Grace Record Narrowly Survives as Gloucestershire Find Form

With league leaders Somerset having a week off, there was a chance for second-placed Warwickshire to overhaul them, but a trip to Trent Bridge to take on the champions was never going to be the easiest opportunity. Put in to bat, the visitors were on 179 for six when Chris Woakes (64) joined skipper Ed Barnard in a partnership of 116 that began to turn things in their favour, and when Michael Booth scored a career-best 70 in a ninth-wicket partnership of 119, Warwickshire were on top. Barnard was last man out for 165 as his side were dismissed for 459; Josh Tongue took five for 124. Booth continued to enjoy the encounter, taking four for 71 as Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 279 and forced to follow on. The hosts did much better in their second innings, with Haseeb Hameed (115) making his first century of the season, while Ben Duckett hit his second fifty of the match (93). Kyle Verreynne also scored 115 as the champions batted out the final day, finishing on 537 for seven to secure a draw. The result moved Warwickshire to the top of the table, one point ahead of Somerset, who have a game in hand.

Sussex had won their first two matches of the season, and travelled up to Headingley, where they were asked to bat first. A sixth-wicket partnership of 165 between John Simpson (136) and Tom Price (93) set them on their way to a hefty total of 502 all out. Finlay Bean (105), Sam Whiteman (101, his first century for the county) and the returning Joe Root (96) set Yorkshire well on their way to a reply of 511. On the final day, it was simply a case of ensuring they didn’t throw it away, as Sussex batted again. They finished the day on 324 for eight in another comfortably drawn game. Root took three for 67, his best return for the county since 2018.

Essex were put in to bat at The Oval, but responded with an opening partnership of 183 between Dean Elgar (92) and Paul Walter (101). Noah Thain hit a career high of 64 to help his side up to 409 all out. Dom Sibley took 397 minutes over his cautious 101, while Dan Lawrence was more fluent in making 125 as Surrey hit back with a total of 472. Essex then batted out the final day, with Elgar scoring 107 not out and Tom Westley hitting a breezy 136, and finished on 302 for two, in yet another tame draw that even featured a brief spell from Ben Foakes. On the final day, it was announced by Surrey that Cameron Steel had retired due to a persistent ankle injury.

Finally in this round in the First Division, the two promoted sides met at Sophia Gardens, where Glamorgan chose to bat first. Skipper Kiran Carlson became the first of three batters to fall in the nineties, for 95, while Sean Dickson scored 90 and Mason Crane was the unluckiest of them all, making a career-best 99, before becoming one of six victims for keeper Ben Cox. Glamorgan were eventually all out for 440. In reply, Leicestershire got off to a great start, with Rishi Patel (70) and Jake Weatherald (104, his first century for the county, before he retired hurt) putting on 167 for the first wicket. On his first appearance of the summer, Jonathan Tattersall top-scored with 112, while a total of six batters passed fifty. The visitors eventually declared on 586 for seven. There was just enough time for the hosts to reach 137 for two in their second innings before the inevitable draw was called.

In the Second Division, by contrast, there were three decisive results. Leaders Lancashire were put in to bat at the Riverside. A century from Marcus Harris (146) was the key component of their total of 370, Ben Raine taking four for 77. In reply, Durham needed a 78-run last-wicket partnership between Matthew Potts (66) and Callum Parkinson (36 not out, his highest score for the county) to boost their response to 295 all out. The Red Rose outfit looked in trouble at 72 for six until two Durham old boys, Michael Jones (72) and Paul Coughlin (100 not out) put on 131 for the seventh-wicket. Jimmy Anderson declared at the start of the final day, with his side on 260 for nine, setting a challenging target of 336. Despite losing two early wickets, Durham cruised to victory as Emilio Gay (159 not out) and David Bedingham (129 not out) put on an unbeaten 290 runs for the third wicket. Lancashire remain top of the table, but Durham are now just three points adrift, with a game in hand.

Bottom side Gloucestershire travelled to Derby and batted first, with Miles Hammond making 145. But the real drama came with a ninth-wicket partnership of 191 between Henry Brookes (89) and Will Williams, run out for 98. For both men, it was their best-ever performance with the bat. They fell just two runs short of the county record, set in 1896 by W.G.Grace (who made 301 at the age of 48) and Sidney Kitcat, a stockbroker who also played hockey for England. Although that match also featured greats such as Gilbert Jessop, Billy Murdoch and Ranjitsinhji, no other batter reached three figures. All out for 498, Gloucestershire then set about the Derbyshire line-up, bowling them out for 281 and enforcing the follow-on. Williams and Gabe Bell both took three wickets to help dismiss the hosts for 252, leaving a target of just 36 runs, which was achieved in 4.4 overs without loss.

Finally, last year’s wooden spoonists, Kent, travelled to New Road and chose to bat first. Zak Crawley’s modest start to the season continued, as he made 27, which set the tone for the rest of the side, who were all out for 196. Worcestershire hit back with a hefty total of 447, with a string of useful contributions Matt Milnes took four for 81. In Kent’s second innings, their batting again fell short, though Chris Benjamin hit 77, as Tom Taylor picked up five for 56 to bowl them out for 249, beaten by an innings and 2 runs inside three days. Their chances weren’t helped by Ben Dawkins having to be called in as a replacement for Ben Compton. Gareth Roderick took nine catches in the match. Kent now sit bottom of the league, three points adrift of Gloucestershire but with a game in hand.