Review: County Championship – Week 3

Division 1

Hampshire (455) vs Yorkshire (231 & 399/6d)

Hampshire (11 points) drew with Yorkshire (8 points).

Gary Ballance scored two centuries to earn Yorkshire a draw against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl. James Vince (147) and Gareth Berg (99*) helped the home side to a formidable total before the latter tore through a Yorkshire side featuring seven England internationals. Only one of them, Ballance, had any real staying power as he made 108 of Yorkshire’s 231 in the first innings.

Following on, Ballance was the hero once more. Arriving at the crease just after lunch on day three with Yorkshire 20/2, he was still there when the sides shook hands on day four, unbeaten on 203.

 

Lancashire (109 & 463) Vs Somerset (278 & 130)

Lancashire (19 points) beat Somerset (5 points) by 164 runs.

Lancashire recovered from a first innings deficit of 169 to claim victory over Somerset at Old Trafford. Craig Overton (5/47) ripped Lancashire open on the opening morning before Dean Elgar (113*) carried his bat to put Somerset firmly in control.

But Liam Livingstone, who had top scored in the first innings with 68, did his chances of an England call up no harm by top scoring again in the second with a magnificent 168, made in a mammoth partnership worth 245 with Alex Davies (130), helping set Somerset a target of 295.

The visitors never came close, with Ryan McLaren taking four more wickets to go with as many from the first innings. That’s two defeats from two for Somerset, whereas Lancashire head in to the One Day Cup unbeaten.

 

Middlesex (507/7d & 239/3d) vs Essex (295 & 160/8)

Middlesex (12 points) drew with Essex (8 points).

Middlesex were left cursing the weather after Essex hung on to earn a draw at Lord’s. Centuries from Sam Robson, Nick Gubbins and Stevie Eskinazi put the home side firmly in charge of the match.

After bowling out Essex for 295, Middlesex elected not to enforce the follow on, a decision they may well regret. Needing ten wickets for victory on the final day, they reduced Essex to 160/8 before bad light halted proceedings.

 

Warwickshire (332 & 435/8d) vs Surrey (437)

Warwickshire (10 points) drew with Surrey (13 points).

Warwickshire avoided defeat for the first time this season with a draw against Surrey at the Kia Oval. When the two sides met earlier this month, the Bears made only 91 in their first innings, this time their opening partnership being worth more than that with Ian Westwood scoring 153.

Surrey’s batsmen have been in imperious form so far this season, Mark Stoneman (123) and Kumar Sangakkara (105) showing just that as they scored their second centuries of the season to give Surrey a healthy first innings lead. That was not enough to force a victory, though, with Warwickshire seeing out the final day to earn a draw.

 

Division 2

Gloucestershire (303 & 320) vs Durham (419 & 85/4)

Gloucestershire (9 points) drew with Durham (12 points).

Durham were unable to pick up their first victory of the season as they were forced to settle for a draw against Gloucestershire. Four Gloucestershire wickets fell for just two runs as Durham sought victory on the final day, but a last wicket partnership worth 45 – made in fifteen overs – helped the home side survive.

Eventually, Durham were set 205 to win in 29 overs, but the loss of early wickets ended any hopes of a run chase.

 

Kent (259 & 308) vs Derbyshire (159 & 239)

Kent (21 points) beat Derbyshire (3 points) by 169 runs.

Kent made it three wins from three with victory over Derbyshire at Canterbury. With a handy first innings lead of exactly 100, Darren Stevens, in sensational form this season, helped dig his side out of trouble at 111/7.

He scored 90 before Adam Rouse finished unbeaten with 95, his highest first-class score, as the home side set Derbyshire 409 to win. That always looked a tall order, and so it proved.

Stevens, who had taken 6/47 in the first innings, chipped in with three more in the second to help bowl Kent to victory.

 

Leicestershire (420 & 360/6d) vs Glamorgan (426 &

Leicestershire (12 points) drew with Glamorgan (13 points).

Leicestershire and Glamorgan both remain winless after they played out a high-scoring draw at Grace Road. After both sides scored over 400 in the first innings, Leicestershire set Glamorgan 355 to win in 57 overs.

Having reduced the visitors to 57/4. Leicestershire could have hoped to force an unlikely victory, but Aneurin Donald and Chris Cooke dug in to earn Glamorgan a draw. The consolation for the Foxes? Their points total is now in the positive. Phew.

 

Nottinghamshire (447) vs Sussex (155 & 204)

Nottinghamshire (24 points) beat Sussex (3 points) by an innings and 88 runs.

Nottinghamshire continued their perfect start to the season with a comfortable victory over Sussex at Trent Bridge. Riki Wessels led an incredible recovery for the home side after Steve Magoffin and Jofra Archer had reduced them to 88/5.

Wessels finished unbeaten with 202 off 177 balls, an innings that contained seven sixes. Sussex never recovered and were routed by Nottinghamshire’s pace attack, James Pattinson being the pick of the bowlers with match figures of 7/55.

 

Worcestershire (188 & 153) vs Northamptonshire (157 & 164)

Worcestershire (19 points) beat Northamptonshire (3 points) by 20 runs.

Worcestershire won a thrilling contest at New Road to deny Northants their best ever start to a County Championship season. A last wicket partnership of 45 runs between Ed Barnard and Josh Tongue proved vital for Worcestershire, as they set the visitors 185 to win.

With Northants at 122/5 and closing in on victory, Tongue once again changed the complexion of the game by striking twice in an over to remove Richard Levi and Steven Crook. Joe Leach finished the job by trapping Andy Carter LBW, giving him match figures of 10/122.