Rew the hero as Somerset roar back to beat Essex
A day of thrilling finishes closed the fifth round of the Championship. First, at Taunton, where James Rew hauled Somerset to a victory pulled from the ditch of defeat against Essex.
Rew’s uncanny calm belies his years and, at 21, he became the youngest player to make 10 first-class centuries since Denis Compton. Out just before the close for 116, the winning runs were thumped by Craig Overton, a straight six off Simon Harmer for a first victory of the season.
A six also won the game at Lord’s where, with just one over and two wickets left, Zafar Gohar dropped to one knee and took aim at the Grand Stand. Middlesex’s smash and grab had come courtesy of a maiden first-class century from Luke Hollman, a brave innings from Stephen Eskinazi, who retired with a back spasm but hobbled back on again for the greater cause, 59 from Jack Davies, and a ninth-wicket stand between Toby Roland-Jones and Gohar. Kent’s Matt Parkinson bowled beautifully for his three wickets.
A draw at Sophia Gardens was much more than the sum of its parts, eight Glamorgan fielders crowding Derbyshire’s Luis Reece for the final over with one wicket needed, after a brave declaration from Sam Northeast. Ben Kellaway pocketed both career-best batting and bowling figures.
Gloucestershire nearly pulled off a great heist after declaring overnight at Old Trafford. They reduced Lancashire to 160 for six, only for Luke Wells and Tom Hartley to bat the game to a draw. Only the draw at Durham and Hampshire bucked the trend, on a pancake pitch at Southampton where only 20 wickets fell in four days. Durham’s head coach, Ryan Campbell, said: “It is one of those games where you look back on and think: ‘What is the point?’ Until we start to get wickets right in this competition it is pretty disappointing.
“First away game we had a 30-yard boundary and then we had a snake pit, and then you come here and they have already played two games on a wicket.”
Thrill, spills and heartaches. Thanks for your company, it’s been fun. We’ll be back on Friday – bye!
