365 Sporting Days

Lots has happened cricket wise since Round 4 of this summer’s red ball County Cricket competition. Not least the arrival of the Australians for a white ball only tour. Australia somehow managed to lose the first T20 from an unassailable position. They didn’t hit a boundary from the 14th over until the 3rd ball of the 20th! Dawid Malan had top scored for England with 66 from 43 balls, Jos Buttler contributed 44 but the rest of the batting line up, unusually, pretty much failed. England reached 162 for 7 in their 20 overs. That lack of boundaries restricted Australia to 160 for 6 in theirs, Englands won by 2 runs, The second T20 saw Australia bat first, they lost David Warner on the third ball as he was caught by Buttler from the bowling of Joffra Archer. None of the Australian batsmen went big and losing Steve Smith to a brilliant piece of fielding from Eoin Morgan which saw him run out for just 10 was a big blow. Australia made 158 for 4 in their 20 overs. England won the game with 7 balls to spare, Buttler scored 77 not out from 54 balls and Malan 44 from 32. So the 3 match T20 series is won. The 3rd T20 was however lost, the Australian team were better in every department and fully deserving of their victory. A morale boosting win before the first ODI.

A refresh of the rules for this Summer’s competition

• A reduction to a minimum of 90 overs in a day’s play.
• Each county’s first innings of a match can last no longer than 120 overs.
• The follow-on will increase from 150 to 200 runs.
• The new ball will be available after 90 overs rather than 80 overs.
• Points awarded for a draw will increase from five (in the County Championship) to eight to help mitigate against the impact of weather during a shortened competition.
• All other points scoring will remain the same as in the County Championship, such as 16 points for a win with a maximum of five batting and three bowling bonus points in the first innings.
• For the final, in the event of a draw, whichever team gains a first-innings lead will be determined the winner when both first innings are completed. In any other circumstance of a draw or tie, the trophy will be shared.

Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire – This match was abandoned after a Northants squad member tested positive for Covid-19. A decision taken in the interest of player welfare.

Lancashire v Derbyshire – Dane Vilas won the toss for Lancashire and elected to bat – Lancashire won by 178 runs

• Lancashire 219 All Out & 356 for 6 dec
  • Josh Bohannon – 94 from 217 balls in 301 minutes
  • Keaton Jennings – 81 from 145 balls in 199 minutes
  • Alex Davies – 86 from 92 balls in 141 minutes
  • George Balderson – 61 from 56 balls in 82 minutes
  • Danny Lamb – 50 from 49 balls in 67 minutes

• Derbyshire 195 All Out & 202 All Out
  • Harvey Hosein – 84 from 226 balls in 263 minutes
  • Luis Reece – 69 from 135 balls in 141 minutes

Derbyshire had been in with a chance of a trip to Lord’s for the 5 day final, before the match between Gloucestershire and Northants was called off they needed to win this match with a batting bonus point. This result meant they finished second in their table to Yorkshire.

Nottinghamshire v Durham – Ned Eckersley won the toss for Durham and elected to bat – The match was Drawn

• Durham 294 All Out & 329 All Out
  • Gareth Harte – 72 from 143 balls in 150 minutes
  • Stuart Poynter – 50 from 103 balls in 132 minutes
  • Sean Dickson – 56 from 156 balls in 92 minutes
  • Michael Jones – 82 from 224 balls in 248 minutes
  • Chris Rushworth – 7 for 108 in 26 overs

• Nottinghamshire 422 All Out & 82 for 1
  • Ben Duckett – 150 from 210 balls in 278 minutes
  • Joe Clarke – 133 from 207 balls in 340 minutes

Yorkshire v Leicestershire – Adam Lyth won the toss for Yorkshire and put Leics in to bat – Yorkshire won by 10 wickets

• Leicestershire – 124 All Out & 161 All Out

• Yorkshire 252 All Out & 37 for no wicket
  • Harry Brook – 53 from 60 balls in 84 minutes
  • Jonny Tattersall – 71 from 133 balls in 199 minutes
  • Jordan Thompson – 62 from 101 balls in 150 minutes
  • Ben Coad – 5 for 18 in 13.2 overs
  • Jordan Thompson – 5 for 31 in 11 overs

A 5 wicket haul for Ben Coad in Leicestershire’s first innings and another for Jordan Thompson in their second put Yorkshire in a very strong position. The win catapulted them to finish top of their league with 87 points.

Glamorgan v Warwickshire – Chris Cooke won the toss for Glamorgan and put Warwickshire in to bat – The match was drawn

• Warwickshire – 186 All Out & 347 for 7 dec
  • Ian Bell – 50 from 116 balls in 165 minutes
  • Ian Bell – 90 from 148 balls in 183 minutes
  • Sam Hain – 65 from 136 balls in 206 minutes
  • Dan Mousley – 71 from 87 balls in 137 minutes

• Glamorgan – 203 All Out & 265 for 9
  • Billy Root – 51 from 100 balls in 167 minutes
  • Nick Selman – 73 from 215 balls in 339 balls

Worcestershire v Somerset – Tom Abell won the toss for Somerset and elected to bat – Somerset won by 60 runs

• Somerset – 251 All Out & 193 All Out
  • Tom Abell – 59 from 112 balls in 150 minutes
  • Tom Lammonby – 107 from 220 balls in 298 minutes

• Worcestershire – 200 All Out & 184 All Out
  • Jake Libby – 58 from 133 balls in 181 minutes

20 year old Tom Lammonby’s 107 was 55 % of Somerset’s total in their second innings, that in effect ensured they won this game. They finished at the top of their table on 97 points, with 4 wins and a Draw.. They’ll be meeting Essex in the 5 day final at Lord’s.

Essex v Middlesex – Steve Eskinazi won the toss for Middlesex and elected to bat – Essex won by 9 wickets

• Middlesex – 138 All Out & 150 All Out

• Essex – 236 All Out & 53 for 1
  • Adam Wheater – 83 from 142 balls in 169 minutes

In a low scoring game Adam Wheater’s innings was the difference with the bat, it hasn’t been the best summer for the Essex batsmen. They finish top of their group however, with 4 wins and a draw due to weather, with 90 points. They play Somerset in the 5 day final at Lord’s.

Kent v Hampshire – Daniel Bell-Drummond won the toss for Kent and put Hampshire in to bat – Kent won by 7 wickets

• Hampshire 191 All Out & 159 All Out
  • Lewis McManus – 50 from 95 balls in 143 minutes
  • Tom Scriven – 68 from 132 balls in 188 minutes

• Kent – 170 All Out & 185 for 3
  • Darren Stevens – 5 for 37 in 27 overs
  • Harry Podmore – 5 for 43 in 23 overs
  • Zac Crawley – 105 from 100 balls in 148 minutes

Another 5 wicket haul for Darren Stevens, he’s been great form with the ball this summer, he finished the tournament with 29 wickets in 5 games at an average of 15.58. A century on his return for Zac Crawley must’ve been great for both Kent fans and England coaches to see.

Surrey v Sussex – Ben Brown won the toss for Sussex and elected to bat – Surrey won by 6 wickets

• Sussex – 415 All Out & 128 All Out
  • Tom Haines – 117 from 249 balls in 343 minutes
  • Delray Rawlins – 65 from 88 balls in 133 minutes
  • Ben Brown – 51 from 99 balls in 138 minutes
  • Davd Wiese – 57 from 47 balls in 78 minutes
  • Jack Carson – 5 for 93 in 34.5 overs

• Surrey – 388 All Out & 157 for 4
  • Rory Burns – 103 from 121 balls in 176 minutes
  • Scott Borthwick – 50 from 121 balls in 166 minutes
  • Will Jacks – 84 from 119 balls in 183 minutes
  • Jamie Overton – 55 from 78 balls in 100 minutes
  • Daniel Moriarty – 5 for 154 in 37.3 overs
  • Daniel Moriarty – 6 for 70 in 19 overs

Another returning England player shone with the bat giving Surrey their first win of the tournament, they leapfrogged Sussex with the win to finish 5 from 6. 21 year old Moriarty took 11 wickets in the match, a memorable game for him!

A quick look at the highest scorers and the most wickets taken –

• Batting
• Jake Libby – Worcs (27) – 498 runs at 55.33
• Ben Slater – Notts (29) – 425 runs at 60.71
• Will Rhodes – Warwicks (25) – 423 runs at 52,87
• Ben Duckett – Notts (25) – 394 runs at 56.28

• Top Sorers
• Jordan Cox – Kent (19) – 238*
• Jack Leaning – Kent (26) – 220*
• Dawid Malan – Yorkshire (33) – 219
• Will Rhodes – Warwicks (25) – 207

Some impressive innings in the tournament , not least from the 19 year old Jordan Cox

• Wickets
• Simon Harmer – Essex (31) – 34 wickets at 13.70
• Darren Stevens – Kent (44) – 29 wickets at 15.58
• Craig Overton – Somerset (26) – 28 wickets at 10.71
• Tim Murtagh – Middlesex (39) – 25 wickets at 12.72

44 year old Darren Stevens had looked like he was out of a job towards the end of the 2019 season, unsurprisingly Kent have offered him a new contract for 2021!