Week 4 Vitality County Championship Review

The miserable weather besetting the opening rounds of the Championship continued with just one result possible this week

Anyone who can corner the market in supplying cricket sweaters, beanies and hand warmers to county cricket clubs will be sitting pretty as players and spectators had to battle the cold again this week.

Conditions were damp around the country, but matches got underway on time on day one. However over the weekend the rain closed in and sides that had played themselves into dominant positions saw their chances of forcing a win recede. There have now been just seven positive results from a total of 34 matches played in April and while even for the British climate, it has been wetter than normal, the merits of starting the season quite so early has to be called into question. Is the week break needed, when in some cases it comes in week six out of seven?

The one win in this round was achieved by Surrey, defeating Hampshire by an innings and 11 runs. The Surrey seam attack took full advantage of helpful conditions on day one at the Oval and bundled Hampshire out for just 151, Daniel Worrall, Jordan Clark and Gus Atkinson each taking three wickets. A century from Rory Burns, scored as wickets were falling around him, was then backed up by an unbeaten century from Jordan Clark, coming in at nine (Roach having gone is as a nightwatchman at the end of day one). Surrey were all out for 359, a lead of 208 and then dismissed Hampshire for 197. Standing at second slip, Ollie Pope took six catches off the bowling of Dan Worrall in the second innings and eight in the match. Worrall passed 100 first class wickets for Surrey, taking 5/47 in the second innings and after the match the 32-year-old Australian declared that he would be available should England require his services when he becomes eligible next summer. The seamers were so dominant that the country’s top wicket taker Cam Steel did not come on until the score was 174/8. Surrey are looking good to retain their title, while Hampshire, although having some quality players, have problems at the top of the order and finding replacements for their maturing seam attack. Hampshire’s misery was compounded by being deducted two points for a slow over rate.

Edgbaston might soon become a holy site for batters as Ben Duckett racked up the fifth double century of his career. Given that the two games played at Edgbaston have yielded 2,496 runs, Haseeb Hameed had no hesitation in batting first, but the Nottinghamshire captain’s difficult season continued as he went cheaply. Warwickshire then dropped Ben Slater (65) before he had scored and they were made to pay as he and Duckett put on 146. The only other significant innings was Jack Haynes with 74 as eight Notts batters made single figure scores. Oliver Hannon-Dalby took 5/78, part of an attack that has been bolstered by Pakistan’s Aamer Jamal, with Liam Norwell and Chris Rushworth still injured. Nottinghamshire had Olly Stone back in their ranks, having not played a Championship game for a year, but it was Dillon Pennington and Dane Paterson who reduced Warwickshire to 26/3 before Ed Barnard and Dan Mousley staged a fight back. They saw out the rest of day two, the score 71/3. Only 35 overs were possible on day three, play starting just after 4pm. Mousley went lbw to Dane Paterson for 30 and Jacob Bethell then dug in with Barnard, putting on 84 for the fifth wicket before Pennington, the pick of the Notts bowlers, dismissed Barnard for 69. Warwickshire resumed on day four on 175/5, with a draw looking inevitable. Bethell fell seven short of a maiden first class century and the innings ended on 361. Nottinghamshire were 75/1 when bad light ended play.

At Chester le Street Durham chose to bat first, but the Essex duo of Sam Cook and Jamie Porter soon had the home side in trouble at 11/2. However Colin Ackerman and David Bedingham halted the slide and put on 73 for the third wicket before Porter bowled Bedingham just after he had passed 50. The run machine that is Ollie Robinson then joined Ackerman and posted his fifth successive half century, eventually going for 90. Ackerman was the seventh man out for 112 (the first time he has passed 50 for his new county), with the score on 328 and the innings finished on 358. In reply, centuries from Feroze Khushi (107) and Nick Browne (184) guided Essex to 488. No play had been possible on day three and Durham started their second innings just after lunch on day four, ending on 131/2. Surrey’s win means that they are now level with Essex at the top of Division One.

Somerset were put into bat at Kidderminster and Tom Banton helped see them through a tricky period, having been reduced to 107/3. Banton (92) was the last man out as Somerset declared on 309/9, Migael Preorius (49) contributing useful runs to a 76 run eighth wicket partnership. Only 26 overs were possible on day two, Worcestershire ending it on 107/1. Jake Libby (97) and Gareth Roderick (122) completed a 194 second wicket partnership on day three and Brett D’Oliveira added 66 as the innings ended on 451/9 declared. It was then a matter of whether Worcestershire could force a result and Somerset started day four on 5/1. At 66/3 they might have been hopeful but Tom Lammonby and Andrew Umeed stood firm, putting on 117 for the fourth wicket. Umeed was dismissed for 60 while Lammonby was 81 not out when bad light ended play. The good news for Somerset is that there were wickets for new signing Jake Ball, who had not played since the first game of the season.

In the second division the weather prevented any hope of positive outcomes, with teams just playing out the final day. The only semblance of a competitive match was at Bristol, where Gloucestershire needed 331 from a possible 58 overs. However bad light was always likely to bring things to a close early and Gloucestershire never looked interested, particularly after Chris Dent was dismissed by Tom Helm before a run had been scored.

On the morning of day one Middlesex had been put in on one of Bristol’s hybrid pitches, the first to be used in a Championship game. They undoubtedly create a surface with a bit more life, the ball carrying through well to the keeper. Gloucestershire have the bowlers with the pace to take advantage, Marchant de Lange and Ajeet Singh Dale giving them the quickest attack in the country and it was De Lange who prospered, taking 6/49. Joshua De Caires was the top run scorer with 37. Runs from Miles Hammond (81), Graeme van Buuren (75) and Ben Charlesworth (43), who batted with a runner having injured his ankle in the field, then took the home side to 322, Tom Helm and Henry Brookes taking three wickets each. This game was the least affected by the rain on day three and the Middlesex batters prospered against some wayward bowling, Max Holden (111) and Ryan Higgins (155), putting on a fourth wicket partnership of 201. Steve Eskinazi added 65 and they declared on 449/7. Bad light ended the game with 18.3 overs left, Gloucestershire on 127/3 and Ollie Price on 52 not out. Despite Middlesex’s win in the last round, they sit third in the table with only five batting bonus points, compared to the 15 of Leicestershire.

At Headingley, Yorkshire were asked to bat first and Derbyshire could have taken advantage if they had held onto their catches. They had already dropped eight in the two matches they have played this season and put down both Adam Lyth and Finlay Bean twice in the opening session. Bean was out for 18, but Lyth went on to make 97. Shan Masood contributed 40 and then it was the Joe Root/Harry Brook show as both Test players made centuries. None of the Derbyshire bowlers could halt the onslaught as Brook’s 126 not out came off 135 balls and Yorkshire declared on 450/5, made off 97.2 overs. Derbyshire were then in trouble at 23/3 before Wayne Madsen (104) and Brooke Guest (75) put on 170 for the fourth wicket. Madsen was in some discomfort having injured his hand badly when fielding. Aneurin Donald made 97 and Zak Chappell a useful 78 as the Yorkshire bowlers were made to toil, Derbyshire finishing on 447. No play had been possible on day three and when Yorkshire started their second innings just before tea on day four it was a matter of going through the motions.

Northamptonshire were asked to bat first at Leicester and the home bowlers were unable to make significant inroads as the visitors posted 453/7 declared, acquiring the fifth batting point with two balls to spare. George Bartlett made 126 not out, with 88 from Emilio Gay. By the end of play on day two Leicestershire had reached 97/2 and when the players returned on day three they were greeted by an outfield under water. 99 from Peter Handscomb and 85 by Rehan Ahmed led the Leicestershire batting as they saw out day four, ending on 448/8 when the teams shook hands. Ben Sanderson finished with 4/92. On the morning of the final day Leicestershire were awarded five penalty runs for a level two offence when Luke Procter struck Ahmed on the leg with the ball in attempting to run him out off his own bowling. Procter felt he was within his rights to take a shy at the stumps as the batter stepped out of his crease but the umpires decided he had thrown the ball “in an inappropriate or dangerous manner” in contravention of Law 42. The result moves the two counties to first and second in Division Two, separated by two points.

Success in Championship cricket relies upon having a batting line up that can score a few runs and bowlers that can regularly take 20 wickets. In Division One those counties are Surrey and Essex and it is no surprise to see them clear at the top. In Division Two Yorkshire, Sussex and Middlesex fit the bill. It is not just the frontline bowlers, but the depth of the squad to be able to rotate the seamers and cover injuries. Clearly a number of counties do not have those resources as evidenced by the bowlers rushing up and down the country on loan. The big surprise is Yorkshire’s current position and they will need to start winning soon.

Current Championship tables:

LV County Championship Division One

LV County Championship Division Two

Anyone who can corner the market in supplying cricket sweaters,
beanies and hand warmers to county cricket clubs will be sitting
pretty as players and spectators had to battle the cold again this
week.


Conditions were damp around the
country, but matches got underway on time on day one. However over
the weekend the rain closed in and sides that had played themselves
into dominant positions saw their chances of forcing a win recede.
There have now been just seven positive results from a total of 34
matches played in April and while even for the British climate, it
has been wetter than normal, the merits of starting the season quite
so early has to be called into question. Is the week break needed,
when in some cases it comes in week six out of seven?

The one win in this round was achieved
by Surrey, defeating Hampshire by an innings and 11 runs. The Surrey
seam attack took full advantage of helpful conditions on day one at
the Oval and bundled Hampshire out for just 151, Daniel Worrall,
Jordan Clark and Gus Atkinson each taking three wickets. A century
from Rory Burns, scored as wickets were falling around him, was then
backed up by an unbeaten century from Jordan Clark, coming in at nine
(Roach having gone is as a nightwatchman at the end of day one).
Surrey were all out for 359, a lead of 208 and then dismissed
Hampshire for 197. Standing at second slip, Ollie Pope
took six catches off the bowling of Dan Worrall in the second innings
and eight in the match. Worrall passed 100 first class wickets for
Surrey, taking 5/47 in the second innings and after the match the
32-year-old Australian declared that he would be available should
England require his services when he becomes eligible next summer.
The seamers were so dominant that the country’s top wicket taker Cam
Steel did not come on until the score was 174/8. Surrey are looking
good to retain their title, while Hampshire, although having some
quality players, have problems at the top of the order and finding
replacements for their maturing seam attack. Hampshire’s misery was
compounded by being deducted two points for a slow over rate.

Edgbaston might soon become a holy site
for batters as Ben Duckett racked up the fifth double century of his
career. Given that the two games played at Edgbaston have yielded
2,496 runs, Haseeb Hameed had no hesitation in batting first, but the
Nottinghamshire captain’s difficult season continued as he went
cheaply. Warwickshire then dropped Ben Slater (65) before he had
scored and they were made to pay as he and Duckett put on 146. The
only other significant innings was Jack Haynes with 74 as eight
Notts batters made single figure scores. Oliver Hannon-Dalby took
5/78, part of an attack that has been bolstered by Pakistan’s Aamer
Jamal, with Liam Norwell and Chris Rushworth still injured.
Nottinghamshire had Olly Stone back in their ranks, having not played
a Championship game for a year, but it was Dillon Pennington and Dane
Paterson who reduced Warwickshire to 26/3 before Ed Barnard and Dan
Mousley staged a fight back. They saw out the rest of day two, the
score 71/3. Only 35 overs were possible on day three, play starting
just after 4pm. Mousley went lbw to Dane Paterson for 30 and Jacob
Bethell then dug in with Barnard, putting on 84 for the fifth wicket
before Pennington, the pick of the Notts bowlers, dismissed Barnard
for 69. Warwickshire resumed on day four on 175/5, with a draw
looking inevitable. Bethell fell seven short of a maiden first class
century and the innings ended on 361. Nottinghamshire were 75/1 when
bad light ended play.

At Chester le Street Durham chose to
bat first, but the Essex duo of Sam Cook and Jamie Porter soon had
the home side in trouble at 11/2. However Colin Ackerman and David
Bedingham halted the slide and put on 73 for the third wicket before
Porter bowled Bedingham just after he had passed 50. The run machine
that is Ollie Robinson then joined Ackerman and posted his fifth
successive half century, eventually going for 90. Ackerman was the
seventh man out for 112 (the first time he has passed 50 for his new
county), with the score on 328 and the innings finished on 358. In
reply, centuries from Feroze Khushi (107) and Nick Browne (184)
guided Essex to 488. No play had been possible on day three and
Durham started their second innings just after lunch on day four,
ending on 131/2. Surrey’s win means that they are now level with
Essex at the top of Division One.

Somerset were put into bat at
Kidderminster and Tom Banton helped see them through a tricky period,
having been reduced to 107/3. Banton (92) was the last man out as
Somerset declared on 309/9, Migael Preorius(49) contributing useful
runs to a 76 run eight wicket partnership. Only 26 overs were
possible on day two, Worcestershire ending it on 107/1. Jake Libby
(97) and Gareth Roderick (122) completed a 194 second wicket
partnership on day three and Brett D’Oliveira added 66 as the innings
ended on 451/9 declared. It was then a matter of whether
Worcestershire could force a result and Somerset started day four on
5/1. At 66/3 they might have been hopeful but Tom Lammonby and Andrew
Umeed stood firm, putting on 117 for the fourth wicket. Umeed was
dismissed for 60 while Lammonby was 81 not out when bad light ended
play. The good news for Somerset is that there
were wickets for new signing Jake Ball, who had not played since the
first game of the season.

In the second division the weather
prevented any hope of positive outcomes, with teams just playing out
the final day. The only semblance of a competitive match was at
Bristol, where Gloucestershire needed 331 from a possible 58 overs.
However bad light was always likely to bring things to a close early
and Gloucestershire never looked interested, particularly after Chris
Dent was dismissed by Tom Helm before a run had been scored.


On the morning of day one Middlesex had
been put in on one of Bristol’s hybrid pitches, the first to be used
in a Championship game. They undoubtedly create a surface with a bit
more life, the ball carrying through well to the keeper.
Gloucestershire have the bowlers with the pace to take advantage,
Marchant de Lange and Ajeet Singh Dale giving them the quickest
attack in the country and it was De Lange who prospered, taking 6/49.
Joshua De Caires was the top run scorer with 37. Runs from Miles
Hammond (81), Graeme van Buuren (75) and Ben Charlesworth (43), who
batted with a runner having injured his ankle in the field, then took
the home side to 322, Tom Helm and Henry Brookes taking three wickets
each. This game was the least affected by the rain on day three and
the Middlesex batters prospered against some wayward bowling, Max
Holden (111) and Ryan Higgins (155), putting on a fourth wicket
partnership of 201. Steve Eskinazi added 65 and they declared on
449/7. Bad light ended the game with 18.3 overs left, Gloucestershire
on 127/3 and Ollie Price on 52 not out. Despite Middlesex’s win in
the last round, they sit third in the table with only five batting
bonus points, compared to the 15 of Leicestershire.


At Headingley, Yorkshire were asked to
bat first and Derbyshire could have taken advantage if they had held
onto their catches. They had already dropped eight in the two matches
they have played this season and put down both Adam Lyth and Finlay
Bean twice in the opening session. Bean was out for 18, but Lyth went
on to make 97. Shan Masood contributed 40 and then it was the Joe
Root/Harry Brook show as both Test players made centuries. None of
the Derbyshire bowlers could halt the onslaught as Brook’s 126 not
out came off 135 balls and Yorkshire declared on 450/5, made off 97.2
overs. Derbyshire were then in trouble at 23/3 before Wayne Madsen
(104) and Brooke Guest (75) put on 170 for the fourth wicket. Madsen
was in some discomfort having injured his hand badly when fielding.
Aneurin Donald made 97 and Zak Chappell a useful 78 as the Yorkshire
bowlers were made to toil, Derbyshire finishing on 447. No play had
been possible on day three and when Yorkshire started their second
innings just before tea on day four it was a matter of going through
the motions.

Northamptonshire were asked to bat
first at Leicester and the home bowlers were unable to make
significant inroads as the visitors posted 453/7 declared, acquiring
the fifth batting point with two balls to spare. George Bartlett made
126 not out, with 88 from Emilio Gay. By the end of play on day two
Leicestershire had reached 97/2 and when the players returned on day
three they were greeted by an outfield under water. 99 from Peter
Handscomb and 85 by Rehan Ahmed led the Leicestershire batting as
they saw out day four, ending on 448/8 when the teams shook hands.
Ben Sanderson finished with 4/92. On the morning of the final day
Leicestershire were awarded five penalty runs for a level two offence
when Luke Procter struck Ahmed on the leg with the ball in attempting
to run him out off his own bowling. Procter felt he was within his
rights to take a shy at the stumps as the batter stepped out of his
crease but the umpires decided he had thrown the ball “in an
inappropriate or dangerous manner” in contravention of Law 42.
The result moves the two counties to first and second in Division
Two, separated by two points.

Success in Championship cricket relies
upon having a batting line up that can score a few runs and bowlers
that can regularly take 20 wickets. In Division One those counties
are Surrey and Essex and it is no surprise to see them clear at the
top. In Division Two Yorkshire, Sussex and Middlesex fit the bill. It
is not just the frontline bowlers, but the depth of the squad to be
able to rotate the seamers and cover injuries. Clearly a number of
counties do not have those resources as evidenced by the bowlers
rushing up and down the country on loan. The big surprise is
Yorkshire’s current position and they will need to start winning
soon.



Current Championship tables:

LV
County Championship Division One

LV
County Championship Division Two