County Championship Review – Week 5

 

Division 1

 

Essex (383) vs Surrey (369 & 260/9)

Essex (11 points) drew with Surrey (11 points)

Kumar Sangakkara hit his fifth century in succession as the match between the top two sides in the country ended in a draw. The Sri-Lankan, who made 200, led Surrey’s recovery from 31/5 on the first morning to a total of 369. In the second innings Sangakkara was vying to equal a record for consecutive centuries and although he fell just sixteen runs short, helped Surrey to stop another collapse and avoid defeat.

 

Somerset (197 & 168) vs Hampshire (162 & 293)

Hampshire (19 points) beat Somerset (3 points) by 90 runs

Hampshire beat Somerset in a low-scoring affair on a turning pitch at Taunton. Somerset had taken a narrow first-innings lead after Jack Leach’s six wickets had restricted the visitors to 162. Despite Dom Bess’s seven wicket’s, Hampshire set a testing target of 259, one that was out of reach for the home side. Spinners Liam Dawson and Mason Crane shared nine wickets to move Hampshire up to third and leave Somerset rooted to the foot of the table.

 

 

 

Division 2

 

Derbyshire (533 & 42/0) vs Leicestershire (619 & 217/3d)

Derbyshire (11 points) drew with Leicestershire (11 points)

Derbyshire and Leicestershire played out a high-scoring draw on a flat pitch at Derby. Colin Ackermann, Mark Cosgrove and Ned Eckersley all hit centuries as Leicestershire made a mammoth total of 619. Billy Godleman and Shiv Thakor responded in kind to help the home side to 533 and end any prospect of a result.

 

Glamorgan (353 & 266/7) vs Durham (342 & 276/7d)

Glamorgan (23 points) beat Durham (6 points) by 3 wickets

Glamorgan pulled off a stunning run chase to beat Durham at Swansea. With the game heading for a draw, Paul Collingwood denied himself a second century of the match by declaring on 92. The home side were set 266 to win in 51 overs and got there thanks to Nick Selman’s unbeaten 116. With fourteen needed off the final over, Selman struck consecutive sixes off Paul Coughlin to see his side home with three balls to spare.

 

Kent (369 & 298/2d) vs Sussex (164 & 356)

Kent (23 points) beat Sussex (3 points) by 147 runs

Sussex returned to earth with a bump as they were beaten by Kent at Tunbridge Wells. Sussex managed over 500 runs less in their first innings than they did against Durham last week as Darren Stevens took his fourth five-wicket haul of the season. Having scored a century earlier in the game, Joe Denly then smashed an unbeaten 71 off just 49 balls to set up a declaration with Kent 503 runs in front. Six wickets down going in to the final day, Sussex were never likely to save the game and despite the best efforts of Vernon Philander (73*) handed Kent their fourth win of the season.

 

Northamptonshire (238 & 343) vs Worcestershire (434 & 151/2)

Worcestershire (24 points) beat Northamptonshire (4 points) by 8 wickets

Worcestershire made it four wins out of four in the County Championship by beating Northamptonshire for the second time this season. Daryl Mitchell hit 161 to give Worcestershire a significant first innings lead and, despite an unbeaten 88 from Rob Keogh, Northants could only set a target of 148. Mitchell completed a wonderful match for him by hitting the winning runs and finishing 78 not out as Worcester ran out comfortable winners.

 

Nottinghamshire (420/9d) vs Gloucestershire (149 & 231)

Nottinghamshire (24 points) beat Gloucestershire (2 points) by an innings and 50 runs

Nottinghamshire continued on their path back to Division One with a resounding victory over Gloucestershire at Trent Bridge. Indian test player Cheteshwar Pujara scored his first century for the club and Michael Lumb also added a ton as the home side racked up 420/9 declared. A pace attack featuring Stuart Broad, Harry Gurney and Luke Fletcher found great support from Steven Mullaney, who following up his two wickets in the first innings with 5/32, his best ever figures, in the second to cement Nottinghamshire’s position at the top of the table.