County Cricket: Upside Down Championship!

With England and Wales sinking beneath an evil heat dome sucking the blood, sweat and brain cells of their citizens, the latest round of Championship fixtures produced some humdinger results. In just four days, Last week’s Division One leaders Essex dropped to sixth, title favourites sank to seventh and the bottom two each registered rare victories. 

I can’t recall the top tier table being so tightly bunched. Only sixteen points connect first with seventh. After last week’s thumping at the hands of Somerset, Nottinghamshire bounced back to the top in style, snatching the pole position back with an innings defeat of Essex at Chelmsford. Liam Patterson-White got the party started with 6-43, Jack Haynes struck an unbeaten 137 and Fergus O’Neill polished things off with 5-39. Twenty-two points in the bank, thanks very much. 

Sussex slipped down the pecking order, losing at home to Hampshire by 118 runs. It was all about the bowlers; the highest individual score was just 55. Hampshire’s veteran Kyle Abbott starred, scooping 6-49 and (from nearly thirteen overs) 3-6. Despite tearing Yorkshire apart at Grace Road to register their first success of the first-class season, Leicestershire remain rooted to the bottom, albeit on the same points tally as Hampshire. Rehan Ahmed and Nick Kelly each reached three figures and shared a stand of 160, leaving Jonny Bairstow’s side 263 just to make their hosts bat again. The skipper suffered a three-ball duck, and the trio of Josh Davey, Alex Green and Ajaz Patel snuffed out a late-order rally. 

Amazingly, Surrey also has only one win to their name, and Glamorgan dealt them a first loss of the campaign in Cardiff. Mason Crane hit a maiden ton, putting on 165 with Chris Cooke for the seventh wicket before picking up a few tailenders. Teenage seamer Tom Norto fared even better, taking 5-50, forcing Surrey to follow on. With runs from Rory Burns (115), Ollie Pope and the lower order, they did push Glamorgan into a fourth day only for Ingram and Carlson to make sixty-plus and steer their side to a seven-wicket victory margin. 

Meanwhile, Somerset and Warwickshire occupy second and third spots having played out a draw in Taunton. The first few days belonged largely to the Warwickshire all-rounder Beau Webster (64, 4-23) but a familiar pair came together to deliver a courageous rescue act. Thomas Rew matched his brother with another century while, more remarkably, bowler Craig Overton notched his third of the year. With no time to challenge the 314-run target, and Yates and Hain at their most resolute, a draw was agreed. 

In Division Two, Durham completed their fifth win of 2026 in the top-two clash at Chester-le-Street. Wicket-keeper Ricardo Vasconcelos gave Northamptonshire a promising start but naughty boy Ben (Stokes) helped ensure Durham stayed in touch. Potts, Raine and Parkinson limited Northants’ second innings to 250. Stokes had been recalled by England but his substitute Colin Ackermann and his South African compatriot David Bedingham kept her heads and the scoreboard ticking over en route to a sixth-wicket success. 

Kent leapfrogged Northants into second after overcoming Middlesex in an even contest at Canterbury. Both sides’ first innings topped 400, the London visitors relying heavily on Max Holden’s 182. Four wickets apiece for Sharma and Helm restricted Kent to 257 but even a modest chase of 231 was too much for Middlesex. Zafar Gohar was left high and dry on 66 as Matt Milnes and Keith Dudgeon claimed eight cheap wickets between them. 

Lancashire’s struggles continued at Chesterfield, succumbing to Derbyshire by nine wickets. Captain James Anderson didn’t hide in the field but was unable to prevent a considerable first-innings deficit, Ben Aitchison whacked 75 before picking up a decisive 5-49 to leave the Red Roses in tatters. Worcestershire were the latest county to beat Gloucestershire, despite a defiant 139 not out by Miles Hammond. Worcestershire established a lead, albeit at a snail’s pace. Graeme van Buuren toiled for forty-nine overs to take 4-96 then opened the bowling second time around to give Worcester a few heart flutters before stumbling over the line. 

Now comes a lengthy hiatus in favour of the white-ball stuff. Oh, well Just as things were getting so interesting….. 

Team of the Week; Vasconcelos (Nor +), Burns (Sur), Holden (Mid), Hammond (Glo), T Rew (Som), Haynes (Not), Van Buuren (Glo), C Overton (Som), Abbott (Ham), Aitchinson (Der), Patterson-White (Not)

County Cricket: Gay Day for Durham, Gloucester find Form

It was a strange week, results-wise. All four Division One fixtures were drawn, but all three in Division Two had a positive outcome – apart from the losers, of course! 

In the higher echelon, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire met at Trent Bridge for the chance to displace Somerset from the top spot. As elsewhere, batters were largely in the ascendancy. Ed Barnard (165) and Chris Woakes (64, 3-44) ensured Notts had to follow on, but the home side managed to bat out almost two days for the draw meaning Warwickshire leapfrogged Somerset by a single point. Haseeb Hameed followed his first-innings duck with a ton, Kyle Verreynne made 115, and both Ben Duckett and Joe Clarke added their second half-centuries of the match. 

There were five centuries at The Oval, and Essex opener Dean Elgar almost scored two. Surrey’s Dan Lawrence contributed 125 and three tail-enders in seven balls but Elgar and Westley spent almost fifty overs together on the final day. Batting was so easy that even wicketkeeper Ben Foakes was given a couple of overs, conceding just seven. 

At Headingley, both Yorkshire and Sussex racked up 500+ totals, including 136 for John Simpson and a 182 partnership between the Tykes’ Finlay Bean and Doncaster-born Aussie Sam Whiteman. A Simpson catch curtailed Joe Root’s innings four short of three figures but he then spent hours spinning his way to 3-67 although the draw was nailed on.  The same was true at Cardiff. In the battle of the new arrivals, Glamorgan racked up a decent 440 only for Leicestershire to establish a lead of 146, with the aid of centuries by Jonathan Tattersall and Jake Weatherald, who retired hurt on 104. 

They host Notts later this week, and Hampshire welcome Glamorgan, with neither yet to register a victory. Surrey are also winless so far and meet Sussex, while Somerset take on second-bottom Yorkshire. 

There may haven been little to satisfy the purists, or bowlers, in the top tier but it was totally different lower down. After being tonked three times already, Gloucestershire not only earned their first bonus points of the campaign but also proceeded to defeat Derbyshire by ten wickets. Miles Hammond top-scored with 145 but much of the damage was inflicted by Gloucester’s numbers nine and ten, Henry Brookes and Will Williams. Both narrowly missed out on hundreds but their 191-run ninth-wicket partnership very nearly knocked WG Grace off the records. Williams chipped in with five wickets, too. 

For the first three days, it was an exciting contest at Chester-le-Street, where leaders Lancashire were looking good for a third win of the season. Marcus Harris struck 146 on Friday, and James Anderson delayed his second innings declaration until ex-Durham all-rounder Paul Coughlin reached three figures by stumps on Sunday. It wouldn’t have mattered. Second time around, Emilio Gay and David Bedingham found batting a breeze, putting on 290 for the third wicket at a cracking pace. There’s now talk of Gay being called up for England this summer, which is probably the kiss of death to his career. 

Worcestershire made short work of Kent at New Road, where Garth Roderick took nine catches behind the stumps and seamer Tom Taylor claimed 5-56 to hasten Kent’s demise. The latter now encounter Derbyshire, and Durham will cement their position in the promotion hunt by beating Middlesex. 

Team of the Week:- Elgar (Ess), Gay (Dur), Hammond (Glo), Harris (Lan), Clarke (Not), Lawrence (Sur), Barnard (War), Simpson (Sus +), Raine (Dur), Willliams (Glo), T Taylor (Glo)

County Cricket: Worcestershire and Hampshire Fly into the Final

Despite most of the group stages being dominated by Gloucestershire and Yorkshire, the One Day Cup Final at the end of September will be contested instead by Hampshire and Worcestershire. 

When it really mattered, Gloucester’s wheels well and truly came off in Group A. Having lost their 100% record against Essex, their eight-pointer on Tuesday versus Hampshire also ended in defeat, by five wickets. James Bracey blazed his way to another century, but a rapid opening stand of 112 between Orr and Gubbins set the scene for a successful run chase. At the same time, Worcestershire cruised to a six-wicket win, grateful for Kashif Alli’s 58-ball 80. That meant Gloucestershire dropped from first to third while Jake Libby’s side sailed direct to the semis. 

Group B leaders Yorkshire held their nerve to defeat Kent at Canterbury. James Wharton top-scored with 118 then, once Jayden Denly had been caught for 79 off Dom Bess, the home side struggled to make headway against spin. Bess ended on 4-43 but the coup-de-grace was applied by debutant seamer Matthew Firbank. Sussex’s Archie Lenham claimed 5-48 to end Warwickshire’s participation in the competition, but Somerset made no mistake against Northamptonshire, aided by Archie Vaughan’s maiden List A century. The other county in the hunt for progressing, Middlesex, had to work much harder to reach the top three. Chasing Lancashire’s 291 at Old Trafford, Harry Singh reduced them to 127-6 but the partnership of 126 between Morgan and Fernandes turned things around. The latter was caught in the final over with eight runs still required and the last pair at the crease. However, from the penultimate delivery, Noah Cornwell scored the winning runs and carried Middlesex into the quarter-finals. 

That effort earned Middlesex a home tie against Hampshire and things looked positive when, in spite of Ali Orr’s 108, they restricted them to just 229-9. It didn’t last. The veteran Hants bowlers Kyle Abbott (2-38) and Liam Dawson (4-33) were instrumental in stemming the runs and taking wickets, eventually ending the innings 42 runs short. At Taunton, Gloucestershire were battered in their derby encounter with Somerset. Jake Ball bowled Bracey second ball and left their rivals all out for 159 with the wicket of Miles. The Rew brothers took charge of Somerset’s chase, which succeeded with eighteen overs to spare. 

Even lacking several one-day experts, Somerset’s white-ball reputation made them favourites against Worcestershire but it all went horribly wrong. Ben Green and Jack Leach bowled well and the target of 266 wasn’t notably daunting. Enter Khurram Shahzad with the ball. He had four of the top order caught, and the rest of the batsmen fell regularly, sliding to a pathetic 141.

Yorkshire’s group stage supremacy also counted for nothing against Hampshire at Scarborough. Liam Dawson struck the week’s highest individual score (142), surpassing Harry Came’s 139 for Derbyshire, helping his county post a decent 304-6. When rain forced a reduction of nine overs, The White Roses must have fancied their chances, especially as Imam -ul-Haq in such imperious form. Indeed, he made 105 off 97 balls, his fourth ton of the tournament, but nobody else passed thirty, and they finished eighteen runs behind. 

Next up for the men’s county outfits are the Blast quarter-finals and the return of the County Championship whose summer break has made me forget what the hell was happening. I look forward to having my memory jolted. 

Team of the Week:- Orr (Ham), Came (Der), Imam-ul-Haq (Yor), Tribe (Gla), Lammonby (Som), J Rew (Som +), Dawson (Ham), B Green (Som), Khurram Shahzad (Wor), Lenham (Sus), Leach (Som)

County Cricket: Bracey Drives Gloucestershire Safely into Semis

The penultimate week of the One-Day Cup left six counties still in the hunt for qualification for the knockout stage. Only Gloucestershire and Worcestershire can breathe more easily, having ensured more 50-over action this season. James Bracey’s blistering 186 did for Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, making it six in a row, although Essex spoiled the unbeaten run at Chelmsford, in which Tom Westley, Matt Critchley and Simon Harmer excelled as all-rounders. In this competition, the latter has added the role as late-order six-hitter to his traditional off-spin skills, having a few days earlier blasted a 22-ball 42 and taken 5-47 to demolish Glamorgan by 190 runs. In the same game, Westley and Charlie Allison shared a third-wicket stand of 231, easily beating the entire Glamorgan line-up, who were bowled out with almost 18 overs remaining. 

Essex lost their opening three Group A fixtures but have dragged themselves into fourth place and with an excellent net run rate. Hampshire are four points ahead, after routing Surrey and edging an epic encounter against Derbyshire. Hampshire opener Nick Gubbins has certainly been leading from the front, hoisting his aggregate tally of runs in the competition towards 600, jncluding an unbeaten 144 in the loss to Nottinghamshire. Victory at Bristol would take Hampshire into the two-stage semi-finals. Any slip-up could let Essex leapfrog them. 

After being at the wrong end of a fair few Cup thrashings, Surrey appeared to have turned the corner at Derby, and they have some up-and-coming talent to thank. With Foakes injured, 20-year-old Ollie Sykes stepped up as captain and, alongside the even younger Adam Thomas, made their maiden centuries (115 and 162, respectively) and broke Surrey’s List A third-wicket partnership record. Oliver Hunt and Ralphie Albert each launched their senior careers in the same match then, against Notts, Albert scored 96 and took 2-56. The county’s short-term pain may result in long-term gain. 

Yorkshire still lead Group A with 24 points but in their wake, three teams have twenty, and one must ultimately miss out. The White Roses defeated Susses and swatted Durham aside at Scarborough by 212 runs thanks largely to Finaly Bean’s 102 runners – sorry, runs – in 57 balls and tight bowling by Coad and White. I feel sympathy for Durham, for whom Alex Lees this week delivered another big hundred and Ben Raine captured nine wickets. 

Somerset maintained their challenge with wins against Sussex and Kent. Tom Lammonby contributed another ton and a decisive 5-20, including three Sussex top-order batsmen in a single over. Sussex also fell prey to another outstanding bowling performance on Sunday, when Yorkshire’s Matt Milnes took 7-38, the best of this year’s competition so far. Warwickshire clung on to third position, triumphing over Lancashire and Durham. In the latter match, Ed Barnard managed the chase beautifully, still there at the end on 141, although it took some mighty hitting by Michael Booth to get them over the line with two overs to spare. 

Middlesex are hot on their heels, boosting their weak net run rate with a cruise against Northamptonshire. Ben Geddes led the side effectively and, on Tuesday at Radlett, achieved his maiden century in the defeat of Kent. 

In the final round of fixtures, none of the top four play each other. Therefore, it is conceivable that, should Yorkshire succumb to Kent and Somerset, Warwickshire and Middlesex see off their respective opposition, all will be on equal points tallies and net run rate will decide who progresses. Yorkshire will have to endure an unlikely pounding to miss out and, with rain in the forecast, there could be some tricky decisions to be made regarding on-pitch strategy. I just hope Somerset don’t blow it against bottom-side Northants! 

Team of the Week:- Lees (Dur), Bracey (Glo; +), Gubbins (Ham), Westley (Ess), Lammonby (Som), Sykes (Sur), Geddes (Mid), Harmer (Ess), Fuller (Ham), Raine (Dur), Milnes (Yor)

County Cricket: Topsy-Turvy stuff in Division One

It was a strange week for County Championship results. As if the record Spring temperatures, sunshine levels and dried-up riverbeds and canals weren’t enough, both the top two counties in Division One came a cropper and the bottom team actually won by a country mile. The batsmen striking the highest individual scores by far did so in a losing cause and a host of wicketkeepers also reaped a harvest of runs. 

Nottinghamshire had been looking good at the top but, at Chester-le-Street, after Haseeb Hameed caried his bat for 206, their attack struggled to make headway against Durham. Gay, Clark and Ollie Robinson each reached three figures as the side lodged a new record high of 664 all out. Were it not for Joe Clarke’s sparkling 119, Notts would have lost by an innings and Durham still needed Colin Ackermann to deliver a quick fifty to achieve victory. 

There were no centuries at Edgbaston, but Warwickshire succumbed to Hampshire by 89 runs. Five-fors from Kyle Abbott and James Fuller were the decisive performances.  Warwickshire’s loss was Surrey’s gain, as the reigning champs whacked Yorkshire by an innings to close the gap behind Notts to just three points. Jonny Bairstow crashed 89 and 77 for the White Roses but his opposite number Ben Foakes also chipped in with 86 and some fine catches. Jordan Clark was the pick of Surrey’s bowlers, taking a combined 7-76. 

By the River Severn, Worcestershire earned not only their first batting bonus points of the season, but also their maiden triumph, defeating Essex with remarkable ease inside three days. Apart from day one, bowlers on both sides were dominant, but it was the victors’ Matthew Waite who stole the headlines with a first-innings 73 and a career-best 6-19 to complete Essex’s misery. Garth Roderick also deserves an honourable mention. The opener failed with the bat but contributed nine catches behind the stumps. 

Somerset made it back-to-back wins, but Sussex didn’t make it easy for them at Taunton. Following recent top-order batting woes, the home county gambled by promoting captain Luke Gregory and fast bowler Josh Davey to open. It seemed to work. Dropped to seven, Archie Vaughan duly scored 80 and, when three wickets tumbled in the hunt for a 150-run target, Gregory led from the front with an unbeaten 89, including the winning single.

 

The next round of fixtures includes a tricky outing to a Bairstow-less Yorkshire for Nottinghamshire, Surrey hosting a wounded Essex and the West Midlands derby in Worcester.

 

Leicestershire cemented the position at the head of Division Two by seeing off Middlesex by seven wickets. It was a low-scoring affair, Peter Handscomb’s 87 the sole half-century, and all Leicester’s bowlers chipped in with wickets. Ian Holland’s 5-35 got them off to a great start and they kept their noses on front thereafter.

 

Derbyshire remain in second place, but they had to fight hard to cling on for a draw against Lancashire at Old Trafford. Luke Wells put the home team firmly in the driving seat with scores of 141 and 50 then, with 42-year-old Jimmy Anderson his old mean self, Lancs had Derby on the rack at 216-8 with around ten overs remaining. However, new ball in hand, not even the former England star could break the ninth-wicket partnership of Anuj Dal and Jack Morley. The latter padded away the off-spin of Tom Hartley, surviving 36 balls for no runs, while Dal was similarly resilient under pressure. 

It was a tense finish at Bristol too, where Gloucestershire kept their heads to beat Kent by three wickets. Batting at eight, Kent’s Grant Stewart blasted a barely credible 182 to lift his side’s total to a decent 424 before Cameron Green (128) and James Bracey (127) shared a fifth-wicket stand of 222 out of 516. A draw was the most likely outcome but three quick wickets by Ben Charlesworth left Gloucester with a gettable target of 162. It was Green again who skilfully held the fort with an unbeaten 67b to seal the success. 

Meanwhile, Glamorgan’s second consecutive win has elevated them from bottom to third. Marnus Labuschagne’s arrival was not the greatest (marked by a seven-ball duck) but Ben Kellaway’ fine form with the bat continued, top-scoring in the first innings with 93. The Glammie seamers provided solid support and Northamptonshire were despatched by eight wickets, consigning them to the dreaded basement slot. 

However, it is all very tight from second to eighth, and positions can change in a week. For the Bank Holiday weekend, Glamorgan welcome Middlesex, Kent travel to Derby and Leicestershire hope to continue their winning ways at home to Lancashire. 

Team of the Week:- L Wells (Lan), Hameed (Not), Clarke (Not), Robinson (Dur +), Green (Glo), Bairstow (Yor), Holland (Lei), Stewart (Ken), J Clark (Sur), Waite (Wor), Abbott (Ham)

County cricket: Abell and Leach Boost Somerset Challenge

The onset of September serves as a reminder that, like summer itself, the County Championship is coming to a close. Surrey have led the table almost from day one in April and when skipper Rory Burns’ 161 set his side on the way to a first-innings 525 at Trent Bridge, a third successive title looked inevitable. However, Nottinghamshire didn’t roll over. Two teenagers, Freddie McCann (aged 19) and Farhan Ahmed (just 16!) shone in only their second matches, striking 154 and taking ten wickets, respectively, to frustrate the reigning champions. 

Behind them, Somerset narrowed the gap to twenty-four points by crushing Durham. Spin was king at Taunton. Building on batting foundations led by Tom Abell and James Rew, Jack Leach opened the bowling in the visitors’ second effort and continued unchanged for more than thirty overs to take 7-50. Michael Vaughan’s son Archie accompanied him, finishing with a commendable 2-40 as Somerset triumphed by 293 runs and earning maximum points. The next round of fixtures puts the top two counties up against each other. Should Somerset gain an improbable victory, it could make the final weeks very interesting indeed. Can’t see that happening, though. 

Worcestershire made it two on the trot, coming from behind to defeat Essex at Chelmsford by only 43 runs. Michael Pepper had contributed to a solid Essex lead but, set a target of just 184 on the final morning, they tumbled to 140, Dutch seamer Logan van Beek starring with 4-23. Hampshire overtook Essex in third place with a thumping innings win over lacklustre Lancashire. Gus Atkinson’s rare Test achievement of a century and five-fer was eclipsed by Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson. Not only did he strike an unbeaten 104 and take 5-47 but he also added another five scalps on Saturday to finish the match a day early. 

Kent suffered another drubbing, this time against Warwickshire who did their hopes of avoiding relegation a world of good. Will Rhodes set them on their way with 201 but it was Oliver Hannon-Dalby who added the coup-de-grace with a clinching 6-43. Whoever wins the West Midlands derby next week should be safe for another year but Kent absolutely must beat Hampshire to survive. 

Sussex still look favourites to go up, rediscovering winning ways against bottom side Derbyshire at Hove. Daniel Hughes and John Simpson hit tons but Jack Carson also caught the eye. The off-spinner followed a career-best 97 with figures of 5-90 and 6-67. Without Wayne Madsen’s match aggregate of 215 runs, Derby’s margin of defeat would have been even heftier.

Closest rivals to Sussex, Yorkshire and Middlesex, produced a run-fest stalemate at Headingley. For the White Roses, Jonny Bairstow and George Hill each broke 160, then Sam Robson and Ryan Higgins responded with centuries of their own. The spinner toiled for hours after hour but a draw was agreed on the final afternoon. 

Unusually, the Gloucestershire-Northants fixture was abandoned after day one, the umpires ruling that the Bristol pitch was too dangerous following Justin Broad’s 7-37. Only 241 runs were scored, while over in Cardiff, Colin Ingram beat that all on his own. The veteran South African amassed a personal best of 257 not out for Glamorgan against Leicestershire but any hopes of his side doubling their meagre total of one victory were dashed by a second successful partnership between Ajinkya Rahane and Peter Handscomb, who each made three figures to secure a draw. 

Glamorgan now face Sussex while Middlesex play Gloucestershire. If Leicestershire can tame Yorkshire at home, they could still sneak into the promotion places. 

Team of the Week:- Burns (Sur), Hughes (Sus), Rhodes (War), Abell (Som), Ingram (Gla), Madsen (Der), Handscomb (Lei +), Dawson (Ham), Carson (Sus), Leach (Som), Hannon-Dalby (War)

One Day Cup: It's Somerset v Glamorgan!

At the end of a week which featured the last group fixtures, two so-called quarter-finals and two semis, next month’s Metro Bank Cup Final will involve Somerset and Glamorgan. Amidst much to-ing and fro-ing, the top three in each group were unchanged.

In Group A, Somerset took the direct route to the last four by defeating Middlesex and, crucially, Worcestershire. The latter lost again, in a nailbiting finale against Lancashire but, along with the equally inconsistent Hampshire, edged out Derbyshire only on net run rate. 

In Group B, Glamorgan had been in pole position to top the group. In a vital clash at Leicester, they lost by only seven runs in a game which featured a second competition century from Peter Handscomb and a Tim van der Gugten five-for. However, was to be the Welsh side’s only loss so far. Warwickshire faltered in the final furlong but just did enough to resist a late challenge by Nottinghamshire. 

With New Road on Hundred hosting duty, Worcestershire had to pop across to Edgbaston for a local derby quarter-final. Skipper Jake Libby continued his run of form with 112, but teenage Kai Smith’s unbeaten 130 saw Warwickshire progress with an over to spare. It was an even tighter affair at Grace Road. In a repeat of the 2023 final, a Nick Gubbins ton took Hampshire to a promising 290-8 but Leicestershire sneaked through from the penultimate delivery. 

So to Sunday’s semis. Sod’s law, I thought, that the two best counties would slip up but it wasn’t to be. At Taunton, Somerset piled on a mighty 334-4, led by Lewis Goldsworthy’s 115 not out and a third successive rapid half-century by James Rew. The latter hasn’t kicked on from last year’s red-ball successes, but the 50-over stuff has rescued his summer nicely. The target was too much for Leicestershire, even with Handscpmb producing a third hundred of the competition. 

Across the Bristol Channel in Cardiff, Glamorgan welcomed Warwickshire to Sophia Gardens. Their Group B encounter had been rained off so at least he fans had something to enjoy. Runs were relatively hard to come by, and it was only some late hitting by Dan Douthwaite which boosted the home county’s total to 247-9. Ed Barnard (4-34) was the pick of Warwickshire’s attack but he and his top order were soon struggling in reply. They sank to 66-6 as Douthweite, McIlroy, Gorvin and the masterly, miserly Timm van der Gugten (2-22) suced the energy out of the innings. Michael Burgess (85) was the only Bear to show his claws but they just weren’t sharp enough to win single-handedly. 

In theory, Somerset could conceivably achieve a treble this season but that would require Surrey to suffer a Championship meltdown and the Cidermen to enjoy considerable luck in the T20 knockouts. On paper, the One-Day Cup climax with Glamorgan at Trent Bridge should favour Somerset but anything can happen and, of course, we are serial runners-up! 

Team of the Week:- Hammond (Glo), Gubbins (Ham), Libby (Wor), Goldsworthy (Som), Rew (Som +), Handscomb (Lei), K Smith (War), van der Gugten (Gla), Douthwaite (Gla), Hill (Yor), Chahal (Nor)

Massive run chase ends in a tie

It certainly was a crazy week in the County Championship. From an almighty clatter of first-day wickets to a couple of extraordinary climaxes, the dramas continued right to the end. 

Seventeen wickets fell on day one at Cheltenham’s college ground, before Cameron Bancroft (184) and James Bracey (204 not out) lifted Gloucestershire’s second innings to more than 600. The 593-run target they set Glamorgan would, if reached, obliterate the world record. With Labuschagne and Northeast nicely set at stumps, the visitors weren’t panicking and even when the skipper was caught behind for 187, eighth man out, just 49 were needed from the last fifteen overs. Mason Crane bravely maintained the run rate and the last pair required only two from the final over. Scores were level with Ajeet Singh Dale’s concluding delivery to Jamie McIlroy. Edged! James Bracey leapt to take a stunning one-handed catch and promptly hared off around the boundary in celebration. A TIE! The world record run chase was missed but 592 all out was still the highest fourth-innings total ever seen in England. Bracey’s double-century and ten catches also eclipsed all the other century-hitting ‘keepers this week. Pity poor Crane for shepherding Glamorgan so close to what would have been an astonishing win. 

Elsewhere in Division Two, twenty-two wickets tumbled on Sunday at Northampton but there was to be no Cheltenham-style batting recovery. Northants’ Emilio Gay scored the game’s solitary fifty as Sussex rounded off a 63-run success inside seven sessions. Nathan McAndrew (Sussex) and the home skipper Luke Procter were the pick of the bowlers. 

At Chesterfield, Yorkshire batsman James Wharton virtually beat Derbyshire on his own, following the latter’s humbling for 76 all out with a commanding 188. In the second innings, Ross Whitely did at least offer an entertaining whirlwind 52 but Ben Coad (6-30) and Vishwa Fernando (4-58) polished things off with a day to spare. Bowlers also dominated early proceedings at Leicester, with Bens Mike and Green ripping through the Middlesex line-up with ease. A target of 466 was always beyond the Londoners and, at 270-9, captain Toby Roland-Jones resorted to T20-ish antics, whacking eight sixes before Currie had him caught to register Leicestershire’s maiden victory of the campaign. 

At the top of Division One, Surrey made short work of closest rivals Essex at The Oval. Jamie Smith marked his England call-up by striking 100 and 70, and Ryan Patel also chipped in with a century of his own. Jordan Clark was typically useful with the ball, but it was paceman Tom Lawes’ 4-26 which inflicted most damage, the triumph opening up a 29-point lead over Essex. 

Somerset had to overcome adversity and a thrilling fourth-day chase to beat Warwickshire and leapfrog Essex in the table. At Taunton, Michael Burgess’ 147 and Oliver Hannon-Dalby’s 6-56 put Warwickshire in the driving seat by th third day. However, a brilliant unbeaten 152 by Tom Abell, ably supported by Banton and Rew, secured a fantastic win against the odds. 

Kent’s miserable season continued, beaten by Hampshire by six wickets at Southampton. James Vince racked up 211, sharing a 259-run stand with Ben Brown (116), then James Leaning’s 118 was not quite enough to prevent the follow-on. Kent did make Hants bat again but it took a scrambling 28-ball 56 not out from Liam Dawson to get the visitors over the finishing line. 

Worcestershire finally removed the zero from their ‘Win’ column by defeating Durham at Chester-le Street. Ben Stokes picked up three wickets and a half-century but was powerless to stop New Zealander Nathan Smith and his fellow bowlers. Nevertheless, the week’s top performer with the ball was the evergreen James Anderson. His glorious international career may be over but his 7-35 for Lancashire in Nottinghamshire’s first innings was a throwback to his younger days. Keaton Jennings plundered another big ton but a defiant last-day 115 not out by Joe Clarke blunted Anderson et al to record a draw. 

It's now back to the one-day stuff for the heady days of summer, but can any Twenty20 or Hundred contests match the thrills and spills of the County Championship?! 

Team of the Week:- Bancroft (Glo), Jennings (Lan), Wharton (Yor), Vince (Ham), Northeast (Gla), Abell (Som), Bracey (Glo +), N Smith (Wor), Fernando (Yor), Coad (Yor), Anderson (Lan)

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)

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)

Surrey’s Revenge

In the final round of fixtures before the Championship breaks for the summer, and the counties split between the One-Day Cup and Hundred, Surrey kept their title defence in firs-class order, wreaking revenge on their T20 conquerors Somerset. 

As has been the order of things on 2023, July ended in a wet weekend, motivating teams to wrap up victories before the covers came on. Three of the Division One matches ended a day early, as bowlers took charge. At Taunton, there were no centurions, but both Tom Latham and Will Jacks were dismissed on 99 as Surrey reached 398 all out. Although Matt Henry took 6-88, it proved a tight contest between the opposing Overton twins. Craig biffed five sixes to prevent an innings defeat but Jamie took the bowling honours in a ten-wicket triumph. 

At Southampton, Essex consolidated their second place behind Surrey by beating close rivals Hampshire by six wickets. Nick Gubbins’ 45 was the highest score of the match as Essex pacer Jamie Porter claimed a couple of five-fors and the home side’s Kyle Abbott ended with match stats of 6-60. Up at Edgbaston, runs were also hard to come by, not only for Middlesex bit a;so Warwickshire, who were bowled out by Ethan Bamber (5-20) et al for a mediocre 60. MIddlesex scrambled a six-wicket win but one statistical quirk stood out for me. In the first Middlesex innings, all four Warwickshire bowlers conceded exactly 49 runs, and three had identical figures of 3-49. I wonder how often that has happened?! 

Trent Bridge enjoyed more action, although Kent probably didn’t have as much fun as Nottinghamshire, who stormed to a 321-run winning margin. Opener Ben Slater scored 100 and 85 in a game which was close for a couple of days, then Brett Hutton (4-44) and Dane Paterson (5-41) swept Kent aside on the fourth afternoon. In the other game, Lancashire looked likely to inflict a seventh defeat on Northamptonshire. Wells, Bohannon and Salt each made tons in a Bazball-esque total of 544-7 declared but the visitors showed some welcome backbone in adversity. Following his 207 partnership with Emilio Gay in the first innings, captain Luke Procter dug in for a 130-minute 27 not out as his side played out a hundred overs, losing only five wickets in the process. 

In Division Two, Yorkshire suffered the double-blow of a 48-point deduction as punishment for their institutional racism and a two-day washout at Scarborough. Adam Lyth had time to score another century but Durham’s in-form Alex Lees was left high and (metaphorically) dry on 66. 

Worcestershire moved within forty points of Durham courtesy of a 110-run success over Gloucestershire on a bat-friendly Cheltenham wicket. Gloucester’s two sets of brothers were heavily involved, notably Oliver Price’s 115 and a determined second-innings stand of 95 shared by Jack (98) and Matt (49 not out) Taylor. However, facing a daunting final day target of 422, they fell between two stools and were all out for 311. 

At Derby, Glamorgan again showed they can amass a decent total. The veteran Colin Ingram led the way with 136 out of 521-8 declared. Derbyshire’s openers made a fine response, Harry Came and Luis Reece putting on 165, before the wheels came off and Glamorgan enforced the follow-on. Second time around, there was to be no middle-order collapse, because the middle-order never got the chance to bat. Came and Reece glided serenely past 100, 200, 300, and captain Du Plooy called time only after Reece had achieved his maiden double-century. Their 360 shattered the previous Derbyshire first-wicket record and also dented Glamorgan’s promotion hopes. They will have to show patience before meeting second-place Worcestershire in their next Championship fixture in September. 

Team of the Week:- Gay (Nor), Reece (Der), Slater (Not), Salt (Sur +), Ingram (Gla), Procter (Nor), Higgins (Mid), Abbott (Ham), Hutton (Not), Bamber (Mid), Porter (Ess)

Somerset's Record-breaking Blast

I wouldn’t normally go overboard on Twenty20 but after Somerset converted a Finals Day appearance into the Blast trophy for the first time since 2007, I am willing to set aside my contempt for the format and celebrate my county’s success. The other three counties at Edgbaston last weekend had all proved troublesome in recent years, not only in the Blast but also in the all-important Championship, so it was especially cheering to clinch the title by defeating both Surrey and Essex. Indeed, they did so by bowling both of them out. 

James Vince may have topped the runs table but nobody took more wickets than seamers Matt Henry and Ben Green and Craig Overton’s twenty catches in the outfield set a new record. Somerset also surpassed the tournament record of victories, losing just two out of sixteen matches. While the bowlers clearly did their job, the strategy of frontloading the batting order with white-ball specialists Banton and Smeed, plus new recruit, Tom Kohler-Cadmore. 

Unfortunately, the elusive Championship pennant is already out of reach in 2023. That familiar trio of Surrey Essex and Hampshire all won their four-day fixtures this week to occupy the leading places in Division One, with only Warwickshire preventing Somerset joining the top four as in the Blast semis. With rain forecast for the fourth day, a good deal of accelerated scoring was required to secure the sixteen points for winning.

 At Chelmsford, Essex needed only thirty to beat Kent, but needed to embark on a three-over thrash to beat the weather, too. Three wickets tumbled, and Matt Critchley followed his first-innings century with a first-ball duck but Paul Walter was there to reach the target. Surrey also had an easy ride against neighbours Middlesex. Sean Abbott and Jamie Smith starred with seven wickets and a century, respectively. 

Somerset’s fine week was completed by a straightforward nine-wicket triumph at Northampton. Their first-choice seam attack of Henry, Overton, Aldridge and Gregory were utterly dominant against the bottom side. At Trent Bridge, fifteen wickets crumbled on the first day, before Ian Holland, Liam Dawson and James Fuller set the scene for a likely third-day denouement. Tom Moores’ 81 merely delayed the inevitable as Fuller’s 4-59 and Mohammad Abbas’ 3-48 wrapped up victory by 116 runs. The Birmingham rain prevented a positive result, although Lancashire’s George Balderson struck his maiden ton. 

In Division Two, three of the four fixtures were draw, including runaway leaders Durham’s run-fest against Derbyshire. The home team’s wicketkeeper, Brooke Guest, enjoyed a career-best 197 but the in-form Alex Lees and David Bedingfield more than compensated with hundreds of their own. Lees’ old opening partner at Yorkshire, Adam Lyth also reached three figures at Headingley against Sussex. White Rose paceman Ben Coad was as economical as ever. For someone with a career average under 20, it is remarkable that he hasn’t really entered the England conversation. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t have the all-out pace of a Tongue or Potts. The Cheltenham crowd were frustrated by a lack of action, as Gloucestershire and Glamorgan played out what was essentially a single-innings draw. 

The only win came at Oakham where Worcestershire had the better of a low-scoring encounter with Leicestershire. Forty wickets fell in just over two days, with Josh Tongue and Dillon Pennington making the difference between the counties. 

In the last round of matches before the One-Day Cup and Horrible Hundred take over for the school holidays, Division One sees those four southern stars paired off again. The Blast semi-finals are replicated with the red ball – Hampshire v Essex and Somerset v Surrey – which will have a major bearing of where the pennant is heading in September. 

Team of the Week:- Holland (Ham), Lees (Dur), J Smith (Sur), Bedingham (Dur), Guest (Der +), Critchley (Ess), Balderson (Lan), S Abbott (Sur), C Overton (Som), Henry (Som), Pennington (Wor)

Somerset and Bears Blast into the Knockouts

 It has been a busy week or so for the Twenty20 squads, with some counties shoehorning five matches into the diary. Remarkably, Kent Spitfires won all five, lifting them from oblivion to the very heart of the quarter-final qualifying places. For that, they ought to thank Daniel Bell-Drummond, who plundered more than 300 runs, including a 58-ball 111 against Middlesex. 

At least by this time Middlesex had broken their embarrassing tournament duck, and they did so in a style so at odds with the rest of their T20 season. In front of 20,000 fortunate fans at the Oval, Surrey amassed another huge score. Will Jacks smashed Luke Hollman for five sixes in an over but misdirected a full-toss when aiming for number six. Uncharacteristically, Middlesex paced their chase – a Blast record 254 – to perfection. Eskinazi and Holden, who already had a century to his name this week, led the charge but it was young Jack Davies whose last over boundaries sealed their solitary success. 

It was a mixed week for Surrey, who had temporarily deposed Somerset from the top spot by beating their rivals at Taunton. However, they were taken apart by Hampshire at home. The South Coasters also boosted their quarter-final credentials by edging past Essex in a tight finish. Meanwhile, Somerset got their title push back on track with victories against Essex, Glamorgan and, less easily, Gloucestershire in the local derby. 

In the North division, the Birmingham Bears ensured a top-four finish by defeating Derbyshire at Old Trafford. In a rain-restricted tie, Livingstone and Buttler peppered the roof of the ground’s new hotel and the ‘keeper’s 83 off 36 balls propelled him past 10,000 career runs in T20 cricket, only the ninth man to do so. With Damen D’Oliveira in fine form, Worcestershire need to beat Durham and Derbyshire to proceed, and the Roses encounter in Manchester takes on an extra edge with both counties vying for a place in the quarters. 

Nottinghamshire are still very much in the hunt, but their batting has been very inconsistent. Not so, Alex Hales. His last three scores of 0, 5 and a first-ball 0 have been the model of consistency. Am I wrong to snigger at his misfortune? 

Team of the Week:- D’Oliveira (Wor), Bell-Drummond (Ken), Jacks (Sur), Buttler (Lan +), Holden (Mid), S Curran (Sur), Jordan (Sur), Van der Gugten (Gla), Sams (Ess), T Taylor (Nor), Zaman Khan (Der)

Somerset clean sweep, Glamorgan make hay

Can’t believe I am saying this but Somerset are actually getting me quite excited about the Blast. Three more wins this week extended their 100% record to six. Of course, it could all still go horribly wrong and even if we make the knockouts, a quarter-final defeat by then wickets is a strong possibility. The batters didn’t see much action, and it was the bowling which inflicted the greatest damage upon Kent, Middlesex and Essex. In particular, the 25-year-old Devonian seamer, Ben Green, mopped up ten wickets, including 4-20 against Middlesex who have been as abject as Somerset have been supreme. 

Surrey stand second in the South table, but it took a last-ball single from Jamie Smith to clinch the points in Canterbury on Sunday. Glamorgan supporters enjoyed plenty of runs this week, twice passing 200. It was the old double-act of Colin Ingram and Chris Cooke who were in superb form, especially in harness. Each of them amassed 200 runs from the three fixtures, Cooke’s unbeaten 113 off just 51 balls against Middlesex the highlight. In that game, the pair plundered 187 in a 79-ball partnership, with Helm and Higgins consistently conceding boundaries. 

Hampshire picked up two resounding victories, against Essex and Sussex. In the latter, opposing skipper Ravi Bopara arrived at the Ageas Bowl too late to play but unfortunately home captain James Vince was present, correct and able to extend his week’s run tally beyond 260. He now has more than 20,000 runs for his county, a record he shares with Derbyshire’s Wayne Madsen, whose dismissal for ‘only’ 44 against Yorkshire was the first time he had failed to make 50 in this year’s competition.

In the North division, Worcestershire’s perfect start to the Blast was ruined by Northamptonshire, who pipped them at New Road by six wickets with only two balls remaining. That result notwithstanding, Brett D’Oliveira and Pat Brown were in good form this week. Whilst mediocre in the Championship, Yorkshire claimed three successive T20 wins, Dawid Malan exceeding 80 on each occasion. He top-scored in the Roses clash with Lancashire at Headingley, despite the arrival from India of Jos Buttler. The England star, one of many in the Lancs line-up, failed to arrest a decline in fortunes. 

Another former T20 icon, Alex Hales, achieved just one half-century for Nottinghamshire, easily outscored by fellow opener Joe Clarke and Colin Munro. The latter pair were instrumental in the crucial triumph over former leaders the Birmingham Bears, firing fifteen sixes between them. 

In the next few days, Worcestershire travel to both Yorkshire and Lancashire while Somerset’s winning streak will be sorely tested at Hampshire and local rivals Gloucestershire. 

Team of the Week:- Clarke (Not), Vince (Ham), D Malan (Yor), Madsen (Der), Ingram (Gla), Cooke (Gla), Dawson (Ham), Narine (Sur), Payne (Glo), Sama (Ess), Green (Som) 

Somerset Blast off in style!

The Blast is back! Scorecards are littered with county spinners you thought had retired and Pakistanis who missed out on the IPL action, while the players who actually catch the eye are those who play week in, week out with the red ball. 

It kicked off with an Edgbaston double-header, and Lancashire were the first to register a victory in the 2023 competition, defeating Derbyshire, who sacrificed one of their lucrative home ties for the demands of TV. The Birmingham Bears made their home advantage count against Yorkshire, who ended the week with three losses, maintaining their dreadful Championship form. On the other hand, Lancashire opened their campaign with three straight wins before the Bears spinners Briggs and Mousley dealt them a crushing Bank Holiday blow. 

Neighbours Worcestershire have a 100% record, too. Their star man has been Pakistan’s leg-spinner Usama Mir, who has taken five cheap wickets and thumped rapid runs for the cause. 

The South group has so far been dominated by perennial bridesmaids Somerset. Ironically, T20 specialists Tom Banton and Will Smeed have been eclipsed by bowler Craig Overton who, until this summer, has shunned the biff-bash format. Overton has also taken more catches (eight) than anyone else. Somerset’s most satisfying success came in the demolition of bete-noires Hampshire who last year ended their hopes in another semi-final. The Hawks needn’t worry just yet. After all, they lost their first four fixtures last year and ended up winning the trophy. 

The highest score of the week was achieved by Surrey, whose 223-5 at The Oval proved too much for Kent. The top knock also came in that match, but from an unlikely source. Aussie all-rounder Sean Abbott had never previously made a T20 fifty but in just 52 minutes, he plundered an incredible 110 not out, including a 34-ball century, equalling the record in England. Who needs Roy, Jacks or the Curran brothers? Graham Clark’s first two innings consisted of a hundred and first-ball duck while Mr Consistent, Derbyshire’s Wayne Madsen, reached fifty in each of his three outings. He also thumped 89 for the Second XI in between. Not bad for a 39 year-old. 

Team of the Week:- Banton (Som +), Clark (Dur), Hain (Bears), Madsen (Der), Mitchell (Lan), Bopara (Sus), S Abbott (Sur), Usama Mir (Wor), C Overton (Som), Briggs (Bears), Wood (Lan)

Lawes in Fine order for Surrey

The Oval faithful were rewarded with a second successive home success for Surrey, extending their lead in Division One to twenty-five points. This week it was Kent who were rolled over, by ten wickets. They bat all the way down and have no star bowlers, yet get the job done. The 20-year-old paceman Tom Lawes picked up eight wickets, including a decisive 5-22 in the second innings. The two counties meet in their next Championship fixture, too, but Kent have three weeks to get their act together. 

Hampshire picked up win number three, crushing Northamptonshire at the Rose Bowl, assisted by Liam Dawson’s 6-61. I was pleasantly surprised by Somerset’s maiden victory of 2023, a smash-and-grab raid at Lord’s. Yet again, Middlesex failed to secure a batting bonus point, while Somerset’s George Bartlett, another off the Millfield School production line, contributed 121 out of 404, and Craig Overton finished things off with a long-overdue five-for. 

There were plenty of runs at Trent Bridge but neither side could take the requisite twenty wickets. Cook and Westley shared two century partnerships for Essex but the sole individual centurion was Nottinghamshire’s young Matthew Montgomery, who compiled an assured 177. 

In Division Two, Durham are staking a clear claim on promotion, defeating Gloucestershire at Bristol by 125 runs. A Michael Jones ton and a whirlwind 67 from Ollie Robinson helped set the home team an improbable 425 target but a second consecutive five-wicket haul for spinner Ajaz Patel and Matthew Potts’ 3-53 negated Marcus Harris carrying his bat for 122. Just up the M5, Worcestershire overcame Leicestershire courtesy of excellent owlig by Leach and Waite.

Last year, Glamorgan broke all sorts of run records at Grace Road and another, rather extraordinary one, was achieved at Hove. England’s Ollie Robinson took 4-29, then Steve Smith and James Coles led a strong response to secure a massive first-innings lead. Then things changed….. In that remarkable 795-5 in 2022, Sam Northeast topped 400, but this week he was out first ball! No problem. Captain Kiran Carlson’s career-best 192 and centuries from Aussies Labuschagne and Neser as the total soared beyond 700 once more. A declaration was hardly a serious option and Glamorgan posted a world record difference between their first and second innings of 614 runs! To add to Sussex woes, Robinson suffered an ankle injury which may also put a spanner in the works for the Ashes squad. 

But that’s several weeks away. For now, we have to make do with some T20 Blast action. Who will win this year? Not a clue. Do I care? Not a bit.

Team of the Week:- Harris (Glo), Cook (Ess), Montgomery (Not), Bartlett (Som), Carlson (Gla), Robinson (Dur +), Coles (Sus), Leach (Wor), Arjaz Patel (Dur), Waite (Wor), Lawes (Sur)

Essex and Leicestershire achieve landmark victories

Amidst all the Easter eggs and bunnies, the County Championship launched its 2023 season with some fascinating contests up and down the land. Anticipating a serious outbreak of Bazball, batting sides now have to score more heavily to secure bonus points and there is less incentive to settle for a draw. Is it working? 

Well, in Division One, not a single side secured the maximum batting points! Essex achieved a rare victory at Lord’s but it was a rollercoaster affair. Dan Lawrence’s hundred eased Essex to 199-3 before Toby Roland-Jones ripped through the lower order with 7-61. In reply, each of Middlesex’s top four were dismissed for ducks and 127 out of a total of 170 came solely from the Higgins/Simpson partnership. Jamie Porter and Sam Cook ensured the home team fell well short of their second-innings target. 

It was another low-scoring affair at Canterbury, where Northamptonshire needed a Rob Keogh century to take the game into a fourth day and an outside chance of victory. It was not to be; Ben Compton’s 114 not out eased Kent to a seven-wicket triumph. Hampshire’s margin over Nottinghamshire was even greater (8 wickets) at Southampton, Mohammad Abbas claiming nine wickets. 

The other two fixtures were drawn. After a day one washout, Somerset struggled at home against Warwickshire, whose tons by Alex Davies and Sam Hain ensured a healthy lead. However, their attack failed to capture more than six wickets on the final day. Surrey also had the upper hand in Lancashire, led by batters Cameron Steel and Ben Foakes. Set a 444 target, Josh Bohannon’s 108 and a gritty 56 from Steven Croft frustrated the Surrey bowlers and even Ollie Pope was given an (expensive) over. 

After their last-gasp relegation in 2022, Yorkshire began their new campaign with defeat to Leicestershire. At least there were plenty of runs. Finlay Bean and Dawid Malan reached three figures to take their first innings total beyond 500 and the home county felt confident enough to set Leicester 389 to win in less than a day. They regretted it. Rishi Patel’s maiden ton (125), another strong performance by Peter Handscomb and a late flurry of Chris Wright boundaries saw Leicestershire to an historic win with just seven balls to spare. It was their first Championship success at Headigley since 1910! 

It was an even tighter affair at Hove, where Sussex eked out a two-wicket victory over Durham. Skipper Pujara’s first-innings 115 and Fynn Hudson-Prentice’s 4-27 ultimately proved the difference. Worcestershire were more decisive at Derby, winning by eight wickets, all-rounder Matthew Waite the star. At Cardiff, Timm van der Gugten’s 5-26 and centuries from Carlsen and Root put Glamorgan in a commanding position only for Marcus Harris (148) and Graeme van Buuren (110 not out) to turn the tables leaving a draw the only outcome, even if it only came with a five-point reward! 

Team of the Week:-  Harris (Glo), Libby (Wor), Pujara (Sus), Steel (Sur), B Root (Gla), Handscomb (Lei +), Waite (Wor), Roland-Jones (Mid), Z Chappell (Lei), Mohammad Abbas (Ham), Porter (Ess)

County Cricket: Hampshire Hammer Somerset again

Six weeks after humiliating Somerset by an innings at Southampton, Hampshire came close to repeating the feat, but this time they had to bat again – for four balls – to win by ten wickets. Keith Barker took 6-27 as all the home team’s batters failed miserably second time around.

Hampshire returned to second place behind Surrey but Essex made surprisingly short work of previous high-flyers Lancashire at Old Trafford. Dan Lawrence’s lack of a Test century may have cost him a place for England but he scored 120 against James Anderson et al. Sam Cook (4-18) was the pick of Essex bowlers in Lancashire’s first innings then Simon Harmer produced another of his marathon sessions to collect 5-87 in an innings triumph.

At Northampton, both attacks toiled with little success as the contest fizzled out into a draw. The Kent top-order, in particular, shone brightly. Zak Crawley made some timely runs before the New Zealand series but it was opening partner Ben Compton who added another 208 runs to his season’s tally, with an average of 108. 

Harry Brook’s figure of 140 is even better, and he delivered Yorkshire another quickfire half-century as his side notched a first-innings lead of 205. However, opener Adam Lyth outscored him with 145, while Joe Root was caught behind for just eight. On the fourth day, Jordan Thompson induced three early catches before Sam Hain and Will Rhodes dug in for tons to ensure Warwickshire avoided defeat. 

Middlesex and Nottinghamshire each claimed a fourth success of the summer to open up a decent margin at the top of Division Two. Against Durham, wicketkeeper John Simpson took nine catches at Lord’s and Toby Roland-Jones ten wickets, including Ben Stokes for a second-ball duck. The new England captain did, at least , take his first wickets of the Championship season despite a six-wicket loss. Nottinghamshire gave little away against neighbours Derbyshire. Dane Paterson was remarkably consistent with the ball, finishing with figures of 3-36 and 3-35 before the Notts openers Slater and Hameed cruised past the 165 target. 

Worcestershire had an even easier time at home to last-placed Leicestershire. 37-year-old Azhar Ali finally found his form, thumping 225 and forming a useful relationship with his 21 year-old ‘apprentice’ Jack Haynes, whose 127 was his third hundred in successive fixtures. Incidentally, their respective career first-class batting averages are almost identical. Seamer Matthew Waite was the best of a solid bunch of Worcester bowlers, taking 6-50 in the match. 

Proper county cricket now takes a month’s break to allow players to reset their batting and bowling skills and strategems for the Vitality Blast. Who will win this year? Impossible to tell, as ever, but I confidently predict that Somerset will NOT lift the trophy!

Team of the Week: Compton (Ken), Lyth (Yor), Azhar Ali (Wor), Haynes (Wor), Lawrence (Ess), Rhodes (War), Simpson (Mid +), Roland-Jones (Mid), Barker (Ham), S Cook (Ess), Waite (Wor)

County Cricket: Surrey lead but Shan Masood breaks records

After a slow first day, the runs flowed across the country. No fewer than six of the nine Championship fixtures were won by an innings, helped by nine individual scores of 150 or more. 

Somerset looked set to turn things around when Tom Abell’s career-best 150 earned the county their first batting bonus points of the year and Peter Siddle’s 6-51 gave the country a slender first-innings lead at The Oval. However, a Ryan Patel century laid the foundations for a three-wicket victory, as neither the Aussie veteran nor Craig Overton could crack Ben Foakes. At least Somerset weren’t amongst those crushed by a huge margin.

That list included Kent, who, despite a Bell-Drummond ton, were victims of Hampshire. The trusty duo of Abbott and Barker helped themselves to wickets while captain James Vince, Liam Dawson and new recruit Ben Brown each reached three figures en route to a first innings of 652-6 declared. I don’t know why Sussex let wicketkeeper Brown move along the coast but he brings extra solidity to the batting as well as being excellent behind the stumps. He took eight catches in this match. 

Lancashire made it two wins out of two at Old Trafford, making short work of Gloucestershire. Bolton’s Josh Bohannon advanced his England credentials with an excellent 231 and, whilst James Anderson had a solid return with the ball, it was his Pakistani team-mate Hasan Ali whose aggregate of 9-96 prevented the visitors posing any challenge. 

Essex did at least force Warwickshire to bat twice, but Davies and Sibley strolled past the 107 target in 37 overs. Keeper-batsman Michael Burgess starred for the victors, combining a blistering 170 with eight victims behind the stumps. The week’s only draw came at Northampton, although Yorkshire were well on top for the first three days. George Hill, Dawid Malan and Harry Brook filled their boots with runs but Northants did well to bat through the final four sessions to avoid defeat.

 

Nottinghamshire predictably won at Chester-le-Street. Ben Slater’s unbeaten 225 and academy graduate Lyndon James’ maiden hundred proved too much for Durham, and the sound-a-like trio of Pattinson, Paterson and Patterson-White captured sixteen wickets between them. Neighbours Derbyshire easily overcame Leicestershire, too. Pakistani opener Shan Masood became the first man for his county to post successive double-centuries while all-rounder Mattie McKiernan, promoted from 2^nd XI cricket, enjoyed a knock of 101.

Worcestershire dealt Sussex a pasting inside three days at New Road. New skipper Brett D’Oliveira cracked an unbeaten 169 and his predecessor Joe Leach took six wickets, while only Pujara’s first-innings 109 and a devil-may-care 67 not out from Grant Stewart demonstrated any consistent response. 

Glamorgan’s success against Nottinghamshire last week counted for nothing as their batting collapsed twice at home to Middlesex. Former England all-rounder Toby Roland-Jones merited the plaudits with a valuable 65 and ripping through the Welsh second-innings line-up, taking 5-40.

Next week, Glamorgan will have to keep Shan Masood at bay if they are going to beat Derbyshire, while Notts and Worcester meet for a chance to top the table. In Division One, Surrey travel to Bristol, favourites to remain ahead of the rest. However, should they slip up, Hampshire and Lancashire are waiting to pounce. They meet at Southampton.

Team of the Week: Slater (Not), Shan Masood (Der), Bohannon (Lan), Abell (Som), Brown (Ham), D’Oliveira (Wor), Burgess (War, +), Roland-Jones (Mid), Barker (Ham), Patterson-White (Not), Hasan Ali (Lan)

3 in 3 for Worcestershire

While the big names have been diverted to the Hundred the One-Day Cup has given some of the lesser lights of the county circuit to showcase their skills. Worcestershire are the only side to have won their first three fixtures, thanks to last night’s rout of Essex by 182 runs. Jack Haynes and Brett D’Oliveira shared a county record opening stand of 243, and the latter also chipped in with three cheap wickets, as did Joe Leach. The impressive Haynes accumulated almost 300 across the week.

Warwickshire’s Rob Yates passed fifty three times, team-mate Matt Lamb struck his maiden List A century and there were similar achievements from Leicestershire’s Rishi Patel, Surrey’s Ryan Patel (ten sixes in his 131) and Yorkshire’s teenager Harry Duke. 

Somerset enjoyed two victories, including an exciting one-run nail-biter against Glamorgan. Earlier in the week, it was veterans James Hildreth and Steven Davies who starred with the bat but in their Severn Estuary derby clash it was young captain Ben Green (87 and 2-32) and rookie seamers Sonny Baker and Kasey Aldridge who just about did enough. A devastating early spell by Michael Hogan, old enough to be their dad, had given the Welsh a chance but Andy Gorvin could only strike a four not six from the final ball. 

Perhaps the best match of the week came at Scarborough. Graham Clark’s second ton in three games helped Durham to a challenging 335-4 but Bracey and Charlesworth kept Gloucestershire in the hunt at the death. Nevertheless they still needed 16 off the final over, from the redoubtable Chris Rushworth, but two sixes and a four by Jack Taylor gave the West Countrymen their first win. All-round performance of the past seven days must be that of Hampshire’s Nick Gubbins. In a comfortable defeat of Sussex at Southampton, he produced an unbeaten 131 then his part-time leg-spin yielded an excellent 4-38. 

Next week, the juiciest ties include Worcestershire’s hosting of Middlesex, Lancashire’s trip to Durham and the Surrey-Somerset encounter next Thursday, by which time the One-Day Cup will be warming up nicely. 

Team of the Week: Haynes (Wor), G Clark (Dur), Yates (War), R Patel (Sur), Gubbins (Ham), Cullen (Gla +), D Lamb (Lan), Hudson-Prentice (Der), Leach (Wor), Aldridge (Som), Hogan (Gla)