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Division 1
Essex (360) Vs Hampshire (115 & 148 f/o)
Essex (22 points) beat Hampshire (1 point) by an innings and 97 runs.
Hampshire suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Essex at Chelmsford. Alastair Cook and Tom Westley both scored hundreds in a second-wicket partnership of 243 before Kyle Abbott’s third five-wicket haul of the season restricted them to 360. In the end, that proved more than sufficient as Hampshire were twice dismissed cheaply.
Lancashire (432) vs Yorkshire (448 & 177/1)
Lancashire (10 points) drew with Yorkshire (9 points).
Jack Brooks hit his maiden first-class century as the clash of the roses ended in a draw. Brooks and Jack Leaning, who also made a ton, put on 167 for the eighth wicket, taking full advantage of a depleted bowling attack following James Anderson’s injury. In reply, Shivnarine Chanderpaul made his 75th first-class hundred to help Lancashire up towards Yorkshire’s score and end any chance of a result.
Middlesex (411 & 92/2) vs Surrey (313 & 339)
Middlesex (13 points) drew with Surrey (11 points).
Kumar Sangakkara hit a century in both innings as the London derby also ended in a draw. The Sri Lankan announced his retirement from first-class cricket at the end of the season but was in sublime form at Lord’s as he helped Surrey avoid defeat.
Dawid Malan and James Franklin had earlier helped Middlesex to a first innings lead of 98 and they would have been eyeing victory after Sangakkara was dismissed with Surrey leading by just 112; however, Ben Foakes and Sam Curran both made fifties to ensure safety.
Somerset (230 & 86/1 f/o) vs Warwickshire (413)
Somerset (8 points) drew with Warwickshire (12 points).
Marcus Trescothick made his 50th first-class century for Somerset, a county record, as they played out a draw with Warwickshire. With only 39 overs possible across the first two days, a positive result was never likely, but the Bears did their best. Jonathan Trott made 175 before Grant Thornton took 4/34 on his first-class debut to make Somerset follow-on. There was no time to bowl them out a second time, however, as both sides had to share the points. They still remain winless.
Division 2
Derbyshire (275 & 98) vs Worcestershire (415/9 dec)
Worcestershire (24 points) beat Derbyshire (5 points) by an innings and 42 runs.
Worcestershire beat the weather as well as Derbyshire to maintain their 100% record in the county championship. After only 63 overs were possible over the first couple of days, Daryl Mitchell and Brett D’Oliveira hit their first centuries of the summer to help Worcs to a lead of 140.
That proved enough as a seam attack lead by Joe Leach, who took match figures of 9/82, skittled Derbyshire for 98. Worcestershire have now lost just once, whilst Derbyshire have won just twice. The contrast between the two sides couldn’t be clearer.
Glamorgan (187 & 420/5 f/o ) vs Nottinghamshire (448)
Glamorgan (7 points) drew with Nottinghamshire (12 points).
Colin Ingram and Chris Cooke batted for the entirety of day four as Glamorgan rescued a draw against Nottinghamshire. Ingram, whose form with the bat this season has been nothing short of extraordinary, batted for 152 overs that lasted nearly ten hours, to save his team from what appeared to be a certain defeat.
Nottinghamshire, who have looked hot favourites for an inevitable return to the first division, racked up 448, thanks to centuries from Jake Libby and Riki Wessels. Glamorgan’s batsmen, who have struggled all season, managed just 187 in reply and were forced to follow-on. Two days later, incredibly, they were still batting.
Leicestershire (420 & 61/2) vs Kent (462)
Leicestershire (13 points) drew with Kent (13 points).
Leicestershire and Kent played out the umpteenth draw of the County Championship this week at Grace Road in another game that was hit by the weather.
When the game did get underway on day two, Leicestershire recovered from 278/7 to post 420 courtesy of Clint McKay’s 66, his highest first-class score. Kent took control with a big score of their own, Darren Stevens continuing his excellent form with a century.
Sussex (668) vs Durham (287 & 204)
Sussex (24 points) beat Durham (3 points) by an innings and 177 runs.
Luke Wells and Stiaan van Zyl made a partnership worth 376 as Sussex thrashed Durham at Hove. Earlier, Jofra Archer had taken 5/76 to restrict the visitors to 287. Wells, who made a career-best 258, then helped his side to a mammoth total of 668 before Archer claimed another three victims in the second innings to help Sussex to their first win of the season. Durham remain rooted to the foot of the table.
