A random midsummer round of the Championship landed bang in the middle of a month of T20 Blast fixtures. In the battle of the brothers at Taunton, Surrey’s Jamie Overton knocked down his twin, Craig, with a bouncer that crashed into his helmet and left him lying prone on the pitch. Jamie strode over, scowled, and marched away. It was the first time he had bowled at his brother in the Championship since moving to the Oval. Craig left the field but returned when Somerset’s next man in, Josh Davey, ducked into another Jamie bouncer and had to have a concussion substitute. Despite all the drama, Somerset’s tail wagged to take them from 95 for eight to 180 all out.
Jamie Overton, meanwhile, had successfully shown a shimmy of ankle to Brendon McCullum – a man in need of a fast bowler.
A second hundred of the year from George Hill and a glorious 76 from the in-form Harry Brook put Yorkshire in a great position against Hampshire. And while the Black Caps struggled at Trent Bridge, two New Zealanders scored Championship centuries. Rachin Ravindra, a late call-up by Durham to replace Keegan Petersen, rollicked to 178 not out, an elegant innings which helped Durham to an imposing 375 for three against Worcestershire. Scott Borthwick fell four short of his own century. At Canterbury, Glenn Phillips biffed a rapid 125 after Kent’s Matthew Milnes had reduced Gloucestershire to 46 for three.
Sam Hain continued in his merry way for Warwickshire, last man out after making 130 at Edgbaston – and a third wicket for Lancashire’s George Balderson. There were also a couple of wickets for the New Zealand seamer Will Williams and one for Matt Parkinson – sent back by England to the championship after his Test debut at Lord’s.
Middlesex, the Division Two leaders, were rustled out for 251 by Derbyshire, Toby Pettman taking three for 40 on his championship debut. Derbyshire’s Shan Masood then scored 27 of the 28 runs possible before stumps. Winless Leicestershire had a happy time against Nottinghamshire after centuries from Lewis Hill and Colin Ackermann, while the 20-year‑old Oli Carter made an unbeaten maiden first-class hundred for Sussex at Sophia Gardens, where Glamorgan’s Andrew Salter bowled 33 overs for 65 runs.
Just popping back to say thanks all for hanging around despite distractions elsewhere. Another day of riches for the batsmen, with particular congratulations to 20 year old Oli Carter, and Durham debutant Rachin Ravindra, and some firey fast bowling from a swaggering Jamie Overton. That’s it from me for today, back tomorrow. Good night!
