Murtagh Still a Lethal Weapon

Murtagh Still a Lethal Weapon

There were only two matches in the First Division and both were completed inside three days. At Edgbaston, Surrey chose to field and were handsomely rewarded as Warwickshire tumbled to 150 all out. Jamie Smith made the highest score of the match, 88, to guide Surrey up to 281 in reply. That lead of 131 proved too much, as the home side fell away again, all out for 141, with Kemar Roach taking five for 34. A target of 11 was achieved for the loss of one wicket, and the result meant Surrey went to the top of the table, with 52 points – seven ahead of Hampshire.

At Lord’s, Middlesex prevailed in a low-scoring game after they chose to field first. Kent were all out for 186, with Tim Murtagh and Ethan Bamber both picking up four wickets. In reply, Ryan Higgins made 71, his best score for Middlesex, in the hosts’ reply of 229. A narrow lead of 43 took on greater significance when Kent folded to 128 all out, unable to cope with Murtagh as the 41-year-old took six for 42 to give him match figures of ten for 82. Middlesex reached their target of 86 for the loss of just one wicket and moved into third.

In the Second Division, Durham overwhelmed Derbyshire inside three days after choosing to bat first. Ollie Robinson hit his first century for his new county, scoring 114 and then Brydon Carse followed up a career-high 91 in the previous match with his maiden century in his 38th match, making 108 not out. Together they helped the home side up to 452 for nine declared. In reply, the visitors lost their top four inside three overs and were never likely to recover, eventually being dismissed for 165 and forced to follow on. Matt Parkinson, on loan from Lancashire, was barely needed but did pick up the wicket of Sam Conners at the end. Matthew Lamb offered the main resistance in the second innings, but fell on 99. Matty Potts took five for 65 as the away side was bowled out for 280 to lose by an innings and 7 runs, with Durham 19 points clear at the top of the table, albeit having played a game more than their nearest rivals.

At Leicester, visitors Glamorgan elected to field, but were held up by Peter Handscomb (95) and Rehan Ahmed (90) as the home side made 407, with Timm van der Gugten taking six for 88. At 225 for seven, the Welsh outfit was in trouble but a county record eighth-wicket partnership of 211 between Chris Cooke (132) and Michael Neser (90, his best score for Glamorgan) saw them into the lead, before they were eventually all out for 465. The previous record partnership of 202 had lasted 95 years, since it was set in my home town of Eastbourne. Chris Wright finished with five for 89. Leicestershire then batted out the final day, making it to 252 for three, with Rishi Patel hitting a career-best unbeaten 134, his second century of the summer.

Almost half the game was lost to the weather at Bristol, as Sussex dominated the game but ended up with a draw. Put in to bat, the visitors piled up 455 for five declared, thanks to a superb 151 from skipper Cheteshwar Pujara. James Coles made a career-best 74. In reply, Nathan McAndrew led the attack, finishing with his second and better five-wicket haul of the summer, conceding 63 runs as Gloucestershire were all out for 248. A stubborn last-wicket partnership held up Sussex, leaving them just 28 overs at the hosts when they followed on. By then the score was 121 for four.