Week 3 Rothesay County Championship Review

We are now three weeks into the Championship season and it looks like being the most open contest for a number of years, with a tightly fought battle both for the top place in Division One and promotion from Division Two. If Surrey are to make it four in row they are going to have to do it the hard way, as they had to settle for another draw, this time against newly promoted Sussex. While the batting is reasonably secure, led by Dom Sibley, the bowling is lacking the cutting edge of previous seasons. There are six counties at the top of Division One within nine points of each other

For the first time this summer, the weather caused significant loss of play and a positive result was only possible in two games, Warwickshire in particular indebted to the rain Gods.

Hove was a batters’ paradise this week and John Simpson was the only captain in either Division to choose to bat first in this round of matches. Gus Atkinson was added to the powerful Surrey pace attack, but it was the Sussex opening batters who took control, reaching 95 off just 117 balls, before Daniel Hughes gave a return catch to Matthew Fisher. Tom Haines went on to make 174, his second century in successive innings, while Atkinson took 4/120, getting 32 overs into his legs. The Sussex innings ended on 435.  In reply, Dom Sibley added to his two centuries in the last match, with 82 and put on 179 for the second wicket with Ollie Pope. Pope went on to complete his century and then it was Dan Lawrence’s turn to take advantage of the excellent batting conditions. He reached his century just before bad light ended play prematurely on day three, but fell to the third ball of day four. Surrey established a first innings lead of 55, all out just before lunch. It was just left for Sussex to bat out the remaining time and they were 132 without loss when bad light ended play at tea on the final day.

The other two sides at the top of Division One, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire met at Edgbaston and only 9.2 overs were possible on day one because of rain. However, when play got under way on Saturday it did not take too long for the Notts bowlers to see off the home side, dismissing them for 93, Brett Hutton and Fergus O’Neill sharing the wickets between them. Notts’ reply was built on a century from skipper Haseeb Hameed, 42 from Lyndon James adding to his strong contributions with the bat so far this season. O’Neill also added 50 as Hameed carried his bat, to end on 138 out of a total of 367. Michael Booth was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 5/90. The Notts bowlers were soon on top again as Warwickshire ended day three on 149/5, still needing another 125 runs to make the visitors bat again. However, only 20.4 overs were possible on the final day, Warwickshire ending on 181/6.

Somerset’s struggles continued as they were dismissed for 184 by Hampshire, Brad Wheal and James Fuller each taking four wickets. Somerset were indebted to a 48 run final wicket partnership between Migael Pretorius (47*) and Alfie Ogborne (6). In reply, 82 from Nick Gubbins and 72 by Liam Dawson helped Hampshire to 336, the last wicket falling at lunch on day three. Pretorius added to his runs, with bowling figures of 5/64. Somerset’s second effort with the bat was more productive and when the third day’s play was brought to a premature end by rain, they had reached 103/1, Sean Dickson having notched up his first Championship half century in a year. Tom Lammonby did not last long on the final day, but Dickson batted on to see Somerset to safety. Only 26.3 overs were bowled on day four Somerset finishing on 163/2.

Essex and Worcestershire met at Chelmsford in a game that ended in controversy. Low first innings scores gave Worcestershire a 23 run advantage, with 26 wickets having fallen by the end of day two. Jordan Cox (32) top-scored in Essex’s first innings, as they reached 179, Jacob Duffy taking 4/39. 48’s from Adam Hose and Brett D’Oliveira, who shared a 102 run fifth wicket partnership, then helped the Pears to 202, new Essex signing Kasun Rajitha taking 4/52. The Sri Lankan seamer has been brought in for the next five Championship games. “Tall” Paul Walter has slotted right into his new role as an opening batter and his century was the mainstay of Essex’s second innings of 317. He received support down the order from Noah Thain, with a maiden first class century, Simon Harmer (33) and Shane Snater (48). Worcestershire were left needing 295 and were immediately in trouble, as Gareth Roderick was trapped lbw by Jamie Porter in the one over bowled before lunch on day three. The Pears are in a better position than they have been in the first two games, but ended day three on 185/6, still needing 110 runs; three wickets for Jamie Porter. Porter then bowled Matthew Waite in the third over of day four, but his overnight partner, Ethan Brookes kept Worcestershire’s hopes alive. However, no one could stay with him long enough and despite launching an onslaught following the fall of the ninth wicket, his 88 from 105 balls, including seven sixes, was not enough to get Worcestershire over the line. Porter finally removed him, caught and bowled, although Brookes stood his ground after Porter had dived forward to claim the catch, believing that it was not taken cleanly. The umpires had no such doubts and Essex were home by 28 runs, Porter finishing with 6/52, the 22nd fifer of his career.

Having lost their first two matches, Durham spirits will have been boosted by a much improved performance against Yorkshire at Chester-le-Street, although they could not press home their advantage. Yorkshire were put in and sixties from James Wharton and Dom Bess, following his century in the last match, helped them to 307, Ben Raine and Brendan Dogget both taking four wickets. For Durham, Ben McKinney fell early, but then Alex Lees and Emilio Gay went to town against the Yorkshire bowlers, putting on 279 for the second wicket, both men passing 150. Wickets then fell steadily as Durham tried to build a lead and they were all out for 427, the last nine wickets adding just 124 runs. They then had Yorkshire 122/4 by the end of day three, a lead of just two runs. However, the Yorkshire skipper Jonny Bairstow saw his side to safety with an unbeaten 86, no play being possible after tea on the final day and Yorkshire ending on 277/6.

Division Two leaders Leicestershire travelled to Manchester to take on a Lancashire team who are still looking for their first win. Saqib Mahmood was back in their line up, his last match being against South Africa in the Champions Trophy on March 1st. However, the Foxes showed why they are currently at the top, as they took control of a rain interrupted match. Play was only possible in the morning session of day one, at the end of which Lancashire were in trouble at 61/3, Ian Holland continuing his excellent start with his new county, finishing the day with 2/13. Half centuries from Marcus Harris and George Balderson enabled Lancashire to reach 263, Tom Scriven the destroyer on day two, with 5/46. Rehan Ahmed and Sol Budinger then put on a century opening stand for the Foxes, Ahmed going on to a personal 100. Leicestershire passed the Lancashire total just three wickets down and pushed on to 491/ 8 declared, Peter Handscomb finishing on 142 not out. Holland and Logan van Beek then reduced Lancashire to 16/3 by the end of day three, still trailing by 212 runs. Rain then came to Lancashire’s rescue on day four, with only 16 overs possible. They finished on 90/3.

Kent, with two wins from two so far, hosted Gloucestershire and despite reducing the Shire to 108/4, were then held up by centuries from newly arrived Cameron Green (112) and James Bracey (151*). Green is not going to bowl and there were concerns as he limped off after running a quick single to take him to 100. However, it was later described as cramp and he was able to return. The innings finished on 472, Nathan Gilchrist taking 7/100. In reply, the Kent innings was heavily reliant on 178 from opener Ben Compton, as Gloucestershire used seven bowlers, each picking up at least one wicket. He was ninth man out, having received support from Harry Finch (44) and Grant Stewart (51) down the order and Kent conceded a 79 run first innings deficit. Gloucestershire’s second innings started immediately after lunch on day three and they had reached 112/2 when rain prevented any play after tea. They pushed on on the final day to reach 233/3 at lunch, Miles Hammond on 88 not out, but despite a lead of 312 and 66 overs left to play, batted on. They finally declaring on 333/5, leaving Kent to score a 413 from 41 overs. It is difficult to understand why the declaration was delayed so long and given that Kent were 124/6 when play ended, there may be some questions asked. Kent were indebted to Zak Crawley who finished on 54 not out.

At Derby, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire played out a draw. Put in to bat, Derbyshire were in trouble at 29/3, but Wayne Madsen (89), who has made an excellent start to the season and Brooke Guest (91), got things back on track and allowed the home side to post 307. Justin Broad took 4/60. The Northants opening pair then put on 143 for the first wicket, Ricardo Vasconselos making 82. Luke Procter went on to reach 150 and when he fell, Saif Zaib took up the mantle, going to his century from just 85 balls. When he fell for 105, Northants declared on 500/8, a lead of 193. 71 from Caleb Jewel then helped Derbyshire into the lead three down just before the end of play on day three. While a result was unlikely, it was finally put to bed when rain prevented any play on the final day, the umpires calling time at lunch.

Glamorgan’s poor season continued as they went down to Middlesex by nine wickets. Batting first, the Glamorgan openers set a foundation and they were 90/1 at lunch, Zain ul Hassan having reached his half century. However nine wickets then fell for just 91 runs, 54 not out from Ben Kellaway, the only meaningful score. Glamorgan ended on 199, the wickets shared among the bowlers. Middlesex then exposed the Glamorgan bowling deficiencies, as inexplicably they fielded two spinners and only three recognised seamers. A second century of the season from Max Holden and 83 by Ben Geddes took the home side to 470/9, the declaration made just before lunch on day three. Glamorgan were left needing 271 to make Middlesex bat again and the openers again did their job, Eddie Byrom and ul Hassan both making forties. However, their partnership of 93 was the only significant one of the top order. Kiran Carlson reached a half century and a 47 run seventh wicket partnership between Chris Cooke (69) and Timm van der Gugten (28) held things up briefly, but van der Gugten fell to the second delivery with the new ball. Ned Leonard then made a career best 47 as he and Cooke put on 88 for the eighth wicket and when the Glamorgan innings ended on 329, Middlesex were left needing just 59. However, the weather was closing in and they had reached 16/1 when bad light led to an early break for tea. Rain followed, but the players were able to get back out and Steve Eskinazi and Leus du Plooy took just 4.2 more overs to wrap things up.

Eleven points cover the top seven sides in Division One and the neutrals will probably be pleased to see Sussex in joint top spot. At the other end of the table, it looks like being a tough season for Worcestershire.

Meanwhile Lancashire are finding life as difficult in Division Two as their White Rose neighbours did when they dropped down at the end of the 2022 season. Leicestershire and Kent lead the way, closely followed by Derbyshire, while the next four sides are separated by just one point.

With only five games being played in the next round of matches, the most intriguing clash is between the top two in Division One, Sussex and Notts.

Standings

Division One

Division Two