Championship – Week 11

Just two games per division this week, but both with big implications at the tops of the leagues. Plus will it ever stop raining? I’m thinking of building an ark

Div 1
Sussex played their first match since the 20/20 break, taking on a Durham team who have been a little of of form recently. Mushtaq took five wickets as Durham struggled to 209. Things them got worse for Durham as Steve Harmison went off injured after just 5 overs with his hernia problem. Chris Adams with 193 benefited from the weakened bowling attack as Sussex racked up 517 for 9. This was more than enough as Durham managed just 206 second time round. Durham’s title challenge looks to have faded, while Sussex are just a point behind Yorkshire in 2nd.

Yorkshire fell victim to the weather again with two days of the game at Warwickshire lost to rain. Anthony McGrath’s unbeaten 182 enabled Yorkshire to get to 400 for 9 and claim maximum bowling points. However, on a good batting track, Warwickshire replied with 254 for 2, Darren Maddy getting an unbeaten 135 and both teams take 9 points from the game.

Div 2
Weather problems also for Nottinghamshire where three days were lost to rain. In the little time remaining, Notts declared on 400 for 8 with David Hussey getting 180, while Gloucestershire had to face only one ball before the whole thing was abandoned.

Somerset took their chance to capitalise with a remarkable finish at Taunton. Batting first Northamptonshire scored 221, which was eclipsed by Somerset’s 459, Marcus Trescothick scoring 146. Northants were then struggling second time round on 120 for 6 before Lance Klusener started a rescue mission, scoring 122 and getting Northants up to 358, setting Somerset 124 to win with just 16 overs to get them. However, in this situation there are few better than Trescothick, who scored 69 in just 42 balls, despite batting with a runner and Somerset got home with two overs to spare.

England Player Watch
With much of the match against Lancashire washed out last week Michael Vaughan and Matthew Hoggard turned out for Yorkshire. Vaughan scored just 6, while Hoggard got ten overs under his belt, taking one wicket. Ian Bell did better for Warwickshire, scoring 65. The only other England player in action was Steve Harmison who further injured his hernia to finish his season early and is going under the knife today

Player of the Week
The fact that Chris Adams messed Yorkshire around so much in the winter is not the reason he doesn’t win the player of the week (although it’s a good one). This week’s player of the week is my first double winner of the award. A century in the first innings was good, but for bringing Somerset home in a brutal run-chase, the award goes to Marcus Trescothick.