Week 13 Vitality County Championship Review

09/12/2024 01:49 PM

A cracker at Taunton means it’s going to be a tense finale to the Championship title race

The wisdom of the football warm up will come under scrutiny again as it appears to have deprived Somerset of their in-form batter Tom Banton, who limped off the field before play on day three with an ankle injury. He now looks unlikely to feature on Blast finals day, although he was still able to make a vital contribution to Somerset’s second innings, batting on one leg.

As could be predicted, spin held sway at Taunton and Somerset elected to bat first. However, they were immediately on the back foot as Kemar Roach bowled Lewis Goldsworthy with the first ball of the game. Tom Lammonby was caught in the slips off Jordan Clark with the score on 33, but Archie Vaughan and Tom Abell put on 60 for the third wicket, before Daniel Worrall had Vaughan caught for 44. Tom Banton then joined Abell and posted his second century of what has been an excellent season. Abell (49) became Shakib Al Hasan’s first wicket for Surrey, in his one match stay and Banton then shared a 107 run partnership with James Rew (38). Tom Curran dismissed Rew, his first wicket with a red ball for Surrey since April 2019, re-signed for this game having been on a white ball contract. Banton was finally out for 132 with the score on 305/6 and just 12 runs were added for the last five wickets, Al Hasan finishing with four for 97 and Dan Worrall three for 41.

Jack Leach was on in the eighth over of the Surrey innings, but it was 18-year-old Archie Vaughan who removed both openers. Ryan Patel (70) and Ben Geddes (50), playing his first first-class game of the season, guided Surrey to calmer waters with an 80 run partnership for the third wicket, before Patel and Ben Foakes (37) put on 68 for the fourth wicket at 2.08 runs per over, confirming the Surrey priority of not wanting to give up the win to Somerset. However Curran came out with a different mindset, striking 86 from 75 balls as he helped add 105 for the last five wickets to take Surrey to a four run first innings lead. Vaughan finished with six for 102 and Leach four for 105, having bowled 85 of the 112.2 overs between them.

Batting was becoming more difficult and Somerset lost wickets steadily in their second innings. At 153/9 the Somerset lead was just 149 and Banton limped out to join Craig Overton, using his bat as a crutch. They put on 71, Banton bowled by Al Hasan in the 10th over of the final day for 46, leaving Overton 49 not out. Al Hasan finished with five for 96 and Surrey were left needing 221 runs to win from a scheduled 73 overs. Despite a required run rate of just a fraction over three per over, Surrey went into survival mode against the constant threat from Leach and Vaughan on a pitch that was offering significant turn. Vaughan struck first, removing Rory Burns (15) and Patel (0) in the 22nd over, the score just 31. Geddes did not last long, going lbw to Leach, before Dom Sibley (56) and Ben Foakes (20) put on 49 off 176 balls. They seemed to have secured the draw as the game was about to enter the last hour, with signs that the players were about to shake hands. However, Leach then removed both set batters in the space of nine balls and when Vaughan had Al Hasan caught at slip for a duck, Somerset sensed blood. Curran attempted an aggressive shot against Vaughan and played on to give the 18-year-old his 10th wicket of the match in just his second first-class game. Roach and Clark faced 78 balls without scoring a run, before Clark edged Leach into Rew’s gloves and with three minutes of play left, Leach took the final wicket, trapping Worrall lbw to give Somerset the victory by 111 runs. Leach and Vaughan each ended with five wickets, giving Vaughan 11 for the match and Somerset close to within eight points of Surrey.

Rain delayed the start of play at Canterbury, where Kent chose to field first. They started under floodlights and Hampshire were under pressure at 32/2. There were further interruptions for bad light, as Hampshire recovered to 403 thanks to 88 from James Vince and a second century in three games for Tom Prest. Brad Wheal chipped in with a career best 61. Kent then looked to be falling in a heap at 54/4 before Ben Compton (51), who had been watching the carnage from the other end and Harry Finch (44) put on 79 for the sixth wicket. Kent finished on 207, with Kyle Abbott taking five for 46. They were asked to follow on with a possible 137 overs left in the game and thanks to an improved batting display and further rain interruptions, they were able to salvage a draw. With Kent 138/5, Hampshire would have been hopeful of the win, but a 149 run partnership between Jack Leaning (100) and Finch (79) took Kent to relative safety and the innings ended on 338. Abbott took four for 66 and Hampshire were left needing an unlikely 143 from just nine overs. Hampshire set out on the chase, but the umpires ended the game after 2.4 overs because of bad light.

Essex were put into bat by Nottinghamshire and despite three of their top five going for single figure scores, skipper Tom Westley (122) hung around, putting on 142 for the fifth wicket with Paul Walter (72) to take the score to 228. Michael Pepper (115) and Simon Harmer (51) then posted 133 for the seventh wicket and Essex were eventually all out for 457. Robert Lord, in his second first-class game, took three for 88 and young Farhan Ahmed, three for 102. Nottinghamshire started their innings just before tea on day two, but only 10.5 overs were possible before bad light and rain ended play. They then only lasted a further 30 overs on day three, dismissed for just 93, Jamie Porter taking five for 35 and Simon Harmer four for 16. However by then Essex’s title hopes had been ended with the news that a 12 point deduction had been imposed for Feroze Khushi playing with a bat that was deemed too wide, back in April. Following on, Notts skipper Haseeb Hameed did his best to hold up Essex’s progress, putting on 136 with Joe Clarke (67) for the third wicket, but he was one of two wickets for Sam Cook, out for 105 and Harmer took another four as Nottinghamshire were all out for 281. The loss by an innings and 83 runs leaves Notts 11 points ahead of Lancashire, with whom they look to be contesting the second relegation spot.

Following wins last week, Warwickshire and Worcestershire have moved clear of the relegation zone. They met at New Road where Worcestershire were asked to bat first and were in trouble at 67/4. Brett D’Oliveira came to the rescue, as he has on so many occasions, putting on 76 with Matthew Waite (53) for the sixth wicket. D’Oliveira was eventually out for 76 as the Pears finished on 307. Warwickshire then struggled with the bat, Alex Davies (58) the only batter to pass 13, as they were dismissed for 128, Tom Taylor finishing with career best figures of six for 28. The follow on was enforced, but further interruptions for rain and runs from Davies (65) and Will Rhodes (121) saw Warwickshire to safety, ending on 252/3. The draw sees both sides to relative safety.   

Having been left out of the England side for the third Test, Durham’s Matty Potts took out any frustrations he may have felt on the Lancashire batters, picking up 12 wickets in the match, including a career-best nine for 68 in the second innings, to condemn Lancashire to a sixth defeat. The start was delayed at Chester-le-Street, where Lancashire were put in to bat. Ben Raine removed both openers to leave the visitors at 15/2, before Josh Bohannon (49) put up some resistance. The main contribution came from Matty Hurst with 90 as Lancashire were dismissed for 228, Raine ending with five for 44. Lancashire have brought in West Indian paceman Anderson Phillip for the last three games and he struck first, bowling Ben McKinney for 8. Scott Borthwick also went for a single figure score before Alex Lees (43) and David Bedingham steadied the ship. At 99/4 Lancashire were still in the game, but then Colin Ackerman (186) joined Bedingham and the pair guided Durham to a strong position, putting on 425. This was Bedingham’s first game back for Durham, having been away with South Africa since July and he ended with a first class best of 279, Durham declaring on 573/9. Bohannon (56) and Hurst (67) were again the only Lancashire batters to put up any resistance second time around and the Durham win was only held up by a last wicket stand of 61 between Phillip (41) and Tom Aspinwall (26). Lancashire were finally all out for 282, leaving Durham victors by an innings and 63 runs. This third consecutive loss by an innings (a fourth of the season) leaves Lancashire at serious risk of relegation.

Of the three promotion contenders in Division Two Yorkshire have the easiest run in and moved ahead of Middlesex with a fourth win in five games, this time against Leicestershire. They could not have made a better start, dismissing Leicestershire for 98 before lunch on day one. This was something of a recovery from 15/7, Ben Cox’s unbeaten 51, the only significant innings. None of the top six reached double figures, four going for ducks, while Ben Coad finished with five for 15 and Matthew Fisher three for 38. Batting was not any easier for Yorkshire and at 56/4 they were also heading towards a low total. James Wharton has made regular contributions since coming into the side and he led a recovery with 41, putting on 56 with Jonny Tattersall. Dom Bess then added 33, before he became Tom Scriven’s third victim. However it was Tattersall, with his second century of the season, who anchored the innings, putting on 138 with Fisher for the ninth wicket, Fisher ending with a career best 88. Scriven finished with four for 103 as Yorkshire posted 379, a lead of 281. Fisher then made a mark with the ball as he removed the two Foxes openers before rain ended play on day two with the score on 35/2, Yorkshire leading by 246 runs. Rehan Ahmed made 77, but no one else could hang around and Leicestershire were all out for 209, George Hill taking six for 59. Yorkshire finished winners by an innings and 72 runs.

Sussex extended their lead at the top of Division Two with an innings and 87 run win inside three days at Hove. They were immediately on top as, having inserted Glamorgan, they had them 91/4 by lunch on day one. Tom Clark picked up two wickets in the second over of the afternoon session, including Kiran Carlson for 51. Dan Douthwaite (41) and James Harris (20) put on 49 for the eighth wicket, before the last three wickets fell for just two runs, Jaydev Unadkat finishing with four for 52. The Glamorgan bowlers were unable to make the same use of the helpful bowling conditions and were not helped by Daniel Hughes being dropped on eight. The first wicket fell with the score on 110, Tom Haines out for 48. Hughes then put on 78 with night watchman Harry Crocombe, who was also dropped on 25, before Hughes (83) was the second wicket to fall, with the score on 188. Crocombe was out for 54, his maiden first class half century and three wickets fell for the addition of twenty runs before Clark and John Simpson added 213. Simpson passed the 1000 run mark for the season, on the way to his fifth Championship century and they took Sussex to a fourth batting bonus point with two balls to spare. Clark went on to his first century of what has been a difficult summer and the innings finished on 491, Ben Kellaway taking a maiden fifer. Glamorgan’s batting struggled again in their second innings, with only Colin Ingram (71) and Carlson (66) making significant contributions. They were dismissed for 218, Jack Carson, Ollie Robinson and Crocombe each taking three wickets.

Middlesex will be kicking themselves having put themselves in pole position against Gloucestershire, before eventually going down by four wickets, a result that puts a significant dent in their promotion hopes. They batted first against Gloucestershire and lost Sam Robson to the first ball. Jack Davies has had some big boots to fill, but Middlesex cannot have hoped for much more from the 24-year-old this summer, as he top scored with 91. He put on 120 for the sixth wicket with Joshua de Caires (64) as Middlesex finished the first day 377 all out. Tom Price took five for 81 and Ajeet Singh Dale four for 70. Ollie Price then held the Gloucestershire innings together with 76, but a significant first innings deficit looked likely when he was the seventh wicket to fall with the score on 199. However Zafar Gohar (86) and Zaman Akhter (30) put on 90 for the eighth wicket and Gloucestershire, slightly surprisingly, declared on 309/9. Middlesex then set about winning the game, feeling a draw would not be enough given the state of the matches at Leicester and Hove. They had not been helped by the amount of time taken out of the game by rain and so went on the attack. However wickets kept falling, debutant, 19-year-old Archie Bailey taking four of them, as Middlesex managed just 165 in 29.2 overs, Robson making 50 from 54 balls. The last five wickets contributed just four runs. Gloucestershire began their chase on the morning of day four, needing 234 from 96 overs, but Middlesex had the best possible start, Ryan Higgins trapping Ben Charlesworth lbw before a run had been scored. The same bowler dismissed Cameron Bancroft in identical fashion for 16, before Ollie Price was caught in the slips off Tom Helm for 16, to leave Gloucestershire on 66/3. However Miles Hammond (78) and James Bracey (56) took control, adding 113 for the fourth wicket before Joshua de Caires claimed two wickets in one over. The target was just 55 with plenty of overs left, but Bracey then played a loose shot, sweeping the fourth ball of de Caires next over straight into the hands of Helm at deep midwicket, to leave Gloucestershire on 182/6 and Middlesex had hopes of pulling off the win. However the hero of Gloucestershire’s first innings Gohar, joined Tom Price and the two saw their side home. This win will be a big boost to the Gloucestershire camp as they move on to Blast finals day.

The bottom of the table clash between Northamptonshire and Derbyshire saw Northants register their first win of the season, despite the upset at the club caused by the sudden departure of head coach John Sadler, Emilio Gay’s immediate move north to Durham and the absence of Ricardo Vasconselos, who is nursing a broken finger suffered last week in Bristol. Gus Miller was pressed into service to open alongside Prithvi Shaw, although neither lasted long as Northants were reduced to 89/6, having chosen to bat first. They were thankful to Saif Zaib, playing his first Championship game since May, for their final total of 209, Zaib last man out for 90. In reply, Derbyshire’s batting woes continued, Yuzvendra Chahal picking up his 100th first class wicket as part of a five wicket haul. Derbyshire could only manage 165, Luis Reece (50) and Wayne Madsen (47) the only significant contributions. Miller made 42 in the Northants second innings and Rob Keogh 63 as they reached 211, leaving Derbyshire a target of 266. They fell well short, the spin of Keogh (five for 44) and Chahal (four for 54) rolling them over for 132, Madsen finishing on 48 not out.

With regard to the Kookaburra ball, for the second week the majority of games ended in positive results and there was plenty of spin bowling on view. While the use of the Kookaburra in April might be a mistake, a case for more games later in the season can certainly be made.

Somerset have now closed within eight points of Surrey and put themselves in with a real chance of completing the treble. With Essex’s penalty points and Hampshire’s draw at Canterbury, it now looks a straight contest between the top two. Somerset have Lancashire and Hampshire left to play while Surrey face two strong sides in Durham and Essex.

In Division Two, Sussex have all but guaranteed their place in next year’s top flight, while Yorkshire have moved into second place and opened a 15 point gap to Middlesex. Yorkshire have two of the weaker sides in Glamorgan and Northamptonshire left to play, while Middlesex travel to bottom placed Derbyshire for their next game, before coming up against Sussex. Yorkshire now look strong favourites to join Sussex in Division One.

Current Championship tables:

Division One

Division Two