire on the third day. Big signing Cheteshwar Pujara scored just 7 and 0 on his county debut.

Only one match ended drawn, and only because batsmen were utterly dominant. Gloucestershire racked up a massive 646 in only four sessions, including a career-best 264 in only 274 balls by skipper Alex Gidman. Along with South African wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick, he compiled a stand of 393, beating by far the club record set back in the halcyon pre-war days of Wally Hammond! To their credit, bottom-placed Leicestershire also accumulated 565. Don't know when they last boasted three centurions in the same innings but Ned Eckersley, Niall O'Brien and Greg Smith each reached three figures. The draw was made certain by 104 not out from the other Gidman, Will.

Next week's games are unlikely to decide very much, although a win for Hampshire at home to Kent will give them a massive advantage over Essex going into the concluding round of fixtures, when late-September weather may have a say in who wins or loses. Nobody wants that.

Team of the Week 25th April 2014: Cook and Maxwell in prime form

For my first Team of the Week of the 2014 'summer', there's a good mix of the familiar, the new and the forgotten. In England, it was a good week for opening batsmen. Greg Smith (Leicestershire) and Derbyshire's recruit from Lancashire, Stephen Moore, each made hundreds, but they are edged out by Essex's Alastair Cook and Lancashire's Sydney-born Paul Horton. Cook picked up 166 runs in a draw, presumably happy to let James Foster do the skippering. Meanwhile, Horton scored one run more, Mr Consistent with 83 and 84. He ended the 2013 season with three hundreds and two ducks in the final four first-class matches, and the Red Roses will be relying heavily on him for runs this year.

Nick Compton (100 not out) and Gary Ballance (174) each reminded England selectors of their middle-order Test credentials, even if they were both born in Africa. The Yorkshire batsman will probably have the edge once Sri Lanka come to town next month. Much as I'd like to, I can't ignore the IPL. Glenn Maxwell added another two big scores, 89 and 95, to his opening blast for Kings XI Punjab. Oddly, he's never made a T20 hundred in 65 innings but he came very close this week.

My wicketkeeper of the week is Tim Ambrose. Several yeara ago, he was the England number one, scoring runs for fun, but then Matt Prior and, later on, depression, got the better of him. Last year he seemed rejuvenated at Warwickshire and this week, he not only contributed a useful cameo with the bat, he claimed six catches in the first innings. Facing seamers of the quality of Woakes and Barker, he should pouch many more.

Peter Trego was welcomed back to Somerset's starting XI and inevitably enjoyed a decent performance in the draw at Durham. However, Gloucestershire's Will Gidman gets the nod as all-rounder. A late developer, cricket-wise, he has eclipsed his older brother and county captain Alex, albeit more as a bowler than batsman. His 3-43 and 6-50 against Glamorgan bolstered his impressive career stats to 169 first-class wickets at under 21 apiece. Even allowing for the fact that they've mostly come in the Championship's second flight, that's pretty good going.

Jack Brooks is another who didn't make the county grade until his mid-20s but he excelled for Yorkshire this week, taking eight Northants wickets. He of the distinctive white headband was accompanied by he of the flowing dark ginger curlilocks, Ryan Sidebottom. The left-armer claimed 7-50 in the match, which was won by an innings. My final two earned their 'call-ups' in Cardiff and the UAE. Mohit Sharma played three times in the IPL this week, taking six for only 44 runs in total. His 4-14 against Mumbai was the pick of the bunch. Back in the Championship, Dean Cosker peered out of the shadow of the retired Robert Croft to capture 5-46 for Glamorgan. Now aged 36, his left-arm spin has earned him over 550 first-class wickets. They haven't come cheap but he does sterling work for the Welsh side.

So there you have it. Take a bow: Cook, Horton, Compton, Ballance, Maxwell, Ambrose (+), W Gidman, Sidebottom, Brooks, M Sharma, Cosker.