Pope and Amla Steer Surrey Closer

In the race for the title, the top three each won again to pull away from the field. At The Oval, no centuries were scored but two fifties from Olly Pope and a smooth unbeaten 80 by Hashim Amla eased Surrey to a six-wicket victory over Warwickshire. Hampshire’s trip to the Scarborough seaside netted them 20 points and an eighth success of the summer. Kyle Abbott took his season’s tally to 49 wickets, more than anyone else, although colleagues Abbas and Barker are also in the top six in Division One. The seam trio are really fuelling the South Coasters’ bid for a first crown in decades.

At Old Trafford, it was definitely a game of two halves. Matt Henry ably led the Kent attack into a commanding lead over Lancashire, but the home side didn’t roll over to have their tummy tickled for a second time. Josh Bohannon (134) was part of two century partnerships as they declared on 439-9 by lunch on the fourth day. There was no chance of a Kent run chase but only Daniel-Bell Drummond survived the experience against Williams, Sundar and Tom Bailey, who ended the match with career-best figures of 11-110. More importantly, the 184-run triumph keeps Lancashire just about within range of Surrey should the leaders slip up.

There weas plenty of entertainment at Cheltenham where Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire not only served up plenty of runs but also an exciting finish, a difficult combination in a first-class contest. Ryan Rickelton led the visitors to a handsome first-innings lead, only for Gloucester skipper Graeme Van Buuren’s 127 not out to help set up a thrilling final afternoon. Needing 202 off a minimum 37 overs, Northants got off to a cracking start with Will Young and Rickelton again before losing a steady flow of wickets to Zafar Gohar’s spin. In the end, it was tail-ender Simon Kerrigan who hit Higgins for the winning boundary.

At Chelmsford, there was no chance whatsoever of a nail-biting conclusion; it was all about accumulation of runs as only sixteen wickets fell in total. Essex batted first, Nick Browne ending unbeaten on 234 before Somerset continued in the same vein. They delayed their first-innings declaration until late on the fourth afternoon, allowing teenage ‘keeper James Rew and Tom Banton to strike their maiden first-class centuries. Somerset really needed more, and now their next two fixtures, against fellow strugglers Gloucester and Warwickshire are ‘must-wins’. But they will have to wait until after the summer holidays, when the Hundred and One-Day Cup take over.

In Division Two, Nottinghamshire extended their lead to thirty points thanks to a straightforward defeat of Sussex inside three days. Overseas stars James Pattinson and Dane Paterson shared most of the wickets to fall. Further north, Middlesex lost ground by only drawing a rain-hit encounter against Durham. Opener Michael Jones racked up 206 for the home team, before a ton from John Simpson ensured maximum batting bonus points for Middlesex. They now go into the summer hiatus, Glamorgan breathing down their neck with a game in hand. Anuj Dal’s superb all-round performance for Derbyshire made the difference against Worcestershire and very much keeps them in the promotion hunt.

Team of the Week: Browne (Ess), Jones (Dur), Bohannon (Lan), Rickelton (Nor), Van Buuren (Glo), Simpson (Mid +), Anuj Dal (Der), Pattinson (Not), Abbott (Ham), Bailey (Lan), Paterson (Not)

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)

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)