Tanya Aldred's roundup
With just two rounds of the Championship left, Thursday’s results promise a spicy run to the line. Surrey duly pip Hampshire to the top of Division One, but they couldn’t dislodge Northamptonshire in time to force a result at Wantage Road. Saif Zaib tickled his first Championship century of the season in a stay of nearly three and a half hours, until losing his head in a blitz of six-hitting, but he, Ricardo Vasconcelos and Lizaad Williams had done enough, getting Northants through till tea to set Surrey a fairy-tale 345 in 39 overs. There was just time for Rory Burns to be run-out for one, before the teams shook hands.
Surrey take an eight-point lead, and in the two remaining rounds will play Yorkshire and Lancashire. Hampshire get the easier run on paper – but both Kent and Warwickshire are clawing against relegation.
Neither Somerset nor Warwickshire could find the killer hit in a swing-ball day at Edgbaston. A Somerset declaration left Warwickshire chasing 364 in 82 overs: the pitch was flat and Sam Hain, Alex Davies and Dom Sibley helped themselves to fifties before a flurry of wickets shut down the case. George Bartlett earlier reached his first century of the summer. Warwickshire, Kent and Somerset fall in the pot for the second relegation spot.
Tom Alsop crushed Worcestershire’s promotion hopes with a stoic century at Hove. His 137 not out, in companionship with a half century from Sussex’s Oli Carter and steady runs from Ali Orr and Tom Clark, did enough to keep Worcestershire at bay, despite losing two wickets in two overs mid-afternoon. A standing ovation greeted Alsop as he walked off the field, his fourth Championship century of the summer.
Middlesex wrapped up a quick victory over Glamorgan at Lord’s, hopping over their heads to nestle behind Nottinghamshire. Toby Roland-Jones, Division Two’s leading wicket-taker, boxed-up his fourth five-fer of the summer before Mark Stoneman and Sam Robson knocked off the runs.
A fifty from Michael Jones ensured that Durham polished things off in just over half an hour at Grace Road, leaving Leicestershire to lick their wounds and contemplate a fourth win-less Championship season in a decade.
That’s that for this week – with the CC furniture re-arranged but nothing stuck down. In the battle for the title, Surrey, with an eight point lead, must play Yorkshire and Lancashire. Hampshire get an easier run on paper with Kent and Warwickshire – but against teams clawing against relegation. It’s a thriller!
Thanks for all the messages as usual – and see you next Tuesday. Bye!
