<\/p>\n
With red ball swapped for white this week, the Championship comes to its first break after six (of 14) matches still looking to establish a narrative. Only Essex and Sussex (carrying a points penalty) have won half their matches, but they are only fourth and fifth. Five other counties have two wins and 17 points covers the top seven. That\u2019s either the makings of a tight nip-and-tuck season or a structural failure to separate the wheat from the chaff \u2013 take your pick.<\/p>\n
Even after so many overs were lost to rain, Hampshire\u2019s fragile batting would have started the fourth day with some trepidation. Nottinghamshire, the 2025 champions and 2026 table toppers, were pawing the ground keen to set up a chase, the home side four down and only 62 runs ahead. Knock over Jake Lehmann and Ben Brown and there wasn\u2019t much to come after \u2013 this season, there wasn\u2019t much to come before either.<\/p>\n
Brown was soon gone, but Lehmann is still very handy indeed, registering a 17th career century to hold off the baying hounds. Props also to the two all-rounders, Delano Potgieter and Felix Organ, who kept him company for nearly three hours, only one more wicket taken in the 50 overs possible.<\/p>\n
The draw meant that Hampshire are still bottom, but not adrift and that Nottinghamshire are still top, but can feel the pursuers running hard on their heels.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
At risk of sounding like Peter Powell introducing Depeche Mode in the 1980s, Essex were the big movers this week, beating Leicestershire for their second consecutive win.<\/p>\n
There wasn\u2019t much in the match until the third innings when, after overnight rain had livened up the Chelmsford pitch, the visiting batters were soon looking up to see Jamie Porter, Sam Cook and Shane Snater. If you were picking Champonship bowlers in the playground for a pick-up match in these conditions, you would bagsy Jimmy Anderson first, but these three wouldn\u2019t be left standing against the wall for long.<\/p>\n
Leicestershire were gone in 60 runs, Simon Harmer not even required to take his hands out of his pockets and the target knocked off three down. Essex will go for a hat-trick of wins come June with a trip to \u2026 Leicester.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
At Headingley, Yorkshire fielded 865 international caps against Surrey\u2019s 171, which feels like it should be some kind of record, even without the unavailable Sam Curran\u2019s 140. And, on this evidence, it appears that international cricket is great preparation for the county game, as Yorkshire beat Surrey by a towering innings and 127 runs.<\/p>\n
It was the Tykes\u2019 two ex-England batters (but don\u2019t tell Jonny) who set up the win, Adam Lyth with his 41st first-class century and Jonny Bairstow with his 32nd \u2013 what servants they have been to Yorkshire cricket. They handed over to the home side\u2019s all-rounders, George Hill, Matthew Revis and, er, Harry Brook, who shared 13 wickets between them in a fine ensemble effort.<\/p>\n
The win kickstarted a hesitant season for Yorkshire, who are now 25 points clear of the drop zone but unlikely to be able to call on Joe Root and Brook for some time, if at all. Surrey are just three points above them and must hope that returning players can re-discover their mojo, which has gone missing for the first time in years.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Glamorgan are the surprise package of the season, backing up two wins with getting the better of a draw that denied Warwickshire the top spot. The promoted county have found little difficulty in adjusting to Division One. Their two centurions in the match, Ben Kellaway and Colin Ingram, were two of eight batters averaging over 30, illustrating the tremendously useful attribute of finding a score or two somewhere in the order in every innings.<\/p>\n
The bowling is more reliable than stellar, but they may have found a little stardust in Tom Norton. The 18-year-old backed up his debut hat-trick last week with a couple of international scalps in Dan Mousley and Beau Webster en route to 4-48. He has pace and aggression and seems to have that ineffable quality of just being able to get batters out. Time will tell, of course.<\/p>\n
As it will for Kiran Carlson\u2019s captaincy. The 28-year-old is one of the younger skippers in the Championship and he is demonstrating he can inspire his players while delivering important runs himself. If England need to strengthen their leadership group \u2013 and the evidence of last winter suggests they might \u2013 his attributes might become very attractive.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Matters are clearer at the top of Division Two, where Durham lead by 20 points. They might be a little miffed that they don\u2019t lead by more after a leaky cover ruled out play on day three \u2013 though Kent, well ahead at the end of day two, may have a better case for a grievance.<\/p>\n
It took a 10th-wicket stand of 158 between Ben Raine and Callum Parkinson that ate up 43 overs, to secure the draw for the leaders and blunt Kent\u2019s recent strong revival. That\u2019s an advantage of having a solid eight at nine and a decent nine at 11 \u2013 not that such musings are any comfort to the bowlers.<\/p>\n
The match was at the little Beckenham ground, nestled between the houses in suburban south east London, one of two outgrounds used this week in Division Two. Like James Anderson searching for the ball behind the railings at Southport, infrastructure and equipment problems may just be one of those things \u2013 a price worth paying for the delights of cricket in smaller venues where the county game can see its roots more clearly.<\/p>\n