Hampshire Bowlers Close Gap on Surrey
Somerset’s recent recovery came to a shuddering halt when neighbours Hampshire visited. The home side chose to bat first, but made only 211; Hampshire replied with 280, Aneurin Donald hitting the only half-century of the match (57) as Craig Overton and Peter Siddle each took four wickets to keep them in the match. But in the second innings the hosts found Keith Barker unplayable as he picked up six for 27. Somerset were all out for 69, the lowest total of the summer, just enough to ensure Hampshire had to bat again. They won by ten wickets inside three days, a result that left them just three points behind leaders Surrey ahead of the break for the Blast until 12 June.
At Old Trafford, Essex dominated after choosing to bat first. Dan Lawrence made 120, his first century of the summer, and then some lower-order runs from Shane Snater (72) took the visitors up to 391 all out, despite the best efforts of James Anderson and the rest of the Lancashire attack. By contrast, Lancashire’s top order was blown away by Sam Cook and Jamie Porter as they were reduced to 14 for four. Phil Salt’s 44 helped them up to 103, but the follow-on was duly enforced. Lancashire did better in their second innings, but were still bowled out for 232 meaning they sank to defeat by an innings and 56 runs. For the first time this summer, Simon Harmer had a real impact, taking five for 89.
Northamptonshire chose to field first in their home tie with Kent, which merely gave Ben Compton the opportunity to make his fourth century (140) of the summer, and his highest score for the county. As the home attack toiled, Grant Stewart blasted 61 in just 44 balls, with five sixes along the way, and when he was out Jack Leaning declared on 519 for nine. Kent replied with 430, and there was still time for Kent to make 170 for one before the game ended in an inevitable draw.
Warwickshire won the toss and batted first at Headingley, but the top order didn’t take advantage as they slipped to 43 for four. Michael Burgess eventually led the recovery, making 96 to help his side up to an inadequate total of 244; Tom Loten’s two for 31 was his best analysis. Adam Lyth made 145, his first hundred of the summer, while Harry Brook celebrated his England call-up with 82. Matthew Revis hit 53 not out, his highest score, to help Yorkshire up to a total of 450, leaving the visitors with a big challenge to save the match. After they fell to 25 for three, that looked unlikely, but Sam Hain (109 not out) and skipper Will Rhodes (111 not out) stayed together for more than 100 overs to save the match, finishing on 252 for three.
In Division Two, Worcestershire thrashed Leicestershire by an innings and 259 runs at New Road – the county’s second biggest innings victory, behind their 2002 win over Durham by an innings and 308 runs, when Graeme Hick made 315. New club captain Callum Parkinson chose to bat first, but Leicestershire’s batting fell away to 148 all out, and they required a last-wicket partnership of 50 to get that far. In reply, Azhar Ali found his form at last, not only making his first century of the summer but going on to score 225, adding 281 for the third wicket with Jack Haynes (127). Rehan Ahmed, who was making his first-class debut for the visitors, went wicketless, having been dismissed for a duck. In the second innings, he at least contributed 16 as his side was again bowled out all too easily for 170; Matthew Waite (on loan from Yorkshire) took four for 35, his best figures in the County Championship. The result left Leicestershire rooted to the bottom of the table.
Leaders Middlesex chose to field first at Lord’s, and Durham responded by making 350, Liam Trevaskis top-scoring with 80 not out. Sam Robson made the highest score of the home side’s response (84), but there was plenty of support down the order, meaning they hit back with a total of 422. That 72-run lead took on much greater significance when Durham were bowled out for just 188 in their second innings, Toby Roland-Jones being the architect of their downfall, picking up six for 35 to give him match figures of ten for 107, taking him level with Keith Barker on 27 for the summer, but still Matty Potts leads the way with 35. Matt Salisbury hit a career-best 45, but it wasn’t enough. John Simpson had a good match behind the stumps, taking nine catches in all. Middlesex then lost four wickets in reaching their target of 117.
Nottinghamshire emerged ten-wicket winners in the East Midlands derby at Trent Bridge. Derbyshire were put in to bat, and for once Shan Masood was unable to take advantage and the visitors were bowled out for 260, but he remained the leading runscorer of the summer so far, with 844, just ahead of Harry Brook (840) and Ben Compton (801). In his 108th first-class match, Ben Slater took his maiden wicket, Alex Thomson his victim. An innings of 86 from Ben Duckett was the main contribution to the home side’s reply of 358, despite a career-best four for 50 from Nick Potts. There was almost an exact repeat of their first-innings score by Derbyshire, this time they reached 262, setting a target of 165, but Slater (64 not out) and Haseeb Hameed (93 not out) knocked the runs off in just 36.3 overs.
