Leicestershire vs Notts.
Leicestershire were bowled all out for 308 in their first innings. Their lower order showed fine resistance on the 3rd morning. Olly Stone finished with figures of 5/68. Pennington added a third wicket to finish with figures of 3/69.
Leicestershire were asked to follow one, and Stone was in the wickets again. He claimed 3/41 to end with eight wickets in the match. It was Liam Patterson-White who claimed the bowling honours in the second innings, though. He claimed 5/53 from 36 mesmeric overs with his left-arm spin.
This left Notts requiring 73 for victory, which they chased for the loss of no wickets. Haseeb Hameed made an unbeaten 22, and Ben Slater hit the winning runs to end on 52 not out, scoring the victory for Notts.
Hampshire vs Glamorgan.
Hampshire were not able to avoid the follow-on as they were bowled out for 214 in their first innings. Ben Mayes made 59, but he received little support. Mason Crane claimed 3/31.
Hampshire did little better in their second innings. They were dismissed for 253 the second time around. Captain Ben Brown made a fighting 96 but was also given little support. Crane again bowled impressively, claiming 3/48 to finish with six wickets in the match as Glamorgan won by an innings and 69 after lunch on the final day.
Surrey vs Sussex.
Ollie Pope went early on the 3rd morning for Surrey, he advanced his score to 39 before Ollie Robinson took his wicket. Dan Lawrence and Jamie Smith then fell to poor shots as they tried to advance the scoring rate on the 3rd morning. Dom Sibley stood firm and took his mammoth innings to hit 187 before being stumped by John Simpson off the bowling of Carson. He batted for 377 balls and 516 minutes as he took Surrey into the lead before he was dismissed.
Debutant Adam Thomas then scored a sublime century as he increased Surrey’s lead. He added 161 with Sean Abbott for the 8th wicket, as the Surrey innings finally ended when James Coles took two wickets in 2 balls to bowl Surrey all out for 622. Thomas made a fantastic 120, showing all signs of a bright future in the game.
The Sussex second innings started in dramatic fashion when Tom Haines was struck on the helmet by the first ball of the innings, bowled by Matt Fisher, forcing him to retire hurt. Tom Clark was then LBW to Fisher’s next ball to leave Sussex 0/1 after 2 balls. James Coles’ miserable match with the bat then ended 4 balls later when he nicked one through to Jamie Scott, again, off the bowling of Fisher. Sussex limped to 76/4 at the close on the third evening.
Jack Carson and Ollie Robinson again scored lower runs as Sussex looked to save the game, but the returning Abbott pinned Carson smack bang in front for 48, and with the new ball due, Tom Haines returned after being passed fit to bat.
Jordan Clark then removed Ollie Robinson with the second new ball for 42 when he nicked one through to Jamie Smith. The innings ended when Fisher trapped Crocombe LBW to leave Surrey a chase of just 14.
The chase wasn’t without drama, though. James Coles, opening the bowling, got Rory Burns LBW attempting to sweep, then he got one to keep low on Ryan Patel, trapping him LBW too. Pope and Sibley saw Surrey over the line for an 8-wicket victory.
Somerset vs Yorkshire.
Joe Root and James Wharton added 123 for the third wicket after Yorkshire had slipped to 43/2 on the third morning. Craig Overton ended the partnership when he got one through Roots defences when he’d made 64 from 101 balls. Wharton made a solid 92 as Yorkshire went into the lead on the third afternoon. Dom Bess added 40 and Jhye Richardson 50 as Somerset was at 260 to win. Overton claimed 4/94 from 23.5 overs to finally bowl Yorkshire all out for 371.
Somerset again began poorly as Dom Bess claimed the vital wicket of James Rew for 2 as his poor match continued. It’s been Rews first really poor match of the summer after some wonderful performances. Tom Abell made 41 before being dismissed by Bess as Somerset fell to 85/4.
Josh Thomas’ good form continued, but just when it looked like he’d steadied the ship with Thomas Rew, he became Bess’ third victim for a well-made 57. Joe Root then had Rew Jnr caught by Bairstow for 30, and Somerset lost their 6th wicket with only 142 on the board.
Root then removed Overton, Smeed and Pretorius as Yorkshire closed in on victory. Bess took the final wicket of Ogborne to bowl Somerset all out for 184 and complete a 75-run victory.
Bess finished with figures of 4/60 and Root 4/49 as they bowled Yorkshire to victory on the final day.
Middlesex vs Durham.
Ben McKinney took his overnight score to 58 before Ryan Higgins dismissed him early on the 3rd morning. Emilio Gay then struck his 3rd century of the summer as he made his way to 129, adding 153 with David Bedingham. Gay again batted with control and accumulated steadily. He’s really showing some fine form, and I think he’s currently leading the way to open with Ben Duckett in the Test matches later on this summer.
Bedingham made 147, Oldridge 99 and Potts 38 as Durham were bowled all out for 567. A lead of 137 on the first innings.
Middlesex secured a draw, as bad light meant there was no play after tea on the final day when they were 146/4. Matt Potts claimed 1/36 off 12 overs as Durham could not push for victory.
Other players.
Rory Hayden claimed his 2nd 5 wicket haul in the match with Kent, this time claiming 5/81, but he couldn’t stop Kent bowling Derbyshire out on the final day to win by 225 runs.
