Rew Inspires Dramatic Win for Somerset
Warwickshire travelled up to Headingley, and asked a Yorkshire side featuring Joe Root, Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow at Nos 4-6 to bat first. The decision paid off as the home side were bowled out for a modest 205, Ethan Bamber taking five for 47. A belligerent 85 off 86 balls from overseas star Beau Webster ensured the visitors reached 253 in reply, as Yorkshire’s own foreign recruit, Ben Sears, took four for 45. In the home side’s second innings, Root’s 90 was the highest score of the match, but his team didn’t give him much support and they were all out for 232 (Bamber picking up another four wickets) to leave the away side to chase down 185. There were a few scares, but first-class debutant Zen Malik made an unbeaten 49 to see his side home by five wickets inside three days. That win moved Warwickshire into second place, four points adrift of Nottinghamshire.
Essex’s trip to Taunton built up into a gripping game after they were put in to bat and made only 206. But that soon proved to be more than enough when Somerset fell to 145 all out in reply, Simon Harmer taking four for 43. Having just been called up to the England squad, Jordan Cox celebrated by making 103, but went off with a hip injury immediately after going to three figures. It was the only significant contribution to Essex’s total of 259, and helped the away side set a target of 321. At 78 for five, the hosts were struggling, but then James Rew put on 101 with skipper Lewis Gregory to give them hope, and then added 133 with Craig Overton before finally falling for 116 – making him the youngest Englishman to score ten first-class centuries (he won’t be 22 until January) since Denis Compton in the 1930s. Overton finished off the job with a six to give his side a remarkable three-wicket win.
A flat pitch at Southampton saw the batters enjoy themselves. Durham chose to bat first and Graham Clark celebrated by scoring his fifth and highest century, 160, to help his side up to a hefty total of 511. Colin Ackermann, surprisingly, was the batter to let the side down, making 9, whereas everyone else reached double figures. Liam Dawson wheeled away for 48 overs, taking five for 158. In reply, Hampshire skipper Ben Brown hit 162 in his side’s reply of 470. Durham had reached 61 without loss in their second innings when the rain came and brought forward the inevitable draw.
In the Second Division, Leicestershire continued their fine start to the season when they welcomed Northamptonshire to Grace Road. The hosts were asked to bat first, and Rishi Patel made 105 to set his side on the way to a total of 304. On his UK debut, Harry Conway took five for 68. Logan van Beek’s four for 47 was the main reason the visitors could make only 191 in reply. Next it was Ben Sanderson’s turn, as he picked up six for 72 to ensure Leicestershire compiled only 175 in their second innings, to set a target of 289. But with a top score of 37 from George Bartlett, Northants were always going to fall short, and they were bowled out for 156 to lose by 132 runs inside three days. They are now 21 points clear at the top.
There was a compelling game at Lord’s where Kent had made the short trip and chose to bat first. They couldn’t cope with Toby Roland-Jones, who took five for 33 to shoot them out for just 129. Middlesex seemed to have taken charge when they replied with a total of 238, to give them a 109-run lead after the first innings. But Kent skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond hit a magnificent 223 to take his side up to 473 all out, setting a daunting target of 365 for victory. Having taken three wickets for just 74, Kent were the early favourites, before Luke Hollman hit his maiden century (103) in his 35th game to give the hosts a chance, as they moved on to 309 for five. But then the bowling side struck back, picking up three more wickets at a cost of only 5 runs. This left Zafar Gohar and Roland-Jones to chase 51 more runs, with only Dane Paterson for back-up, but in the next 75 minutes the pair edged their way to a thrilling victory by two wickets. On only eight previous occasions had the county chased down a higher total to win.
Lancashire welcomed Gloucestershire to Old Trafford and chose to bat first. Marcus Harris took full advantage, scoring 167 as the hosts piled up a handsome total of 450. But a third-wicket partnership of 203 between Oliver Price and Miles Hammond (97) soon put that total in context, and Price went on to score a career-best 253 not out off 405 balls, as Lancashire’s bowlers toiled away. The visitors declared on 589 for eight, leaving the Red Rose outfit to bat out the final day, going on to make 255 for eight to secure the draw.
Finally, Derbyshire journeyed to Sophia Gardens and chose to field. Four batters passed fifty as Glamorgan reached a very useful total of 431. At 162 for seven, the away side looked in trouble, before Luis Reece (73 not out) led a lower-order fightback that saw them reach 350 in reply. Andy Gorvin took five for 85. Glamorgan reached 256 for seven declared in their second innings, with Ben Kellaway making a career-best 74. That left the visitors to chase 338, and they gave it a good effort, and at 278 for five with nine overs remaining were favourites, but two wickets in two balls from Kellaway tipped the balance back to the Welsh side. In the end, the chase was called off and Luis Reece and Blair Tickner had to bat out the final 28 balls to save the match, finishing on 308 for nine. Kellaway’s fine game ended with him taking a career-best five for 101 – it was a match for all to remember, but especially him.
