Slater and Stone Build Path to the Top for Notts

Somerset had a great chance to reclaim their position at the top of the table when they welcomed Yorkshire to Taunton and put the visitors in to bat. Despite the presence of Joe Root, the White Rose could manage only 162 as skipper Lewis Gregory took six for 43. Joshua Thomas had scored just 67 runs in the previous three matches this summer, but now he made a career-best 136. Thomas Rew scored a duck on his debut for Somerset, as his team replied with a total of 274, Jack White taking four for 41. James Wharton top-scored in Yorkshire’s second innings, making 92, as they hit back with 371 to leave the hosts to chase 260 for victory. After George Hill took two early wickets, it was left to spinners Dom Bess and Root to do all the damage, as each picked up four wickets as Somerset fell away to 184 all out, beaten by 75 runs.

Champions Nottinghamshire made the short journey to Grace Road to take on East Midlands rivals Leicestershire and were put in to bat. Ben Slater made the most of it, compiling 178 while Ben Duckett hit his third consecutive fifty (77). Joe Clarke made 97 and is the leading runscorer this summer, with 546. At 378 for two, the visitors were well on top, but the lower order fell away and they were dismissed for 490, with Ben Green finishing with career-best figures of seven for 112. The hosts were in deep trouble at 146 for eight, before Stephen Eskinazi (100) and Ajaz Patel (with a career-best score of 62) put on 120 for the ninth wicket. It wasn’t enough as they were all out for 308 and forced to follow on, after Olly Stone took five for 68, his best figures for Nottinghamshire. Liam Patterson-White was the main threat in the second innings, as he finished with five for 53 to help dismiss the home side for 254. That left Nottinghamshire to chase 73, which they achieved without loss, and their ten-wicket win took them to the top of the table.

Sussex were put in to bat at The Oval and, having stumbled to 167 for eight, they staged a dramatic comeback as Jack Carson (a career-best 105) and Ollie Robinson (100 not out) added 173 for the ninth wicket, with Robinson declaring on 358 for nine when he had reached his century. It was the first instance where the batters at No 9 and 10 had both scored a century in the same innings in County Championship history. Jordan Clark took five for 68. When Surrey reached 257 for one in reply, it was clear Sussex’s total would be inadequate. Dom Sibley went on to make his second successive century (187). By the time Adam Thomas came out to bat at No 7, Surrey had already taken the lead, and the 19-year-old took full advantage, going on to score 120 on his first-class debut. He became the first Surrey player since Adam Hollioake in 1993 to make a century on his first-class debut, that match being in the County Championship. Surrey were finally all out for 622. Needing 264 to avoid an innings defeat, Sussex lost Tom Haines (retired hurt), Tom Clark and James Coles in the first over, bowled by Matthew Fisher. They eventually made it up to 277 all out, with Charlie Tear scoring a career high of 61, and Surrey lost two wickets chasing down 14. Their win moved them into second place, eight points adrift, and with Somerset a point behind in third place, it’s the same top three as last year.

Glamorgan travelled to the Rose Bowl and Hampshire generously invited them to bat first. Zain Ul Hassan (143, a maiden century) and Kiran Carlson (a career-best 209) put on 318 for the second wicket. Carlson eventually declared on 536 for seven. Timm van der Gugten led the Welsh outfit’s attack well, taking four for 53 as Hampshire were bowled out for 214 and then had to follow on. Ben Brown made a spirited 96 in the middle order, but no one else made a significant contribution as Hampshire were dismissed for 253 to lose by an innings and 69 runs, leaving them stranded at the foot of the table.

In the Second Division, Worcestershire travelled to Northampton and were trounced inside three days. Having chosen to bat first, the visitors stumbled to 186 for nine, before Gareth Roderick (164 not out) and Oliver Hannon-Dalby (26 in 117 minutes) put on 120 for the tenth wicket to take their side up to 306 all out. Ricardo Vasconcelos (115) set the reply in motion, before James Sales (146 not out) and Lewis McManus (104) finished the job as the hosts eventually declared on 597 for seven. At 88 for two, things weren’t too bad for Worcestershire, but they crumbled to 114 all out, as Ben Sanderson took seven for 31 to give him match figures of 11 for 109 – the best of the season so far, and he is now the leading wicket-taker this summer, with 25. Northamptonshire won by an innings and 177 runs to record their first victory of the summer.

Middlesex welcomed Durham to Lord’s and chose to bat first. Ryan Higgins top-scored (131) as they made 430 all out, despite Ben Raine’s five for 58. Luke Robinson replaced Kemar Roach, making his first-class debut, and took the wicket of Toby Roland-Jones. In reply, Emilio Gay (129) and David Bedingham (147) both made their third centuries of the summer, while Kasey Aldridge just missed out on his first for his new county, falling LBW to Higgins on 99. They were eventually all out for 567, with Joe Cracknell not conceding a single bye. Middlesex batted out what remained of the match, finishing on 146 for four, the draw meaning that Durham moved to the top of the table, six points clear of Northants.

Finally, Derbyshire travelled down to Canterbury to take on struggling Kent and chose to field. Skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond led the way for the hosts with a knock of 129 to take them up to 352 all out, while Rory Haydon picked up five for 82. Luis Reece top-scored (84) for the visitors, who managed 304 in reply. At 122 for six, Kent appeared to be in danger of throwing away their advantage, but Chris Benjamin (123, his maiden century for the county) and Joey Evison (88) added 184 for the seventh wicket. Kent were finally all out for 335, to set a target of 384. Haydon continued his excellent form, taking five for 81, to give him match figures of ten for 163 in just his third game. After stumbling to 41 for six in their run chase, there was no way back for Derbyshire, who were all out for 158, with Matt Milnes taking a career-best six for 12.