The Great British weather finally stamped its mark upon the new season of the County Championship in the competition’s third round across the Bank Holiday weekend. Rain across large parts of the country played a major hand in seven of the round’s nine matches ending in draws, with the Southern climes of Essex and Middlesex the only places able to evade the weather’s clutches for long enough to forge out results other than a stalemate.
However, there were still plenty of talking points from overseas signings making an impact to dubious catches sparking controversy, so sit tight for a round up of all the action that you might have missed across the course of the long weekend and Easter celebrations!
Division One
Controversy marred Essex’s first win of the season over Worcestershire at Chelmsford, as the hosts just about managed to hold on for a cagey 28 run victory. The Pears appeared to be sliding towards a second consecutive defeat, when they fell to 192 - 8 and 202 - 9 chasing 295, but a sprightly half century from Ethan Brookes kept them in it. However, with Brookes on 88* and the visitors 29 runs away from an unlikely victory, Jamie Porter dived forward and claimed to have caught a looping leading edge in his follow through from the bat of Brookes. Without the benefit of the Decision Review System (DRS) and despite replays appearing to show the ball bouncing just before Porter scooped it up, the umpires gave the benefit of doubt to the batter and the Essex bowlers’ sixth wicket of the innings sealed a controversial victory. Regardless of the dramatic and rather sour nature of the ending, few neutrals could begrudge Essex the victory, as they responded well to being knocked over for 179 in their first innings and managed to set Worcestershire a target that ultimately proved unassailable, largely thanks to 104 from Paul Walter and 54 from Noah Thain.
Despite Haseeb Hameed (138*) carrying his bat for Nottinghamshire, they were denied by the weather at Edgbaston and had to settle for a draw against Warwickshire. The Nottinghamshire skipper played a significant role in helping his side amass 367, alongside contributions from Ben Slater (40), Lyndon James (42) and Fergus O’Neill (5), despite figures of 5 - 90 from Michael Booth. Having been torn apart by O’Neill (5 - 19) and Bretton Hutton (5 - 38) in their first inning 93 and courtesy of Nottinghamshire’s 367, Warwickshire started their second innings 274 runs adrift and in some strife. The rain soon come to their rescue though and the game was eventually declared a draw with the hosts on 181 - 6, still 93 runs behind, but able to come away without suffering a damaging defeat.
The weather played less of a role in Surrey’s run-laden draw at Sussex, as batters dominated and the champions were held to a third successive draw to start the season. Despite the game already dwindling towards a draw, the rain did ultimately bring proceedings to a premature close with Sussex 132 - 0, thanks to 69* from Tom Haines and 49* from Daniel Hughes, with the state of the game reflected by the scorecard showing that both Surrey openers, Rory Burns and Dom Sibley, turned their arm over on day four. It was perhaps fitting that Haines and Hughes remained unbeaten at the game’s conclusion as their first innings’ knocks of 174 and 62 respectively saw Sussex pile up 435. Hundreds from Ollie Pope (103) and Dan Lawrence (117) helped Surrey go past Sussex and compile 490, despite a maiden first-class five wicket haul for James Coles (5 - 108), but the chances of either side being able to force a victory were slim, even without the day four rain.
Yorkshire defiance and inclement weather in the North of England denied Durham their first victory of the season, despite Alex Lees (172) and Emilio Gay (152) sharing a 279 run partnership in Durham’s 427. Having already dismissed Yorkshire for 307, thanks to 4 - 64 from Ben Raine and 4 - 69 from Brendan Doggett, the hosts were well and truly in command when the time came for Yorkshire to bat again. The experienced visiting pair of Adam Lyth (53) and Jonny Bairstow (86*) both made half centuries second time around though in Yorkshire’s 277 - 6 and a frustrated Durham side had to settle for a draw, despite having been in prime position to force a victory, after both sides had batted once.
Somerset were able to halt their batting woes second time around at Hampshire to salvage the final draw of the third round of action in Division One. Having been skittled for 184 in their first innings, largely thanks to 4 - 46 from Brad Wheal and 4 - 42 from Brad Wheal, and having struggled at times with the bat against Sussex last round, Sean Dickson’s unbeaten 77 serenely guided the visitors to 163 - 2 and a draw, despite Hampshire sniffing around for a victory. Half centuries from Nick Gubbins (82) and Liam Dawson (72) allowed them to compile 336 in their first innings and establish a 182 run lead, despite Migael Pretorius’ 5 - 64, but Somerset were eventually able to bat out for the draw without too many further qualms.
Division Two
Middlesex defied both the rain and a dogged Glamorgan lower order to claim their first victory of the season at the Home of Cricket. They were eventually able to complete their routine chase of 59 in 7.5 overs and for the loss of just one wicket, albeit only after persistent showers had threatened to wash away their hopes of the win. The hosts were in the driving seat from the second session of the first day, after reducing Glamorgan from 108 - 1 to 199 all out, before a second hundred of the season from Max Holden (107) and half centuries from Leus du Plooy (89) and Ben Geddes (83) allowed them to declare on 470 - 9. Frustrating partnerships between Glamorgan wicket-keeper Chris Cooke (69) and both Tim van der Gugten (28) and Ned Leonard (47) then briefly threatened to boost the Welsh visitors towards an imposing target, but once Cooke fell, the Glamorgan tail were swiftly polished off and Stephen Eskinazi (19*) and du Plooy (27*) were finally able to guide Middlesex to a nine wicket victory.
Gloucestershire briefly entertained hopes of a dramatic day four victory, but were ultimately forced to settle for a draw against Kent at Canterbury. After declaring on 333 - 5 on the final day, thanks to half centuries from Ben Charlesworth (58), Ollie Price (56), Miles Hammond (89) and Graeme van Buuren (56*), and a brilliant opening spell of 4 - 33 from Tom Price, the visitors were able to entertain hopes of an unlikely victory. However, a second half century of the season from Zak Crawley (54*) and 16* from Grant Stewart helped Kent to slam the door shut on Gloucestershire’s faint dream of victory, as Kent eventually finished on 124 - 6. Gloucestershire’s slim chances of victory were largely indebted to their 79 run lead after both sides had batted once, as a debut hundred from Cameron Green (112) and a century from wicket-keeper James Bracey (151*) saw them post 472, despite figures of 7 - 100 from Kent’s Nathan Gilchrist. Ben Compton’s 178 in Kent’s 393 was not enough for them to avoid a first innings deficit, but Kent’s battling effort second time around was enough to secure a draw.
Another side denied a sniff of victory on the final day were Leicestershire, although this time their opponents Lancashire were rather more indebted to the rain than their own batting efforts. The red rose were reduced to 11 - 3 at Emirates Old Trafford and still trailed by 217, before a mixture of the ran and an unbroken partnership of 79 between Josh Bohannon (45*) and Marcus Harris (34*) helped them to save their skins for the third game in a row. The home side’s struggles to go big in the first innings persisted though, as only Harris (77) and George Balderson (51) passed 50 as they were bowled out for 263, with the Leicestershire bowling effort spearheaded by Tom Scriven’s 5 - 46. Hundreds for Rehan Ahmed (100) and Peter Handscomb (142*) then saw Leicestershire take the initiative by posting 491 - 8 declared, before the rain cruelly denied them a genuine shot at victory.
The final Division Two draw was in a batter friendly game at Derbyshire, where a combination of the weather and batter friendly surface prevented either side from having a shot at victory. Northamptonshire were the side more hopeful of victory, after hundreds from Luke Procter (150) and Saif Zaib (105) helped them to reply to Derbyshire’s 307 with an intimidating total of 500 - 8 declared of their own. However, a fifth half century of the season from Caleb Jewell (71) and unbeaten knocks of 62 and 12 from Wayne Madsen and Brook Guest respectively, following on from their innings of 89 and 91 first time around, saw Derbyshire to 200 - 3 and safety, before the two captains shook hands on a draw.
Round Four Fixtures - Division One
Nottinghamshire vs Sussex - Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Surrey vs Somerset - The Kia Oval, Kennington
Worcestershire vs Durham - Visit Worcestershire New Road, Worcester
Round Four Fixtures - Division Two
Derbyshire vs Middlesex - County Ground, Derby
Gloucestershire vs Leicestershire - Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
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