Tanya Aldred's county roundup
Surrey extended their lead at the top of the Championship table, despite another half-century from Somerset’s James Rew and some bish-bosh from Craig Overton.
There were four wickets for Jordan Clark, who munched into Somerset’s top order, and from there all Somerset could do was plug away and hope for rain. Rew passed a thousand runs, the first to click up four figures in Division One, to happy applause from the Taunton faithful, and Craig Overton thrashed five sixes in his unbeaten 70, one picked out of the car park by brother Jamie. After a breathless last-wicket stand of 77, Rory Burns and Dom Sibley quickly knocked off the 29 runs needed to pocket a handy lead going into the August break. With just four rounds left until the end of the season, Surrey’s lead over second-placed Essex is 17 points.
Essex kept themselves in contention after winning a small but nervy run-chase at the Ageas Bowl where a result pitch fell foul of the hosts. Jamie Porter grabbed 10 wickets in a match for the first time since 2018, as Hampshire lost four for nine runs just after elevenses. Set 83 to win, Essex wobbled but they didn’t fall down, as the fearsome Kyle Abbot steamed in, pocketing three for 23.
At Edgbaston, Middlesex pulled off an unexpected win against Warwickshire, pulling themselves out of the Division One relegation zone in the process. Warwickshire’s day started badly and got rapidly worse as they lost their remaining six second-innings wickets for 35 runs. Ethan Bamber notched up nine for the match. A brisk unbeaten 52 from Mark Stoneman then hurried Middlesex to victory with little stress.
Elsewhere, 19-year-old Joe Phillips and 22-year-old Ollie Price made half-centuries as Gloucestershire bubbled along at Cheltenham in reply to Worcestershire’s 406; Derbyshire collapsed and were forced to follow on against Glamorgan; Luke Wells, Josh Bohannon and Phil Salt all made centuries for Lancashire at a soggy Old Trafford against Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire gave themselves the sneeze of a chance of victory against Kent. Rain ruined any chance of play at Scarborough.
That’s all from me for today – and indeed until September. Jim will be back tomorrow to guide you through the last day of this round. Thanks for all your messages, happy holidays to those of you able to take a break and good night!
